The best hotels in Athens
A few years ago, a round-up of hotels in Athens as extensive and luxurious as the one our editors have curated below would have been almost unthinkable. While the Greek capital has long been a city-break destination for history buffs and sunshine seekers, it’s only recently that Athens hotels have caught up with the appetite for long weekends and shoulder-season trips from a chic, jet-setting crew. Far from a stop-over on the way to the islands, Athens is reaping the rewards of a long-overdue renaissance, with a buzzing food scene at the best restaurants in Athens and the relatively, surprisingly new phenomenon of rooftop bars with views of the Parthenon; constantly regenerating neighbourhoods where new stores and galleries pop up next to long-standing institutions; and, finally, some smart places to stay. A new hotel seems to open in the centre of Athens every week — from funky guesthouses and chic boutique hotels to restored neoclassical monuments and coastal resorts. In the centre, book into chic design hotels, urban-cool restaurants with rooms or centuries-old landmark buildings which have had new life breathed into them. Stays in the heart of the city mean you're in the thick of the action, and can spend days wandering idly along the crumbly streets or brushing up on your history at the big-hitting attractions. But don’t overlook the Athens Riviera. This recently regenerated coastal area, about 10 miles out of the city, is where slick resorts from big-name brands (One&Only, Four Seasons) and cool, low-key beachy properties offer the best of both worlds – many have vibey pool scenes and private beaches to slip into the Aegean from. Here are the 18 best hotels in Athens, each tried and tested by one of our editors. Sarah James
More recommendations for where to stay in Athens and Greece:
- The cheapest, nicest hotels in Athens
- The best Airbnbs in Athens
- The best hotels in Greece
- The best family hotels in Greece
- The most romantic hotels in Greece
- The best Greek island hotels
- The best Airbnbs in Greece
- The best villas in Greece
For more ideas on what to do on your trip to Athens, check out our expert recommendations:
- 19 amazing things to do in Athens
- The 8 best beaches in Athens, according to our Greece expert
- Why a fresh buzz in Greece's capital city is making it the unsung city break of the summer
- The best rooftop bars in Athens
- The best restaurants in Athens
- 17 of the best bars in Athens
How we choose the best hotels in Athens
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
Dimitris Poupalos/MonumenthotelMonument
Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
Classified as a modern monument, this mansion was designed in 1881 by Ernst Ziller, the German architect whose eclectic neoclassicism shaped Greece’s new 19th-century capital. Hotelier Grigoris Tolkas spent three years transforming the neglected beauty into an intimate hotel, undeterred by strict building restrictions, maddening bureaucracy and spiralling costs. Restoration specialists from the Ministry of Culture painted the delicate acanthus flowers on the ceilings and trompe l’oeil stairwell, which leads to nine subtly different rooms and suites. There are sepia-toned limewash walls, brass lamps beside bespoke wooden beds and a smattering of contemporary Scandinavian furniture to keep things from sliding into retro pastiche. Modern bathrooms are concealed in mirrored boxes, a neat trick that makes the lofty rooms seem even bigger. Some suites have marble balconies overlooking the domed church of Agios Dimitrios, the pavement scene at fashionable Linou Soumpasis restaurant and the Parthenon hovering above the rooftops. A locally sourced breakfast is the only meal served in the subdued living and dining room that occupies the whole ground floor. The complimentary sauna and steam room in the basement is a lovely perk. Service is hyper-personal, from the morning crew remembering your coffee order to behind-the-scenes tours tailored to your interests, whether you’re into art, architecture or eating your way around Athens. This is a charming hideout in the heart of the city, where you can peel back layers of the past while checking the frenetic pulse of the present. Rachel Howard
Address: Monument, Kalamida 11, Psirri
Rupert PeacehotelOne & Only Aesthesis
Featured on our 2024 Hot List of the best new hotels in the world
