AthensWas

Before arriving at AthensWas Hotel, I had been on a family holiday in Crete just a few weeks before. It was a bit too fresh in my mind: the all-inclusive chaos and greedy cocktail-guzzlers. I could still hear the screaming kids by the crowded pool area and smell the giant fish buffet. And yet, here I was again, on a flight from London to Athens: an ordeal that put Mr Smith and I a few hours behind schedule. 

The cabin doors opened and we squeezed onto the Athens Metro, but not before encountering a member of staff who’s arrogance reminded me of the warning issued by my personal trainer, who is Greek, back home in London. I excitedly told him of my trip, to which he said: ‘No, no Kasper, don’t expect too much. The customer service in Athens is nothing like the level you experience in London’. The realisation that this could be true lowered my expectations somewhat.
 
We popped up into the hustle and bustle at the very center of Athens. Dionysiou Areopagitou street, Leicester Square’s long lost Mediterranean brother, would be our home for the next couple of days, a spot swarmed with eager waiters on the lookout for the next opportunity to recite their English sales pitch: ‘Come, come. Sit, please. Food, very nice. Good price’. Tempting as this was, we politely declined, ploughing on towards the refuge of AthensWas Hotel. The glint of its sleek glass façade caught our eye and we passed through the sliding doors into not just a blissfully air-conditioned hotel, but a bubble of serenity. The hotel exudes calm and liberates you of any stress from the get-go. It’s not the kind of luxury hotel where bowing butlers in stiff uniforms loiter by the door, waiting to cart your luggage off to your room while a glass of champagne is foisted on you – and all the better, because let’s be honest, all you want to do at this point is take off your shoes and have a pint. Here, the receptionist welcomes you into a simple yet stylish lounging spot next to the foyer. 

With just 21 rooms – hello, peace and quiet – there’s an independent, family-run feel to this stay. Our Deluxe Suite was beautifully designed with a sultry colour scheme throughout: furnishings in deep grey tones, dark-wood panelling and no less than three layers of curtains – more than enough to keep the scorching Athens sun out and ensure a good lie-in. A bar area in the corner had a refreshing selection of snacks and a Nespresso coffee machine to keep jet-lag at bay. The spacious bathroom was equally stylish, composed of moody marble, granite and opaque glass. 

Sometimes minimalist style is an excuse for the most meagre of interior-design artistry. But AthensWas realises that the devil is in the details. Details like: how thoughtfully Danish Flos lamps are positioned wherever you might need light – a detail you’d normally only notice if it’s missing. My Scandi heart also warmed to see a Danish-designed phone, and even the Alessi tissue-box perfectly matched the decor. Most guests won’t scrutinise these things in such detail, but for a design snob like me, they mean a great deal. However, one thing that won’t go unnoticed is the absence of the paper signs that hang from door handles. Here you simply slide your finger over a touchscreen panel on the wall to ask staff to ‘Clean up’, ‘Please wait’ or ‘Do not disturb’: a polite and elegant solution.
 
A Deluxe Suite highlight was undoubtedly the view of the Acropolis, which sat just a few hundred metres from our spacious fifth-floor balcony. The hotel is so incredibly central that you’re spoilt by the archeological marvels around you. Although there is a slight downside to the location – we asked the receptionist where we could find a good, not-too-touristy restaurant and he answered regrettably: ‘Well, then you’ll need to take a taxi, I’m afraid’. The solution: we took the lift straight up to Sense, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant. It was fantastic and served an exquisite selection of intricately-crafted Greek and Mediterranean dishes. The indoor dining room was stylishly furnished with Philippe Starck’s iconic Costes chairs, but we ended up on a romantic balcony with arguably the capital’s best view.
 
The meal raised our expectations for breakfast the next morning, served downstairs in a pretty sunlit courtyard. Again, we were not disappointed – freshly squeezed juices, coffees and teas were brought, swiftly followed by a spread fit for a Grecian god, or two… AthensWas stays true to its Hellenic roots: its international dishes have a Greek twist – think delicious homemade pancakes with Greek yoghurt and honey and scrambled eggs with olives and spiced sausage. And all were served on plates and not lined up in a buffet. Our verdict: AthensWas a true delight.