Greece’s economy may still be in the doldrums, but Athens’ arts scene and nightlife are flourishing. Combine that with a wave of new affordable places to stay and the capital is no longer just a gateway to the Greek islands In July 2016, Athens cathedral emerged gleaming from its dusty shroud of scaffolding after 17 years. A landmark building dating from 1895 overlooking the cathedral has also had a dramatic makeover. Formerly the grubby Magna Grecia hotel, it has been renamed after the original architect, Ernst Ziller, the German master of Athenian neoclassicism. In the rooftop restaurant, bearded bartenders knock up mind-blowing cocktails while you admire show-stopping views of the Parthenon. Breakfast will be served here when the 10 bedrooms downstairs open in autumn 2016. A sensitive restoration lets the original features sing: soaring ceilings with delicate plasterwork, grey-green walls, and giant beds backed by carved wooden screens. • _Doubles from €90 B&B, +30 210 322 2277, __thezillersathens.gr_ Continue reading...
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