JK Place Rome hotel review: one of the Italian capital's poshest palazzos

Hotels that claim to be homes-from-home are two a penny in the boutique scene, but this one really does feel like the kind of place where everyone knows your name (and they probably do, since almost half the guests are repeat visitors). Opened in 2013, this was the third hotel for the Florence-founded JK Place brand, which has since spread from Italy to France, and aims to give guests the feel of a family home. In fact, it's located in one of Rome's poshest homes — a wing of Palazzo Borghese, the vast complex built for the legendary Borghese family of popes and princes in the 16th century.
The familial atmosphere is impeccably maintained by the staff, who walk the line between genuine, smiles-that-reach-the-eyes friendliness, and quiet efficiency (there's more or less one member of staff for every guest). Guests even get personalised presents (such as a handbound notebook, or even a birthday gift from a stalwart Rome brand) before checking out.
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Score 9/10The 27 rooms — designed by Florentine Michele Bönan and refreshed in 2022 — are the height of modern elegance: neutral colours, walk-in closets and contemporary four-poster beds paired with soft wood panelling. Add the odd antique chrome lamp or art deco-ish counter, plus minimalist sofas, tables and the overall feeling is that of a rather timeless affair. Higher categories (from Grand Deluxe upwards) might have a separate bathtub as well as a shower, or a rare-for-Rome balcony from the JK Deluxe Balcony rooms upwards. Note that there are no knockout views — this is all about ease of location rather than jaw-dropper panoramas. Possibly best of all are the complimentary minibars that are restocked daily and full of fun things, from chocolate truffles to savoury taralli biscuits.
Bathrooms are clad in the ubiquitous Carrara marble, but in a modern way — candy stripes of grey and white stone on the walls, mixed with simple wood parquet — and stocked with luxurious toiletries. There's another neat combination of ancient and modern on the walls, with arty photos of outré ancient palazzos by Florentine Massimo Listri. Though the rooms are slickly adult, the hotel welcomes children — younger guests get presents, from Rome colouring-in books to a treat from the Lego store.
Score 8/10 Unlike its five-star cousins around Rome, JK Place doesn't aim for the stars with a fine-dining restaurant; instead, more in keeping with its home-from-home vibe, it has a relaxed restaurant, JK Café, spread across three downstairs, semi-connected rooms and spilling into the library. The all-day menu, stretching from lunchtime to late night, does Italian classics, walking the fine line between tradition and modernity. It's the kind of relaxed place where you can retire to the library for an amaro or a coffee at the end of the meal. The Café is also the breakfast space. Instead of a buffet, guests are brought a basket of pastries and toast, and can order larger dishes. Everything has been meticulously thought through — even the butter is stamped 'JK'.
Between the restaurant and the vast lobby is a jewel-like bar. The joy of this place is that you can always find a space that feels private, thanks to the warren of rooms on the ground floor — there's no penning guests into a single area. There's a great boutique wine list including local Lazio labels, and there's a decent cocktail menu too.
• Best restaurants in Rome• What to do in Rome
Taking the home-from-home idea to its logical conclusion, there's little else on the property. However, guests get free access to nearby gyms while spa treatments can be arranged at nearby top hotels. If a massage is all you want, they can call in a therapist who can set up in your room. Although there may not be time — the concierges are adept at fulfilling every request, from nabbing sold-out tickets to private tours of St Peter's and the Vatican, as well as ArcheoRunning tours of Rome sites. The hotel has close links with Rome designers, and offers guests discounts and skip-the-line access to the top boutiques of nearby Via Condotti. You can also hire ebikes to get around the city (for a fee).
Score 9/10If you want a bit of everything, this is a great base. Walk to the end of the block and you'll see the Spanish Steps in the distance; the Pantheon and Piazza Navona are each a 10-15 minute stroll away; while a straight shot across the Tiber is the Vatican (about 45 minutes on foot). The Mausoleum of Augustus (due to reopen in 2026) and the Ara Pacis are at the other end of the street. Having said all that, despite the proximity to some of the most famous sites, this is a quiet area, and the entrance is on a tiny side street. If the crowds around the Pantheon leave you cold, this is the perfect place to be.
Price B&B doubles from £667Restaurant mains from £17Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Julia Buckley was a guest of JK Place Rome (jkroma.com)
• Best affordable hotels in Rome• Best tours of Italy for your next getaway

