Prati

Outside Vatican City’s walls, abstemiousness gives way to indulgence, with tasteful boutiques, restaurants, hotels and bars sprinkled around Prati’s orderly grid of tree-lined streets and monumental squares. On the left bank of the Tiber, Prati has an abundance of elegant buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries evoking a Parisian vibe.

Best for: Sophisticated travelers, Vatican sightseers.
Where to stay: The First Musica ($$$).
Things to do: The second-century Castel Sant’Angelo.
Where to eat and drink: Gli Esploratori ($$); Pulejo Ristorante ($$$); 33 Giri ($).