Living Canvas

The wisteria-clad Bio Hotel Raphaël in Rome is an art lover's dream

- WORDS VARUNI MOHAN PHOTOS COURTESY BIO HOTEL RAPHAËL

Tucked away just steps from Piazza Navona, Bio Hotel Raphaël is a hidden jewel in the heart of Rome. With 50 rooms, including 20 suites, this intimate Relais & Châteaux property masterfully blends historic character with contemporary design, offering guests an experience that feels both artful and stylish. The building itself tells a layered story. While the wisteria-blanketed brickwork roots it firmly in old Rome, the top floors designed by renowned American architect Richard Meier, bring a crisp, modern clarity to its aesthetic. Meier's use of marble — Carrara, Siena, Portoro — alongside warm white oak creates interiors that feel luminous yet grounded, perfectly in tune with the city’s golden light. Rooted in a commitment to sustainable hospitality, the hotel’s evolution embraces green building principles, solar energy solutions, and a culinary philosophy centred around organic, vegan, and biodynamic produce.