Kolonaki / Lycabettus

St George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel

★★★★★

The St George Lycabettus stands on Kleomenous Street, on the lower slopes of Lycabettus Hill above Kolonaki, the most elegant neighbourhood in Athens. Its position gives it something few city hotels can match: from its upper floors and roof, the whole of Athens falls away toward the Acropolis and the sea, and the pine-covered summit of Lycabettus rises directly behind. The hotel has 154 rooms and suites, decorated in a style that blends contemporary design with classic comfort — hardwood floors, rich fabrics and clean lines — with the theme changing from floor to floor, so rooms on different levels feel distinct. Many of the corner suites look out over the Acropolis and much of the city, and they are the ones to request. On the roof, a seasonal outdoor pool and a restaurant with sweeping views make it a favourite place for a sunset drink, while the ground-floor lounge buzzes with locals in the evenings. Kolonaki on the doorstep is the heart of stylish Athens: designer boutiques, art galleries, smart cafes where Athenians come to see and be seen, and excellent restaurants. The Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine and Christian Museum are a short walk downhill, as are the National Garden and Syntagma Square. The Lycabettus funicular station is a few minutes away, and the footpaths to the summit start nearby, so a sunset hike is easy. The trade-off is the slope: the walk back up from Kolonaki Square is steep, and the Acropolis is around half an hour on foot or a short taxi ride.

Who it suits: the St George Lycabettus is a great choice for return visitors and anyone who wants to experience the more sophisticated, residential side of Athens rather than the tourist streets of Plaka. It suits couples, shoppers and museum lovers, and travellers who enjoy evenings in Kolonaki's bars and restaurants. Families appreciate the roof pool in summer and the space of the larger rooms. If your priority is walking to the Acropolis at dawn, a hotel in Makrygianni or Plaka will serve you better.

Choosing a room: views are everything here. Rooms and suites facing the city and the Acropolis cost more but deliver one of the great hotel views in Athens; those facing the hillside are quieter and greener. Because the theme changes by floor, look at the hotel's descriptions and photos to choose a style you like. The rooftop pool is seasonal, typically open in the warm months, and the rooftop restaurant is popular with non-guests at sunset, so book a table early.

Price and logistics: rates sit in the upper-middle band for Athens, generally below the city's top luxury hotels, with five-star fees including the climate resilience fee per room per night. Evangelismos metro station on line 3, which runs to Syntagma, Monastiraki and the airport, is a walk downhill, and taxis are plentiful. Note that the hotel's website now redirects to a new domain, but the property is the same. For a stay that mixes museums, shopping and some of the best views in town, it is a strong choice.