The Social Hub breathes new life into Rome’s San Lorenzo district with ‘milestone’ €114 million regeneration-focused project

Rome, Italy (March 27, 2025) – Hybrid hospitality pioneer The Social Hub will mark the next step in its growth across Europe with the opening of a highly anticipated fourth Italian hotel in Rome’s trendy San Lorenzo district on Monday (March 31). 

The more than €114 million, 24,000 square metre complex – minutes from Rome's main train station and the city’s iconic historic landmarks – breathes new life into a disused former railway customs house to one of the Italian capital’s most exciting creative areas. 

The Social Hub Rome is comprised of a four-star hotel alongside coworking, dining outlets, meeting & events spaces, a vast public park, and much more. The project embodies the essence of the European hospitality brand’s hybrid hospitality model which combines its facilities with social impact centric programming focused on growing local communities. The opening marks The Social Hub’s first move into the Italian capital, and follows the recent opening of The Social Hub Florence Belfiore, its second in the city, and The Social Hub Bologna.

The stunning new development has restored a site in an area known for its historical significance and burgeoning creative scene. Originally the Eternal City’s railway customs house (ex-dogana), the complex more recently became a centre for cultural activities including concerts and outdoor cinemas until 2019 – but has lain empty since. Now, the area has been reinvigorated by The Social Hub Rome’s state-of-the-art spaces, specifically designed to create and develop community in San Lorenzo, with the aim to bring back the spirit of the location – a place where guests and visitors to the areas can learn, stay, work, and play.

Building on the location’s heritage, The Social Hub has designed three buildings, all connected by a lush 10,000 square metre public park with more than 300 trees (opening this Summer).

The first building is a newly built, modern 396-room four-star hotel which offers short and extended stay accommodation for travellers and students, inclusive of apartments of up to two bedrooms, and fully equipped gym open 24/7. This modern structure – which features Roman inspired design touches – also hosts a premium coworking area for 160 professionals, along with vibrant meeting & event spaces welcoming up to 70 guests. The second building is a restructured indoor-outdoor event venue that used to form part of the original 1920s customs house, set to once again become a point of reference for cultural with the capacity for hundreds of guests to experience music, art, vintage markets and much more. The third building, also part of the historic structure, is now home to Accademia Italiana, a leading design and applied arts institute with more than 200 students.

In a city renowned for culinary tradition, The Social Hub Rome will offer food lovers a varied proposition including:

• A restaurant & bar offering a modern take on classic Roman dishes made with locally sourced ingredients along with a selection of organic wines.
• A stunning rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline with a cocktail bar featuring a menu celebrating Rome’s timeless aperitivo culture with shareable plates designed for social dining.
  

• A strategic partnership with the newest location of the famed pizzeria, Berberè, set to begin operations before summer.

As a Certified B Corporation, The Social Hub has also weaved its social and sustainable values throughout the development, including the use of innovative materials and systems. The building has been recognised for its high environmental standards and is expected to obtain BREEAM certification. Additionally, more than 50 passionate new local employees will impart The Social Hub’s twist on traditional hospitality with a curated calendar of over than 600 community events a year for its community via collaborations with San Lorenzo – and the city’s – creative and entrepreneurial innovators. 

The Social Hub Rome will also be home to scholarship recipients from the TSH Talent Foundation, which helps empower changemakers facing barriers to opportunity.

Charlie MacGregor, Founder & CEO of The Social Hub said: "The Social Hub Rome marks the arrival of a bold development embodying urban regeneration at its best! As the first purpose-built hotel for the city in over 10 years, we carefully studied how to respond to the challenges and needs of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood… and the outcome is truly transformative! This incredible project rethinks the way spaces, neighbourhoods, and communities interact and how our innovative model can be a catalyst for inclusive connections. As it comes to life, I hope this magical place will serve as an inspiration for our industry and beyond on how to develop more sustainable cities for all."