Travel Design-led new hotels, a dynamic food scene, and a boom in contemporary arts make this ancient city a destination in its own right, says Kate Lough In London, we have tipped into full autumn – misty mornings and late sunrises, with our fair share of grey skies and drenching downfalls. Miles to the south, Greece is still basking in warm golden light and bright sunshine. And, while the islands might be slipping into their winter slumber, its capital, Athens, is fizzing.
For me, Athens is the most compelling city destination in Europe right now, as well as one of the most overlooked. Synonymous with antiquity, it also hums with creativity and a new generation of muses. Writers and poets, chefs and artists are flocking to live in this melting pot of a city that is increasingly open-minded and experimental.
In recent years – and even months – a flurry of boutique hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as shops and galleries have spurred on its renaissance. Eftihia Stefanidi, who returned to live in Athens, her home city, after years of living and travelling all over the world, is one such muse. Stefanidi is the creative director of Mona (from £130) and Shila Athens (from £175), two of the city’s most evocative and original hotels, which are housed in an old 1950s textile factory in Psirri and a Neoclassical residence in Kolonaki respectively.
Both are woven together by her love for narrative, aesthetic and mood, shaped by her background in theatre and film – as a.
