Gay Athens Athens City Guide

Curation by Yasmina Rodríguez, words by Matthew Trinetti

Athens wears its contradictions with unmatched confidence. Ancient marble columns cast their shadows across neon-lit cocktail bars; five thousand years of civilisation press up against a thriving contemporary art scene; and the world's most storied ruins share postcodes with Michelin-starred restaurants. Athens doesn't merely have history — it breathes it, and yet it remains arrestingly, defiantly alive. From the magnificence of the Acropolis to the creative ferment of Psirri, from sun-soaked Riviera retreats to the warmly welcoming gay quarter of Gazi, this guide is your invitation to experience Athens at its most elevated. Pack light, arrive thirsty, and prepare to be thoroughly seduced.

The best hotels in Athens

Few hotels anywhere can claim a setting as arresting as The Dolli at Acropolis. Perched on the edge of Plaka — the city’s oldest and most characterful neighbourhood — this restored 1920s neoclassical mansion by Grecotel has been transformed into a 46-room boutique hôtel-maison of extraordinary refinement. Interiors marry classical architectural bones with a serene contemporary palette, whilst the public spaces dazzle: a salon displaying original works by Picasso and Cocteau, a secretive bar, a library-lounge of disarming charm, and a rooftop infinity pool from which the Parthenon appears close enough to touch.

For those whose idea of luxury is rooted in well-being and conscious design, Coco-Mat Athens BC, in the Koukaki neighbourhood, delivers in spectacular fashion. Built around the brand’s celebrated natural-material mattresses, the property pairs transcendent sleep with an on-site spa, fitness centre and a rooftop bar commanding unobstructed Parthenon views. An ancient Roman mosaic floor in the lobby and a soaring birds’ installation set the tone for a stay that is simultaneously grounding and awe-inspiring.

The Dolli at Acropolis

In Psirri — Athens’ most pleasingly contrary neighbourhood, where galleries rub shoulders with artisan workshops — Mona is a world unto itself. Housed in a reimagined 1950s textile factory, this intimate boutique hotel doubles as an art gallery and design showroom, its preserved terrazzo floors and warehouse ceilings offset by sensual velvets and curated artworks. The rooftop bar gazes directly at the Acropolis; the basement speakeasy hosts live music and clandestine gatherings.

When the lure of the Athenian Riviera proves irresistible — and it will — One&Only Aesthesis, some 30 minutes south in the affluent coastal enclave of Glyfada, offers a getaway of cinematic proportions. This mid-century-inspired resort occupies a pine-shaded stretch of private beach, with rooms, bungalows and villas styled in warm neutral tones, many with private pools or direct beach access. Three restaurants, a Guerlain spa, multiple pools and an impeccable personal-host service ensure the most demanding guest has little reason to venture beyond the gates.