Six Senses Rome review: Is the hotel good for families?

Words by Harriet Mallinson

Rome is notoriously frenetic – and boiling in the summer months – but you can forget all of that at the Six Senses Rome, even though the Italian capital is immediately on your doorstep (once you’re past the 4th-century church right next door, that is).

It’s cool, it’s calm, and it’s sumptuously stylish without resorting to ostentation (although the marble staircase is photo-friendly palatial) – and kids are well catered for. The five-star Roman retreat does the rare job of providing both a luxury wellness hotel and an easy family city break. Expect spacious, oh-so-chic family suites, cultural activities and children’s perks with one of the city’s most impressive spas, for all your Emperor-style bathing needs.

Whether your family wants to make pizza, train like a gladiator or simply explore Rome’s iconic landmarks on foot, Six Senses Rome – set inside a historic 15th-century palazzo, no less – is a base for all ages in the heart of the Eternal City. 

Family Traveller went to try out the property for ourselves, so let’s dig into what makes it family-friendly.

The ground floor feels more like a stylish botanical conservatory than a hotel reception

Six Senses Rome is housed in the restored Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini

Six Senses Rome location

Occupying the beautifully restored Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini on Piazza di San Marcello, Six Senses Rome couldn’t be better positioned for sightseeing. Step outside and you’re just a few minutes’ walk from the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Via Condotti, making it easy to explore without relying on taxis or public transport (although the former does provide blessed air con in the peak season heat…).

Rome Fiumicino Airport is around 45 minutes away by car and private transfers can be arranged from the airport, Termini Station or Civitavecchia cruise port. Families arriving by air can also book a meet-and-greet service.

On arrival, Six Senses Rome staff are warm and welcoming, offering drinks and snacks in the light-filled, plant-packed lobby, which feels more like a boujee botanical conservatory than a hotel reception. The decor is enviable: it embraces a soft aesthetic, with warm terracotta tones and sculptural furniture, while green marble, natural stone and timber make the relaxed space feel aspirationally residential. Is my own hallway missing a giant marble foot?

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The Lata Suite is the biggest family suite available.

Six Senses Rome rooms and suites for families

Six Senses Rome has 96 rooms and suites, all designed using natural materials including Cocciopesto plaster and Travertine limestone. 

My entry-level room faces out onto a timeless, buzzing side street, but inside it’s serene and contemporary – just the peaceful escape one needs after busy days of urban exploration. I particularly like the two packs of playing cards tucked away in a drawer (all storage is firmly, and fashionably, hidden from view) and there’s a yoga mat too if you manage some alone time. My only quibble is the supremely strange slippers (weird shape, weird feel). Perhaps they’re better suited to the stone tootsies downstairs…

Families have plenty of accommodation options throughout. Deluxe Rooms and Superior Deluxe Rooms accommodate up to three guests, while the Deluxe Suite sleeps four with separate living and dining areas. Connecting or adjacent rooms are also available on request when booking selected suite categories.

The 77sqm Corner Suite is ideal for two adults, one child and one infant, offering generous living space and views across Piazza di San Marcello. For larger families, the Mellini Suite offers two king bedrooms, a library, relaxation space and private terrace, comfortably sleeping up to seven guests. The even larger Lata Suite provides two bedrooms, two bathrooms, indoor dining space and a spacious terrace.

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Little Masters in the Making

Children’s activities at Six Senses Rome

Six Senses Rome doesn’t offer a traditional kids’ club, instead encouraging children to experience the city through hands-on learning. Little ones can join gladiator lessons, Italian cooking classes, kids’ yoga, sustainability sessions in the Earth Lab and creative Alchemy Bar workshops (making natural skincare products using organic ingredients).

One of the hotel’s standout experiences is Little Masters in the Making, where children create their own fresco using traditional plaster and pigments while learning about Michelangelo and Renaissance art.

Families can also book mosaic workshops with local artisans, mocktail-making sessions and private city tours designed specifically for younger visitors.

The Family Time in Rome package adds welcome gifts for children, daily mocktails, complimentary ice cream and family-focused Earth Lab activities.

Babysitting is available on request ​​(bookings are required one day in advance), allowing parents to enjoy an evening meal or spa treatment while children settle in with popcorn and a movie.

