Rome loves to hide its wonders behind discreet doorways. Courtyards, cloisters, rooftop terraces: the city’s most enchanting places are often the ones you can’t see from the street. In the heart of the Trieste district, on the corner of Via Nomentana and Viale Gorizia, one of these hidden gems awaits: the secret garden of the Fenix Hotel.
A green oasis behind a 1930s façade
Walking past the Fenix — a building from 1938, a hotel since 1960 thanks to Francesca Vaccari and her daughter Marialina — you would never guess what lies inside. Beyond the lobby, a lovingly tended garden opens up: a pocket of leafy calm where the sounds of the city simply vanish.
It’s no coincidence that returning guests specifically request the garden-view rooms: the garden is the green heart of the hotel. And in a neighbourhood that is already among Rome’s greenest — steps from Villa Torlonia, Villa Paganini and Villa Ada — a private, intimate garden of one’s own is a rare luxury.
Aperitivo in the secret garden
In the warmer months, the Fenix garden becomes the perfect stage for the great Italian ritual of the aperitivo: a glass of wine or a spritz surrounded by greenery, far from the crowded bars of the centre, in an atmosphere closer to a private residence than a hotel. It’s the kind of experience local Romans have come to treasure and hotel guests discover with delight.
An aperitivo in the garden suits a thousand occasions: an informal business meeting, a toast among friends, a moment of calm after a day of museums and walking — or the perfect opening act of a Roman evening.
Private events: from intimate receptions to business meetings
The secret garden, together with the hotel’s indoor spaces, is available for private and corporate events:
Graduation parties. With Luiss Guido Carli and Sapienza University close by, the Fenix is the natural choice for celebrating a degree: the garden welcomes family and friends in an elegant, private setting just steps from campus.
Private aperitivo and cocktail receptions. Birthdays, anniversaries, launches and presentations: the garden-aperitivo format works for every occasion, with menus that can be tailored to your needs.
Business meetings and corporate events. The hotel offers a fully equipped meeting room which, paired with the garden for coffee breaks or an open-air light lunch, gives companies a complete formula: work inside, network outside. The location — outside the ZTL restricted traffic zone, with a private garage and ring-road exit 11 just a few kilometres away along Via Nomentana — is a concrete advantage when attendees are travelling in from outside Rome.
Small ceremonies and family celebrations. The garden’s intimate scale is ideal for those seeking elegance and privacy without the impersonal feel of large event venues.
The Trieste district: the perfect backdrop
Hosting an event at the Fenix also means giving your guests the chance to discover one of Rome’s most charming and underrated neighbourhoods. The Trieste district is an open-air museum of Roman Art Nouveau: within a few minutes’ walk you’ll find the fairy-tale Coppedè quarter with its Fountain of the Frogs, the catacombs and mausoleum of Santa Costanza, the basilica complex of Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura, and the shaded paths of Villa Torlonia with the whimsical Casina delle Civette.
An invitation to the Fenix becomes, for out-of-town guests, an invitation to experience a different Rome: residential, green, authentic.
Planning your event
Every event in the secret garden is designed together with our staff: from the format (aperitivo, cocktail reception, private dinner) to bespoke arrangements and food & beverage options. The family management — the Vaccari family has run the hotel for over sixty years — guarantees the kind of attention to detail that separates a successful event from an unforgettable one.
Would you like to host an aperitivo or a private event in the Fenix secret garden? Contact us and we’ll come back to you with a tailored proposal.
