The buzz of the busy street outside Hotel Mascagni is muffled once you step through the front door and into the cozy lobby. Upstairs, the hotel has a mix of design inspirations, with cherry wood furniture, a green marble-topped reception desk, orange velvet armchairs, and pop art reproduction portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Chairman Mao -- which gives the space a somewhat unusual look. However, the downstairs bar area is more modern in design, and an adjacent lobby features a Mac computer for guests to use. Set between Termini Station and the Quirinale, the central location of the hotel tends to attract families and groups, but the hotel also draws some couples. Most guests spend their time exploring the city and away from the hotel.

Hotel Mascagni is located just off Piazza della Repubblica, in an area near businesses and tourist attractions. The street outside the hotel is crowded with traffic and pedestrians during the day, many of whom stop to admire the large Fountain of Moses on the next corner. The hotel is situated in the Quirinale neighborhood of Rome, which is ideal for visiting major sites such as the Trevi Fountain, about a 13-minute walk from the hotel. Just one metro stop away from Rome’s main Termini station, the hotel offers a convenient base for accessing the rest of the city by public transportation. Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci airport is about a 40-minute drive, and roughly a €48 cab ride. 

The guest rooms at Hotel Mascagni range from classic doubles to more spacious superior and triple units that can accommodate small families or groups. Classic Rooms come with either two twin mattresses that can be separated, or a single bed, as well as a small desk. Some of the larger Superior and Family Rooms also have pullout couches for additional sleeping space. Family Rooms sleep up to four and include extras for kids, such as coloring books and a PlayStation console.

Rooms have traditional decor that's a bit dated and starting to show wear. The maple-colored wood furniture, garish horizontal-striped wallpaper in orange and beige tones, muted-orange accents throughout, and artistic black-and-white photos of the city’s monuments dotting walls come together for a busy look that doesn't quite gel. The property's newer rooms in the annex are thoroughly modern, with dark-wood furniture, tall headboards upholstered in contemporary prints, and sleek lighting fixtures. 

Standard amenities include AC, flat-screen TVs, minibars stocked with beer, wine, water, and snacks, and electric kettles with free coffee and tea, safes, and free Wi-Fi. CD player/radios that are designed to look like a vintage radio are a stylish touch. 

The gleaming, black-and-white bathrooms have walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, plus bidets, wall-mounted hairdryers, and a generous stock of toiletries. Units that have been updated have bathrooms that are more spacious. Most rooms have pleasant views of the city streets and some rooms feature balconies. 

There aren't a ton of amenities at this hotel, but there's a notable, generous breakfast buffet, which includes more hot dishes than what's usually standard in Rome. The meal includes eggs and bacon set out beside cereal, pastries, cheese, and meats. Breakfast can also be delivered to guest rooms at no additional cost, though there's no full-service restaurant on-site. Note that not all rates include breakfast. There's also a lovely lobby bar that stays open in the evening, and an adjacent space contains a Mac laptop that's free for guests to use. Wi-Fi is free throughout.