La Favola di San Pietro

Hotel Description

You know what hit me first about La Favola di San Pietro? The name actually makes sense once you’re there – it really does feel like you’ve stumbled into some kind of Roman fairy tale, especially when you’re walking back in the evening and the Vatican dome is glowing in the distance. I mean, you’re literally a five-minute walk from St. Peter’s Square, but somehow this little 4-star place manages to feel like a quiet neighborhood secret.

The thing about staying on Via Ottaviano is that you get the best of both worlds – you can walk to the Vatican before the tour groups descend (honestly, get there by 7:30 AM and you’ll thank me), but you’re also right on one of Rome’s better shopping streets. There’s this fantastic alimentari right around the corner where locals actually shop, and the morning routine of grabbing fresh cornetti and watching the shopkeepers hosing down the sidewalks… well, it’s pretty much peak Rome if you ask me. The hotel itself sits in this sweet spot where you hear just enough street life to feel connected to the city, but the rooms facing the courtyard are surprisingly quiet – something I wasn’t expecting given how central everything is.

What really won me over, though, was how the staff seemed to genuinely get that most people staying here are dealing with Vatican overload and tourist fatigue. They’re not pushing expensive tours or trying to upsell you on everything – instead, they’ll casually mention that the 64 bus stop is literally outside your door and it’ll take you straight to Termini, or that the best gelato in the neighborhood (and I mean the stuff locals line up for) is three blocks down on the left. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star – clean, comfortable beds, decent Wi-Fi, and bathrooms that actually have water pressure. Nothing revolutionary, but honestly refreshing after some of the “charming” places I’ve stayed where charming apparently means the shower barely works. The breakfast spread is pretty standard European hotel fare, but the coffee is legitimately good and they don’t rush you out, which matters when you’re planning your assault on the Sistine Chapel.

Here’s the thing about this area that most people don’t realize – it’s actually where Romans come to shop and eat, not just tourists doing the Vatican circuit. So when you’re done being culturally enriched for the day, you can just… exist. Grab a table at one of the trattorias on Via Cola di Rienzo, watch the evening passeggiata, maybe pick up some actually decent wine from the enoteca down the street. The hotel’s location makes all of this feel natural rather than like you’re checking boxes on some itinerary. Plus, if you’re traveling in shoulder season, that 8.2 rating starts to make perfect sense – it’s the kind of place that delivers exactly what it promises without any unpleasant surprises.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $132. Double or Twin Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $159. Triple Room with 3 single beds, 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 3
• Estimated price from: $265. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 single bed and 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Superb – Rachel from Italy – 16 May 2025 (9/10)

  Loved the location. Central to everywhere and the metro close by

• Bed in an Apartment and Breakfast in Outside Cafe – Karell from Philippines – 25 April 2025 (9/10)

  High ceilings, electric sockets on each side of the bed with bed side lamps and drawers, cleaned everyday, new toilet paper everyday, new towels everyday, good size for the room, view of the outside, breakfast at Mozart cafe, location near the Vatican, free common use of kettle and other things, dramatic door, bidet, cute apartment ran like a bed and breakfast with breakfast literally outside the streets in another cafe, and lots of stores nearby.
  
  What could be improved: Dull color of curtains and bedsheets, bed that is just joined into two to make it bigger but separates many times, vinegar smell of the clean towels, only bath wash available, scent of the bath wash, neighbors who forget to close the door to the elevator hence no one can use the elevator, short talks with host (felt distant), sound from outside door can be heard inside room, and locks need a lot of experience to get used too.

• 5 night stay to visit family, sightsee & attend 6 Natuon rugby match. Location was very central, within walking dist – William from Ireland – 17 March 2025 (8/10)

  Excellent location, clean, comfortable
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• great area and room – Geny from Switzerland – 20 November 2024 (9/10)

  The location is great close to a lot of cute places to see, if you planning on going to the vatican area or not is a great area to stay, not that far from the main train station, everyhing is great, the breakfast included in the little cafeteria close by, also metro station at 2 blocks. the fridge in the room helps a lot and they have a coffe table to share with the other rooms
  
  What could be improved: I would just take better care of the cleaning floor is very dusty at the bottom of the bed and bed sheets are kind of old but over all is great

• Good – Hopevv from Bulgaria – 24 October 2024 (7/10)

  Very good location , cozy and pretty apartment
  
  What could be improved: The host Daniela was quite rude (we communicated over WhatsApp)

• Would love to see how beautiful it looks when construction is done It’s for the Jubilee? – Brooke from United States – 11 October 2024 (7/10)

  Comfortable beds, plenty of towels, treats in the kitchen! There happened to be construction on the street but a great neighborhood. Excellent restaurant on the corner recommended by the property mgr.
  
  What could be improved: We just had struggles with the elevator and door lock but it’s a new thing for us.

• Very pleasant. Great location. – Lois from Australia – 6 September 2024 (9/10)

  All good
  
  What could be improved: Nil

• Would Stay here again. – Karen from United States – 18 June 2024 (8/10)

  Breakfast was Just a 5 minute walk from the hotel with Friendly staff and a very nice continental breakfast. Hotel is very close to public transportation. Staff was extremely helpful.

• staff was super friendly. free breakfast at a very nice restaurant nearby – Mark from United States – 3 June 2024 (9/10)

  location was walking distance to a lot of Vatican buildings. Access to the building and room was very secure.
  
  What could be improved: Small but similar to most rooms in Rome or any major city.

• Superb – Muradova from Azerbaijan – 23 March 2024 (9/10)

  This was a very nice place. It was a quiet, clean hotel in the heart of the city, just a step away from the metro. Most of the sights of the city could be reached on foot. We mostly walked everywhere. I can recommend it to everyone. If I come to Rome again, I will stay there.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities