Where to Stay in Athens Greece?

Apollonos 40, 16671 Vouliagmeni, Anthens(+30 210 890 2000)

Part of the Astir Palace complex (recently rebranded a Starwood Luxury Collection resort), the 55 laid-back but luxurious bungalows are set among pine trees on the Athenian Riviera 25km from the city centre. The original 1960s architecture has been reworked by top Greek architects Zege and the ambience is contemporary coastal chic. The bungalows are decorated in natural tones and nautical stripes with sunken tubs and plunge pools, and the Matsuhisa Athens by Nobu - one of six restaurants - is the city's hippest dining spot. The Arion spa is dazzling.

Greco Pallas Athena

Athinas 65, Athens(+30 2)

The trendy Pallas Athena Grecotel has 55 graffiti rooms, each transformed by 10 artists from the fields of urban art, graffiti design and illustration. Each room is an individual piece of art, from street and Japanese art to legendary cartoon heroes. The 15 classical guestrooms have a clean and modern décor with muted colour schemes and top floor rooms have private terraces or balconies. The breakfast is good, but there is no spa and the location is in a still up-and-coming part of town (the area around Omonia Square is a bit on the seedy side) - although a five-minute walk along Athinas takes you to happening Monastiraki.

Fresh Hotel Athens

Sophocleous 26, 10552 Athens(+30 210 524 8511)

Bright and bold, the Fresh Hotel is a modern block with pink Plexiglas reception area and distinctive designer pieces, including Eames chairs. The hotel offers affordable contemporary style in an edgy neighbourhood on the cusp of cool, and is at the heart of the spice market, where transvestites cruise after hours. There are 133 rooms, including three suites and six executive suites. Food on offer includes breakfast buffets in the Magenta restaurant, imaginative finger food and modern Med dishes in the Orange bar and Air Lounge. You can glimpse the Parthenon from some eighth-floor suites. The trendy Fresh Air rooftop bar has a small pool and giant sofas from which to survey the sweeping cityscapes.

Hotel Grande Bretagne

Syntagma Square, 10564 Athens(+30 210 333 0000)

This Luxury Collection hotel teams neoclassical opulence with state-of-the-art technology. The former palace has hosted VIPs from Joan Collins to Jacques Chirac and has the poshest address in the Greek capital - presiding over Syntagma Square, Parliament Building and the National Gardens. There are 321 rooms and suites including the 400-square-metre Royal Suite that has a private gym, media room and wine cellar. The Art Deco GB Corner is good for power lunch over T-bone steaks, the GB Roof Garden for romantic liaisons, and Alexander's Bar - all mottled black marble and tinkling piano - stocks a selection of rare spirits and has a walk-in humidor. The GB Spa is glamorous with a palm-filled atrium, ESPA treatments, a herbal steam room, and a sea-green pool. Rooms with Acropolis views are worth the surcharge.