AthensWas

AthensWas is a small five-star design hotel with one of the best addresses in the city: Dionysiou Areopagitou, the pedestrian avenue that curves around the south side of the Acropolis. With only 21 rooms and suites, it feels more like a stylish private residence than a large hotel, and the Michelin Guide includes it in its selection of Athens hotels.

The interiors are inspired by the 1960s, combining Greek marble and native wood with clean lines and mid-century furniture. Rooms have wood-panelled walls, accents of orange and blue and framed photographs of Greek antiquities. Every room has its own private veranda and a Nespresso machine, and the better categories look up to the Acropolis, so it is worth paying for a view if your budget allows.

On the roof, SENSE restaurant serves creative, contemporary cooking with lighter takes on traditional Greek dishes, and it is listed in the Michelin Guide. The rooftop bar looks over the ancient ruins towards the sea and is a popular spot for sunset drinks. Service is personal, with a 24-hour front desk, concierge, room service, a small gym, babysitting on request and a doctor on call. There is no swimming pool, which is worth knowing if you are visiting in high summer.

The hotel suits couples and design lovers above all, and works well for a short city break focused on the ancient sites. Families can request extra beds or cots in certain room categories for a supplement. It is fully non-smoking, and pets are not accepted. Check-in is at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00.

The location is hard to beat for sightseeing. Hadrian's Arch is about 100 metres away, Akropoli metro station about 200 metres, and both the entrance to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum around 300 metres. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is about 350 metres along the avenue, the National Garden about 500 metres, and Syntagma Square and the Parliament around a kilometre. Plaka's lanes and the cafés and tavernas of Makrygianni and Koukaki are a short walk away. Adjoining rooms and a small garden are also listed among its facilities, and a shuttle service and wake-up calls can be arranged through reception.