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• Times

I've found the ideal cycling adventure ahead of the Tour de France

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We're covering serious distances — up to 188km on the longest day — and he is offering the kind of no-nonsense encouragement that cuts through gradient and fatigue alike. This trip marks a decade of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), a global community of members who connect online and in person via regular rides, events and perks at Rapha's network of 'clubhouses' around the world. As a keen rider who has done everything from local cyclocross races to mountainous sportives, I own more than a fair bit of Rapha kit but have never embraced it quite like this. Now in my fifth decade I had the chance to tackle one of cycling's most famous climbs with them, and it felt like a fitting way to test the legs — and the look. Among the 125 riders from 22 countries gathered, the crowd is much more mixed than I expected. The RCC might have a reputation for being elite, but in reality it's a collective of people who simply love cycling — and the finer things in life. 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At Capelongue's La Bergerie restaurant the chef Mathieu Guivarch serves wood‑fired lamb and seasonal Provençal vegetables, and as plates are cleared, wine glasses emptied and the conversation turns to tomorrow's challenge, Aleda Fitzpatrick, the leader of the RCC, leans in with a simple, ominous truth: 'Ambition is not a dirty word.' There will be no easing into this one — 140km, 2,900m of vertical ascent and at the heart of it, the Giant of Provence: 21km long, with an average gradient of 7.5 per cent, gaining a lung-crushing 1,590m. Tomorrow the only way is up. It's easy to assume the RCC is all premium kit and curated suffering — and to be fair there's some of that. But since this trip I've dropped into RCC rides in New York City, Palma in Mallorca and Sydney. Each time I showed up solo. Each time I rode away with new friends and the same post-ride buzz. For all the slick branding the thing that lingers is the people — welcoming, obsessive and always up for a chat over coffee and cadence. The kit might match, but the vibe is far from uniform. • 13 of the best Alpine resorts for a summer holiday We roll out at 7am through Gordes, officially one of France's most beautiful villages. I'm feeling good and as we enter Bédoin, something quintessentially French unfolds before us — a Citroën 2CV rally, a parade of charming, sputtering relics from another era. We roll past, grinning at the contrast — classic horsepower on one side, modern carbon fibre and electronic shifting on the other. All groups stopped at Pista Cycling Café at the foot of Mont Ventoux and, in a moment of blind nostalgia, order that Orangina ( It tastes amazing but turns out to be a mistake. The first 6km of Ventoux are fine. Then … the forest. Ten unrelenting kilometres at a gradient of 10 per cent, with nowhere to hide. 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A quick pause, another deep breath, a moment of reflection. Then the final push. The top of Mont Ventoux is a barren, windswept moonscape with bleached rock, brutal wind and nowhere to hide. The final stretch is agony, but then, suddenly, it's over. A quick photo, a jacket zipped tight and I roll into the descent towards Sault, where a slice of pizza and a hit of salt taste glorious after a day of nothing but energy bars and gels. Then, after a 10km drag, the road tips downwards into the Gorges de la Nesque — suffering behind us, pure joy ahead. The tarmac snakes through sheer limestone cliffs, suspended high above the valley. We form a fast-moving group, each turn flowing into the next, tunnels flashing by, the wind rushing past. No brakes, no effort, just speed, momentum and one of the best roads I've ever ridden. As the burn in my legs and the Orangina in my stomach finally settle, we roll into Villes-sur-Auzon and the ride is done. 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Daily Mail​

