Athinais Hotel

A solid pick for anyone attending a conference at Megaron, the Athinais Hotel is a mid-range property housed in a tall building that most resembles a high-rise cluster of apartments. The lobby is bright and airy, resembling a living room with book shelves, comfortable and stylish couches and chairs, colorful artwork, and warm glowing lamps. The decor is modern but far from chic; it includes some contemporary-style furnishings and neatly trimmed plants. The unpretentious, conventional hotel-styled ambience appeals to a mature clientele as well as business travelers paying a brief visit to the city. The overall atmosphere is clean and quiet.  

Located in the heart of Athens next to Mavili Square in the diplomatic district, the Athinais Hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Kolonaki area -- the most popular commercial and shopping area in the city. It’s a five-minute walk to the Athens Concert Hall and Venizelos Park, and a 15-minute stroll from the National Gallery. Syntagma square, which is near Plaka (the oldest area of Athens) and Monastiraki (a traditional market), are 10 minutes away when you take the metro and 15 minutes by taxi or bus. Lycabettus, a hill with the nicest view of Athens, is a five-minute taxi journey away. Eleftherias Park can be reached by foot in less than 10 minutes. The Athinais Hotel is 15 minutes walking distance from Lykavitos Hill, which has one of the best views of Athens (and one of the most expensive restaurants). From the hotel you can choose to walk to the city center (Syntagma square). The metro will take you there much faster, though, and you can reserve your walking for the area around the Acropolis, which is stunning.

Rooms are generic in style, with wooden desks, vertically striped curtains, simple bedding, and colorful artwork above the bed. They’re clean, cozy, and bright, but average in just about every respect -- the size, decor, and amenities are all typical of a mid-range hotel. There’s a mini-fridge with free bottled water and a flat-screen TV in each. The air-conditioning is individually controlled by guests. Lower-level rooms facing the street can get some traffic noise. Bathrooms are small, with no room to put your toiletries, but the water pressure is good and the towels are fluffy and clean. Wi-Fi is free, and many rooms have balconies.

Breakfast at the Athinais Hotel has a serve-yourself approach with bowls of fresh fruit, cakes, and toast with jams, all set in a relaxed dining hall environment. The first-floor Mezzanine has a computer with Internet access and a quiet seating area. The 8-11 Cafe is a good place for early meetings, lunch breaks, and afternoon drinks, and has freshly cut flowers on each table as well as a laid-back vibe. The business center is small, with one computer, a scanner, and printer. There are two conference rooms for business meetings.