Greece Vacation: At Athens’ hip 60s-inspired hotel with rooms from just £73 a night
Record players in the bedrooms – and prices that sound like music to your ears: at the hip, 1960s-inspired Athens hotel with rooms from just £73 a night
‘We love the 60s, that much is clear.’
For example, it says in the welcome letter that every guest receives when he checks in at the Brown Acropol hotel in the center of Athens.
And it’s true, it’s obvious. There’s the golden mirror ball in the lobby and in our bedroom the semi-psychedelic brown and white wallpaper, the old-fashioned drinks trolley and the record player in a small fake vintage case.
There’s even a vinyl compilation album to play, which doesn’t have a lot of 60’s music (more 80’s and 90’s really), but it does help maintain a ‘swinging’ vibe.
Another striking set piece is a black and white image by Greek photographer Spyros Staveris of bras in a shop window.
Ted Thornhill checks into the Brown Acropol hotel in the center of the Greek capital. Upstairs is the hotel’s enticing rooftop terrace, dotted with hot tubs
A-crop a load of that! The view from the roof of Brown Acropol is mesmerizing
I’m not sure if it’s 1960s, but we can put it under “counterculture,” which is appropriate enough.
Don’t think this is a hotel that values style over substance though – there’s plenty of comfort.
Our room is beautiful and spacious, and the king-size bed is a monument to the science of bed-making – wonderfully comfortable.
The ensuite also pleases in all the right places.
As any decorator will tell you, when it comes to bathrooms, don’t skimp on the shower and faucets.
Ted’s room type is pictured above. He describes the bed as “a monument to the science of making beds – wonderfully comfortable”
“We love the 60s, that much is clear,” the hotel says in a welcome letter
The record player in Ted’s room, with vinyl records supplied by the hotel
Acropol Brown does not.
The shower is elegantly retro with thick taps, while the tap at the sink has a striking Victorian-style handle to turn the water on and off.
We also have a balcony, but the view isn’t much to write home about – a slice of nearby Omonia Square and Panagi Tsaldari Street.
For a much more photogenic perspective, head to the rooftop on the 9th floor, where you can contemplate the splendor of the Acropolis and sink into huge bean bags and enjoy ice-cold beer served in glasses that have been in the freezer.
The hotel is located near Omonia Square. Above this is the property’s bar
Remarkably, my five-year-old daughter jumps into one of the three hot tubs despite the 38-degree heat, while us parents indulge in the Mythos lager.
It’s much cooler on the roof the next morning, when we arrive to devour what turns out to be a wonderful breakfast buffet (except for the tepid coffee).
Large fans keep the air circulating around the elegant wooden tables and chairs as we enjoy watermelon, yoghurt and pastries.
The hotel’s breakfast buffet is served at the rooftop restaurant
In very hot weather, the hotel deploys huge rooftop fans to keep guests as cool as the decor
Rooms at Brown Acropol can be snagged from just £73. If there’s a downside, says Ted, it’s that they don’t offer much of a view
And pop music pumps through the speakers to keep the party atmosphere buzzing.
The animated table next to us gets into the mood for the occasion and has glasses of prosecco brought over.
I think, like us, they would love to return to this hip hotel with a touch of hedonism. Especially considering excellent prices like that of sister hotel Lighthouse Athens, with rooms from just £73.
Party on!