In the past, the choice of hotels in Athens was either dated chain hotels or chintzy ’80s motels – both bearing the remnants of cigarette smoke and late-night souvlakia. But that’s all changed, with exciting new lodgings throughout the city, all of which speak directly to the Greek idea of philoxenia, the art of making a stranger feel at home. Here are the 7 best hotels in Athens to book on your next stay in the ancient city.
New Hotel has turned a rundown downtown spot into a stylish boutique hotel, making it one of the best in Athens. This funky addition is all sorts of quirky when it comes to design, but when it comes back to the basics you can expect exceptional service and food. The hotel restaurant New Taste is located on the ground floor and frequented not just by tourists, but locals too. yeshotels.gr/newhotel
In an ethereal twenties townhouse in chic Kolonaki, Shila distils the city’s idiosyncratic art scene into a beautifully bohemian residence for dreamers. With just six suites, intimacy is everything here, the feeling more akin to a sleepover at an art collector’s home than a hotel. An elegantly eclectic oasis, rest in the romantic four-poster bed, admire (or buy) the Greek art, and recharge in the rooftop garden, a glorious tangle of lush trees and dappled sunlight.
The stylish offshoot of acclaimed restaurant estiatorio Milos, has mastered the art of making travellers feel at home, making it one of Athens best hotels. The boutique hotel opened as a unique culinary-hotel experience, blurring the lines between exquisite dining, unparalleled Greek hospitality and luxury accommodation.In the historic centre, Milos references Greek and Cycladic architecture and art with crisp, minimal details that ooze simplicity. “As we created the hotel, it was important that it became an extension of the destination it is in,”says Managing Director Iro Orri. xenodocheiomilos.com
Over in spirited Psyrri, Shila’s sister hotel Mona is staged in an eight-story, 1950s textile factory. With sexy industrial-style rooms, a concept cafe, speakeasy club and members-only rooftop that looks out to the Acropolis, the concept-led boutique hotel and multi-disciplinary space is one of the city’s most stylish stays. Natural reclaimed materials star alongside original features like a dazzling wrought-iron staircase and terrazzo floors, with bedrooms dressed in soft organic linens and plush velvet. mona-athens.com
On the other side of Kolonaki sits Monsieur Didot, an impeccably stylish guesthouse inside a pale pink neoclassical building. With just six guestrooms, each is unique but with a similar, design-led aesthetic: think grand, high ceilings, marble benchtops, beautiful bookshelves and arty flourishes, it’s now wonder this is ranked among the best hotels in Athens. monsieurdidot.com
Inside the old Canadian Embassy, The Modernist fuses exceptional service and sleek minimalist design. A modern haven in a quiet, leafy patch in Kolonaki, the handsome corner building houses 38 well-appointed guest rooms with plush, contemporary comforts. It has fast become one of the best hotels in Athens. There’s also a rooftop which serves Hellenic-inspired cocktails, artisanal bites and sweeping views, plus a wonderful breakfast (including homemade watermelon jam and bougatsa, a custard-filled pastry). themodernisthotels.com/athens
Part hotel, part wellness retreat. Perianth Hotel offers guests free access to yoga, meditation, and martial arts classes at the deeply calming Zen Center on the first floor, which may be needed if you’re visiting during peak season. The location of the sleek and contemporary hotel is in the heart of the Monastiraki, surrounded by bars, cafes, restaurants and sits at the base of the Acropolis. It’s one of the best and most conveniently located hotels in Athens. perianthhotel.com
