The hotel is clean and beautiful, with friendly staff. The best part of the Electra Metropolis Hotel is the rooftop terrace, which has a small pool and a spectacular view of the Parthenon. It is also gorgeous to view the Parthenon at night from the rooftop.

Great central location

The hotel is situated right in the heart of Athens, just a few streets away from the Greek Parliament on Syntagma Square. The streets around the hotel are lively and bustling, with plenty of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops to explore. Additionally, the main shopping avenue of Athens, Ermou, is just a street away. The hotel’s prime location makes it easy to walk to many of the city’s top attractions, such as the Acropolis and the old town of Plaka. You can easily travel to the airport via Syntagma Metro, which is just a three-minute walk away, or to Piraeus port via Monastiraki station, which is a five-minute walk away. I didn’t use public transport since I mostly walked and used an Uber around Athens. The Uber to the Acropolis was 3 euros. If you want a hotel that is central to most of the key tourist destinations, then the Electra Metropolis is a great choice.

Beautiful architecture

The 10-story building originally housed the Ministry of Education and was created by modernist architect Patroklos Karantinos in 1959. The hotel has undergone a makeover described as’retro chic,’ which includes vintage photographs of Athens and references to mid-century design in the library bistro. It is worth popping in to see them if you love history like me. Despite these touches, the geometric façade, marble lobby, and towering atrium with unique art installations feel very modern. Within the hotel, guests can also find the Jasmine Room, with a fragment of the ancient city walls, and the frescoed 16th-century chapel of Agia Dynami, hidden among the hotel’s tall external pillars.

Amenities

The rooftop pool, which is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the basement spa offer a welcome break from the city’s bustle. It is recommended to reserve a sun bed by the pool or schedule a treatment early in the day to avoid disappointment, as the pool area is small and sun beds fill up quickly. I spent my time sightseeing, shopping, and eating, of course. I got back to the hotel and swam in the afternoons. Guests have free access to the gym, sauna, and illuminated indoor pool at the Aegeo Spa. I didn’t have a chance to utilise these amenities, but I did test the illuminated indoor pool with my fingers, and the water felt lukewarm. Despite receiving excellent service from the highly multilingual staff, I decided to forego the pricey massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures as I was travelling on a budget. But if you have the money to splurge, then book a treatment. The spa has garnered great reviews.

The food and drinks

The hotel offers breakfast on the roof terrace with a breathtaking view of the Acropolis. The breakfast spread is a delicious buffet with a variety of options such as eggs, bacon, sausages, cereals, fruit, pastries, and local Greek specialities such as charcuterie, cheese, yoghurt, honey, and fresh bread. Guests can also order coffee, tea, juice, or water. The rooftop terrace is divided into two areas: the Metropolis Roof Garden for fine dining and the M Bar for cocktails. However, the restaurant is expensive. The food is good but not the best ever, with the highlight being the stunning view of the Acropolis at night. The ground-floor library bistro is a quiet spot for a coffee or light lunch, but for those looking for a more traditional meal, it is recommended to walk around Athens to find local cuisine. I shared a room, and my roommate ordered room service, which she said was good. All in all, the food is good, and so are the drinks. But no one goes to stay in a hotel to just stay in the hotel, so I recommend you go try local food around Athens.

It is family-friendly

The hotel is family-friendly, but I didn’t see lots of children during my short stay. Families are best suited to book executive rooms with sofa beds because they have more space. The hotel’s restaurant offers a basic children’s menu, including spaghetti bolognese, mini burgers, chicken, and fish and chips. Babysitting services are available on request. Children are allowed to use the pools, but they must have an adult with them. There are no lifesavers at the pools.

Costs

This is a 5-star hotel, and if you book a room with a view, you will be able to see the Acropolis from your window. The staff is friendly and helpful. The food is good. But if I had to foot the bill, I wouldn’t have stayed at the Electra Metropolis; this is definitely luxury travel, and I’m not there yet financially. I’m South African, and the exchange rate isn’t in my favour at all. The cheapest room is R4500 per night. Standard doubles start from €180 (£166) in low season and from €280 (£259) in high season, including breakfast. So you can see if you have euros or pounds; it’s not too bad. Especially since you don’t have to worry about breakfast, it is convenient.

Final thoughts

Overall, I do recommend staying at the Electra Metropolis if you have the money. It is worth the cost. Everything about the place is comfortable, beautiful, and relaxing. It is central to most things. It is in a good area with great views. But if you are on a tight budget, then look around because there are great deals when it comes to accommodation on Booking.com. And do note that the Electra Place and the Electra Metropolis are two different hotels. They are part of the same chain, but they are two different hotels.

Address: Mitropoleos 15, 10557 Athens, Greece. Phone: 0030 214 100 6200. Website:https://www.electrahotels.gr/

Thank you for reading, and please feel free to comment. I’d love to hear from you.