Athens has been quietly evolving into one of Europe’s most compelling luxury destinations. Now, with the heavy scaffolding lifted from the western façade of the Parthenon, the city’s revival is visible to all. And as you sip a glass of champagne on the sleek terrace of the Acropolis Museum café and gaze up at the temple, you can fully appreciate this marker of Athens’s reinvention.
The city is now home to no fewer than 35 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide, including the two-star Delta at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, and 11 one-stars. In the past few years, a new wave of galleries and museums has introduced contemporary art to this storied city, while designer boutiques populate Kolonaki and Plaka’s historic streets.
For those who prefer to be by the sea, the Athenian Riviera, just a 30-minute drive from the city, offers an island-esque escape — but without having to board a ferry. Unlike many Greek-island retreats that close for winter, both city and coastal hotels in Athens operate year-round, ensuring indulgence whatever the season.
From elevated rooftop suites with Acropolis views to luxurious coastal havens, the city now offers unparalleled culture, modern design and beach calm.
The best city hotels
Hotel Grande Bretagne
The GB Roof Garden Restaurant at the Hotel Grande Bretagne has panoramic Parthenon views
GEORGE FAKAROS
Commanding Syntagma Square since 1874, the Hotel Grande Bretagne has long stood as the city’s icon of neoclassical grandeur. It envelops guests in an atmosphere of cultivated luxury and its stately façade and lavish interiors — adorned with artworks, glittering chandeliers and plush carpets — evoke a sense of timeless sophistication. Exceptional soundproofing ensures it remains quiet and calm despite its central location and the city’s vibrant day and nightlife. The 61 suites and 259 rooms feature raw-silk curtains and museum-quality antiques, alongside exclusive Danakos toiletries, delicately scented with mandarin, fig and plum. Afternoon tea in the Winter Garden provides an interlude between shopping and cultural trips, while Alexander’s Bar — centred around an 18th-century tapestry of Alexander the Great — is an indulgent space for an end of day aperitif. The Michelin-starred executive chef Asterios Koustoudis elevates Mediterranean cuisine with dishes such as grilled turbot with zucchini blossoms and florina pepper sauce in the GB Roof Garden Restaurant, which has panoramic Parthenon views. Doubles from £475 B&B, Hotel Grande Bretagne
The Dolli at Acropolis
The Dolli at Acropolis is a 46-room haven of quiet sophistication
A 1925 neoclassical mansion reborn as a 46-room haven of quiet sophistication, the Dolli is the most understated of Athens’s luxury hotels. Designed by Andreas Kriezis, the architect who converted the Royal Palace into the Hellenic Parliament building, and once home to the city’s fabric merchants, it has interiors filled with pieces made to measure by local artisans, as well as Greek linens and silks. Marble floors, curved ceilings and soft, natural light provide calm in this busy area, while contemporary artworks, including an original Picasso in the library, create a dialogue between classicism and modernity. There’s no front desk; guests are welcomed with handmade treats and bespoke cocktails in the lounge — itself a museum with whimsical sculptures — further reinforcing the sense of private-residence intimacy. The rooftop infinity pool hovers in line with the Parthenon. It’s here guests linger over sushi platters and Mediterranean plates; the downstairs Le Bar Secret — an art-lined library where rare spirits are served as well as handcrafted chocolates and pastries — is the place for afternoon tea. The Dolli’s charm lies in its intimacy, measured design and combination of historic architecture and modern elegance. Doubles from £495 B&B, The Dolli
La Divina
La Divina is housed in the former Odeon Athenaeum, a concert hall dedicated to the opera singer Maria Callas
La Divina is a jewel of understated elegance housed in the former Odeon Athenaeum — a concert hall dedicated to the opera singer Maria Callas, in the Thessio neighbourhood. Its neoclassical façade, marble floors and refined architectural details tell of the building’s past, while the interior has been transformed into 12 luxurious contemporary private suites. Each suite contains little personal touches: Callas’s favourite chocolates and Greek wine, artisanal toiletries from the Greek brand Olive Era with scents of citrus, lily and horse chestnut, and high-quality linens. The rooms combine pale natural fabrics, muted tones, exposed brickwork from the original building and furniture inspired by neoclassical lines and accented with contemporary Greek art. The hotel serves only breakfast, but guests are a two-minute stroll from the Michelin-starred Makris Athens, renowned for its refined tasting menu. Doubles from £160 B&B, La Divina
• 16 of the best hotels in Athens
The best Athenian Riviera hotels
One&Only Aesthesis
The One&Only Aesthesis is a beachfront resort located in chic Glyfada
RUPERT PEACE
Just 30 minutes from central Athens in chic Glyfada, the One&Only Aesthesis is a beachfront estate on 52 acres that feels more private Greek island than mainland resort. The low-rise architecture, mid-century Mediterranean design and landscaped gardens are tranquil and elegant. The resort has 141 rooms — some with a garden or by the beach, each offering a private pool, courtyard and fire pit beside which to spend an evening with a glass of wine. Whether you book a double room or a villa, each space is very private, offering refined aesthetics and meticulous detail, including Esophy chocolates on arrival and Montroi toiletries in the bathrooms. The Guerlain Spa, Greece’s first from the French brand, is the resort’s highlight, with floor-to-ceiling glass, eucalyptus-scented saunas, a big outdoor pool and the signature “Nymph of the Athenian Riviera” treatment, which combines a rose-quartz massage with a floral foot bath. Meals feature contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and fresh seafood, and the concierge can arrange private sailing trips, as well as cultural excursions and bespoke experiences. The One&Only Aesthesis is perfect for travellers who wish to combine city sophistication with coastal tranquillity in a glamorous spot overlooking the Aegean. Doubles from £530, O&O Aesthesis
Four Seasons Astir Palace
Four Seasons Astir Palace
Perched on its own pine-clad 75-acre peninsula, the Four Seasons Astir Palace blends classic Mediterranean elegance with contemporary luxury, with low-rise white façades, colonnades and terraced gardens overlooking the Aegean. Originally opened in the 1960s as the Astir Palace hotel — a retreat for stars such as Frank Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot — it remains synonymous with that golden era. The Michelin-starred Pelagos restaurant serves refined Mediterranean flavours, such as wild sea bass with caviar beurre blanc, while the sea-view Avra bar offers seasonal cocktails. Days unfold between private beaches, the award-winning spa and yacht voyages skirting the coast to Cape Sounion with its ancient temple of Poseidon, or island-hopping to Hydra. The architectural grace, coastal calm and Riviera heritage ensure the Four Seasons Astir Palace remains the ultimate sanctuary for those seeking nostalgia and luxury along Athens’s most exclusive shoreline. Doubles from £570 B&B, Four Seasons/Astir Palace
• Read our full guide to Athens
The Margi
The Margi is a boutique retreat of understated elegance with an intimate atmosphere, plus a Michelin-starred restaurant
In Vouliagmeni, the 89-room Margi — a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World — is a family-run boutique retreat of understated elegance, its low-rise neoclassical architecture, pale façades and garden creating an intimate atmosphere. Thoughtful in-room touches, including artisanal bedding, curated toiletries by the Greek brand Korres and bespoke welcome gifts, reflect the hotel’s attention to detail. Guests can lounge peacefully by indoor and outdoor pools, enjoy a treatment in the spa, stroll to nearby beaches or journey to Athens, just a 40-minute drive away. The hotel’s Patio restaurant has a Michelin star and the chef Panagiotis Giakalis offers a choice of degustation menus. Visits can also be arranged to its off-site ten-acre farm where organic produce is grown for the hotel. Doubles from £240 B&B, The Margi
All prices are per night