The Foundry’s twelve huge suites are more like fully equipped apartments. Built in 1930, the rough stone building was originally a type foundry. Inside, industrial features are fused with mid-century modern elements. Head up to the rooftop and you’ll find yourself on a lush terrace with a panoramic view of Athens, including the Acropolis and the National Observatory, sitting upon the Hill of the Nymphs. The communal tables and benches immediately give the concept away: this is an urban garden designed for picnics. (It’s open-air, so it’s only open during the warmer months). Order a picnic basket and it will soon arrive laden with fresh bread and rusks, wonderful artisan cheeses and cold cuts from around Greece, tomato chutney, salad and pickled eggs. Pair your treats with a glass of  Greek wine or local craft beer, available at the bar. On weekend evenings, delicious, thin-crust pizza is baked to order in the wood-fired oven. Some of the toppings are grown right there on the rooftop, like the pears on the rich pear and gorgonzola pizza. Time your visit just before sunset to enjoy the magic colours of the Athenian sky while sipping a glass of rosé from their in-house cellar.

A stylish new entry on the Athenian hotel scene, Blend is right in the heart of the historic centre of Athens. On the ground floor, Folk is an on-trend, all-day restaurant with a Scandinavian aesthetic that will set your Instagram alight. All the pale wooden seating is indoors. Yet the corner space is luminous, with hanging plants and wraparound windows with stools for people-watching over an excellent flat white. The healthy fusion cuisine marries the West Coast lifestyle with Mediterranean ingredients, all prepared with consideration and beautifully plated. A delicious brunch menu is served daily between 11am-7pm, so there’s no need to worry about waking up early. Choices go well beyond standard eggs, burgers and pancakes, though you’ll find excellent twists of those, too, from katsu sando (a milk bread bun filled with battered chicken and pickled cabbage) to fried eggs on cornbread with chipotle butter, coriander and lime. The lunch options are just as imaginative and as pretty as they are tasty: wild rice with a fried egg, purple broccoli, peas and mustard greens, or a vegan Buddha bowl with falafel, beetroot hummus, and naan bread, The bar turns out flawless coffees and great cocktails using premium spirits (do try the sriracha Bloody Mary). Their matcha latte with a shot of espresso and cocoa will bring you back from the dead, no matter what you did the night before.

An art deco landmark updated with contemporary Greek art and custom-made furniture, Perianth hotel is the sexy new kid on the block on buzzing Agia Irini Square. The whole square is pedestrianised and cafés and restaurants spill onto the sidewalks. This is where locals come to sip iced coffee in the sunshine, while reading a newspaper, people watching or chatting for hours. On the ground floor of the Perianth, Il Barreto is an all-day Italian restaurant that looks more like a grand brasserie. The extensive breakfast buffet is also available for non-guests (an excellent option if you’re staying at an airbnb nearby). Their apricot and almond tart goes perfectly well with their excellent, single-estate coffee and quality teas. You can order cooked breakfast dishes, (like scrambled eggs with tomatoes and feta or asparagus omelette) throughout the day, or pop in for one of their sophisticated sandwiches (the baguette with chicken and mushrooms is highly recommended). Athenians stop by after-work drinks—a bottle of wine paired with a platter of cheese and charcuterie, or a chili peach martini made with tsipouro (Greek grappa). For something more substantial, try their freshly baked focaccia stuffed with gorgonzola and peperoncino, a thin-crust pizza (the vegetarian options are ace) or a classic pasta dish such as cacio e pepe (butter, pecorino and black pepper).