Greece is globally renowned for its historic classic architecture and design, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on its modern offerings. A late 1950s-era modernist central Athens hotel has been totally reimagined thanks to Greek-Cypriot industrialist, influential art collector, and hotelier Dakis Joannou and his daring choice of Brazilian design duo Humberto and Fernando Campana. The outcome of this bold creative coupling reopened in 2011 as the 79-room, 5-star Athens NEW Hotel, a Gesamtkunstwerk where every public space and the accommodation floors were creatively re-NEW-ed.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Athens NEW Hotel Review

Athens NEW Hotel exterior facade of the hotel
A striking façade welcomes visitors

Joannou and his family’s boutique, YES! Hotels Group values original design, art, style, and attention to detail. It focuses on creating young, enthusiastic, and seductive properties, with Athens NEW as a shining example. The Campana brothers, renowned globally for their eco-sensitive ethos, love for contemporary materials, and consideration of local idioms, salvaged much of the furniture, fittings, and resources from the gutted building for use in this hotel reinvention.

Working with post-grad architecture students from Thessaly University, the brother’s design ethos is evident in all aspects of the hotel, from the reinvented interiors, unusual handmade fixtures, custom-made and upcycled furniture, and striking design showpieces like the favela-inspired installation in the lobby.

Athens NEW Hotel unique furniture in the lobby
The lobby promises a selection of unique textures, art pieces, and unique furniture

A stop at Athens NEW Hotel, which is a member of Design Hotels, feels like staying in an eclectic, eco-friendly, and highly accessible art exhibit—one you don’t want to leave. As a bonus for art lovers, pieces from Dakis Joannou’s significant art collection can be found on the walls of the hotel’s public spaces.

The rooms

Athens NEW Hotel studio with Ladder chair
Rooms and suites feature bespoke furniture pieces including ladder chairs

Guestrooms follow one of three design concepts. Postcard rooms link to Athens’ past, providing poetic historical and retro tourism images with very modern decor twists. The Evil Eye, a fixture of Greek popular culture, has become a symbol of good luck through clever lighting design in those themed rooms. Playing out on the walls of other guest rooms are stories of mischievous Greek folklore figure Karagiozis, a shadow puppet.

All rooms have a balcony providing outlooks to the immediate city centre neighbourhood, while some have vistas of Lycabettus Hill, Athens’s highest point. Standard and Classic rooms start at 23 sq-m, with Studio and Junior Suites ranging from 30-35 sq-m. Our corner Studio offered picturesque views of the Byzantine-era Church of Sotira Lykodimou and the exquisite green space of the National Gardens.

Athens NEW Hotel furniture by Campana Brothers
Furniture by the Campana brothers is eco-sensitive and equally stunning

Soundproofing ensures a quiet night even though the hotel is a short stroll from the city centre and Syntagma (Constitution) Square. A super comfy Simmons mattress and personalised pillow menu added to our restful sleep. At the same time, the electric sun-proof and blackout roller blinds helped close out the world. Greek natural Olive Era bathroom amenities featuring Cretan olive oil and a variety of Greek herbs and extracts added a spa-like feel. A Smart TV, working desk, and some funky handmade design furniture, including a ladder chair, rounded out the room’s facilities.

Food, drink, and other bits

Athens NEW Hotel has two outstanding grazing and imbibing options. The NEW Lobby Bar is the street-level café, casual eatery and bar. Recently refurbished with upcycling existing Campana design elements, NYC-based Manhattan Projects have created a welcoming space blending comfortable seating draped in richly textured fabrics, thoughtfully chosen lighting and impressive greenery. NEW Lobby Bar offers a delicious and distinctly Greek-influenced buffet and a-la-carte breakfast, with other nourishing options throughout the day. The hotel’s in-house pastry kitchen prepares breads, pastries, homemade granola, seasonal spoon sweets, and various sweet and savoury spreads.

AThens NEw Hotel New Lobby Bar interior
Enjoy everything from breakfast to cocktails at NEW Lobby Bar

With its 200 art books and library feel, the rooftop Art Lounge restaurant and bar features more of the Campana brothers’ distinctive design elements. Compelling panoramic views of the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hills from the expansive alfresco deck make it a popular afternoon cocktail spot. Check out their Aegean Breeze or NEW Mai Tai for a Greek twist on two classics. Executive Chef Babis Kountouris’s gastronomic menu focuses on Greek flavours, presenting a fine reason to stay for dinner. Chef’s signature Lobster giouvetsi with roasted tomato, lobster butter, and red pepper flakes is a treat that I can highly recommend.

NEW Sense, a gym and wellness club, is a hidden gem on the building’s lower level. With its clever lighting displays, soothing shades of green, and Campana-designed mirrors, facilities include a treatment room, Jacuzzi, steam bath, and well-equipped 24-hour access fitness room.

Final thoughts

Athens NEW Hotel stands as a testament to innovative design and sustainable luxury. From its artful rooms to its delectable dining options and wellness facilities, the hotel blends creativity, comfort, and eco-consciousness, making this reimagined modernist gem a unique and memorable stay in central Athens.

Learn more about Athens NEW Hotel or Book through Booking.com

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