Grecotel Pallas Athena ★★★★★

Arriving at the Grecotel Pallas Athena, the lobby gave us an immediate idea of what to expect. Classical Greek key tiling pattern in black and white on the floors, golden sculptures, one like a leafy plant and one like a contemporary version of the Olympic rings, made a quirky contrast with the playful armchair shaped like the palm of a hand and a large globe looking like a striped watermelon. Brightly coloured metallic light fittings completed the picture of being inside a work of art, which mixed fresh humorous contemporary culture with a sincere bow to traditional forms. Meanwhile, the staff were efficient, friendly and made everything simple!

Each of the available rooms offer a unique, colourful and fun décor with creative designs on the walls. Ours was brightly coloured with lime green murals, softened with pale yellow splashes and soft green ornaments. Stark white bed linen and light shades completed the picture of fresh, sunny brightness – we could have been in a lush spring garden. In addition to the striking décor, there was a large well-furnished balcony like an outdoor lounge, Wi-Fi, a mini fridge and a lovely bathroom with designer toiletries.

We sat on the balcony contemplating the view of Kotzia Square and the city beyond and considered our options. We decided on dinner in the hotel. The elegant first-floor dining room has spaces for dining inside or, as we chose, out on the terrace surrounded by the warm air and city lights. The service was very good and the dishes were mini works of art in their own right.

We set out full of excitement the next morning to see the sights starting with a climb up the hill to the Acropolis, which was every bit as magical as we had hoped. By the end of our stay in Athens, we retained our enduring respect and awe of all things Ancient Greek, but had also, courtesy of the Grecotel Pallas Athena, found a new awareness of the contribution of living present-day Athens to contemporary culture. As they say, there is more to Athens than the Parthenon!