Hotel Restivo is a pensione style hotel. Restivo shares the building with other hotels including the Hotel Cervia. Hotel Restivo is signed as being on the second floor but is actually up four flights of stairs. There is no lift available so be prepared to lug your luggage up the stairs.

My first impressions of the place were not good, the area around the termini isn't the best and I found the graffiti quite alarming. The staff were courteous however a little suspicious, leaving the feeling that they'd seen their fair share of trouble. After heaving your luggage up four flights of stairs be prepared to wrestle through the heavy exterior door to the Restivo. The signs on each floor stating the area was under "video sorveglianza" didn't make me feel at home.

Room: The room itself was very clean although minuscule. You had to walk sideways around the bed as there were about 6 inches between the end of the bed and the wall. The room was painted in dark green colours which added to the dingy feeling. We referred to the room as the 'bomb shelter' for the time we were there. There were heavy blackout curtains and soundproof windows so the noisy chatter of the diners from nearby trattorias didn't wake you up.

The room had its own very clean bathroom with a decent shower. The two towels provided were made from linen, it's quite a peculiar feeling drying yourself on a table cloth.

Location: The location is very central and about 3 blocks from the main Termini so getting around was a piece of cake. There are plenty of trattorias nearby where the food was okay. Just okay.

I'm a luxury lover so existing with the basics isn't my cup of tea, however for the money the place was clean and safe. Despite the small size of the Restivo it feels impersonal and lacking in character. I wouldn't stay there again and I wouldn't recommend a friend.