Athens Flair, Athens

Pros

• The building was designed by influential Danish architect Theophil von Hansen in the 1890s and it feels like a perfect time capsule of a bygone era with its spiral marble staircase, iron-wrought balconies and railings, and patterned hardwood floors.
• Some suites include jacuzzis on the balconies for guests to enjoy a relaxing soak with a view of Mount Lycabettus.
• The rooms include pieces of furniture from the famous actress who once lived here. Vintage desks and dressers have been repurposed for the rooms and speak to the building’s different lives.

Cons

• The building’s landmark status means that while it’s certainly beautiful, it’s not possible to make changes to it such as adding in an elevator. The lack of elevator makes this hotel not appropriate for differently abled folks or those with accessibility needs. But for others who don’t mind taking a few flights of stairs, it’s worth the workout. 
• Some of the rooms include open storage rather than a closet or armoire, which means that you have to hang your clothes on a visible rack and may not have drawers to hide things away. Neat folks may not struggle with this but for others, it can be a bit frustrating.

Authenticity

The 1890s building of the Athens Flair was designed by the influential Danish architect Theophil van Hansen, who also designed the Athens Academy and other buildings. The Athens Flair holds landmark status because of Hansen’s work. You don’t get much more authentic than a building that has been standing in nearly the same form for almost 125 years and the building’s perfectly preserved hardwood floors, marble and wooden staircases, and iron-wrought details capture the spirit of another era.

The building later became the home of Elli Lampeti, a Greek actress who became famous in the 1950s and 1960s. The Athens Flair has kept a number of her objects and artifacts, like dressers and desks, which are now incorporated into the rooms. This adds another layer to this building, which is like a powerful vortex of various eras of Greek culture and history.

Location

The Athens Flair is located on a pedestrian street in the heart of Kolonaki. While this means there are no noisy cars here, the hotel does sit above the popular Hippopotamus ​​café. The ​​café is lively, but luckily, the Athens Flair still feels peaceful and quiet with little of the noise outside coming through. The hotel is a 15-minute walk to Syntagma Square, 20 minutes to Monastiraki, and 30 minutes to the Acropolis. Those looking to grab the subway can be at the Panepestimio Metro in just eight minutes by foot.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The Athens Flair has six suites that range in size and amenities. While some of the rooms may be smaller – such as the Superior Double – this particular room includes a large terrace that’s almost as big as the room itself. The terrace of this suite also has a jacuzzi for those looking to relax while gazing out at the city. Families are best off checking out the two-room bedroom suite, which can sleep up to six people and offers both space and privacy for bigger groups of people traveling together. 

Other Highlights

The hotel includes a rooftop garden with clear views of Athens and Mount Lycabettus, where guests can take breakfast and enjoy the Mediterranean light. The hotel is in the process of building a bar for the rooftop, which is supposed to open in 2023.