What’s New in Athens in April

It seems like a cool restaurant and hotel opens in Athens every week. Choosing where to stay and eat during your city break just got a little easier: you can combine the two, with the arrival of three hot new hotel restaurants.

On the top floor of the Grand Hyatt Athens, hip Mykonos destination Interni has just opened a sister restaurant - The Grand by Interni (115 Syngrou), helmed by chef Thanos Kakaras. Go to lust over the original 1970s chairs and super-sized knitted lights. Stay for a cocktail at the marble bar, overlooking the saucy, see-through pool. Then tuck into Mediterranean-Asian mash-ups like sea bass ceviche with roasted sweet potato, with the distant Acropolis as a backdrop.

Bringing a chilled L.A. vibe to the Historic Centre is Folk., housed in the new Blend Hotel (2 Vissis). From the Anglo-Greek team behind cool Kifissia café Different Beast, Folk. is housed in a historic building from 1841, that once housed the Pavlidis chocolate factory’s first cafe. Late risers can order brunch until 7pm (try the vegan Buddha bowl with spicy falafel, pumpkin seeds and avocado or the scorched egg on wild rice with purple broccoli and fresh chili) and chase it down with one of their excellent coffees by premium Greek brewer taf. Blend hotel opened earlier this spring and bills itself as a “no-attitude hotel with the mission of turning guests into Athens insiders”.

For a coastal vibe, pick Maraveal, the latest fine dining venture of French chef Olivier Campanha. Enjoy sophisticated summery cuisine (such as tuna with soy and green apple sorbet), before retiring to one of the 47 tastefully decked-out rooms at the Glyfada Riviera design hotel (40 Posidonos), which opened in tandem this month. This 5-star makeover of an existing hotel has given a much-needed boost to luxury accommodation options in Glyfada. The hotel also features a wine and cocktail lounge, pool bar, two-bedroom family suites, and a penthouse with rooftop plunge pool.