Record players in the bedrooms – and prices that will be music to your ears: Inside the hip 60s-inspired hotel in Athens with rooms from just £73 a night
‘We’re crazy about the 60s, that much is obvious.’
So says the welcome letter every guest is handed when they check into Brown Acropol hotel in the centre of Athens.
And it’s true, it is obvious. There’s the golden mirror ball in the lobby and in our bedroom the semi-psychedelic brown-and-white wallpaper, throwback drinks trolley and record player housed in a little mock-vintage suitcase.
There’s even a vinyl compilation album to play, which doesn’t feature much 60s music (more 80s and 90s actually), but it does help maintain a ‘swinging’ vibe.
Another eye-catching piece of decor is a black-and-white image by Greek photographer Spyros Staveris of bras in a shop window.
Ted Thornhill checks into Brown Acropol hotel in the centre of the Greek capital. Above is the hotel’s enticing rooftop, peppered with hot tubs
A-crop a load of that! Views from Brown Acropol’s rooftop are mesmerising
I’m not sure it’s 60s, but we can file it under ‘counterculture’, which is apt enough.
Don’t think this is a hotel that prioritises style over substance, by the way – there are plenty of comforts.
Our room is lovely and spacious and the king-sized bed a monument to the science of bedmaking – marvellously comfy.
The ensuite pleases in the right places, too.
As any interior designer will tell you, when it comes to bathrooms, don’t skimp on the shower unit and taps.
Ted’s room type is pictured above. He describes the bed as ‘a monument to the science of bedmaking – marvellously comfy’
‘We’re crazy about the 60s, that much is obvious,’ says the hotel in a welcome letter
The record player in Ted’s room, with vinyl records supplied by the hotel
Acropol Brown hasn’t.
The shower is elegantly retro with chunky taps, while the tap by the sink has an eye-catching Victorian-style lever for turning the water on and off.
We have a balcony too, but the view isn’t much to write home about – a bit of nearby Omonia Square and down Panagi Tsaldari Street.
For a much more photogenic perspective, head to the 9th-floor rooftop, where one can behold the magnificence of the Acropolis and sink into huge beanbags and sip ice-cold beer served in glasses that have been in the freezer.
The hotel is located near Omonia Square. Above is the property’s bar
Remarkably, while we parents cherish servings of Mythos lager, my five-year-old daughter leaps into one of the three hot tubs, despite the 38C heat.
It’s much cooler up on the rooftop the next morning, when we arrive to devour what turns out to be a magnificent buffet breakfast (save for the lukewarm coffee).
Huge fans keep the air circulating around the elegant wooden tables and chairs as we munch on watermelon, yoghurt and pastries.
The hotel’s buffet breakfast is served in the rooftop restaurant
In very hot weather the hotel deploys huge fans on the rooftop to keep guests as cool as the decor
Rooms at Brown Acropol can be snared 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 loudspeakers to keep the party atmosphere bubbling.
The animated table next to us is getting into the spirit of the occasion and has glasses of prosecco brought over.
They, like us, I think would be happy to return to this hip hotel with a hint of hedonism. Especially given the excellent-value prices like that of its sister hotel Lighthouse Athens, with rooms from just £73.
Party on!
TRAVEL FACTS
Ted is hosted by Brown Acropol, where rooms cost from £73 a night. Visit www.brownhotels.com/athens/acropol.
PROS: Eye-catching decor, great views from the rooftop, marvellously comfy rooms with great ensuites.
CONS: Room views nothing to write home about.
Rating out of five: ****
British Airways flies directly between London Heathrow and London Gatwick and Athens International Airport, with prices from £51.
Blacklane chauffeur service
Ted uses the superb Blacklane chauffeur service between Athens International Airport and Brown Acropol – and onward to the port for a ferry connection to the island of Hydra. Blacklane has a brilliantly user-friendly booking system and operates in more than 200 cities around the world.
Prices correct at time of writing.
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