ROME | Afternoon tea at Hotel Hassler Roma on top of the Spanish Steps

March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina. After visiting Syracuse, Catania and Palermo, we return to Rome, and home. With 25,832 km², Sicily is only 20% smaller than Belgium (30,689 km²). Quite a lot in four days.

How kill / spend time between our flight and the night train? As we both have visited the Eternal City before, a quick visit to one of the landmarks is a bit silly. Danny came up with the idea of afternoon tea in a grand hotel. The St. Regis Rome was nearer the railway station, but we decided not to go there. I don’t remember why (not).

A bit of research later our eye fell on on Hotel Hassler Rome, at the top of the Spanish Steps or Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti at the Piazza di Spagna.

Hotel Hassler Roma

The five-star Hotel Hassler Roma is located few minutes away from Villa Borghese Gardens and close to all the famous monuments and landmarks of the Eternal City, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi’s Fountain and the Vatican.

Roberto Jr. and Veruschka Wirth, respectively Executive President and CEO of the Hassler Roma, represent the sixth generation of a famous dynasty of Swiss hoteliers.

The dynasty began with Franz-Josef Bucher. In the 1870s, Bucher bought and developed the Trittalp area of Switzerland, previously remote and inaccessible. Within a couple of years, he built several hotels in addition to the Hammetschwand, still the highest chair-lift in Europe, and the Burgenstock railway.

In 1890, he sent his son-in-law, Heinrich Wirth, to Rome to become manager of the Hotel Minerva. There began the Wirth family’s historical ties with Rome. Heinrich Wirth’s son, Oscar, joined the Hotel Hassler in 1921 as partner of Franz Nistelweck, Alberto Hassler‘s son-in-law. Oscar Wirth became the sole owner of the prestigious hotel in 1964.

In 1939, Oscar demolished the building almost entirely in order to rebuild it. After the hotel was requisitioned by the US Air Force to serve as their Rome headquarters during World War II, the new Hassler was finally opened to the public in 1947.

In 1950, Roberto, the first son of Oscar and his wife Carmen, was born in Rome. Roberto E. Wirth was devoted and attentive and considered the Hotel his home and family heritage.

During the 90s he has also acquired Il Palazzetto, a charming 16th- century building overlooking Spanish Steps and a few minutes from the Hassler, which is a hotel with four rooms, a wine bar and a private event space. Roberto E. Wirth transmitted his commitment, his passion and dedication and personal touch to his children Roberto Jr. and Veruschka Wirth who have inherited the property and management of the Hassler in 2022.

Afternoon tea in Salone Eva

To book an afternoon tea at Hotel Hassler Roma, you need to call or mail. And while in se we prefer some online booking tool, this is actually good news. It mans it won’t be a ‘factory’ experience, with a zillion tourists having the same afternoon tea. Something you can experience in London, for instance.

Afternoon tea is served in Salone Eva. A plush, lush, red luxurious room. It would fit in the Senate of Belgium (where red is the main colour).

Having booked an afternoon tea, we receive the relevant menu. For 42 euros, you get a three-level cake stand with the afternoon tea staples: sandwiches, scones and pastries. The waitress assured one for two is “more than enough”.

The actual tea is (not) included in the price. We paid 51 euros. So, the 9 euros are for… we don’t know.

The selection

The afternoon tea at Hotel Hassler Roma is not very traditional. Not your typical cucumber sandwich, but some quiche, a salmon sandwich, a bun with I forgot with what and a Korean bap.

The scones were on the small side and served with mascarpone instead of clotted cream. The pastries were more biscuits (cookies) and a brownie.

So instead od serving traditional English afternoon tea, Hotel Hassler Rome takes the idea and turns into an Italian-style event. A good choice.

So?

Afternoon tea at Hassler was a great idea. 42 euros is a bargain for afternoon tea in a five-star hotel. It was quiet in the salon, despite loud, young children.

And it gave s the opportunity to bridge the gap between the flight and the train far from the madding crowd.