Charming house

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Charming House? The name actually fits – and that’s honestly rare these days. It’s tucked away on Via Macerata in Prenestino Labicano, which I’ll admit isn’t the Rome neighborhood everyone talks about, but that’s exactly why it works. You’re still very much in the city (about 20 minutes to the Colosseum by metro), but you’re not paying those crazy centro storico prices or dealing with tourist crowds every time you step outside.

The building itself has this quietly elegant thing going on – not flashy, but you can tell someone put thought into the details. The lobby smells like good coffee and has these worn leather chairs that actually look like people use them, not just pose in them for Instagram. I stayed here twice last year, and both times the staff remembered little things about my preferences, which honestly caught me off guard. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star – clean, comfortable beds, decent bathrooms with actual water pressure (fellow travelers will appreciate this). The AC works properly too, which… well, if you’ve been to Rome in August, you know why that matters.

Here’s the thing about this location though – Via Macerata is one of those residential streets where you’ll see actual Romans going about their daily lives. There’s a fantastic bakery about two blocks down that opens at 6 AM, and the guy behind the counter started recognizing me after three days. The Prenestino area has this authentic neighborhood feel that’s getting harder to find in Rome. You’re near Porta Maggiore, which most tourists skip right past, but it’s actually pretty impressive if you take five minutes to look up from your phone. The metro connection at Ponte Lungo is about a 12-minute walk – not the most convenient, I’ll be honest, but the neighborhood is safe and there are usually taxis around. Plus, parking is actually possible here if you’re driving, unlike in the historic center where you’ll spend an hour circling blocks.

What really sold me on this place was the breakfast situation. They do this spread with local pastries and proper espresso – not the watery stuff you get at some hotels – and there’s this little courtyard where you can sit if the weather’s nice. The whole vibe is relaxed, like you’re staying at a friend’s well-appointed house rather than a generic hotel. The 9-star rating makes sense when you consider the value – you’re getting genuine hospitality and comfort without the tourist markup. Is it going to blow your mind? Probably not. But will you sleep well, eat well, and feel like you discovered something the guidebooks missed? Absolutely.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $124. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• È stato molto comodo e la proprietaria è sempre disponibile e gentile. – Marchesin from Italy – 15 June 2025 (10/10)

  La posizione era molto comoda e vicinissima alla metro.
  
  What could be improved: Non migliorerei niente

• Exceptional – Antonio from Italy – 31 March 2025 (10/10)

  disponibilità dei gestori/proprietari. flessibilità per checkin e chekout

• Rapporto qualità prezzo molto buona – Massimo from Italy – 27 May 2025 (8/10)

  Alloggio accogliente con spazi ben distribuiti . Letti comodi si dorme bene
  
  What could be improved: Il terzo piano senza ascensore e troppo calcare nel bagno e nella doccia

• Very good – Elżbieta from Poland – 13 March 2025 (8/10)

  Miła obsługa i wsparcie gospodyni, cenne rady przed przykazdem. Wszystko wyjaśnione. Czysto i schludnie w apartamencie. Blisko linii C.

• Very good – Quarantotto from Italy – 5 March 2025 (8/10)

  Vicino alla Metro quindi ottimo per andare a visitare il centro, in un contesto di quartiere bello e pieno di vita, localini e mercato rionale.

• Exceptional – Giovanni from Italy – 6 June 2025 (10/10)

• Exceptional – Dimitra from Greece – 8 April 2025 (10/10)

• Very good – Lenka from Czech Republic – 18 March 2025 (8/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities