So, you’re besotted with Athens’ booming art scene? Who could blame you. Over the past decade, the capital’s vibrant artistic expression has burst the banks of museums and galleries to invigorate our streetscapes, portsides and buildings. And our hotels too. Amp up your Athenian art immersion by checking into one of the cool art centric stays cropping up all over town. With curated interiors, design-heavy restaurants and on-trend bars, these colourful lodgings are giving luxury hospitality—and even the museums and galleries—some serious competition.
From art-soaked seaside resorts and hip crashpads splashed with street murals; to downtown classics kitted out by global art collector titans; here’s where to stay to max out your art exposure in Athens.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens €€€
What’s the story: A beacon of retro glamour, the architecture of this classic mid-century Riviera icon is magnificent in its own right. Factor in the dazzling art strung on its 5-star walls, and you have an aesthete’s dream. Almost 2,000 works of art feature in the permanent collection of acquired and commissioned works across the Four Seasons Astir Palace. Sir Anthony Gormley’s metal sculpture greets guests at the entrance to flagship Nafsika (one of two hotels on this exclusive pine-studded peninsula); while the lobbies and rooms of both hotels are awash with art by contemporary local talent and international greats. Strolling Astir’s corridors is like exploring an elegant gallery, matched by the Aegean’s changing palette.
Check out: Snap up one-of-a-kind sculptures at the Benaki Museum’s on-site shop; then lap up nostalgic glam at the Aristotelis lounge or the Martini Bar at Pelagos restaurant. Designed by interiors wizard Martin Brudnizki, the seaside setting has all the hallmarks of a gentleman’s club—complete with leather banquettes, dreamy Art Deco elements, nautical motifs and cocktails with attitude.
Courtesy: Four Seasons Astir Palace
Courtesy: Athens Capital Hotel MGallery
Athens Capital Hotel MGallery €€€
What’s the story: As the name suggests, this luxury hotel in prime Syntagma ensconces you in an arty environment from the moment you enter. Bookshelves are stacked with ceramic collectibles and small sculptures. Original works by influential Greek artists such as Yiannis Moralis and Spyros Vassiliou share space with trompe d’oeil décor and emerging local talent. But the piece de resistance? The 3,000 piece interactive sculpture by the late George Lappas, Mappemonde, stretching 10-storeys to meet the blue sky above. Take the stairs to truly appreciate this masterpiece that traces the map of the world as a sculptural narrative.
Check out: The equally artful gastronomy and plating at the fine dining eaterie MFlavours and Mappemonde Restaurant and Bar on the 10th floor; the rooftop infinity pool with the city strewn at your feet and Athens’ most recognizable landmarks in the frame to fire up your Insta game (there’s also a designated selfie-corner).
InterContinental Athenaeum €€€
What’s the story: When the owner-curator of a hotel is one of the most influential collectors in the art universe, you can be sure that the featured art is not just about adding a colour pop to the walls; but about engaging guests in an immersive visual experience. Dakis Joannou is credited with drawing the art world’s attention to Athens—and his curated collection is sprinkled across each of the 563 rooms and suites of the InterContinental Athenaeum. It’s rotated frequently (so repeat guests can enjoy fresh works).
Check out: Keep your eyes peeled for pieces by Greek artists such as Eleni Christodoulou; photography by Yannis Kordakis; the Campana brothers’ impressive Ilha & Meteors installation in the Atrium; as well as George Lappas’ imposing Blue Man composed of steel, neon, canvas and aluminum in the sumptuous reception.
Then hit the rooftop Premiere bar for sundowners and stellar vistas.
Courtesy: InterContinental Athenaeum
Courtesy: Shila
Shila €€
What’s the story: Beamed distressed ceilings, cosy hand-crafted table lamps, beeswax chandeliers and common spaces enlivened with exhibitions by local artists, Shila is a provocatively sensual bohemian gathering place for creative souls, burrowed discreetly inside a neoclassical building in chic Kolonaki. With just six suites, each distinctly different, Shila exudes an elegant and other-worldly charm that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into an enchanting time-capsule. Any stay here, however short, will feel like a magical escape from the day to day.
Check out: Much of what you see at Shila is up for grabs at the hotel’s boutique, as are the artworks by its roster of accomplished Greek and international artists. Shila’s botanical rooftop is where the city cognoscenti convene for informal drinks and poetry readings under a full moon.
Herodion €€
What’s the story: Within stroking distance of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, this family-run boutique hotel has the personalized touch of an elegant residence. Christina Sarantopoulou’s impressive fingerprint sculpture welcomes guests—a marker of the dynamic identity of a genuinely humane metropolis. Sculptures, paintings, photography… you’ll find all these art forms displayed in abundance at these sophisticated word-of-mouth lodgings. Oxford and Berlin-based artist Aliki Krikidi’s figurative artworks dominate, as do the stirring seascapes of Yiannis Michaelidis.
Check out: The light-soaked Atrium restaurant with homey woven cushions and wild pistachio trees piercing the sunroof perfectly caps a long day of sight-seeing. In the summer, head to PointA on the roof for drinks with the Sacred Rock for company.
Courtesy: Herodion
Courtesy: Life Gallery
Life Gallery, Ekali €€
What’s the story? This minimalist northern suburbs spa retreat in leafy Ekali is well worth the twenty minute trek for those seeking a sophisticated reprieve from the city beat, amid wonderful works by some of Greece’s most notable artists. With 24 glass-clad rooms fronting a peaceful pine forest and 5 suites and studios that open onto a Zen garden with mountain views, Life Gallery offers the intimacy of a restful private estate. Designer lighting and bespoke furniture complements the art dotted around the lobby and groomed gardens. Guests will be treated to an introduction to some of the leading lights of Modern Greek Art; starting with the pioneer of the ‘30s generation Nikos Kessanlis; to Takis, the master of kinetic sculptures; and younger contemporary artists such as Nikos Alexiou, Annita Xanthou and Lambros Psirakis.
Check out: Indulge in a wellness treatment in the much-lauded spa; unplug in the indoor hammam; or swim among the pines in the dramatic glass-walled outdoor pool. For a gear shift, hit the upmarket boutiques and cafe society of nearby Kifissia.
