Story of a Suite with Rocco Forte

Some suites are just bigger hotel rooms. At Rocco Forte Hotels, some are legends. Join us as we uncover some of the most extraordinary spaces in some of the most historic buildings in the world, with great stories and even greater views, and where details come together in characterful retreats. These aren’t just places to check into. These are chapters in a personal novel…your personal novel.

Pages from the Rocco Forte Journal

Rocco Forte hotels are a family story. Exquisite hotels in exceptional locations and often in historic buildings, characterful, thoughtfully designed and unmistakably local, be it London, Rome, Sicily or Berlin, yet unmistakably Rocco Forte. Restorative spas, destination bars and restaurants that hero the finest local ingredients. Tailormade, nowhere-else experiences, open-hearted atmospheres.

At Hotel de Russie in Rome, enjoy a dawn tour of the Vatican. Stroll through the sacred corridors at your own pace as the first golden light of the sun bathes the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s a rare moment of stillness—one of the world’s most visited landmarks, yet for a fleeting hour, it feels entirely yours. Return to the hotel for breakfast under the citrus trees in the serene terraced garden.

At Brown’s Hotel, in London, enjoy private art gallery visits with curator Maeve Doyle. Whether you’re uncovering an emerging talent or stepping into the inner sanctum of a private collection, each tour is more than a viewing—it’s a conversation: thoughtful, personal, and full of unexpected turns. Back at the hotel, settle in for Afternoon Tea in the Drawing Room, where literary greats like Rudyard Kipling once lingered, and where today, echoes of wit and whispered inspiration still linger.

At The Balmoral, Edinburgh – pre-book The Balmoral’s Poet-in-Residence Marcas, and select a pre-written Gaelic poem or develop a bespoke poem, making for the perfect memento for a wedding vow, proposal, anniversary or heartfelt love letter written in the most passionate of languages.

At Villa Igiea, in Palermo, travel back to Palermo’s Belle Époque, following in the footsteps of Sicily’s most prominent families: the Florios. The tour takes in important addresses in their history like Villino Florio all’Olivuzza, an Art Nouveau beauty built by Ernesto Basile.

These experiences are truly one of a kind, only open to guests of Forte Suites. Meticulously selected and often unattainable elsewhere, a testament to Rocco Forte Hotels’ commitment to offering truly unique and unforgettable stays.

If These Walls Could Talk…

The Muse’s Playground

Picasso Suite, Hotel de Russie, Rome

Art history, garden views, and unapologetic glamour in the Eternal City.

If walls could talk, the Picasso Suite would whisper sweet nothings in French and Italian, sketching your silhouette between sips of absinthe. Back in 1917, Picasso and Cocteau roamed these same halls, quite literally stealing oranges from the garden below. Today? You’ll enjoy the same Secret Garden and Pincian Hill from your terrace—only instead of drawing ballet sets, you’ll admire the amethyst and gold hues of the handcrafted tapestry cushions showcasing “Portrait de Dora Maar” and the artist’s other famous works. Walk across the warm timber floors to find an elegant marble dining table and bar alcove, fine Italian furniture and a library of Picasso folio books.

The Door Handle is a Banana

Sir Paul Smith Suite, Brown’s Hotel, London

Bold stripes, brilliant quirks, and design that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

At Brown’s, Mayfair’s most stylish hideaway, Sir Paul Smith and Olga Polizzi have collaborated on a suite that doesn’t just nod to British eccentricity—it winks. Step inside and you’re greeted by vivid colors, eclectic antiques, and a floor-to-ceiling gallery wall that just might outshine your social calendar. This is a love letter to London’s creative spirit—equal parts wit and wonder. The suite overlooks the stylish Dover Street, and floor-to-ceiling windows flood its caramel tones with natural light.

The Room With a Signature

J.K. Rowling Suite, The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Literary legend, handwritten endings, and a view fit for a muse.

Edinburgh’s cobblestone streets and characterful facades have long served as a source of inspiration for creatives but it was at The Balmoral that a certain boy wizard’s saga came to its epic close. This is the suite where J.K. Rowling stayed for six months and it is now the Balmoral’s literary crown jewel. There’s a turreted alcove, a golden owl knocker on the door, and a marble bust of Hermes bearing the author’s signature. Beyond, large windows reveal stunning views of Calton Hill. This is not just a room—it’s a rite of passage for those who appreciate the weight of a perfect ending.

A Belle Époque Time Machine

Donna Franca Suite, Villa Igiea, Palermo

Seaside palatial elegance with echoes of Sicilian high society.

Donna Franca Florio didn’t just attend Palermo’s social scene—she was the scene. Her namesake suite at Villa Igiea still channels her dramatic flair and impeccable taste. Start your mornings with a Tyrrhenian breeze on the terrace. End your evenings under gilded ceilings at Florio restaurant. In between? A helicopter ride over Sicily or a Florio family history tour might just fit the mood. The suite is located in the Palazzina Donna Franca, an adjacent private building which was originally connected to the main villa through an architectural arch and which became the Liberty style club of the hotel.

New for the Summer

Aquazzura Bar, Hotel de Russie, Rome

Fashion meets mixology in a secret garden within a secret garden.

This is the first-ever Aquazzura Bar, marking the brand’s debut in hospitality in an exclusive collaboration that brings together Aquazzura’s distinctive aesthetics and the timeless elegance of the hotel that this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. A secret garden nestled within a secret garden, where negronis come with runway attitude.

Bar Artemisia, Hotel Savoy, Florence

History in a glass, by Artemisia Gentileschi.

The bar features wallpaper that seamlessly transforms into fresco-like scenes, and materials chosen by Olga Polizzi, Head of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, to set a theatrical tone. The drinks menu is just as inventive, created by Salvatore Calabrese and Federico Pavan. Leather-aged and wine-infused cocktails complemented by unexpected ingredients such as truffles. Accompanying the cocktail selection is a curated range of local wines complemented by Tuscan-inspired small plates.

Behind the Doors of Legends

At Rocco Forte, every suite is an initiation into something greater—a story, a feeling, a private world just waiting to be unlocked. Whether you’re tracing muses in Rome, sipping banana-scented irony in London, or penning your own magic in Edinburgh… You haven’t just arrived. You belong. Book your stay with Lartisien and let us craft an experience uniquely you.