Rooftop Bliss Meets Distinctive Art at Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery

To stay at Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection is to become part of Athens, absorbing the charms of the ancient city and the modern metropolis. Take it all in from the hotel rooftop, admiring the Acropolis on radiant blue mornings and noble Lycabettus Hill during the soft quietude of sunset.
 

Inside, artwork introduces contemporary Athenian culture. The towering Mappemonde sculpture by George Lappas stretches the full height of the hotel, up to the rooftop pool. Myriad modern art pieces throughout showcase Greek artists.
 

Stepping out into the city centre, culture comes alive. This 5-star Athens hotel is located on a tree-lined street with effervescent life in the capital just steps away towards iconic Syntagma Square, where the Old Royal Palace houses the Hellenic Parliament. We can't wait to explore further.

Our first impression is not actually of the hotel but of our own little nook a few steps away. As a family of four with older children, we chose the Athens Capital Suites - MGallery Collection for a boutique feel. A hush falls over us as we step into the historic building, a former naval office dating from 1939. Period details inspire the kind of quiet reverence usually reserved for museums. Original marble halls lead us to the grand winding staircase, curving up in elegant concentric layers. We share smiles, impressed before we have even seen our suite.
 

Keen to discover more about our Athens accommodation, we stroll around the corner past a couple of galleries we'll check out later. In the lobby, the rich aroma of coffee and a hint of cinnamon nudges us to investigate the Galerie Café. This snug spot turns out to be a little gallery of its own, displaying eclectic works from the owners' private collection. This will definitely become a hangout, but right now, telepathic glances between us decree that refreshment on the rooftop is calling. It's late morning, and the glorious Athens weather is hitting its peak. We're soon sipping crisp, cold drinks in view of the Acropolis, happy and chatty, confident we've found the perfect place to stay in Athens.
 

By the time we complete our exploratory tour of the hotel, we realise our stay will be personalised and filled with distinctive encounters. Like the M Moment at a nearby art shop, inviting us to craft komboloi, a string of delicate beads used as a mindfulness tool in Greece for generations. We browse the calendar of weekend live performances in the hotel restaurant and coffee shop, ranging from violinists to DJs. A chat with the friendly concierge reveals just how many opportunities we'll have for private tours and immersive experiences. Fortunately, we booked a long enough stay to enjoy it all.

We're staying in the Executive Duplex Suite, which feels like a sophisticated penthouse in central Athens. The balance of elegance and comfort is just right. Creative works catch the eye, from black-and-white photos to the intriguing sculptural piece in our living room. Wood and natural tones grace the whole suite, including deep greens that complement the plants on our balcony. We're sure this outdoor space will become a cherished spot for evenings of gentle warmth and stillness.
 

The bi-level suite, with its king-size bed and double sofa bed, is perfect for our family of four. To savour even more sumptuousness, you could choose the Presidential Suite with a kitchen and period features. If you stay on business for an event in one of the hotel's polished meeting rooms, any suite would become a haven between engagements. Butler service can be requested, leaving you to focus on nothing but restoration. For us, during our leisure trip, it's a touch of added luxury we'll remember for years to come.

As aspiring gastronomes, the only issue we have at Athens Capital Hotel is choosing where to eat. We embrace the different options, from the Executive Lounge, where the buffet offers light treats twice a day, to the Galerie Café with its irresistible all-day crêpes. The coffee we scented on arrival turns out to be signature Athens Capital coffee with a touch of cinnamon and orange. 
 

Despite the allure of all-day nibbles, we leave room for dinner at MFlavours on our first full day. Chefs in the open kitchen shape refined takes on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, and wonderful aromas drift from the grill. Amid soft lamplight, with the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill as a backdrop, we delight in lamb with Mount Olympus truffle, and Aegean cod with fennel and roasted lemon.
 

Arriving back a little earlier the next day, Mappemonde has to be the choice for dinner at sunset. At this exceptional rooftop restaurant, we order apéritifs as city lights emerge and the Acropolis takes on a pink glow. Seafood fan? You'll adore kakavia, a menu highlight of traditional fish stew, with mountain herbs and spices adding fragrance.

A little reading on the balcony one afternoon reveals that nature is central to Greek wellness traditions, grounded in the teachings of Hippocrates. A visit to the serene wellness area at Athens Capital Suites soon confirms it. We discover treatments featuring warm olive oil infusions, honey-herb cocoons and Mediterranean salt scrubs. 
 

The hammam and sauna also continue traditions dating back centuries. A sublime experience after a session in the hotel gym, which, like all of the wellness facilities, is open to guests staying in either building.
 

Swimming is perhaps the best natural movement there is, and the azure rooftop pool becomes something of an obsession during our stay. The Greek capital can get hot after a busy day, so the bliss of having an Athens hotel with a pool really hits home.
 

You can book soothing spa treatments and private yoga sessions in your room or suite. For our kids, face yoga kits from the hotel accompanied TV downtime.

The best thing about staying in the heart of Athens is strolling to world-famous sights and finding little gems along the way. During our 5-minute walk to the National Garden, we come across the 1930s Pallas Theater and ponder catching jazz or ballet one evening when there's no live music in the hotel. The whole area is filled with designer stores, boutiques, theatres and small museums.
 

As we get further into our stay, we discover that a 10-minute walk takes us to Plaka, Athens' oldest neighbourhood. As narrow cobbled streets lead us between colourful homes, this feels more like a village on one of the Greek islands. From here, it's another 10-minute walk to the Acropolis or the Temple of Olympian Zeus, another breathtaking monument of ancient Athens. And if we want to explore further afield? Votsalakia Beach in Piraeus is less than 30 minutes' drive, while Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon are about an hour and a half, both easy day trips. But first, it's time for the rejuvenating embrace of the pool.

• History enthusiasts exploring everything from ancient icons to period features in the hotel
• Visitors from around the world seeking the very best of European culture and heritage
• Couples enjoying rooftop sunsets and strolls in the quaint Anafiotika neighbourhood
• Families discovering Athenian culture and history together, with beaches nearby
• Solo travellers and influencers exploring on foot to find hidden gems
• Business travellers making use of the hotel's well-equipped meeting rooms 
• Art lovers savouring artwork within the hotel and in surrounding museums and galleries

• The astonishing art installation Mappemonde by George Lappas, which draws the eye from the rooftop, even with the Saronic Gulf and Acropolis for competition.
• The tranquil setting of Athens Capital Suites - MGallery Collection right in the city centre, yet on a vehicle-free street with more trees than foot traffic.
• Three locations for breakfast when you stay at Athens Capital Suites - MGallery Collection: the main hotel buffet, your suite or the executive lounge where artisans provide island cheeses.
• An exceptional range of private services in your room or suite, from in-room spa treatments and yoga sessions to butler service and 24-hour private dining.
• Athenian Dream, the signature cocktail at Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery Collection, in which mastiha liqueur from the island of Chios fuses with lemon, honey and fresh basil leaves.

4 Eleftheriou Venizelou Avenue, and 2 Kriezotou street, Syntagma Square, 10671, Athens, Greece