Lonely Planet Review
A mix of marble, leather and fake frescoes, the Britannia is a fun four-star just off Via Nazionale. Rooms range from the traditional to the mix 'n' match, combining the modern (large photos of Roman statues) and the curious (a bathroom door hidden in the wall). Staff are efficient and amiable.
Just down the road from Rome's opera house, it's an ultra-friendly spot with a look that veers between the stylish and the decidedly not. To get the picture, imagine a hotel decorated by an eccentric opera singer with money and carte blanche to experiment. Dodgy frescoes and 19th-century horse-and-hound oil paintings hang on the walls; floors are parquet one minute, inlaid marble or motel-style carpet the next; leather armchairs are tastefully arranged in the wood-panelled bar. It's great. The room decor is similarly ad hoc with antique furniture, floral chintz and sparkling marble-clad bathrooms. Soundproofing keeps out the worst of the noise while sun lamps in the bathroom mean that you can clean your teeth while brushing up on your tan. Warmly recommended.
Review by author
Duncan Garwood