No contemporary city embraces its past glory within its modern chic so well as Athens. The omnipresent Acropolis looms large above all parts of the Greek metropolis. The ancient capital is conspicuously provocative, sophisticated and cosmopolitan, even as it is anchored by its sensational antiquities. From grungy Monastiraki and Psiri, to posh Kolonaki and Glyfada, Athens is alive by day and after dark.
For nearly 150 years, the very heart and soul of the city has been the treasured Hotel Grand Bretagne. Surrounded by the buildings of Parliament, it sparkles with the grandeur of a palatial estate. Its prime location on Syntagma Square, near the Acropolis and the famous Plaka maze, make the hotel a favorite among celebrities and cultured guests
There has been a mansion on this site since Athens was a small, humble city with dusty, unpaved roads. After Greece was liberated from Ottoman rule in 1830, many expatriate Greeks returned home. Among them was Antonis Dimitriou, whose family, refugees from the island of Limnos, had settled at the head of the Adriatic Sea in Trieste. Dimitriou had become wealthy in Italy, and in 1842 he built a luxury home in the heart of the city.
In 1874 the mansion was acquired by a Russian-born Greek named Stathis Lamsas. Lamsas, who worked as a chef for King George I at the palace next door, entered into a joint venture with Greek hotelier Savas Kendros. Starting with an 800,000-drachma loan, the partners purchased and renovated the Dimitriou mansion, renaming it the Grand Bretagne. The GB, as it is known to many, went on to outlive the monarchy, which was abolished in 1973.
The hotel is a benchmark of luxury standards. Statuesque doormen, dressed to the nines, greet guests as they pass through the revolving doors of the stately entrance and enter the dignified lobby. One cannot help but be awestruck by the wealth and refinement, as you walk upon dreamy Persian carpets over tiled mosaic floors. Potted palms lend an extra dash of sophistication. Nowhere else in Athens do guests mix so freely with prominent locals.
Over the years, the Grande Bretagne has entertained a prolonged cast of celebrities including Hollywood and rock music stars, kings and even a dictator or two. Winston Churchill paid a visit to thank Greece for its role in subduing Italian resistance during World War II. Madonna, Sting, Sophia Loren, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Bruce Springsteen have all called the GB home.
No matter where you turn, the views are breathtaking — whether from the rooftop restaurant and bar, the swimming pool or just about any balcony. The unobstructed panorama offers a step back in time, from the Acropolis and Parthenon to the Arch of Hadrian, the National Archeological Museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and (most impressively) the Evzones. The changing of the guards is a quintessential, iconic Athens experience.
Rooms and Suites
The 320 opulent rooms and suites are styled with a meticulous blend of classic, old-world chic with a desert color palette of cream tones, khaki and bleached yellows. The ambience is regal. Formal rooms feature feather-down comforters, mid-century gilt-edged lamps, antique crystal chandeliers and silk drapes. The swanky bathrooms include floor-to-ceiling marble.
Guests are pampered with luxurious fabrics and modern artwork, including a collection of refurbished antiques from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Flat-screen televisions and high-speed internet access are standard features. The Royal and Presidential Suites give guests a trip back in time, straight to Victorian England.
As a further enhancement, guests on the sixth and seventh floors, as well as suite sojourners, have private butlers who cater to any whim at a moment’s notice. From laundry to dinner reservations at Athens’ most exclusive restaurants, the 24-hour butler service adds a touch of refinement to this crown jewel.
Restaurants and Bars
Accolades continue to accumulate for the GB Roof Garden Restaurant, a gastronomic delight. For five consecutive years, Wine Spectator has honored the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant with its “Best of Award of Excellence.” The exquisite international menu fuses Greek, Italian and French influence, and the views are sweeping and uninterrupted, from the Acropolis to the Parliament buildings.
Executive chef Dimitris Boutsalis, formerly of Copenhagen’s famed Noma restaurant, draws rave reviews for his modern take on Mediterranean cuisine. His plates are like works of art. Sustainably sourcing local ingredients, Boutsalis focuses on farm-to-table meats and fresh seafood, harvest daily from local waters, in his contemporary Greek dishes.
Each morning, guests can kick start their days with an exquisite breakfast buffet at the GB Roof Garden Restaurant, and later grab a quick bite or snack by the GB rooftop pool.
The beguiling Winter Garden Restaurant may be found in the hotel’s ornate marble lobby, with its 15-foot pillars. Here, award-winning French pastry chef Arnaud Larher dazzles with his seasonal dessert menu. The lavish atrium setting offers the city’s preeminent European breakfast, lunch and stylish high tea. In the evening, the aristocratic piano bar draws music lovers from the busy streets of Athens.
Views are out of this world from the hotel’s two roof bars. Both the GB Roof Bar, adjacent to the outdoor pool, and Bar 8 are famous for their signature cocktails — including eight original martinis and a house Zombie, combining three different rums.
Many visitors end their Athenian experience lingering over a top-shelf single malt or cognac at Alexander’s Cigar Lounge. The humidor features the finest in Cuban cigars.
Spa and Pool
After busy days of sightseeing, the place to rejuvenate is the the GB Spa. The array of world-class aromatherapy treatments will leave you pampered and re-energized. The spa offers Valmont treatments, thermal and herbal steam rooms, mud baths, a heated indoor pool and a state-of-the-art workout room. Couples’ massages are available, as are a nail salon and barber shop.
Open from April through October, the pièce-de-resistance outdoor rooftop pool features cushioned lounge chairs in a secluded boutique setting.
And Don’t Miss …
… the Changing of the Guards. The Evzones are a symbol of the people’s Hellenic Republic. They’re dressed in formal kilts, the attire of the Klephts, in remembrance of the noble soldiers who fought the Ottoman occupation. Nowadays, the proud young men are volunteers from the Greek army. They go through a rigorous and strenuous selection process, with merits based upon a well-groomed appearance, exemplary character and sheer physical strength, personifying the brave men who fought for independence from the Turks 200 years ago.
Nearby are the Greek Parliament and the original Olympic Stadium. Visitors will want to stroll the historical old town of the Plaka; shop at Athens’ answer to Rodeo Drive, meandering the posh neighborhood of Kolonaki; and visit the bustling Monastiraki flea market; all within walking distance from the GB.
Today’s Grand Bretagne retains the spirit of a bygone era. The hotel has harmoniously adapted to accommodate the requirements of modern-day explorers.
The Victorian-era masterpiece is a living relic that recalls the groundbreaking beginnings of early Athens. With its stellar service, lavish guest quarters and superior rooftop dining, the GB has consummated its place among the leading hotels of the world.
—Nicholas Kontis, Publisher
Single Vanity Bathroom with Bath
Website: Hotel Grand Bretagne, www.grandbretagne.com.gr
Accommodations: 320 rooms
Rates from: US $450- $999
Book this hotel: Booking.com
Since I stayed at the GB in Athens, your article brought good memories.
Thank you