Lara Dutta

OT: Favourite hotel in the world?

Lara Dutta: Hotel Imperiale (www.imperialehotelrome.com) has a special place in my heart, simply because it‘s in one of my most favourite cities in the world: Rome.

OT: Last visited?

Lara Dutta: While shooting for Sajid Khan’s film Housefull in southern Italy, in a region called Puglia, we had a three-day break. So my co-star Riteish Deshmukh, my friend Clarabelle and I decided to go on a two-day trip to Rome. Riteish, being a student of architecture, had always dreamt of going to Rome, but somehow the plans had never materialised.

OT: The experience?             

Lara Dutta: We entered Rome from the Piazza del Popolo, which is a beautiful old piazza and it’s almost like you have stepped on to the set of a film. We jumped into a cab and headed off to Hotel Imperiale, which is a beautiful old 19th-century hotel, small and perfect for a two- or three-day trip and located right in the heart of Rome. 

Within half-an-hour of checking in, we freshened up and took off on foot. So we started with the Trevi fountain, which is my most favourite fountain in the world, and five minutes from the hotel. In fact, the best part about the Imperiale is that everything that is worth seeing is a stone’s throw from the property — including the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Piazza Navona.
 

OT: The food?

Lara Dutta: If you’re in Italy, you must eat a tiramisu and the Hotel Imperiale’s version is what dreams are made of. They also source amazing breads and pastries from a very famous and very old patisserie. The chef at the Gazebo restaurant in the Imperiale made this magical hot chocolate for breakfast and I had it with their awesome cinnamon bread. Of course, in Italy, you can also go to the most ordinary-looking place and come away having had one of the best meals in your life…for a big foodie like me, it was like I’d died and gone to heaven.

OT: The hotel’s USP?

Lara Dutta: I am completely sold on the location of the hotel — most of the sights are within walking distance, and the only way to see Rome is on foot. You need to get a feel for the city and its tiny streets, really fast Vespa scooters, the stylish Italians, great food that you can smell as you are walking down, bars and restaurants. Food-wise, I had the best fettuccine and tiramisu at the Imperiale. I must also compliment the beauty therapist in the hotel’s Aquarium Wellness Spa for giving me a great massage.