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Telegraph

5 hours ago

• Telegraph

How vaccine fears and summer holidays could trigger a measles surge

As the June heatwave begins and families prepare for a summer of festivals and flying off abroad, experts are warning that thousands may return home this year with an unwanted holiday souvenir. Measles – the highly infectious but preventable disease from the past – is making a concerning comeback. Already, a number of popular destinations – including France, Spain and Italy – have seen 'large' outbreaks, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Analysis by WHO Europe and Unicef reported 127,350 measles cases in the European region for 2024, double the number of cases reported for 2023. It is also the highest number since 1997. It's a similar story across the pond. Canada, which only recorded an average of 91 measles cases annually from 1998 to 2024, has 2,885 confirmed cases already this year. Meanwhile, there were more measles cases in the US during the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. 'It's essential that everyone, particularly parents of young children, check all family members are up to date with two MMR doses, especially if you are travelling this summer for holidays or visiting family,' says Dr Vanessa Saliba, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA. 'Measles cases are picking up again in England and outbreaks are happening in Europe and many countries with close links to the UK. 'Measles spreads very easily and can be a nasty disease, leading to complications like ear and chest infections and inflammation of the brain with some children tragically ending up in hospital and suffering life-long consequences. Nobody wants this for their child and it's not something you want to experience when away on holiday.' While cases are still lower in the UK than they were in 2024, experts are also worried that unvaccinated people could contract the disease at large-scale events such as Glastonbury – which starts next week. 'Festivals are the perfect place for measles to spread,' says Dr Alasdair Wood, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West. 'We want festival-goers to enjoy their time at Glastonbury and other festivals this year. Being aware of the current health risks will help those attending enjoy their time as much as possible. If you're not fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, please contact your GP to see if you can get an appointment before coming to the festival.' Vaccine hesitancy and the declining MMR vaccination rates – only 85 per cent of UK children are receiving two doses, well below the 95 per cent needed for herd immunity – may well be the reason why a surge in measles is being predicted later this year. Dr Hana Patel, a GP, says that although she hasn't seen any cases of measles this year so far in her surgery in south-east London, like most health professionals, she's concerned that the pandemic as well as other factors are to blame for the lack of vaccinations in some parts of the UK. 'There have always been some communities who are vaccine hesitant – there is evidence that traveller communities don't have access to the same information most people do, or patients from particular areas from Europe, where they don't have a vaccine schedule, are two examples,' she says. 'But after Covid, I've noticed more people – even some doctors – who seem quite complacent about vaccines. 'It's not always a family's fault. If you have a transient population, perhaps a family in temporary accommodation who are then moved to another area, they might miss their letter or appointment. Or then they will get an appointment and then forget about it because it's not on everyone's mind all the time. It's really important to find out the challenges in each particular area and target them with specific help. 'Other parents may not understand that it's not just one vaccination but you need two to be fully protected. Children in larger families may also be at risk because parents think one child has had it and so they think that protects the others or they can't remember if the others have had it. Speaking a different language may be another factor. 'I really hope that more people get the vaccine done, because long-term consequences such as meningitis and hearing loss, are incredibly serious. We also have to remember the risks to pregnant women of being exposed to measles too (contracting measles can lead to severe complications with pregnancy and birth). It's more than just the child who has been vaccinated, it's the people around them too.' Dr Naveed Asif, a GP from the London General Practice, says he has encountered a diverse spectrum of patients who have been influenced by the misinformation surrounding vaccines. 'One notable instance involved a well-educated couple who meticulously researched every decision they make regarding their children's health,' he says. 'They came to me with a palpable sense of uncertainty after reading a negative article about the MMR vaccine. Despite the wealth of positive data supporting its safety and efficacy, they were fixated on that one negative report. 'I've also treated patients from backgrounds where traditional beliefs about health are prevalent. For example, families from South Asian communities often rely heavily on parental advice and anecdotal experiences. They might argue that they've never needed vaccines in their lives and feel confident in their decision to forgo them. This reliance on peer opinion can lead to a strong sense of community validation, but it can also perpetuate hesitancy about vaccinations. 