A SECRET ROOFTOP presents major cool plunge potential as heat bakes Athens
It's going down (or up) at the Athens Capital Center Hotel - MGallery Collection
There are a number of hotels in Athens that feature rooftop pools, but some are better than others. One of the best is a secret aerie hidden from view right on the edge of busy Syntagma Square, the Athens Capital Hotel - McGallery Collection.
Forget the sweltering tourist crowds at the Acropolis or packed ferry to Santorini — you might as well jump into that luscious rectangle of a swimming pool on the rooftop of this contemporary boutique hotel in the heart of the Greek capital. The hotel is naturally pretty busy this summer, but a quick check of dates and rates shows that a reasonably priced high-season urban staycation is still possible.
Even before you get to the pool, you can enjoy refreshing pops of art such as in the petite nook of the Galerie Cafe adjoining the lobby, where a number of macaroons and such were spotted. Of course, you can also enjoy some gourmet grazing on the roof.
Athens has witnessed a bumper crop of boutique hotels in the past decade or so, but not all are created equal. Some are just too small. The Athens Capital is the kind where you can pop out in the city for an hour or two, then retreat to your urban base camp and be perfectly content to hang out there — it seems designed with that in mind. Your day could begin with breakfast at the MFlavours restaurant.
At the rooftop Mappemonde, there are sweeping views of the Acropolis and Mount Lycabettus — a fabulous spot to sip the hotel’s signature cocktail which captures the spirit of Athens: a blue, Mastiha and rum-based cocktail flavored with Greek orange. Check out more of the mixologists’ menu here. There is also a full lunch dinner menu.
There is a lot to to like about the Athens Capital, not least of which is the location. Like its neighbor across the street, the Hotel Grande Bretagne, here you are really in the center of the action, but the high quality of the accommodations, sense of style and attention to detail also means you can carve out your own refuge without too much effort — that’s one of the hallmarks of sophisticated urban luxury.
While I didn’t have time for breakfast or meal during my site inspection, I could tell from a simple order for an iced tea that the staff is well-trained and professional.
Which makes it easier for you to relax and enjoy those views — I mean, somebody has to, right?
https://athenscapitalhotel-mgallery.com/