Dining At Gatsby Athens Hotel – A Creative Luxury Bolthole In The Greek Capital

Gatsby Athens, opened its doors in autumn 2021, bringing a new, contemporary energy to the Greek capital. This 33-room contemporary boutique hotel, with views of the Acropolis, balances sophisticated design and personalised, attentive service with exciting food, beverage and entertainment offerings reflecting the best of the cultural and social milieu of its location.

Athens has always held a fascination for me; a city that at both raw and authentic, and classically sophisticated. Recent years has seen a renaissance in the Greek capital, with a flourishing of creativity, and innovation.

Gatsby Athens is very much part of this new, dynamic social scene, and offers a new lease on outdated luxury by balancing sophisticated design with a surprising and creative guest experience.

We started our evening at in the sexy lounge, a place that has emerged as a popular meeting place in the city. This elegant space is canopied by a beautiful bespoke scalloped ceiling and furnished with a sumptuous velvet couch and custom armchairs.

We sat at the Gatsby Bar, on the velvet and leather stools that surround that sculptural architectural statement, with an arched back bar shelving, brass and glass detailing and a marble top bar.

This is the place for signature cocktails, people watching and for us, and fascinating chats with the team, including Ioannis Galanis, the charismatic Hotel Manager who told us that Gatsby Athens Hotel dates to the war with details referencing the Art Deco movement, which inspired the name. The architecture and interiors inject elegance into a derelict building, reinstating its place as an elegant landmark of the Athenian city centre, whilst connecting the hotel to the vibrant nightlife scene surrounding it. He also pointed out the secret door that leads the way to a speakeasy jazz bar!

Gatsby Restaurant

Gatsby Restaurant is the social hub of the hotel and opens onto the cleverly reimagined alleyway outside. This adjacent lane has become a real feature of the hotel and a compelling place for tourists and locals to meet, hang out and enjoy the neighbourhood. Covered by a metal structure with a spectacular ‘roof’ of growing greenery, it links the hotel with the café opposite and connects guests to the speakeasy 1930s-style secret restaurant in the basement of the hotel

Taking our table, we were greeted by Mary Vlassi, the F&B Manager who helped us navigate the tempting menu in Gatsby Restaurant and suggested superb sharing plates of Mediterranean recipes based on authentic Greek tradition by Consulting Chef Panagiotis Flakas, including wonderfully flavoursome salads, delicious seafood, and tasty tapa-style small bites.

Gatsby promise that their restaurant is the kind of place where you feel welcomed in an evening dress or your jeans… and it’s true, the team are very natural, and friendly.

For a late-night vibe, there’s the Cloud 9 bar on the roof where they suggest you try their signature Artemis Negroni. There’s a level where you can also enjoy a view of the Acropolis.

The Gatsby Hotel is included in our guide to the best hotels in Athens