A few years ago, finding a decent hotel in Athens was a challenge, with only cheap hostels and uninviting chain hotels available.
However, during Greece’s economic crisis, property prices dropped dramatically, and developers took the opportunity to purchase and renovate townhouses, office buildings, and empty workshops to create new hotels. Despite the rise of Airbnb, the hotel industry in Athens continues to thrive. There are many new stylish guesthouses in the city center and upgraded coastal hotels to match the luxury of Greece’s first Four Seasons hotel. The hotels in Athens are now so beautiful that you will want to extend your stay. Here are the 14 best hotels in Athens.
1. King George
This hotel is located near Syntagma Square, with various shops in the surrounding area. Additionally, both Plaka and Acropolis are within walking distance. The hotel’s rooms and suites feature marble bathrooms, with many including bathtubs and private balconies. The Penthouse Suite offers two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private terrace with Acropolis views, and an outdoor swimming pool. The rooftop restaurant, Tudor Hall, offers Greek cuisine and scenic views from both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
2. Xenodocheio Milos
Milos Hotel is located in the central area of Athens, where commercial and political activities take place. The hotel’s restaurants have a minimalist design with white marble, pale wood, and soft leather decor. The bedrooms are modern and spacious, with meticulous attention to detail. Some suites offer large terraces with a view of the old Parliament building. The hotel has a small wellness and fitness suite, but the standout feature is the delicious food. Guests can enjoy Greek yogurt with granola and Kythera honey for breakfast, and for dinner, the restaurant offers a variety of fresh seafood options baked in hand-picked flakes of rock salt. Estiatorio Milos is a global chain of Greek restaurants run by chef Costas Spiliadis. The restaurant focuses on using fresh and simple ingredients treated with precision to create a fine dining experience.
3. Hotel Grande Bretagne
When it comes to choosing a place, sometimes people prefer classic options. The GB hotel has been located in central Syntagma Square since 1874 and has become an iconic landmark in Athens, just like the Acropolis. Throughout the years, the hotel has hosted famous political figures, socialites, and even celebrities who wanted to remain anonymous.
Even though the hotel has changed owners and undergone updates, it still maintains a traditional feel with its grand chandeliers, antique paintings, and shining marble. In the Winter Garden, a pianist is playing music while guests enjoy unadventurous but delicious cocktails at Alexander’s Lounge. In addition, the hotel offers indoor and outdoor pools, an expensive spa, and a great rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the Parthenon.
4. Gatsby Athens
Gatsby Athens is a stylish and playful hotel located in the bustling Historic Triangle area between Syntagma and Monastiraki squares. It boasts compact but cozy rooms spread across six floors, each with fun names like Cool and Lavish.
The hotel’s decor is suggestive and campy, with alluring photos on the walls and an ‘after-sex’ room service menu. It’s the perfect spot for a saucy weekend or girls’ trip. The Party Suite at the penthouse has a roof terrace that has a fireplace for chilly nights and a projector for private movie screenings. The lobby bar and restaurant are colorful, with picture windows overlooking an arcade. They serve a great all-day brunch or afternoon tea. You can press the “Dare Me” button in every room, but it’s a surprise.
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5. The Modernist
The Modernist is a modern hotel that now occupies the location where the Canadian Embassy used to be. The hotel offers various amenities that are curated by respected Athenian tastemakers, including custom-blended teas, monochromatic ceramics, prints by local artists, and playlists by local DJs that you can play on in-room Marshall speakers. Additionally, you can purchase many of these products from the small onsite concept store.
The hotel has a contemporary design and atmosphere, and there is nothing outdated or formal about it. The ground-floor café serves basic breakfasts and nutritious bowls and is a great place to work on your laptop. On the roof deck, you can relax on deck chairs while sipping on a bergamot gimlet and enjoying the National Gallery and city skyline view during sunset. The staff is consistently professional and helpful without being intrusive. Overall, it’s a very efficient and well-run establishment.
6. NEW Hotel
The Campana brothers have added their unique sense of humor to a previously abandoned location downtown, resulting in a design hotel that is both striking and memorable. They have repurposed old furniture in innovative ways for the decor, such as using splintered chairs and tables on the walls of the lobby.
The overall design is eccentric, with features like trippy, bronze-mirrored bathrooms and chairs that resemble huge marshmallows. The staff is always professional and knowledgeable about the latest designers and restaurants. The local people love the food so much that they come here for brunch on weekends, featuring Croque Monsieur and Greek-style Bloody Marys. They also enjoy the cocktails at the rooftop restaurant, which also serves as an art library.
7. The Margi
The Margi, a family-run hotel that has been in operation since 1960, is located in the coveted area of Athenian Riviera, near the sandy bay of Vouliagmeni in the southern suburbs. The hotel is popular with the affluent residents in the area, who can often be found socializing at the pool bar or enjoying a meal at Patio, the hotel’s sophisticated restaurant that sources ingredients from its own organic farm. The rooms at the hotel are cozy and have either pool or pine views.
However, guests usually spend most of their time at the amazing pool or the small, Asian-inspired spa. If you visit during summer, you can reserve a sun bed at the Krabo beach bar, which is located on a rocky cove above a spot where attractive Athenians tan as if they were on Mykonos.