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The baths feature a caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium

Six Senses Rome spa, Roman Baths and gym

Although children under 16 cannot access the Roman Baths, the spa remains one of the hotel’s biggest draws for parents – so do try to squeeze some time in there if you can. It’s what Caesar would have wanted.

Inspired by Ancient Rome, guests move through a traditional bathing circuit featuring a caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium, alternating between warm and cold temperatures to promote circulation and relaxation. I can’t say I find soaking in tepid waters particularly invigorating myself, but… when in Rome.

More traditional spa facilities are also available, including a hammam, sauna, steam room, yoga studio, meditation room, aerial yoga space, biohacking room and five treatment rooms.

Treatments combine traditional therapies with modern wellness techniques – and they’re good; my deep tissue massage is idyllically relaxing after a day of Colosseum stomping. Other signature experiences include the Cocoon ritual, beginning with a grounding foot soak and body brushing before a warm Tuscan candle massage, nourishing body wrap and mini facial. 

Guests can also book personalised facials, sound healing, breathwork sessions, sleep programmes and biohacking treatments.

The hotel also has a fitness centre, open 24 hours a day, alongside personal training and yoga sessions.

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Children under three eat free from the children’s menu

Family dining at BIVIUM Six Senses Rome

BIVIUM Restaurant-Café-Bar serves breakfast and all-day dining in a relaxed setting centred around an open kitchen, wood-fired pizza oven and leafy courtyard. Menus focus on the Six Senses Eat With Six Senses philosophy, using seasonal produce, sustainable ingredients and plenty of plant-based dishes without compromising on classic Italian favourites.

I feast like a successful Senator every morning, marvelling at the glass cabinet stuffed with the freshest of fruits and the room dedicated to cheese (there’s even a full wheel of parmesan for guests to freely hack at) – and leave cradling my over-stuffed belly.

Families – gluttonous or otherwise –  are well catered for. Children under three eat free from the children’s menu, while children aged three to 11 receive 50 per cent off meals. Guests under 12 are also treated to complimentary daily ice cream.

For a more special meal, NOTOS Rooftop pairs panoramic city views with Mediterranean dishes inspired by Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Rome. I dine at sunset, the terrace’s foliage fluttering in the evening breeze, and tuck into a delicious repast of succulent fish and juicy meats. It’s pretty romantic with the capital’s iconic building spiking the surrounding skyline, so it’s great for parents wanting a quieter dinner while using the hotel’s babysitting service, as well as group family meals.

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NOTOS Rooftop pairs panoramic city views with Mediterranean dishes

Six Senses Rome prices

Staying in the lap of luxury in the heart of the Eternal City doesn’t come cheap. Rooms at the Six Senses Rome start from around £1,000 per night on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

For families, the Corner Suite starts from approximately £2,830 per night for two adults, one child and one infant. Families requiring two bedrooms can book the Mellini Suite from around £7,450 per night.

The Family Time in Rome package includes breakfast, children’s welcome amenities, daily mocktails and ice cream, Earth Lab sessions and savings of up to 50 per cent on connecting or adjacent Deluxe Rooms when booked with selected suites.

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One-night stays at Six Senses Rome start from £1,000 on a bed-and-breakfast basis

Six Senses Rome FAQs

When did Six Senses Rome open?

Six Senses Rome opened in March 2023 as the brand’s first urban hotel in Italy.

How many rooms are in Six Senses Rome?

The hotel has 96 rooms and suites.

Does Six Senses Rome have a gym?

Yes. The hotel has a fully equipped 24-hour fitness centre alongside yoga classes, personal training and wellness programmes.

Is Six Senses Rome child friendly?

Yes. While there isn’t a traditional kids’ club, families benefit from spacious suites, babysitting, children’s dining discounts, creative workshops, cooking classes, gladiator lessons, kids’ yoga and sustainability activities.

Is Rome suitable for children?

Absolutely. Rome is one of Europe’s most family-friendly city break destinations. Kids tend to love the gladiators-and-emperors drama of the history, which makes sights like the Colosseum and Roman Forum feel more like an adventure than a lesson. The historic centre is largely walkable, with piazzas made for letting off steam, fountains to toss coins into and gelaterias on every corner for regular refuelling stops. Pizza and pasta are also easy wins at every mealtime.

One practical note worth flagging: Rome’s cobbled streets can be tough going with a buggy, so a lightweight one or a carrier is worth packing.