We spent three nights at the Orient Express La Minerva and had breakfast at La Minerva Bar included with our stay. It was a beautiful lobby bar and restaurant, its over-the-top opulence in keeping with the rest of the shiny new luxury hotel, the global launch of Accor's Orient Express-branded properties.
The space was elaborately designed and decorated, with arches and columns and high ceilings. The furniture was plush and attractive, the plants tall and lush. There was a large, handsome bar, and behind it, a marble statue of the goddess Minerva. Our breakfasts were accompanied by gentle harp music, played live by an elegant harpist.
Breakfast was easy and relaxing, despite all this, with great service, attentive but informal. There was a short menu of a la carte items, as well as a buffet laid out on the bar. I ordered most of my food off the menu and it was genuinely excellent. I loved the avocado toast, a crusty slab of sourdough piled with avocado, pesto, mozzarella bocconcini, sun-dried tomato, and fresh artichokes. I ordered it with smoked salmon, which made it even better. I also appreciated the smoked salmon Benedict, classic and tasty and daintily portioned. I got it with a side of artichoke, which was nice.
I hit the buffet for dessert and everything I tried was superb. The cantaloupe was ripe and and juicy, and the baked goods worthy of any top tier bakery. I had a fluffy cream-filled maritozzo and, at the suggestion of one of the waiters, a slice of ricotta sour cherry torte.
I'm not a coffee drinker at home, but in Italy, I enjoyed a daily cappuccino. The cappuccinos here were lovely, especially with a maritozzo on hand.
La Minerva Bar was a wonderful spot for a lavish hotel breakfast, one of the many perks of our stay at the Orient Express. We had an early flight out on our final morning in Rome, and I was sorry to miss one last meal with cappuccino and harp. read more