Hotel Acropolis House

The lovely restored historic residence that houses Hotel Acropolis House has retained many architectural details and decor -- including superb original murals on the walls of the entryway. The 19th-century stone mansion and connecting building that dates from the 1940s is well-preserved and maintained. There are high ceilings in the lobby and breakfast area, and the parlor is an inviting space, with antique furniture and Greek art. Guests gather here to converse, read a book borrowed from the bookshelf near the kitchen, listen to music on the stereo, and sip free coffee on offer throughout the day. The hotel draws budget-minded tourists, particularly couples and some families, looking for a friendly atmosphere and to experience the city like a local. 

Hotel Acropolis House is in the center of Athens in Plaka, a historic area with labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Numerous shops, restaurants, and bars are in the area immediately surrounding the hotel. It's convenient to public transportation to reach points of interest across Athens. The closest bus stop is Philellenon, a three-minute walk from the hotel, and it's about a five-minute stroll to the Zappeio tram station. But many of the city's top attractions can be reached on foot: the Museum of Greek Children's Art and Jewish Museum of Greece are both within a two-minute walk. It's about a five minute stroll to the western edge of the National Garden, the Acropolis Museum, and Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens, where bus and metro stations can be found. The famous Acropolis 5th-century B.C. temple complex, with landmark structures like the Parthenon and Temple of Athena, is roughly a 15-minute walk.Athens Railway Station is about a 25-minute ride from the hotel on the metro. Athens International Airport is about a 30-minute drive, or about 75 minutes by metro or express bus.

Guest rooms at Hotel Acropolis House have a simple, traditional feel. There's heavy antique furniture, including armoires and attractive vanity desks with white marble tops, dark-wood furniture and trim, and quilted bedspreads with a geometric decorative pattern. All contain flat-screen TVs with English language channels, safes, and free Wi-Fi, and most have mini-fridges. Some units boast balconies with views of the surrounding area. Dingy bathrooms are a drawback -- and some are shared -- with old tile and showers with unmounted showerheads. All have hairdryers and toiletries. Rooms are generally quiet, though main-floor rooms close to the kitchen may get some noise from early-morning breakfast preparation. 

Hotel Acropolis House's top feature is the excellent free hot breakfast buffet, which earns raves from guests for its quality and variety. The spread is filled with house-made items, and features cooked-to-order eggs, Greek spinach pie, olives, rice-and-bean salad, cheese, Greek yogurt, fruit, sesame rolls, and fresh-baked bread, plus lemon and orange marmalade. The hotel has no restaurant for lunch and dinner, but there's a cooler filled with drinks for purchase, and a lobby parlor with free coffee, books, and a stereo. There's a 24-hour front desk, and the staff is very helpful with tourist assistance. The hotel will also store luggage for guests taking excursions to the Greek islands, or other destination outside Athens. There's no on-site parking, but nearby public parking is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.