In its 1960s heyday, Asteria Beach was a playground for socialites and starlets; many black-and-white Greek movies were shot in the modernist cabanas and open-air restaurants. Now this peninsula on the Athens Riviera pulls an equally glamorous crowd to the One&Only’s long-awaited Greek debut – a resort so rigorously art-directed that it sometimes feels like a movie set. Following the low-density blueprint of the original structures, bungalows and villas built from local stone and pale timber are scattered between exuberant gardens and the shoreline. The shallow bay isn’t great for swimming, but it’s perfect for learning to paddleboard or launching off to the nearby islands of Aegina or Kea (where another One&Only opens in summer 2024) – and anyway, all the bungalows and villas come with private pools. With two relentlessly responsive hosts at your disposal, you’ll be hard-pressed to venture beyond the gilded compound. There’s a lively scene at Ora, a vibrant Greco-Italian all-day affair, where plump aubergine, lobster, and lamb are wood-fired or flame-grilled in the open kitchen; and at El Bar, chef Paco Morales’s hedonistic spin on Andalusian tapas bars, where Iberico flamenquin and oysters escabeche are paired with a fiery pisco punch or sherry cocktail. Daytime drinking and sunset DJ sets keep up the tempo at the beach bar, Manco. Self-indulgence is gently encouraged by the therapists at the Guerlain spa too. Euphoria-inducing facials and wellness rituals focus on deep relaxation and inner glow, which pretty much sums up a stay at this smoothly operated urban resort. Rachel Howard
Address: Leof. Poseidonos 110, Glifada 166 74, Greece
The Dolli
Originally a shipping magnate’s mansion and later a famous fabric emporium, this 1925 Plaka landmark has been reimagined as a hotel-Maison by Grecotel, Greece’s largest hotel chain. With its rounded corners and lofty windows, the ornate façade has been beautifully preserved; inside, the look is more flamboyant eclecticism – giant crystals, blobby bouclé sofas, art by Cocteau, Picasso, and Calder. From bijou doubles to vast connecting suites, guestrooms have soaring ceilings, gleaming marble bathrooms, and an air of extravagance. But the real scene-stealer is the roof terrace: the infinity pool creates the illusion that you’re floating in the Parthenon, which is just overhead. You can pick out all the city’s landmarks from the smart rooftop restaurant, where legions of assiduous staff serve a flawless, multi-course breakfast. Whether you’re into ruins or bars, flea markets or museums, everything is on your doorstep at The Dolli.
Address: The Dolli, Mitropoleos 49, Athina 105
KENSEEThotelFour Seasons Astir Palace
Appearing from the pine trees which bathe the behemoth white complex in seclusion, Four Seasons Astir Palace peeps over the inky blues of the Aegean stretching endlessly as far as the eye can see. Like with many hotels that benefit smugly from a seafront location, the setup is topsy-turvy –the swanky lobby at the top, with rooms on the floors below and finally down to the main event, the sweeping pool and private beach. First built in the 1960s, the modernist, geometric structures which make up Astir Palace have long been fabled on this corner of the Greek coast, about 40 minutes from Athens, and were once the backdrop for Hollywood and royalty to rub shoulders. In 2019, the resort was taken under Four Seasons' wing. A $700 million renovation has leaned into the mid-century architecture with a retro-chic makeover that alludes to its Sixties-glamour heyday at every turn. Reaching our room felt like navigating the corridors of a cruise ship, and the layout once inside only adds to the at-sea vibe. The vast space brings the colour palette outside (sandy creams, Aegean blues) inside, creating a muted, soft retreat from the baking sun. Of the six on-site restaurants, we sampled four during our two-night stay: my favourite of the bunch was Taverna 37, a seafront spot modelled on a classic local taverna, where we ordered juicy lamb chops, grilled octopus or Athenian hero dishes like Saganaki. It's hard to find reasons to leave – with a buzzy swimming pool, private beach, gym, spa, fitness classes, kids' club – lean into the blissful relaxation of a few days here with nothing to do but read on a daybed, and no decisions to make other than whether to cool off in the sea or the pool (the answer is, of course, always both). Sarah James
Address: Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni 166 71, Greece
Christos DrazosAcademias Hotel, Autograph Collection
A theme runs through this downtown 5-star hotel: busts of ancient Greek philosophers adorn the Plato lobby bar, and your key card comes with a quote by Hippocrates or Socrates. Guests are encouraged to switch off their devices daily for an hour and borrow a book from the library instead. But there are plenty of mod cons too: Simmons mattresses in the monochrome bedrooms, Diptyque amenities in the marble bathrooms, and a heated pool where black-and-white movies are projected in the wellness centre. There’s a buzzy vibe up on the rooftop, where all of Athens stretches before you while you knock back spicy margaritas, seabass ceviche with lotus root chips, and duck and sweet potato croquettes at Japanese fusion restaurant Nyx.
