Some picks from the Luxe guide to Rome

Packed with tips and information, the snazzy, new Luxe guide to Rome can help you plan the perfect long weekend in the Eternal City according to a report in The Sunday Times. Here is their selection of places to do:

Wining & Dining
Dal Bolognese –  One of Rome’s well-known eateries (bollito misto is the signature dish).  Book well ahead. Location: Piazza del Popolo. Call 1 06 361 1426.

Antico Arco: Atop the Janiculum Hill above Trastevere, this converted villa has blossomed into the perfect blend of home and hip, with stylish crew and zippy menu. Piazzale Aurelio 7;   Call 06 581 5274; dinner only. Closed Mondays.

Santa Lucia: A triangular, tree-lined terrazzo. Take a predinner Marti at the nearby roof-terraced Hotel Raphael. Largo Febo 12;  Call  06 6880 2427; closed Tuesdays.

Da Nino: A 1950s style eatery with with gruff waiters and a cross-section local crowd. Try the ribollita (hearty veggie soup). Via Borgognona 11;   Call  06 679 5676; closed Sunday and in August.

Caffe Chiostro del Bramante: Magic hideaway, with glowbar and Sunday brunch.  (As you face the church of Santa Maria della Pace, the entrance is on the left.) Via della Pace 26;   Call  06 6880 9035, http://www.chiostrodelbramante/

Mon Ciampini This cafe has a retro gelato bar inside. Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina 29;   Call  06 687 6606       

Sights and sounds
The Sistine Chapel Mikey’s iconic masterpiece is almost always swarming with people with cricks in their necks. However, depending on how flush you’re feeling, it is difficult, but sometimes possible, to book a private visit. Try Context Travel , IF  or Select Italy . Expect to pay about £3,600 for the place to yourself, or £320 to join a group of just 15 other people.

The Scavi Tour: This small section of the pagan necropolis and purported resting place of St Peter himself, directly underneath St Peter’s Basilica, is highly atmospheric, claustrophobic and severely restricted in numbers. You can only book directly through the Vatican Excavations Office by e-mail or fax – full details can be found by typing “Scavi” into the search engine at www.vatican.va – book way ahead; only 200 people per day are permitted under the basilica, for which there is no extra cost, if you are selected.

The Galleria Borghese: Not only is the villa pretty, but the museum inside contains works by Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio and Rubens, as well as the staggering Bernini masterpieces Apollo and Daphne, and Pluto and Proserpina, and Canova’s Pauline Bonaparte. Visits are limited to 2hr and 360 people per intake. Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5; 06 328 10; Visit http://www.galleriaborghese.it/ ; book in advance

Shopping
Federico Polidori: Step into this marvellous little workshop/store for exquisite, lustrous bags, briefcases and sporting goods, totally made to order from heavy golden hides and sewn by hand by Federico. Via Pie di Marmo 7;  06 679 7191; closed Sundays.

My Cup of Tea: Studio featuring new designers, artists, jewels and hats. You never know what you’ll find in this chic Aladdin’s den. Via del Babuino 65; Call    06 3265 1061; Mon-Fri 10am-6pm or by appointment

Names and Numbers
Happyrent One-stop shop –  for classic cars and Vespas with or without drivers, plus vintage tours of Rome.  Call 06 4202 0675, http://www.happyrent.com/

Bici e Baci Rome is a perfect place to pedal. Call  06 482 8443, http://www.bicibaci.com/

Eco Move Rent. You can zip over the Eternal City in a plane for €80 (£55). Call  06 4470 4518, http://www.ecomoverent.com/

Blu Aubergine Personal chef and restaurant critic Dana Klitzberg creates gourmet itineraries around town and teaches personal cooking classes.  Call  06 686 9986 or 347 260 7465, http://www.bluaubergine.com/

Accomodation
Hotel de Russie: Mr Forte’s modern, classic-glam gem, bordering the sylvan Pincio Gardens, is not only ideally situated for shop’n’scoff, but features the perfect blend of style, comfort and service, with the svelte Stravinskij bar and courtyard, Jardin de Russie restaurant and a spa.  00 39-06 328 881, http://www.hotelderussie.it/ ; doubles from £444.

InTown House: This luxury B&B in the heart of label-land offers six pared-back but nesty rooms, in a handsome palette of chocs and greiges, and the world’s smallest lift. Take the top-floor suite No 402 with its street-facing terrace.  06 6938 0200, http://www.intownroma.it/ ; doubles from £225, suite from £478.

Casa Howard: With 10 uniquely designed, cosy rooms in two locations, it’s like staying in a very relaxed, stylish friend’s home. Take the saucy Zebra room with its little balcony if you can. And yes, pets are allowed, so Fido can live la dogce vita too. Note: some rooms don’t have ensuite bathrooms. 06 6992 4555, http://www.casahoward.com/ ; doubles from £109

Buonanotte Garibaldi: A B&B in Trastevere, with just three super-simple rooms set around a pretty courtyard. 06 5833 0733, http://www.buonanottegaribaldi.com/ ; doubles from £150

Report by Chitra Mogul