This was the hotel that first brought the design concept to central Athens: an eye-catching modernist building in an understated part of the city with interiors that were unafraid of contradictions. Now one of Marriot's Design Hotels, their expansion into a neighbouring neoclassical mansion in 2023 welcomed in new suites and a fresh style. The lobby is awash with the national colours - cobalt blue and purest white - with funky low-slung couches and high-back chairs that invite you to lounge a while. From the oversized macramé weavings hanging from the double-height ceiling to the hand-painted plates that adorn the walls, it's clear the designers had fun. The playful décor continues to the bedrooms: a heady mix of deep blues, satsuma orange, pops of lime green and bright pink (not all at the same time), paired with industrial shelving, elegant pendant lights and clean lines.
On the roof, there's a tented perimeter bar, sparkling pool and cushy couches with a front row view of the city. Look past the concrete roofs and satellite dishes and there's the Acropolis. Now the big question for any design hotel: is it fashion over function? We didn't think so, thanks to orthopaedic beds, soundproofing and cymbal-sized showers. When we last revisited, the hotel was just as hip and holding up in terms of comfort and friendly service. Fresh, indeed.
Highs
- The rooftop terrace and swimming pool (open May-October) makes this one of the cooler destinations in Athens; popular with a younger crowd
- A great restaurant, cafe and two cocktail bars onsite - you may never want to leave
- Good bus and metro connections nearby (Omonia square)
- Spectacular views of the Acropolis from that top terrace
- Avant garde throughout, this place is anything but another cookie-cutter hotel
Lows
- Psiri is not the prettiest area, still up-and-coming and a little seedy; it’s a good 10-minute walk to Plaka, 20 to the Acropolis
- Rooms are rather small and some lack storage space; suites are more spacious
- Some guests have complained of street noise in the rooms at the front of the hotel
- Bedrooms in the neoclassical extension feel more modern, making the rest look a little dated
- Bigger than most i-escape hotels; check in/out feels a bit impersonal
Best time to go
Whenever work or pleasure brings you to Athens: it is open all year and prices remain constant. If you’re still at the planning stage, consider visiting Athens over a Greek holiday such as Orthodox Easter, Whitsun (7 weeks later) or ‘Clean Monday’ (7 weeks earlier), when the city empties but major sites and museums remain open. Carnival time (Feb-March) is also quite fun. It can be stiflingly hot from mid June to early September, but the roads are quieter in August when Athenians flock to the coast.
Our top tips
We spent almost a full day up on the rooftop terrace - the views over Athens are incredible and it’s a really chilled out space to swim, lounge and eat. The two bars serve up amazing cocktails and Air Lounge delivers some outstanding food - I had the best homemade squid ink tagliatelle. There was also a really nice mix of people, from youngsters and hipsters to older groups and families.
- Design Hotel
- 133 rooms
- Restaurant and bars (open daily)
- Over 2s welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Sauna
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
Bedrooms are extremely cool but not over-designed. Those in the original modernist building have a noughties minimalist style with lots of white and grey offset by artistic splashes of colour, be it bright orange, lime green, bubblegum pink or turquoise. Rooms in the neoclassical extension are more cosseting, their softer decor - pale blue walls, wispy yards of gauze curtains - and rich, deep blue details feeling more elegant and in vogue.
Whichever you pick, you'll get wide double (or twin) beds, wooden or tiled floors, plasma TVs and tall windows. If you want some outdoor space, choose an Executive,
Bathrooms are equally swish, with sleek chrome taps, top-class toiletries, fluffy slippers and huge shower heads. Opt for a suite if you want a tub.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- DVD player
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Plunge pool
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
First-floor Menta serves a great breakfast buffet of cold cuts (including smoked salmon), sweet cakes, delicate pastries, cereals and Greek yoghurt with honey – a vast improvement on most Athenian hotel breakfasts. (If your flight leaves early, ask for a breakfast box – a less exciting combo of a sandwich, boxed juice and piece of fruit.)
On the ground floor, Levanta Cafe connects the original hotel to the new wing, serving coffee and light bites all day. But odds are you'll prefer to spend your time up on the rooftop terrace, where refreshments, cocktails and light Greek and Mediterranean-inspired meals are served at Air Lounge Bar & Restaurant with a side order of skyline views. Cool off on the cushioned couch in the shady bar area or toast the sunset on cream-coloured sofas overlooking the city. At dinner time, sun loungers on the upper-level pool deck are replaced by tables with prime views of the Acropolis. We had fresh homemade tagliatelle with squid ink, prawns and squid - really fresh and tasty. There was also an amazing salad of prosciutto, parmesan crisps, pine nuts and lemon dressing. It all comes with freshly made bread and local olives. The soundtrack is chilled, the atmosphere great. There's also Pindaros cocktail bar on the roof of the mansion, set slightly below the main terrace.
If you want to eat out, there are lots of grit-and-groove eateries and mezedopoleia (tapas bars) in the newly gentrified Psiri district; or you can walk into Plaka (10-15 mins) for classic / touristy Greek fare.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Visit the world-famous Acropolis citadel, with its Parthenon, ancient fortifications, beautiful Caryatid statues and museum
- Explore the ancient theatres, agora (marketplace and Byzantine chapels), stoas, Roman temples and monumental arches
- Wander through the historic Plaka district at the foot of the Acropolis - flea markets, souvenirs, leather goods, pottery, tavernas, cafés
- Buy herbs, honey, sweets, nuts and - if you want - fresh fish from the food markets along Athinas street, just a couple of minutes away
- Spend a morning at the newly-refurbished National Archaeological Museum, Greece’s most important collection of ancient statues, pottery and fragments
- Catch an evening concert at the Roman outdoor theatre of Herod Atticus (during Athens' Summer Festival) or at the excellent Megaron Concert Hall (all year)
- Catch the funicular from Kolonaki up the cone-shaped and unmissable Lykavittos (Lycabettus) Hill - or puff your way up the trails through the pines (there are plenty of stops along the way to grab a bite). From the top you get spectacular panoramas across the city, sweeping down to Salamis and the Saronic Gulf
- Take a taxi to Kaisariani or Daphne monasteries (both about 30 minutes away), on the slopes of Hymettus / Aigaleo hills
- Take a taxi or drive (45 mins) to Sounion to watch sunset from the spectacularly placed temple of Poseidon
- Back at the hotel, zen-out with a yoga flow or Tai Chi session on the roof
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Tai Chi
- Yoga
Kids
Children over 2 are welcome and, although it's quite style-led, the friendly vibe and the small rooftop pool make it a good option for families. However, only a few Superior Rooms can take an extra bed; families would have to book separate rooms, so probably best suited to those travelling with teens.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Extra Beds Available
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Fresh Hotel is in the Psiri district of central Athens.
By Air:
There are various flights to Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport (21km away) from London and other European capitals, plus major North American and Asian hubs. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport
It's a 35km road journey from the airport due to the intervening hills, and a taxi takes anything from 20 minutes at night to 60 minutes in rush hour. The hotel offers transfers if you prefer - enquire when booking. You can also get a metro to Omonia Square (40-60 minutes, change at Syntagma), which is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Alternatively, buses X93 and X95 run direct from the airport to Syntagma Square, from where you can take a metro or get a cab to the hotel.
Getting Around
The hotel's central location means you can walk to many of Athens' main sights. The metro is clean and efficient with regular trains, and there's also a tram network around the city.
By Car:
If you do decide to hire a car to explore the wider area then see our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around.
Airports:
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos 21.0 km ATH
Other:
- Beach 10.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 8 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape