Where to Stay in Athens Right Now
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Athens is always a good idea. The city’s already great nightlife kicks it up a notch in the summer, with cultural festivals and lively rooftop bars. Come fall, as crowds thin but the weather remains warm, those infinity pools overlooking the Acropolis become even more inviting. As do the picturesque beaches of the Athens Riviera, and the numerous islands just a quick boat ride away.
And the food: the meze, those Greek salads, the fresh feta, the tzatziki and, of course, a glass or two of ouzo or retsina to wash it all down. Adding to the Greek capital’s allure is a crop of new and renovated hotels, from boutique spots with as few as six rooms to sprawling historic estates with private beaches for a perfect afternoon of doing nothing.
Athens, we’re on our way.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
Vouliagmeni
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This Four Seasons is a 30-minute drive outside the city proper, but it’s well worth the detour. Planted squarely in the heart of the Athens Riviera, it’s been a glam retreat since the 1960s, when it hosted a roster of celebrities across its many buildings. Now, under the care of the Four Seasons brand, the property has been reimagined as three distinct spaces across a 75-acre peninsula, with no fewer than three private beaches. You can take your pick among Arion, a serene and spa-focused spot; livelier Nafsika; and the Bungalows, which are modernized versions of the 1960s cabanas. If you can tear yourself away from the 10 restaurants, lounges and bars; the trio of tennis courts; and the sea-facing spa treatment rooms, nearby Vouliagmeni beach is a stunning, pine-fringed place to while away an afternoon.
One&Only Aesthesis
Glyfada
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Greece’s first One&Only is another Riviera hot spot harking back to the 1960s. There’s much to love here, from the low-impact, modernist design to the free-flowing bougainvillea and olive trees to the in-room amenities that include breezy linen robes, upscale bath products, Greek chocolates and cocktail shakers with a range of spirits. There are also a variety of room types on offer, but you’ll want to book one of the bungalows spread out among the fragrant vegetation. The indoor-outdoor retreats come with terraces, private pools and alfresco showers; most also have sea views. For authentic and reliably delicious dishes, hit up Ora By Ettore Botrini, where options range from spiced shakshuka at breakfast to eggplant imam bayildi with tomatoes, onions and feta at dinner. The cocktails at Alelia bar are on point, too; don’t miss the Ambrosia, made with Metaxa, a Greek brandy-like spirit.
Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Syntagma Square
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Hotel Grande Bretagne has been a symbol of Athenian glamour for more than 150 years. Considered the first luxury hotel in the city when it opened in 1874, it’s since played host to everyone from prime ministers and opera singers to actors and musicians. Today, guests staying in the 320 rooms (including 58 suites with butler service) can drink in all that history with a weekly “museum tour” while enjoying plenty of 21st-century delights, including an outdoor pool, the see-and-be-seen Alexander’s Bar and GB Roof Garden Restaurant, which has unparalleled views of the Acropolis. The hotel is right in the heart of the action, situated on Syntagma Square and steps away from both the boutiques of Voukourestiou Street and the Monastiraki flea market. The Acropolis is nearby, and the Parthenon is viewable from some of the pricier rooms as well as most of the breakfast tables.
THE DOLLI at Acropolis
Monastiraki
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Following a recent renovation, THE DOLLI at Acropolis—housed in a neoclassical mansion that dates back more than 100 years—is now a bright, airy, minimalist delight in the heart of the city. A rare infinity pool graces the roof, Acropolis views abound and the communal spaces are filled with artworks by the likes of Picasso, Modigliani and Cocteau. The 46 rooms and suites feature white linens, marble bathrooms and custom furniture, and some even have stunning views of the Parthenon. For food and drink, the choice is Le Bar Secret, an art-filled hideaway with an extensive list of spirits and all-day dining, or the stunning rooftop restaurant that overlooks the Roman Agora, the Temple of Hephaestus and other landmarks. THE DOLLI at Acropolis also offers a range of excursions, including private dawn or dusk tours of the Acropolis, a journey to the creative island of Hydra and rock-climbing and scuba-diving trips.
Academias Hotel, Autograph Collection
Kolonaki
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Academias Hotel refers to itself as a “modern interpretation of Plato’s Academy” that embodies the principles of science, art and philosophy. Whether or not that tracks, the hotel does feel pretty perfect when you’re watching a movie from the heated indoor pool or sampling cocktails during a mixology master class. And you could certainly feel philosophical during the daily phone-free reading hour, which is a tremendous idea whether you packed a gossip rag or some serious literature. On the roof, NYX Rooftop Japanese Fusion Gastrobar (named after the Greek goddess of the night) serves a range of Japanese delights, including Wagyu sushi rolls and duck gyoza. It’s the ideal spot to end the day after exploring the surrounding upscale Kolonaki district.
Xenodocheio Milos
Kolonaki
This is the first hotel from famed Greek chef Costas Spiliadis, whose restaurants span London, Las Vegas, Miami and New York City. So naturally, the food is the star here, with the on-site restaurant serving a veritable aquarium of fish and seafood, from lavraki (sea bass) and lethrini (pandora) to fagri (sea bream) and scorpena (scorpion fish). Order your pick grilled or fried, and share a big bowl of kakavia, a fisherman’s soup with onions, potatoes, olive oil and lemon. From the restaurant to the rooms, the hotel’s approach centers on the Greek practice of making strangers feel at home. Guests can look forward to 42 high-ceilinged rooms and suites, which have been designed with the same minimalist approach Spiliadis brings to his dishes.
Shila
Kolonaki
Occupying a renovated 1920s town house in the boutique- and gallery-filled Kolonaki district, Shila is more like a chic home than a hotel. There are just six suites, but each has distinctive features, from four-poster beds to velvet daybeds and cane chairs. Original artworks hang on raw plaster walls, and vintage furnishings—many of them available to purchase and take home—fill every last space. The secluded rooftop garden is a lovely spot to start the day with breakfast among the potted plants. There’s no restaurant on-site, but food is delivered from the next-door bakery: Expect yogurt, Greek honey and pastries galore. “Shila” derives from the Sanskrit word for “character,” and this place has it in spades. If you’re looking for the polar opposite of an enormous, impersonal hotel, book here.
Mona
Psirri
With 20 rooms, Shila’s sister hotel is a little larger, but it offers travelers the same chic, highly curated vibe in a repurposed textile factory from the 1950s. It’s in the Psirri neighborhood—another area getting zhuzhed up by creatives—and features all manner of vintage pieces and singular design touches, including original details like an iron staircase and metal window frames. Rooms are also exquisite, with custom knit rugs, velvet drapes and even sofas constructed from recycled bricks, plus iPads (in lieu of big TVs) and coffee machines stocked with fresh beans. Much of what makes this place special is for sale. And it wouldn’t be an Athens hotel without a rooftop Acropolis view, so there’s one of those, too.
Booking With Chase Travel
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Lead photo courtesy of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.
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