Periscope Hotel
Haritos 22 , Kolonaki, Athens, Greece, 106 75
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#11 of 25
expert-rated hotels in Athens- Recommended for:
- Business travellers, Couples, Foodies, Singles, Design and architecture, Nightlife, Shopping, Trendiness
Best for Trendiness - Expert review of Periscope Hotel
Urban cool and a real local scene.
Staying here is rather like having your own pied-à-terre in downtown Athens. Deca, an in-demand team of young architects, created this slick little number in 2004. Angular rooms furnished in shades of grey can be boxy, but you get value for money, quirky and clever design details, and a laid-back atmosphere of urban sophistication. From December, you'll get first dibs at fantastic food too: local wonder-chef Christoforos Peskias is taking over the ground-floor restaurant, P-Box.
Location:
Surprisingly, this is the only hip hotel in Kolonaki, the most chi-chi neighbourhood in downtown Athens. On a quiet street of intriguing boutiques (many showcasing local designers), this is a great spot for shopping and people watching. There are several bars nearby (but far enough to be out of earshot) and it’s next door to Ratka restaurant, where you can name-check anchormen, actors, and ministers
Bedrooms:
Periscope plays on its downtown location – ceilings are plastered with aerial photographs of Athens and light boxes feature the city’s skyline, changing from day to night at the flick of a switch. The 22 rooms range from compact ‘torpedo’ rooms to junior suites with sofas and small balconies. But the best room by far is the split-level Penthouse Suite, with an outdoor hot tub at eye-level with the Acropolis. Rooms are rammed with gizmos (built-in sound systems, rotating TVs, remote-controlled blinds, and free WiFi). Though space is tight, storage is ample and the lack of knick-knacks keeps things feeling light.
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Public areas:
A bright blue door leads from the tiny reception – basically just a booth – to the recently revamped bar and restaurant, which has become a place to see and be seen. There’s a small meeting room in the basement.
Eating and drinking:
With its concrete tables and Eames Eiffel chairs, the street-level bar is quietly cool. A plentiful buffet breakfast is served here, and you can log on for free. From December, the restaurant will become the second outpost of P-Box - chef Christoforos Peskias' phenomenally (and deservedly) popular Med-Asian fusion restaurant. Watch this space.
Leisure facilities:
The small basement gym has been converted into a conference room, but you have free access to Holmes Place health club, a 10-minute walk downhill (and a 20-minute post-workout climb back uphill).
Service:
Personable and helpful. Occasionally understaffed off-peak, however.
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Who stays there:
Creatives on business trips, Greek couples, savvy tourists. Not great for older travellers as the bar can be buzzing.
Price advice:
Prices are often cheaper at weekends.
Pros:
Central but in-the-know location
Friendly, informal atmosphere
Cons:
Standard rooms are small
The grey colour scheme can feel gloomy
More information on Periscope Hotel:
- Price from:
- Type:
- Hotel
- Address:
- Haritos 22 , Kolonaki, Athens, Greece, 106 75
- Free tags / Keywords:
- city centre
- Amenities:
- Business Centre, High-Speed Internet, Restaurant, Room Service
- Neighbourhood:
- Kolonaki