Address: Academias Hotel Athens, Autograph Collection, Akadimias 38, Kolonaki
NEW Hotel
It’s not so new any more, but this 2011 design hotel still packs a punch. The Brazilian Campana brothers have injected their signature favela chic and sense of humour into what was once a derelict downtown spot. Old furniture is upcycled in inspired ways, as in the lobby walls, which are clad in splintered chairs and tables. It’s all slightly mad, from the trippy, bronze-mirrored bathrooms to the hybrid chairs that look like giant marshmallows. Unfailingly professional staff are in the know about the latest designers to buy and restaurants to try. But the food here is so good that locals come for the weekend brunch with Croque Monsieur and Greek-style Bloody Marys, as well as sassy cocktails at the rooftop restaurant, which doubles as an art library. Very postmodern yet surprisingly fun.
Address: NEW Hotel, Filellinon 16, Syntagma
Ioanna RoufopoulouThe Margi
Set back from the sandy bay of Vouliagmeni in the southern suburbs, the most desirable enclave on the Athens Riviera, the Margi has been around since 1960. But this easy-going, family-run hotel remains a favourite with the moneyed residents. You’ll find them schmoozing at Malabar pool bar or going for broke at Patio, a refined restaurant with just nine tables. Many ingredients come from the hotel’s organic farm. Neutral, wood-panelled rooms with pool or pine views are pretty snug, but guests spend most of their time at the sensational pool or the small, Asian-inspired spa. In summer, book a sunbed at the beach bar, Krabo, on a rocky cove just above the headland, where beautiful, bronzed Athenians make like they’re on Mykonos.
Address: The Margi, Litous 11, Vouliagmeni
Ergon House
This isn’t just a restaurant with rooms; it’s an immersion in Greece’s culinary traditions from a modern, urban perspective. The ground floor Agora is a perpetually buzzy deli, roastery, bakery and dining room with a four-storey, hydroponic ‘vertical orchard’ on one wall and typically Athenian graffiti on the other. Prettily packaged Greek artisan foods also tempt in the rooms upstairs, which range in size from S to XL, with sleeping, living and bathing areas defined by decorative cinder blocks, terrazzo tiles and walnut-wood frames. The food doesn’t quite live up to the dashing design, but you can assemble your own groceries in one of the communal kitchens. In the summer, local hipsters congregate at the rooftop bar, where the Parthenon can be glimpsed between the TV aerials.
Address: Ergon House, Mitropoleos 23, Syntagma
Hotel Grande Bretagne
Sometimes only a classic will do. Presiding over central Syntagma Square since 1874, the GB is almost as much of an Athenian landmark as the Acropolis. Its salons have welcomed treaty-signing politicians, matchmaking socialites and undercover celebrities. Despite several corporate takeovers and makeovers, it still feels reassuringly old-fashioned, all colossal chandeliers, antique paintings and highly polished marble. A piano player tinkles away in the gilded Winter Garden, and the flawless cocktails at Alexander’s Lounge are still deliciously unadventurous. Perks for guests include an indoor and outdoor pool, a wildly expensive spa, a smart fitness centre, an upmarket ‘corner shop’ that stocks silk blouses and leather bags by Zeus + Dione, and prime Parthenon views from the consistently excellent rooftop bar and restaurant. Look out for the open-air movie screenings in summer.
Address: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Vasileos Georgiou 1, Syntagma Square
hotel91 Athens Riviera, The Resort
The Greek capital city, built as it is on layers of history spanning as far back as civilisation remembers, is no insider secret. History buffs have long lusted over its labyrinthine streets, which wind around centuries-old landmarks like a living, breathing museum, while its thriving food scene, cool bars and modern, youthful energy have meant that it's been years since Athens was simply considered a stopping point on the way to the Greek Islands by the Euro summer crew. But somehow, the Athens Riviera – a stretch of coastline about 10 miles outside of the crumbly city centre – has remained deliciously and curiously less tramelled. Travellers – and hoteliers – are now catching on, with a clutch of openings popping up along the shore providing a salty-aired base for those who want to pair city break convenience with a beach holiday. 91 Athens Riviera is a breezy, boho injection of low-key glamour. The team has taken a bleached-out blueprint and applied it effortlessly to 28 cabanas, arranged like safari tents throughout the grassy gardens, which are a masterclass in luxe-y eco styling, with a beachy colour palette of sandy woods and seafoam linens. The on-site restaurant, Barbarossa, is an iconic import from the Greek island of Paros with a menu that spotlights seafood, while the award-winning Soma Spa is the place to totally unwind. For travellers who want toes-in-the-sand luxury with the allure of a major city just a cab ride away, this slice of coastline is the clever destination to bookmark. Sarah James
Address: Α' Ακτή, Leof. Alkionidon 4, Voula 166 74, Greece
Monsieur Didot
There are dozens of crumbling, turn-of-the-20th-century townhouses in Athens crying out to be transformed into charming B&Bs. Best friends Natalia Georgopoulou and Margarita Papaioannou have led the way with a thoughtful revival of this pale-pink property on a quiet corner of Kolonaki, the Knightsbridge of Athens. It still feels, and is run, like a family house: there are just six rooms, with calm, unfussy furniture and offbeat art that doesn’t overwhelm the building’s beautiful structure. The best rooms are The Tale, which has a separate entrance, and The Ode, a snug penthouse with a private sundeck. Ask Natalia to arrange a Greek wine tasting on the secret roof terrace or a curated walking or food tour.
