Chic Hotel

A squat, white 19th-century building on the outside, inside the Chic Hotel meets the 21st century. With a thin glass aqua-blue reception counter, the lobby, where white and gray predominate, offers little space to gather. Mirrors give an illusion of spaciousness, and wooden floors make the narrow hallways seem bright and airy. Large potted plants scattered around the lobby and hallways bring some vitality and color to the minimalist atmosphere. The small breakfast room is bright and open, but the white sack chair coverings add a wrinkle to the sleek aesthetic.

The Chic Hotel is located near Omonia Square, within a two- to three-block walk to the Omonia metro stop. The Psyri neighborhood, great for bars and restaurants, the Monastiraki shopping area, and the historic sights, such as the Acropolis and the Plaka, are a 10- to 20-minute walk from the hotel, or a short metro ride. A neighborhood known for its nightlife, the area right around the hotel is a bit dicey, with a high rate of homelessness and drug abuse. From the hotel, Athens International Airport can be reached via public transportation with one transfer, or is about a 40-minute drive. 

Rooms at the Chic are simple and sparse. The aesthetic is minimalist, with plain, brown comforters over the beds that sit between small glass side tables attached to the wall. Narrow built-in glass desks sit under mounted flat-screen TVs. Backlit photographic images hang above the beds, adding an ultra-modern touch. The glass tables and light blond-wood floors and headboards keep rooms bright and airy. The compact bathrooms, with glassed-in showers, are separated from the rooms by glass enclosures, and may not offer enough privacy for some guests. Some Double Rooms have private or shared balconies. All rooms come with orthopedic mattresses, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. HiTech Rooms have 32-inch (instead of 26-inch) flat-screen TVs, PS3 or XBOX 360 game consoles, DVD players, iPod docks, and laptops on request. Despite the technology angle here, when Oyster visited it found that some room lamps and windows didn't function properly. 

The Chic Hotel offers a free buffet breakfast served daily in the breakfast room. Hi-Tech Rooms offer additional features, such as larger TVs, game consoles, and iPod docks. Laptops are available on request and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.