The place was humming and we were in the middle of it at The Perianth Hotel, but only in Athens would a square adorned with restaurants have a beautiful Byzantine church set in the middle, and only in Athens would it feel a perfect fit. This is a wonderful city to visit; youthful and modern in some ways yet steeped in the history that defines modern civilisation – both coexisting in a way that is somewhat miraculous.
Athens may be one of the oldest cities in the world, comprising Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman sites to name but a few but it is also a big, vibrant modern city with a boldness and confidence in itself that doesn’t fail to impress and delight. We travelled from London and arrived in the area of Monastiraki which is in the centre of the city on the north side of Acropolis Hill. A fast train had taken us from the new, clean and highly functional airport to the heart of Athens, and we walked through crowds in the flea market, the central food market and the numerous cafes, bars and ouzeri to reach our hotel.
The Perianth Hotel
Athens has seen a boom in tourism in the last few years, which is little surprise given its history and culture, from ancient ruins to fascinating museums. Hotels are opening all the time to cater to demand – so what does it take to stand out from the crowd? Well, the location of the Perianth is excellent, situated on the edges of the Agias Eirinis Square which is at the heart of the city’s café culture, and a great place to people watch. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the metro and only 15 minutes stroll to the Acropolis through narrow, flower-filled streets.
The building itself is a 1930s modernist style which has now been updated and redesigned by one of the country’s top design firms K-Studio who have created a minimalist backdrop on which they display bold and exciting artwork from contemporary Athenian creators. It’s a building of sleek curves, an oasis amidst the noise, with muted colours and comfortable furniture. A cool respite from the frenetic heat and chatter of the city.
The Zen Centre
A complete fit with the hotel ambience is the fascinating Zen Centre situated in the lower echelons of the building. Guests receive free access to the meditation and martial arts space, which is a unique institution devoted to meditation, martial arts, yoga and Eastern philosophy. There are also opportunities to salve the tired body in other ways with a range of physiotherapy and massage treatments on offer.
A timeless view from 502
We were taken up to our 5th floor Junior Suite – our room 502 had the added advantage of being a corner room with a substantial feel to it. Walking through the entrance on cool mixed marble flooring I was struck with the lightness of the room with a series of windows casting warmth on our space. It has an almost post-industrial feel with its curved brass and metal piping but that’s softened with custom-made walnut furniture and velvet steel blue chairs which match beautifully with the cushions and bed throws.
A lovely collection of Greek goodies called out to us. A bottle of red wine from Nemea, home of the best vineyards in the Peloponnese and a jar of homemade tapenade from Kalamata olives, with the seeded breadsticks which you find in this part of the world to complete the feast.
We opened the doors at the end of the room to a large long balcony with a metal table and chairs on which to sit and enjoy the Athens sunset. And here was the piece de resistance, the money can’t buy, the icing on the cake – a wonderful view of the Parthenon at the top of the rocky Acropolis hill to our left. It’s really quite a jaw dropping spectacle perched above the modern city. We admired it in the peace of the morning when the city was waking, and again in the evening when it was lit up and illuminated against the dark sky.
Back to the room and its very spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower that could easily have accommodated a family of four. Toiletries were from the new kid on the block range Apivita, with ingredients such as Greek honey and orange – almost good enough to eat!
We slept incredibly well in our comfortable bed, not at all disturbed by the late-night revellers in the streets below. The top floor of the hotel hosts the amazing penthouse suite which has two bedrooms, an expansive terrace with a swimming pool and jacuzzi. More importantly, it provides a 360-degree view of Athens from the Acropolis to Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens.
Perianth Café
The morning sun greeted us and off we went to the café on the ground floor. The room is classic French bistro style with a distinct Greek influence. Ditto the breakfast menu with dishes such as ‘omelette with zucchini feta and fresh mint’ plus organic delicacies from all over Greece. Breakfast can also be had in your room if you so desire.
The café faces out onto the square and as the day progresses it feels more and more part of the external environment rather than the hotel. This window into the world is perfect for either viewing Athenian daily life or becoming part of it. As the day moved on we enjoyed sampling from the home-grown wine list before heading off to try some of the fabulous restaurants that Athens offers.
A city hotel for all ages
Athens is more than just a city, it’s the home of myths, and the Grecian gods and is the birthplace of Western civilisation. Combine that with vibrant street art, rooftop bars and amazing restaurants in the here and now. A hotel in this city has to fit in with it and be comfortable enough to celebrate the riches of its heritage whilst opening its arms to the future. To do this in such a stylish and individual way as the Perianth Hotel does is quite a feat, it embraces modernity whilst keeping one eye firmly on the land it’s built on.
To discover more, visit: perianthhotel.com
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All imagery courtesy of The Perianth Hotel.