'From my personal experience, I often see sick children presenting to their GP first, and I have encountered significantly unwell children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate. These families often find themselves reliant on more invasive, distressing and intensive resources to support their child's illness. I firmly believe that exposing children to vaccines early, rather than keeping them unprotected, is more likely to build immunity and contribute to healthier, stronger adults overall.' But vaccine hesitancy is not the only factor. Although the figures for measles were low during the Covid pandemic, the lockdowns appear to have exacerbated the current increase in measles figures, with over 1.8 million infants in the WHO European region missing their vaccinations between 2020 and 2022. England had already experienced 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2024, the highest number of cases recorded annually since 2012. One young person was confirmed to have died in the UK last year of the disease. 'We have seen a steady decline in vaccination coverage for children over the past 10 years and we now find ourselves in a situation where the UK does not meet the WHO target of 95 per cent coverage for any routine childhood immunisations,' says Dr Helen Stewart, the officer for health improvement at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 'The result of this trend is being felt already, with measles outbreaks occurring across the UK, increasing cases of whooping cough and poliovirus being found in sewage samples in London. 'Because the MMR vaccine has been so successful in preventing outbreaks, many parents and caregivers today have never witnessed the sometimes devastating impact measles can have on children and babies. Measles is one of the more contagious diseases – more transmissible than even Covid – and poses a serious threat, especially to children under the age of five. 'Paediatricians are particularly concerned about current and potential outbreaks in the UK, especially during the upcoming winter period. This is already an extremely tough time for health care professionals, with high surges in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza, as well as circulating Covid and group A streptococcus (GAS). To have another highly contagious, dangerous and preventable disease, making children sick, would be disastrous. Not only could it put other young patients at serious risk, it could also add further pressure to paediatric wards. 'We understand that vaccine hesitancy may be an issue in some instances, but evidence shows that accessibility and availability of health appointments plays a huge role in low uptake. We urge the UK Government to take forward the commitments of the NHS's vaccine strategy and work towards reversing this dangerous trend.' Six decades ago, up to more than half a million people in the UK could be affected by measles each year, and around 100 people would die annually. Author Roald Dahl's seven-year-old daughter was one such victim, dying of complications from the disease in 1962. Thousands were left with respiratory, brain or hearing problems. But the MMR vaccine changed everything. Introduced in 1968, it's thought to have prevented over 20 million measles cases and 4,500 deaths in the UK. When offered to all children in 1988 (and the second dose MMR vaccine was brought in for preschoolers in 1996), the number of cases in the UK fell dramatically. So much so that in 2017, WHO confirmed that the UK had achieved 'measles elimination status', something the US had already achieved in 2000. Despite the UK losing this status shortly afterwards, it regained it again in 2021 after the Covid pandemic. Yet now, doctors are facing real fears that it has taken a foothold once again. 'The challenge is not anecdotal, it is very real,' says Dr Benjamin Kasstan-Dabush of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'There has been a global rise in measles cases, and two unvaccinated children died from measles in Texas this year, reminding us of just how dangerous this preventable disease is. 'High vaccination coverage helps to prevent the spread of disease, but rates are just not as high as they need to be. It is likely that the number of confirmed cases of measles does not reflect the actual burden of illness. 'This is particularly worrying because a child infected with measles can deteriorate rapidly, and there is always a risk of them developing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). So, we should all be concerned about a predicted surge in measles cases.' Since January this year, 420 lab-confirmed measles cases have been reported in England, with London reporting almost half of all cases in the past four weeks. Outside the capital, Bristol has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 so far this year, followed by Leeds (29) and Essex (22). A number of other regions are also reporting outbreaks, with 25 per cent of cases in the North West, and 11 per cent in the West Midlands. Earlier this month, UKHSA published its monthly update showing there were 109 confirmed cases in April and 86 so far in May – most have been in unvaccinated children aged 10 years and under. 'We have seen a small increase in the number of measles cases in Birmingham over recent weeks,' says Dr Clara Day, the chief medical officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull. 'We know how easy it is for viruses like this to spread within our communities, especially where we know there is a high number of unvaccinated people. 'Unfortunately we know that misinformation surrounding the MMR immunisation is prevalent, but it is safe, effective and the only protection we have against these illnesses. Measles in particular can be deadly in the most serious of cases, so I would encourage all parents to make informed decisions about whether to get their child immunised.'