Near-perfect hotel overlooks one of the most remarkable ancient sites
The place
The Dolli at Acropolis, Athens
Check-in
Despite the extravagance of Le Salon (the lobby), the concept is to make guests feel like they're entering a living room, and check-in is informal, albeit deeply curated. I sink into a sofa among expensive art and am soon presented with an iPad, alongside a silver tray containing a glass of sparkling wine and two colour-coordinated mocktails.
The look
Entering this 1925-era neoclassical mansion-turned-boutique hotel is like stepping inside a jewellery box containing the most prized treasures of a modern Aphrodite. Soft mirrored panels reflect sumptuous salt-and-pepper marbled floors, brass accents, plump furnishings, soaring stucco ceilings and tiered silver trays of Greek sweets such as loukoumi and chocolate almonds. A high-gloss patisserie spread in the lounge is complimentary for guests.
Owned by Grecotel, run by second-generation hotelier Mari Sifounakis, the historic property features 46 rooms and suites over five floors and embodies a feminine energy, with curvy details, circular furniture and natural materials. The art collection is astounding: ancient Greek vases date back to the 4th century BC, there are chairs by 20th-century French artist Jean Cocteau, an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus mask from the 6th century BC and a ceramic work by Picasso.
But it's the submersible installation on level five that earns this property one-of-a-kind kudos. The rooftop infinity pool all but laps at the Parthenon. It feels so close you could flick it off the Acropolis with your finger.
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