8. Shila
This guesthouse in upmarket Kolonaki might be easily missed while walking on a pedestrian street. However, upon entering, the interior has a bohemian feel of an art collector’s home with a softly lit salon featuring a Strauss piano, antiques upholstered in vintage fabrics, and a wonderful library. The guesthouse has two ground-floor suites that are ethereal and have verandas shaded by a loquat tree.
There are four large suites upstairs that have luxurious amenities such as velvet divans, floating beds, unique artworks, and elegant bathrooms with rough-hewn marble sinks. One of the suites even has a swing. Local confectioners, perfumers, and coffee shops provide delightful treats and toiletries for all rooms. The roof garden is the most remarkable feature, with a plethora of plants, day beds, and outdoor showers creating an urban jungle atmosphere. The property feels genuinely lived-in and is a unique and rare treasure.
9. Four Seasons Astir Palace
The Astir Palace was a famous hotel that helped make the Athens Riviera popular in the 1960s. It has recently been updated by the Four Seasons and is now a modern seaside hotel that fits in perfectly with the up-and-coming coastline. The bedrooms are luxurious and understated, with the best ones offering a view of the sea. The hotel also has three great restaurants designed by Martin Brudnizki and an amazing waterfront spa that caters to high-end guests.
You can experience an adrenaline rush by water-skiing across the bay or simply relax on a floating sunbed while taking in the stunning view of luxurious yachts passing by during vibrant sunsets over the Saronic islands. As for dining, Pelagos is the top choice, with its Michelin-starred cuisine and an Art Deco ambience resembling that of an ocean liner among the four superb sea-facing restaurants available.
10. Ergon House
This is not just a restaurant and hotel; it’s a contemporary exploration of Greece’s culinary heritage. On the ground floor, you’ll find Agora, a lively deli, roastery, bakery, and dining area decorated with a towering four-story hydroponic “vertical orchard” and Athenian graffiti. The rooms upstairs, ranging from small to extra-large, feature decorative cinder blocks, terrazzo tiles, and walnut-wood frames that define their sleeping, living, and bathing spaces. Beautifully packaged Greek artisanal foods are also available for purchase.
The hotel has a stylish design. The food, though, is the highlight. However, guests also have the option to prepare their own meals in one of the shared kitchens. During the summer months, the rooftop bar is a popular spot for trendy local people to hang out, offering views of the Parthenon.
11. Monsieur Didot
There are dozens of crumbling, turn-of-the-20th-century townhouses in Athens just crying out to be transformed into charming B&Bs. Best friends Natalia Georgopoulou and Margarita Papaioannou have set an example with this thoughtful revival of a pale-pink property on a quiet corner of posh Kolonaki. The hotel has a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, resembling a family home. It only has six rooms that are tastefully decorated with unique and understated artwork that adds to the beauty of the building. Two of the best rooms are The Tale, which has its own entrance, and The Ode, a small rooftop penthouse with a private sun deck. You can request Natalia to organize a Greek wine tasting session on the private roof terrace.
12. AthensWas
This is the only five-star hotel on the promenade that encircles the Acropolis and is ideal if you want to connect with the ancient Athenians. Despite the classical motifs, the atmosphere is modern and peaceful, as the design merges classical references with contemporary classics, such as hanging black-and-white marble torsos above leather Le Corbusier armchairs.
The rooftop restaurant offers delicious Greek cuisine, including a salad of wilted greens with nut crumble and tangerine, scorpion fish ‘meatball’ soup with bottarga, and white chocolate tsoureki (brioche) with kumquat and Greek coffee foam. The location is unbeatable, with a view of the Parthenon, but the service may be inconsistent and the rooms are a bit dark with carpeting and wood paneling.
13. The Foundry Suites
This former typeface foundry is located at the end of a cul-de-sac and has a mix of exposed stone, large windows, and climbing plants on its exterior. Inside, original industrial details are combined with mid-century antiques, bold wallpaper, and unique bed frames and wardrobes. The 12 rooms are like fully-equipped apartments, complete with kitchens and sunny workspaces, making it a great choice for longer stays.
You can enjoy a breakfast basket either in your room or at the magical roof garden, where you can see the Parthenon peeking through the foliage. Later, you can head upstairs to witness the sunset while sipping on a variety of lively Greek wines (one of the wine enthusiasts who owns the place has constructed a wine cellar in the basement) and munching on wood-fired pizzas.
14. Perianth Hotel
You can see the curved balconies of a famous Bauhaus building from Agia Irini Square. The square is named after a church with a dome in the center. Inside the building, you’ll find a 1930s-inspired design featuring black marble, gray terrazzo floors, and bronze lighting fixtures. There are also pink sofas, green throws, and modern artwork to add a touch of freshness. If you stay here, you can attend yoga, martial arts, and meditation sessions at the Zen Center on the first floor for free. You can enjoy sliders and a spritz at the all-day restaurant downstairs to relax after a busy day.
The location offers great views for people-watching. The hotel provides a knowledgeable concierge to assist with recommendations for nearby bars, markets, and galleries. The hotel’s proximity to the Acropolis makes it a convenient and smart choice for exploring both ancient and modern Athens.
