Pallas Athena Grecotel Boutique Hotel

The Pallas Athena Grecotel, with its quirky aesthetic, is something guests have to buy in to. Its style, which might not be for everyone, is eclectically modern, ranging from classic colors and sharp lines to bold, quirky designs. The lobby is more of the former, but such touches as the hand-shaped chair, the stuffed white dog on display (it's not real), and the line of skulls hint at the hotel's more playful nature. Not one part of the hotel escapes decoration — hallways are festooned with cartoonish murals and brightly colored streaming "AAAA…" signs mounted overhead. The restaurant's entrance functions as an art gallery, with paintings and prints hung on every wall and column, and a few other sculptures, including a stuffed zebra (again, not real), tucked in. Bright-red couches and furry black pillows and ottomans play up the funkiness of this space, but things tone down a bit tone down a bit back toward the dining area, which has white tables and wicker or fabric chairs with an updated '60s design. 

The Pallas Athena Grecotel is located near Omonia Square, off a busy street that leads to many of the city's markets (fish, vegetable, meat), and the neighborhood can be hectic during the day. Compared with the area around Syntagma Square, Omonia is a bit sketchier, although guests report feeling safe around the hotel. The hotel isn't within easy walking distance of many historic sights -- it's about a 15-minute metro ride to the Acropolis, the Plaka, and other historic attractions, but the Omonia Square metro station, with connection points to most of the city, is within a five-minute walk of the hotel, and the Monastiraki metro station and flea market are within a 10-minute walk. 

The Pallas Athena has a wide range of rooms that differ dramatically in style and layout, although all are large and modern, and come with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Even the standard Superior Rooms have wall designs in the form of trees whose pink leaves spell "relax," and chandeliers, although their furniture, which consists of two thinly covered twin beds and narrow glass desks, reading chairs, and small dressers, is quieter. Art Collection Rooms and Pallas Rooms are about the same size as the Superior Rooms, but are bolder in design. Whimsical murals, brightly colored furnishings, modern art and sculpture adorn the Art Collection rooms and the Suites, though the details vary. The Spiderman Rooms come decked out in blues and reds, and some include wall paintings of the man himself. Graffiti Rooms are marked with, yes, graffitti, while the Octopussy Rooms include murals of a large, bulbous octopus and sleep "Z"s painted across the room. Since the rooms vary so much, guests should scope them out carefully before booking. Suites, including a Loft Suite, include dining areas, living rooms, and sometimes two or more bedrooms, and generally have a softer style. Except for Superior Rooms, bathrooms include toiletries, and full tubs with showerheads, although some guests might find the placement of the showerheads -- in the middle of the tub and low, which is common in Mediterranean countries -- awkward. 

The Pallas Athena's extensive art collection is the stand-out feature here. The hotel's restaurant functions as a mini art gallery, with exhibitions that are publicized and change seasonally. The hotel's breakfast buffet includes a wide choice of hot and cold items -- croissants, pies, hot breads, jams, omelets, and pastries -- and is included in some room packages. The restaurant also serves dinner -- a modern take on Greek cuisine. The on-site fitness center, a white-tile collection of rooms broken up by blue plastic room dividers (reminiscent of public pools), is cramped and dark -- there's a bench with some free weights and one room, and a handful of cardio machines -- a stationary bike, elliptical, and treadmill -- in another. The hotel also has a meeting room, which can accommodate up to 20 people.