Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens

In short… The most legendary place to stay in the city.

The surroundings… Situated on Syntagma Square and just across the road from the Old Royal Palace, the Hotel Grande Bretagne is in the center of everything. It’s a five-minute walk to the Plaka or Kolonaki neighborhoods.

The vibe… Very classic—I’ve been coming here for years and I love that it seems to never change, but always feels fresh and not in the least dusty. The doormen with their tinted Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses and formal, almost military-like green uniforms greet you with “kalimera!” and you feel like you’re in a movie. It may be on the more proper/formal side of things, but it isn’t stuffy. Matt loves this hotel, saying that it feels more like you’re in a Parisian hotel than what you might be expecting from Greece, and after all the charm and whitewashed architecture, it’s a welcome shift. Once when we weren’t staying here we spontaneously came just for drinks, and Matt was wearing shorts and sandals. The host very kindly explained that the bar had a dress code, which allowed shorts or sandals, but not both. When she saw our disappointment she asked if Matt would want to borrow a pair of their pants and if so, what size. (Apparently, they keep a closet of them just for these situations.) The pants were great—they actually looked good (Zara khakis), and the “crisis” was averted.

The rooms… Grand European—ornate furniture, a little bit on the gilded side, marble bathrooms and chandeliers. Very comfortable beds, and I love that they have Naxos Apothecary products (a Greek company—great packaging/ingredients/scents) in the bathroom (large size, not single-use plastic). There was a valet in a room—so nice to be able to hang your daily jacket on that—it makes you feel a bit more at home. 

The food & drink… On this particular stay, we only ate breakfast and had cocktails here—but I have had lunch on other occasions (a delicious club sandwich!). The breakfast buffet is on the roof restaurant and has to be the finest hotel breakfast view you can have. It’s on the 8th floor, looks out to the Parthenon, and you can also see the marble Olympic stadium from there. The bar program is fantastic, and I highly recommend coming for a drink even if you’re not staying, just to have a martini or Negroni—and to take a sunset photo with the Acropolis behind you.

Is it family-friendly? It’s Greece, where children rule! And it’s old school and not on the edgy adulting hotel end of the spectrum, so it’s perfect for families. Breakfast is included, there’s a rooftop pool, and the staff is super accommodating and unfazed by any request. And they have the best souvlaki and fries they can eat on a lounger in between Marco Polos. 

Be sure to… If you smoke cigars, or are with someone who does, don’t miss Alexander’s Cigar Lounge in the hotel’s inner garden, the most elegant cigar bar. Pick up a cigar just around the corner at Miamis, which will be much more affordable than buying one at the bar, and pair it with a whisky or rum from their extensive list. 

Date of stay… April 6-9, 2026