Zen Trastevere: Where You Need to Stay in Rome, Italy

Arriving in Trastevere

We zipped through the city from Roma Termini down cobblestone roads that contrasted the modern luxury shops lining the streets. Our taxi driver veered off course down narrow alleyways with sharp-angled turns, presumably to avoid traffic.

My first glimpses of Rome were seemingly a blur. Before long, we had reached our destination. Or had we? Justin and I stood at the side of the road in front of a bargain table, piled high with bins of clothes, accessories, and random knick-knacks.

"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Justin seemed slightly worried. I examined the address. "It looks like we're here," though I was somewhat unsure of myself.

We walked up to a large gate at the noted address and sighed in relief. There were several businesses listed next to the buzzer, and Zen Trastevere was one of them.

We buzzed and heard a friendly voice on the other side of the speaker. She said, "Come on up!"

We traveled to the second floor of the building using the elevator where we just fit inside with our two suitcases. Upon exiting the elevator, we were warmly welcomed by Katia of Zen Trastevere who gave us a tour of our home for the next four nights.

Zen Trastevere and B&B Zoe Holiday: The Kitchen and Breakfast

The first place we saw was the common area, which included a kitchen and a small seating area. While guests aren't able to cook their own food in this kitchen, it was rather nice to have breakfast prepared for us each morning.

Staying true to the "B&B" title, you can help yourself to an assortment of breakfast foods in the morning. As vegans, we enjoyed fruit, juice, toast and jam, and of course, coffee.

There is an espresso machine where we helped ourselves to coffee at any time of the day. Some other things served during breakfast included cereal, cheese, yogurt, and pastries.

It's a pretty light breakfast, mostly with cold items and pastries (similar to a continental breakfast) rather than a full sit-down breakfast like you might see in some B&Bs. We didn't mind this at all because we'd rather grab breakfast quickly and head out sightseeing in Rome.

Our Room

Katia showed us to our room, which was named "Viola" or the "Purple Room". And you guessed it, the color scheme and decor had a purple theme throughout the room.

Please note that the rooms do look quite a bit differently nowadays. There is no longer a Viola room and it looks a bit more modern and stylish.

We didn't mind the purple vibes as it felt a bit more down to earth and homey. The main wall behind the bed had a purple patterned wallpaper, and the bedspread had some purple accents.

The bathroom was newly renovated. It was very clean and our towels were replaced on a daily basis. The room was also cleaned daily.

There was a flatscreen TV on the wall facing the bed, and there was free wifi that was really fast. And there was no need for concern over storage space: we had a full-sized wardrobe and a big dresser to store all of our clothes and belongings.

There was a little table that we could use as a desk or a small kitchen table to eat our breakfast. We preferred eating our breakfast outside on the balcony.

The Balcony

We were thrilled to discover that the room had its own private balcony facing a quiet area of the neighborhood. There's nothing like sitting out on your own private balcony looking into the courtyard.

There are colorful buildings all around with laundry hanging from some of the windows. It makes you feel like you're living in your own little apartment in Rome, right in the middle of a typical neighborhood.

When we arrived in Rome during the third week of May, it was HOT. It was the hottest weather that we had experienced in Italy.

Thankfully, the room had air conditioning that worked like a dream! We were always able to sleep well each evening as the room was an ideal temperature despite the weather outdoors.

The Staff

There are a number of staff members for Zen Trastevere, B&B Zoe Holiday and New Morning Holiday. I believe that Davide owns the properties with his cousins and family members, Loredana, Angelo, Desiree and Naomi.

Our main point of contact at the time was Katia. She was very accommodating and helpful.

Katia gave us a map of Rome with directions to popular places, as well as her restaurant recommendations for Trastevere. She also provided us with a few coupons for extra treats at her chosen restaurants if we visited them.

The Location

When researching our trip to Italy, I kept reading that staying in Trastevere was the best option. Now that we've visited, I tend to agree with all of those who feel that way!

Staying in Trastevere was ideal. The neighborhood itself has an understated allure.

It has a distinct Bohemian flair. The terracotta and pale yellow buildings, greenery bursting from flowerpots, and laundry dangling from the windows all add to my fond memories of the neighborhood.

While we didn't fully escape the barrage of street vendors that are all over Rome, it was definitely an improvement over the more crowded spaces near the tourist spots.

We easily walked from the B&B to all of the popular sites, including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Vatican City.

The Trastevere neighborhood is very appealing for its bustling nightlife with great bars and restaurants, and the impressive Basilica di Santa Maria.

Booking Your Stay

When you travel to Rome, don't hesitate to book your stay at one of these beautiful properties. Here's where to book them:

• Zen Trastevere
• B&B Zoe Holiday
• New Morning Holiday

More Blog Posts About Rome

You are welcome to browse all of our Italy travel guides, and here are more blog posts specific to visiting Rome:

• The Ultimate Colosseum Tour
• Rome Underground Tour: Crypts, Bones and Catacombs
• Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
• Zen Trastevere: Where to Stay in Rome
• Why You Should Stay in Trastevere