Address: Monsieur Didot, Sina 48, Kolonaki
Christos DrazosAthensWas
If you want to commune with the ancient Athenians, this is the place – the only five-star hotel on the resplendent promenade that circles the Acropolis. The vibe is surprisingly calm and contemporary. Classical references are juxtaposed with modern design classics: black-and-white marble torsos hang above leather Le Corbusier armchairs. Accomplished Greek food – a salad of wilted greens with nut crumble and tangerine, scorpion fish ‘meatball’ soup garnished with bottarga, white chocolate tsoureki (brioche) with kumquat and Greek coffee foam – is served in the smart rooftop restaurant with a side of Parthenon views. Service can be patchy and the carpeted, wood-panelled rooms are a little sombre for high summer, but you can’t beat the location.
Address: AthensWas, Dionysiou Areopagitou 5, Acropolis
Perianth Hotel
The curved balconies of this Bauhaus landmark overlook the lively café scene on Agia Irini Square, named after the domed church that anchors the piazza. Inside, it’s a paean to the 1930s — all moody black marble, grey terrazzo floors and tubular bronze lighting – with dusky-pink sofas, sage-green throws and a dash of modern art to keep things fresh. Guests have free access to yoga, meditation and martial arts classes at the deeply calming Zen Centre on the first floor. Detox with sliders and a spritz at the all-day restaurant downstairs, a prime perch for people-watching. With a savvy concierge to help navigate the surrounding bars, markets, and galleries, and the Acropolis just overhead, this is a smart base for exploring both ancient and modern Athens.
Address: Perianth Hotel, Limpona 2, Monastiraki
Shila
You could walk past this Twenties residence on a pedestrian street in upmarket Kolonaki and never know it was the city’s most soulful guesthouse. Step inside and it’s like wandering into the bohemian home of an art collector: there’s a softly lit salon with a Strauss piano, antiques upholstered in vintage fabrics and a library of wonderful books you want to read. The two ethereal ground-floor suites have verandas shaded by a loquat tree. Up the marble staircase are four more enormous suites with velvet divans, floating beds, intriguing artworks, and sultry bathrooms with rough-hewn marble sinks, (one even has a swing). Local chocolatiers, parfumiers, and coffee shops created delicious treats and toiletries in every room. The greatest surprise is the roof garden: an urban jungle of plants, day beds and outdoor showers. Wonderfully idiosyncratic, this is a rare treasure that feels genuinely lived in.
Address: Shila, Mantzarou 10, Kolonaki
Four Seasons Astir Palace
The Astir Palace put the Athens Riviera on the map in the 1960s. After a glossy makeover courtesy of the Four Seasons, it’s back — and exactly what this up-and-coming coastline needed: a full-blown seaside hotel that isn’t stuck in the past. Subdued bedrooms epitomise stealth wealth (do pay the premium for a sea view, or better yet, book one of the bungalows tucked among the pine woods). High-rollers quaff Champagne cocktails in Martin Brudnizki’s trio of sexy restaurants, while their glamorous wives are cosseted in the huge waterfront spa, which has seriously effective facials and a hydrotherapy zone where you could happily wallow the whole day. The young and restless can whizz across the bay on water skis. But you could easily while away day after day on a floating sunbed, watching a parade of superyachts drift by and dazzling sunsets over the Saronic Isles. Tricked out like an Art Deco ocean liner, Michelin-starred Pelagos is the best of several sensational sea-view restaurants.
