Orient Express celebrates golden age of travel as debut hotel opens
Orient Express has announced that its first hotel is now open, with the debut of Orient Express La Minerva in Rome.
Located in the heart of the city, the property – a transformed 17th-century palazzo long home to travellers and creatives – houses 93 rooms and 36 suites, each unique in scale, layout and spirit. The historic site has been restored by artist-architect Hugo Toro, with the hotel’s design blending Rome’s heritage with a new layer of sophistication.
Each room is an homage to the golden age of travel, featuring bespoke bedside trunks, rich wooden detailing reminiscent of Orient Express carriages, and bedding crafted by Rivolta Carmignani – the same linens that once graced Orient Express sleeper cars.
The hotel’s corridors recall the polished elegance of the luxury train, while its lounges and public spaces invite guests to indulge in a voyage of textures and perspectives.
Toro has channelled the feel of the home of a refined aesthete, gently transformed into a hotel. Temporal and stylistic references ripple throughout the spaces, including in the hand-painted evocation of Rome’s sky found above each bed.
Orient Express La Minerva is home to three dining and drinking venues. La Minerva Bar, situated in the heart of the hotel’s lobby, provides a serene haven amid the vibrant pulse of Roman life. Design details include a grand glass roof, a preserved statue of Minerva, and original marble columns which glow softly throughout the day.
Opening to the public in May 2025, Gigi Rigolatto will bring the spirit of la dolce vita to the property’s rooftop. A concept by Rikas Hospitality Group and Paris Society, it promises a vibrant energy paired with 360° panoramic views of the city.
Mimi Kakushi will also open at Orient Express La Minerva in late 2025, transporting guests to the Osaka of the 1920s – an era of the creative clash between Western modernism and traditional Japanese values.
“Opening the doors of Orient Express La Minerva marks a powerful moment in our journey,” says Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express. “A city of layered beauty and bold character, Rome offers the perfect canvas to reimagine the legacy of Orient Express through new purpose and experience – where Romans gather, and international aesthetes unite. In partnership with Arsenale Group and through the visionary work of artist-architect Hugo Toro, we have the privilege to breathe new life into a heritage property deeply rooted in the fabric of this timeless city.”
Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale Group, comments: “With Orient Express La Minerva, we are inaugurating the very first Orient Express hotel in the world, giving shape to a new concept of ultra-luxury hospitality. This project combines the identity of a legendary brand with the entrepreneurial vision of Arsenale: transforming iconic places into world-class destinations. We chose Rome because it represents the crossroads between history, culture, and Italian hospitality. This debut, alongside the one of La Dolce Vita Orient Express trains — with Rome as the centerpiece — confirms Italy’s ability to attract strategic investments and strengthens Arsenale’s role as a key player in international luxury development.”
