Time Out

Athens

## Where to stay

Athens’ hotels went through a frenzy of restoration in preparation for the Olympics. And although the boutique idea has yet to catch on, there are good choices at all levels. The outdated rating system in Greece, which assesses hotels on an ‘A-B-C-D’ scale, is not a very meaningful guide to quality, and is set to be updated to the international ‘star’ rating system. Budget hotels are fairly plentiful, but those offering shared facilities, and western European-style dormitory hostels, are rare. Best of the budgets include the Amaryllis Hotel (Veranzerou 45, Omonia, +302105238738, www.greekhotel.com/ athens/amaryllis, €55) on a comparitively quiet street of Omonia square, the King Jason Hotel (Kolonou 6, Metaxourgio, +302105234721, www.douros-hotels.com, €72) and the Tempi Hotel (Eolou 29, Monastiraki, + 10551, +302103213175, www.travelling.gr/ tempihotel).
Rooftop terraces are a particular pleasure in Athens. The shared roof garden at the top of the Adrian Hotel (Adrianou 74, Plaka, +302103221553, www.douros-hotels.com, €110-€125) has an ideal Acropolis view, and is a good mid-range option. Spectacular but more expensive Acropolis panoramas can be had at the rooftop pool bar at St George Lycabettus (Kleomenous 2, Kolonaki, +3021072907119, www.sglycabettus.gr, €342-€399), which nestles among the pine trees on Lycabettus Hill. The Exarchaion (Themistokleous 55, Exarchia, +302103800731, €45) has a rooftop bar that overlooks the buzzing heart of Kolonaki’s café/bar scene.
Hotel Plaka (Kapnikareas 7 & Mitropoleos, Plaka, +302103222096, www. plakahotel.gr, €125) is another option for great rooftop views of the Acropolis, and is a popular mid-range choice. Also good value is the Acropolis Select Hotel (Falirou 37-39, Koukaki, +302109211610, www.acropoliselect.gr, €145), which is a short walk from the centre. Of Athens’ top-end hotels, the Athenian Callirhoe (Kallirois 32 & Petmeza, Makrygianni, +302109215353, www.tac.gr, €400-€470) is one of the most stylish, where the rooms treat comfort as a premium. One of the most luxurious – but still good value – is the Metropolitan Metropolitan Hotel Syngrou 385, Faliro, + 17564 (+302109471000, www.chandris.gr); it’s a little out of town, but now runs a free shuttle bus into the city centre.

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