Address: Four Seasons Astir Palace, Apollonos 40, Vouliagmeni
Ioanna RoufopoulouThe Modernist
This quiet corner site once housed the Canadian embassy, but there’s nothing stuffy or starchy about the building’s thoroughly modern makeover. There’s almost Japanese attention to both form and function in the black-and-white rooms, whether they are S, M, L, or XL. (The higher the floor, the better the view.) All the amenities (many of them on sale in the small concept store) are curated by Athenian movers and shakers: custom-blended teas, monochromatic ceramics, prints by local illustrators and playlists by local DJs that you can blast on Marshall speakers. Simple breakfasts and wholesome bowls are served in the ground-floor café, an inspiring spot to hang out with your laptop. Deck chairs are lined up along the smart roof deck for sundowners (try the bergamot gimlet) overlooking the National Gallery and the city’s haphazard skyline. Consistently professional staff are never overbearing but always helpfully prompt. A slick operation in every sense.
Address: The Modernist, I.Gennadiou 4, Kolonaki
Vangelis Pateraksxenodocheio Milos
Estiatorio Milos, chef Costas Spiliadis’ growing empire of Greek restaurants, elevates extreme simplicity into a fine dining experience, treating the purest ingredients with the lightest, most precise touch. Spiliadis’ first foray into the hotel business is equally upmarket but unpretentious. Smack bang in the commercial and political heart of Athens, Milos hotel bears all the restaurants’ minimalist hallmarks: lashings of white marble, pale wood, and soft leather. Sleek and airy bedrooms are decorated with minimal fuss but fastidious attention to detail. Some suites have huge terraces overlooking the old Parliament. Facilities are limited to a small wellness and fitness suite, but it’s the food you come for: luscious Greek yoghurt with granola and Kythera honey for breakfast, and dinner a tangle of bitter greens and a whole croaker baked in hand-picked flakes of rock salt, chosen from the extravagant seafood display. The ultimate treat: a private lunch on board Spiliadis’ yacht, Milos at Sea.
Address: xenodocheio Milos, Kolokotroni 3-5, Syntagma
Gatsby Athens
Sassy, playful, and pleasingly camp, Gatsby Athens is a fun addition to the booming hotel scene in the so-called ‘Historic Triangle’ (a warren of lively streets between Syntagma and Monastiraki squares). Compact but comfy rooms occupy six floors that have names like Cool and Lavish, instead of numbers. From the suggestive photos on the walls to the ‘after-sex’ room service menu, the vibe is a raunchy weekend or girls’ getaway. The penthouse Party Suite opens onto a roof terrace with a fireplace for chilly nights and a projector for private screenings in the summer. The colourful lobby bar and restaurant, with picture windows overlooking a hip arcade, does a great weekend brunch, the perfect pick-me-up after too many of bartender Artemis’ Negronis.
Address: Gatsby, Lekka 18, Syntagma
Tristan HollingsworthMona
Sister hotel to Shila, Mona shares the same romantic aesthetic but with a sharper industrial edge to suit the downtown location. A converted textile factory on a graffiti-lined side street, Mona is surrounded by the myriad bars and boutiques of Psirri and the bazaar-like Athens central market. Open-plan bedrooms (and bathrooms – beware if you’re intimacy-averse) are like film sets, with antique daybeds, muslin drapes, and oversized velvet cubes tossed like dice on distressed terrazzo floors. Exposed concrete, pipes, and upcycled materials (a mattress on a stack of wooden palettes, a patio sofa fashioned from salvaged bricks) bring a touch of rough luxe, while hand-crafted ceramics and sensual photographs heighten the air of retro romance. Beautifully presented breakfast and a take-out menu are served in the glass-walled living room. Talented chefs from all over the world often pop up in the open-plan kitchen for supper clubs, while guest DJs and live sets occasionally commandeer the roof terrace, a gritty panorama of unpolished apartments with a glimpse of the Acropolis. Stay here, and you get instant access to Club Monamour, a members’ club for the city’s coolest cats.
Address: Mona, Kakourgodikiou 4, Psirri
The Foundry Suites
Hidden down a cul-de-sac, this former type foundry is clad in a patchwork of exposed stone, giant Crittall windows and climbing plants. Inside, original industrial details are fused with mid-century antiques, bold wallpaper, and bespoke wood and metal bed frames and wardrobes. Perfect for long stays, the 12 rooms are more like loft apartments, with proper kitchens and sunny workspaces. A breakfast basket is delivered to your room or to the magical roof garden, where the Parthenon is visible between the foliage. Head up there to watch the sunset with lively Greek wines (one of the wine-obsessed owners has built a cellar in the basement) and wood-fired pizzas.
Address: The Foundry Suites, Sarri 40, Psyrri
