Fresh Hotel

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, or one of the Superiors with balcony (but not all have furniture nor view for sitting out). Although not huge (22-40 m²), rooms are cleverly laid out to maximise the limited space, but don’t expect much storage room in the Superiors. Above all they are clean and comfortable, with excellent soundproofing against Athens’ 24-hour traffic noise.

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.