Mr & Mrs Smith

An utter delight, particularly in the typically gritty centre of Athens. The rooms are really well thought out, giving you adequate space. A short walk down Athinas will lead you to Platia Monastirakiou, where you can find the best souvlaki in Athens. Try Thanasis on Mitropoleous, it's where celebrity chef Jamie Oliver went to learn the craft before retiring to Fresh Hotel's rooftop terrace to try some of his own creations for his Jamie Does series. The view atop here of the Parthenon at night is truly magic.

The highlights of the Fresh Hotel are its central location, friendly and helpful staff (really standing out for a capital city hotel, but typical in our experience of the very hospitable Greeks) and the roof-top bar/pool (a wee bit chilly to sample the latter but it looked good). The rooms are a decent size but a little tired, and the bathroom needed a decent shower. Overall, good value for money and recommended.

As it seems nobody in Athens goes out until at least midnight, a late dinner seems a good idea, and Hell's Kitchen around the corner on Kotzia Square is a good start. Good food and wine, and I reckon you could probably start and finish there if you feel a bit lazy...