A hotel in Athens that feels like an art gallery

It’s been a long time since I last visited Athens, and it seems the city has changed quite a bit since then, as one would expect. After all, they say the only constant is change. But what Athens holds, and what remains its greatest brilliance, is a sense of history that never shifts. Wherever you turn, you’re literally walking on layers of civilization. And naturally, everything leads to the Parthenon – that marble wonder that has watched over the city for 2,500 years like a strict but fair teacher. On the flip side, the view toward it is how you measure a postcard-worthy moment in Athens. Waking up with a view of the Acropolis or sipping a cocktail in the afternoon while contemplating the age of Pericles is exactly what sets Athens apart from every other city you’ll visit.

It’s in this eclectic blend of history and modernity that NEW Hotel has found its place. An award-winning boutique hotel, it stands out with its avant-garde architecture, original interiors, and conceptual approach that blurs the lines between hotel, gallery, and art installation. An ideal spot for travelers seeking a truly authentic and immersive hotel experience.

Located in the heart of Athens, between the historic neighborhood of Plaka, known for its ancient Roman ruins, and the upscale district of Kolonaki, known for its galleries and boutiques, NEW Hotel forms a bridge between the old and the new Athens. With 79 rooms and suites, it stands as one of the most striking examples of contemporary architecture in the city. Its interior is especially captivating, offering endless conversation starters for art and design enthusiasts.

The custom-made, hand-crafted furniture and unique details create the feeling that you are staying inside a large-scale art installation. Considering that the hotel’s owner, Dakis Joannou, is a well-known Cypriot art collector, industrialist and hotelier, it comes as no surprise that art plays the lead role in the hotel’s design story. “Collecting art means being engaged with art and life, participating in a dialogue about the issues society faces at any given moment,” he once said in an interview for Design Hotels, of which NEW Hotel is a proud member.

With this hotel, which opened in 2011, Joannou aimed to create a place that is not just a space to stay, but a fully immersive art experience, with interiors that feel like a living installation. And he succeeded. Guests return to NEW Hotel for the art as much as for the hospitality.

New Hotel, owned by Dakis Joannou, was once the Olympic Palace Hotel. Joannou, together with Brazilian designers Humberto and Fernando Campana, transformed the space using recycled materials and elements from the original building. The hotel is known for its unique interiors filled with art, playful design, and creative use of reclaimed materials, which were turned into entirely new works of art.

This was also the first hotel project by the globally renowned Campana brothers. Chosen for their environmentally conscious approach, love of contemporary materials, and sensitivity to local culture, the Campanas infused this philosophy into every corner of the hotel. As a result, the space blends seamlessly into the neighborhood and interacts with its surroundings with a sense of respect — like no other urban hotel in Athens.

A poetic presentation of Greek folkloric motifs such as Karagiozis, the “evil eye,” and vintage postcards of old Athens

Located on Filellinon Street, right next to Syntagma (Constitution) Square, the hotel is an ideal starting point for exploring Athens’s landmarks – from the ruins of Plaka, the Acropolis hill and its museum, to the elegant boutiques of Kolonaki and the bustling business district.

The hotel celebrates its exceptional location through the work of its designers. In collaboration with architecture students from the University of Thessaly, the Campana brothers merged design and culture, which meet on every floor. Each of the 79 rooms is designed around one of three thematic concepts inspired by Greek tradition: vintage postcards of Athens, local sculptures, and characters from the Karagiozis shadow theater, featuring custom-made furniture and unique decorative elements that create the feeling of staying inside a large art installation.

Historic Athenian motifs have been given a modern design twist, resulting in rooms that radiate youthfulness, enthusiasm, and charm. At the same time, the team revitalized original elements of the old hotel, transforming worn and abandoned furniture into striking contemporary design pieces. For instance, antique wooden furniture was dismantled and turned into art installations in the lobby, the hotel’s old logo was repurposed into bar side tables, and discarded chairs were reimagined into iconic design pieces such as the Tomato Chair, Ladder Chair, and Newspaper Chair.

Fotelja Leatherworks koaj se nalazi u Penthouseu

And not only that – New Hotel breathes in new art every day, with rotating temporary exhibitions regularly on display. Currently, the Art Lounge is hosting The Insanity of Failure as Nourishment of Desire by Maria Papadimitriou, part of the ongoing series Contemporary Artists at the NEW Museum Hotel.

Drawing inspiration from vintage issues of Playboy, Papadimitriou creates a fragmented visual universe, subverting the stereotypical male gaze and reconstructing the female figure as an archetypal, almost sacred presence. Her work transcends logic and physicality, delving into the irrational and existential. The woman is no longer portrayed as an object but as a multidimensional being, both shattered and reborn.

In a world overwhelmed by the madness of failure, Papadimitriou offers a visual sanctuary. It is a space where erotic tension, imagination, and transformation become forces that drive deeper inner discovery.

In addition to its artistic appeal, New Hotel naturally offers top-tier hospitality. On the ground floor, nature and its colors take center stage. The newly renovated Lobby Bar, designed by Manhattan Projects and accompanied by the menu of chef Babis Kountouris, provides a cozy setting with plush seating, textured fabrics, and lush greenery.

On the rooftop, you’ll find the Art Lounge – a restaurant and bar with stunning views of the city and a gastronomic menu that celebrates Greek flavors. It’s the perfect spot for a morning drink, lunch, or dinner in a setting that blends contemporary art with unforgettable views of Athens.

NEW Sense, the hotel’s wellness area and gym, is a hidden gem in the heart of lively Athens. Equipped with a jacuzzi, steam bath, and a brand-new fitness center open 24/7, it’s the ideal place to unwind and recharge.

Through its permanent and temporary exhibitions, New Hotel serves as a dynamic artistic platform that, in addition to top-tier hospitality and gastronomy, always offers something more. A world of art that’s hard not to get lost in. We know exactly why we’ll be coming back.