AthensWas: Mid-Century Elegance at the City’s Beating Heart
Modernism, Memory, and Marble Steps from the Acropolis
Type: boutique hotel, design hotel
Vibe: quiet, city retreat
DNA: luxury hotel, mid-century, modernist, vintage
A Tribute to Timeless Design
AthensWas isn’t trying to reinvent Athens. Instead, it refines it—through a lens of Greek Classic Modernism. From the polished marble floors to the walnut-paneled walls, every surface and line reflects an era when elegance meant clarity, proportion, and quiet confidence. Franco Albini chairs, Le Corbusier pieces, and Ettore Sottsass accents sit easily beside Greek marble and walnut, proving that modernism—done well—never ages. The street-level restaurant and bar, open and airy, feels as much like a gallery of good taste as it does a gathering spot.
Rooms with a View—and a Vision
The hotel’s 21 rooms extend this ethos with warm woods, subtle art prints, and sleek lighting by Konstantin Grcic. Each one opens onto a private balcony, because in Athens, the outside matters as much as the in. Watch the city wake, watch it glow at sunset, or let it hum beneath you at night. For the ultimate view, climb to the rooftop: a single sweep of history unfolds—the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium. It’s not just a terrace. It’s a time machine.
Modernism, Greek Edition
What sets AthensWas apart is its refusal to chase trend. This isn’t retro chic, nor is it a parody of classicism. It’s a considered homage to the architectural lineage of Athens itself—from the pared-back purity of the 1950s to the expressive modernism of the 1970s. It’s Greek, but cosmopolitan. Historic, but fresh. A hotel designed not just to be looked at, but to be lived in.
DNA Hotels Verdict
AthensWas speaks in textures, not slogans. Walnut and marble whisper elegance, while balconies and rooftops frame the city in all its layers. For travelers who crave design with soul and views with meaning, this is Athens slowed down, softened, and perfectly framed.
Amenities
• fitness centre • rooftop bar • restaurant • room service • room with a view
