Hotel Periscope

Showcasing contemporary art and gadgetry, a mecca for minimalists in swanky Kolonaki, Athens’ top shopping district

This sleek boutique hotel boasts a highly desirable address in Kolonaki, the poshest patch in downtown Athens. The grey brushed-concrete façade is a fitting prelude to the industrial-chic interiors: 6 floors of uncluttered minimalism in shades of black, white and grey... even the staff (young and obliging) wear grey suits.

The street-level restaurant is similarly chic, with metal chairs, chunky stone tables, and walls lined temptingly with jars of food and bottles of wine. A joystick linked to a rooftop camera allows guests to zoom in on their surroundings, a novel twist on the urban surveillance theme, which continues upstairs. Here, 21 rooms and suites make clever use of limited space, with fold-away mirrors and wall-mounted plasma screens. The influence of art patron and owner Dakis Ioannou is apparent: ceilings are wallpapered with aerial cityscapes, light boxes feature panoramas of Athens by day and night, and a giant mural covers one exterior wall.

Highs

• Handy location on a quiet, central side-street in fashionable Kolonaki
• Gadgets galore: free WiFi, built-in sound systems, electric blinds, clever showers - and great staff to show you how to operate them!
• Stylish restaurant for schmoozing with local trendsetters
• The Penthouse Suite has a wonderful rooftop Jacuzzi (if you can afford it)

Lows

• Standard Rooms are very compact and lack balconies
• The grey and black public spaces can be oppressive
• It's hemmed in by apartment blocks (unless you can afford that penthouse)
• Rooms on lower floors can be noisy