European capitals never stop luring us with their siren song, not even in the heat. Whether strolling along the streets of Plaka in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens or shopping in London’s Mayfair district, there’s always something fresh to do and to discover in these cities with so many layers. And when you want to escape the clamor of everyday life, the finest hotel suites in these cities will give you the rest you need.
Athens: Acropolis Pied-à-Terre, The Dolli
The Acropolis has no bad side, but the most famous silhouette of Athens is especially beautiful from the rooftop of The Dolli, with its proud profile softened as it reflects in the hotel’s infinity pool or bathed in the golden light of sunset.
The 46 rooms at The Dolli enjoy one of the city’s most enviable locations: for the past century, this former residence turned textile empire has stood on Mitropoleos Street, tucked between the neighborhoods of Monastiraki and Plaka, with a nearly decadent array of world-class archaeological attractions in view (the majestic Acropolis, of course, but also the Roman Agora, the Library of Hadrian, and the Temple of Hephaestus). Guests staying in the Acropolis Pied-à-Terre, a one-bedroom, can savor the same views but with greater privacy: from the comfort of their bed or from the cream-colored Pacha sun loungers by Pierre Paulin placed before the floor-to-ceiling doors. As in the rest of the hotel, everything here exudes a pristine style: cavernous ceilings and double showers for couples complemented by light-wood floors with a herringbone tiling, multicolored crystals and an electric blue Pillow Sculpture by Bau Design, a symbol of softness playfully expressed in stainless steel.
This is a hotel that takes art seriously. As part of seven years of transforming a building that had stood vacant during the economic crisis at the start of the century, Mari Deskalantonakis, executive director of Grecotel, who owns the property, personally participated in the art selection, expertly overseeing a fusion of surreal inspiration from the ancient with the contemporary. Its philosophy becomes clearer in the works that flank the marble fireplace in the lobby of The Dolli, intimate and more like a drawing-room: crystal vases by Les Lalanne alongside ceramic pieces from 6th-century BCE Attica. Between these are also ceramic works by Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, all inspired by Greek mythology. –Selina Denman
