RE-ATHENSBeta
16°

The Historic Centre.

Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki and Psyrri — the old city at the foot of the Acropolis.

Our edit: 17 hotels, 9 restaurants, 9 bars and 10 places.

Stay

Where to stay

Ergon House Ermou — neoclassical facade on Ermou pedestrian street, Athens
New

Monastiraki

Ergon House Ermou

The second Ergon House — on Ermou, between Monastiraki and Thissio.

Year

2026

Keys

24

Monument Hotel — exterior
SANCTUARY

Psyrri

Monument Hotel

An 1881 Ziller mansion. Nine rooms. Psyrri.

Year

2023

Keys

9

Ergon House Frontdesk
SANCTUARY

Monastiraki

Ergon House Athens

Sleep above the market.

Year

2018

Keys

38

A room at Xenodocheio Milos in Athens — a neoclassical hotel on Kolokotroni Street, home to Estiatorio Milos
SANCTUARY

Syntagma

Xenodocheio Milos

Costas Spiliadis’s Athens hotel — a landmark neoclassical opposite the Old Parliament.

Year

2022

Keys

42

Ergon Bake House

Monastiraki

Ergon Bake House

Sleep above the dough.

Year

2021

Keys

29

Perianth Hotel — exterior
SANCTUARY

Monastiraki

Perianth Hotel

The Athens that almost was. 1930s, refit.

Year

2018

Keys

38

Interior of Praxitelous Suites in central Athens — a boutique hotel in the historic Monastiraki area

Monastiraki

Praxitelous Suites

Eighteen suites in the commercial centre of Athens. Monastiraki 600 metres. Praxitelous 14.

Keys

18

A77 Suites — boutique suites in a neoclassical building, Plaka, Athens
SANCTUARY

Plaka

A77 Suites

A 19th century neoclassical on Adrianou, at the foot of the Acropolis.

Year

2021

Keys

12

An interior at New Hotel Athens — the Campana Brothers' design hotel assembled from salvaged fittings of the former Olympic Palace Hotel on Filellinon Street

Syntagma

New Hotel

The Campana Brothers’ first hotel, assembled from the ruins of the one before it.

Year

2011

Keys

79

Anthology of Athens hotel entrance on Leoforos Syngrou, Athens
SANCTUARY

Makrygianni

Anthology of Athens

Five-star biophilic luxury on Syngrou, one block from the Acropolis.

Keys

18

Pallas Athena hotel on Athinas Street in Athens — a Grecotel design hotel with commissioned street art murals throughout its rooms

Monastiraki

Athena

Graffiti on the walls, Athens’s oldest market out the window.

Keys

63

The neoclassical façade of Hotel Grande Bretagne on Syntagma Square, Athens — one of Europe's grand historic hotels since 1874
SANCTUARY

Syntagma

Hotel Grande Bretagne

Athens' grand dame, since 1874.

Year

1874

Keys

320

Fresh Hotel — exterior

Psyrri

Fresh Hotel

Athens' first design hotel. Rooftop pool, May to October.

Year

2003

Keys

133

Restored neoclassical facade of Emerald Hotel Athens on Perikleous Street — arched doorways and ornate plasterwork in the historic centre

Monastiraki

Emerald

Five suites in a restored neoclassical building between Syntagma and Monastiraki.

Keys

5

Interior of The Dolli hotel in Athens — a contemporary boutique hotel near Syntagma Square
SANCTUARY

Monastiraki

The Dolli

A 1925 neoclassical landmark beneath the Parthenon.

Architect

Andreas Kriezis

Year

1925

Keys

46

Colourful room interior at Colors Hotel Athens on Emmanouil Benaki Street, Exarchia

Omonia

Colors

Twenty-nine rooms, each built around its own colours.

Year

2011

Keys

29

MONA Athens — exterior
SANCTUARY

Psyrri

Mona Athens

A 1950s textile factory. Twenty rooms. Psyrri.

Year

2022

Keys

20

Eat

Where to eat

One Burger

Psyrri

One Burger

Three smash burgers, no sprawl, and one of the best interiors in Athens.

Year

2025

The warm, open-kitchen interior of Taverna Ermou by Ergon in Athens — raw materials, coastal flavours and a relaxed neighbourhood feel

Monastiraki

Taverna Ermou

Ergon's taverna on Ermou, where the market meets the table.

