10 Komninon, Thessaloniki, Greece | (888) 708-2081
Grand 1920s building with a striking neo-classical facade
Central location, close to the seafront promenade and White Tower
Lots of boutiques, lively bars, and restaurants nearby
Glass-enclosed breakfast room within a roof garden
Fun and funky diner-style restaurant and bar
Attractive rooms have mod-cons like Nespresso machines plus marble bathrooms
Most rooms and suites have a small private balcony
Use of the spa and gym at a neighboring sister hotel
Great buffet breakfast included in the rates
Small elevator (not a given in boutique hotels)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Small rooms, bathrooms, and balconies
No pool, spa, or gym on-site
Sea views are essentially nonexistent
The Excelsior is an upscale boutique hotel with an impressive 1920s-era home, located close to Thessaloniki’s main square and seafront. The classic facade houses some surprisingly modern features, like a lively industrial-style restaurant and glass-enclosed rooftop breakfast room. While guests have use of a spa and gym at a neighboring sister property, there are no leisure facilities at the hotel itself. The 34 rooms at this four-pearl hotel are elegant, with a plush white and gold color scheme, posh marble bathrooms, and mod-cons like Nespresso machines, free Wi-Fi, and swivel TVs. However, they are small. This is a grown-up escape for couples and high-end business travelers. The nearby Makedonia Palace has comparable rates, sea views, and a pool, but it’s much larger and the decor is a bit dated.
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Scene
Elegant 1920s hotel with modern style throughout its sharp interiors
The Excelsior -- with its grand 1920s neo-classical facade -- is something of a landmark in Thessaloniki’s downtown shopping and business district. Sensitively refurbished in 2009, it’s a lesson in how to blend period and modern details. Many of its classic hallmarks have been artfully restored, like the impressive marble staircase and ornate ceiling cornicing. But this high-end hotel has a few modern surprises up its sleeve, too, with a striking bright red mobile-style light fitting that could be straight out of an ultra-modern gallery, and a lively industrial-style restaurant with a sleek bar, chalkboard walls, pendant lighting, and lab-style glassware. The restaurant is popular with hip locals as well as hotel guests and holiday-makers. For a boutique hotel, there’s a great sense of space, thanks to huge floor-to-ceiling sheet glass windows that are barely visible. The hotel draws couples and business travelers looking for a high-end city-center escape.
Location
In the middle of town, near Aristotelous Square and a block from the seafront promenade
The Excelsior is just a couple of minutes’ walk from Aristotelous Square, Thessaloniki’s main plaza, with lots of designer boutiques, lively bars, and restaurants within easy walking distance. The hotel is only a block from the waterfront, where the seafront promenade runs to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the White Tower, which has views of Mount Olympus. It’s a 15-minute walk to the White Tower, Hagia Sophia Cathedral, and the Arch of Galerius, and a little farther to the OTE Tower, Museum of Byzantine Culture, and Archaeological Museum. Expect a 10-minute drive to Thessaloniki’s train station, while it's 25 minutes by car to the closest airport.
Rooms
Elegant and classic rooms have mod-cons like Nespresso machines plus handsome marble bathrooms
Rooms are done in elegant and clean-lined decor, with a plush white and gold color schemes accented by touches of purple. Full-length windows and pale hardwood floors create a light and airy feel, while crisp white linens and swanky gold panel-style curtains add to the polished vibe. Though the rooms have a historic edge, guests will still find mod-cons like air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, swivel TVs, iPod docks, and Nespresso machines. Minibars are available, and free bottles of wine and snacks greet guests. Handsome marble bathrooms have a frosted-glass walk-in shower with rainfall shower head. A handful of suites have a shower/tub combo. Hairdryers, robes, slippers, and premium toiletries are all provided. Most of the rooms have a small private balcony with views of the city’s busy center or the quieter courtyard. Room sizes start at a compact 215 square feet (20 square meters) in the entry-level Double Rooms. Deluxe Doubles are a little larger. We weren’t able to photograph the rooms, but they share the same décor and feel as the Suites, which are 300 square feet (28 square meters) and also feature a comfy day bed. At the top end, Excelsior Suites have a separate living room and two bathrooms. Keep in mind that there are no direct or unobstructed sea views at this hotel.
Features
Surprisingly modern extras include an industrial-chic restaurant and a roof garden
The ground-floor Be* Restaurant is a funky urban space, serving up creative cocktails alongside a menu influenced by street food and American diner classics -- think posh burgers and fancy fish and chips. A quality buffet breakfast is included in rates and served up in the glass-enclosed roof garden, which has wraparound views of Thessaloniki. There’s also The Mezzanine, a classic lounge that’s a great spot for coffee. Room service is available around the clock as well. While guests have use of a spa and gym at a neighboring sister hotel, there are no leisure facilities at the hotel itself. There are a couple of meeting rooms for business travelers and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Private parking can be arranged nearby a fee.