Year

2025

Manári Taverna — Open Fire Greek Kitchen — Athens

Monastiraki

Manári

Open-fire Greek cooking on the square at Agion Theodoron.

Year

2024

The Zillers Pastry Bar in central Athens — retro pastry counter displaying éclairs and millefeuilles inside the neoclassical Zillers building

Plaka

The Zillers Pastry Bar

Pastry, eight til late. Plaka.

Year

2024

Aigli Zappeiou

Syntagma

Aigli Zappeiou

120 years old, back under one roof in the National Garden.

Year

1904

A souvlaki platter at Meat the Greek in Athens — grilled pork skewers, handmade pita and classic accompaniments

Syntagma

Meat the Greek

Souvlaki on Fokionos, no corners cut.

Year

2019

SYNC Athens

Monastiraki

SYNC Athens

Morning coffee to late-night cocktails. No break.

Year

2026

Feyrouz Athens

Monastiraki

Feyrouz Athens

Lahmacun and lentil soup, run by the woman whose name is on the door.

Year

2014

Neropistolo

Syntagma

Neropistolo

Everything starts with the dough.

Drink

Where to drink

Heteroclito

Syntagma

Heteroclito

Greek wine without compromise.

Year

2012

Oinoscent

Syntagma

Oinoscent

One of Athens’ original wine bars. No compromises.

Year

2008

Baba Au Rum

Psyrri

Baba Au Rum

Athens’ original cocktail bar, 400 rums, and the drink that started a city’s bar scene.

Year

2009

Chicken skewers sizzling over an open charcoal grill at Birdman yakitori bar in Athens — the intimate counter dining experience near Syntagma

Syntagma

Birdman

Yakitori, Hi-Fi and vinyl near Syntagma

The Bar in Front of the Bar Athens — the street-side setup on Petraki Street

Monastiraki

The Bar in front of the Bar

A pavement bar that refused to leave.

Year

2021

Interior of The Clumsies bar on Praxitelous 30, Athens

Monastiraki

The Clumsies

Day Bar

Year

2014

Bar 2046

Omonia

Bar 2046

Athens’ first bar inside a cinema.

Year

2026

Warehouse CO2

Syntagma

Warehouse CO2

Sparkling, daily.

Year

2017

Barro Negro

Syntagma

Barro Negro

Athens’ first mezcal and tequila bar, ranked 13th in Europe’s 50 Best Bars.

Year

2019

See

What to see & shop

The Athens Central Market (Varvakeios Agora) in central Athens — the city's historic indoor market of fish, meat and produce

Monastiraki

Athens Central Market

Athens since 1886. Open Monday to Saturday.

Year

1886

The Naxos Apothecary product display — botanical skincare, herbal cosmetics and ceramic vessels inspired by the natural flora of Naxos island

Monastiraki

The Naxos Apothecary

The Korres brothers, second act. Naxos in a bottle.

Year

2018

Hyper Hypo bookshop interior, Voreou Street Monastiraki
New

Monastiraki

Hyper Hypo

Art and design books in Monastiraki. No algorithm involved.

Year

2021

Interior of Polis Hammam in Athens — a traditional hammam spa with heated marble slabs and steam rooms

Psyrri

Polis Hammam

An Ottoman bath, two streets from Ermou.

Year

2014

Exterior of Ikigai Japanese Market on Skoufou Street, Athens

Syntagma

Ikigai Japanese Market

Athens’ first new-generation Japanese market.

Year

2022

The Olive Era shop interior in Athens — artisanal Greek olive oil, ceramics and premium pantry products in a refined setting

Syntagma

Olive Era

Greek olive oil apothecary

Year

2021

Named after the Greek muse of lyric poetry

Monastiraki

Erato

First editions, rare finds, and ten thousand secondhand books beneath the Acropolis.

The Melissinos Art workshop in Athens — handcrafted leather sandals modelled on ancient Greek designs, made by third-generation poet-sandal maker Pantelis Melissinos

Makrygianni

Melissinos Art

Art on your feet

Year

1920

Cine Paris rooftop open-air cinema in Plaka, Athens — folding chairs under the night sky with the Acropolis glowing in the background

Plaka

Cine Paris

The open-air cinema under the Acropolis

Year

1920

Mofu Vintage Design

Psyrri

Mofu Vintage Design

Psyrri's original design address. Since 2001.

Year

2001