70s inspired hotel just south of Athens with a vintage seaside resort vibe
Ace Hotel & Swim Club / Glyfada / Athens / Greece
South of Athens you’ll find the start of the Greek Riviera. A coastal stretch of coves, beaches and small villages all the way down to Cape Sounion at the tip of the peninsula. It is here, just outside the centre of town, in an area called Glyfada where you’ll find this stunner of a hotel, the Ace Hotel & Swimclub.
This used to be the Fenix Hotel, dating back to 1975. Ciguë Architects were hired to lead the transformation and in September of 2024 Ace hotel opened its doors. In the overhaul they decided to keep the 70s seaside resort vibe filling the hotel with vintage design. Very retro chic!
The outside has a geometric, brutalist look all in white with huge Hockney-inspired murals. Another stand out are the cubist, plant-adorned balconies making celebrating the classic seaside hotels from last century.
Our room was bright and colorful with that classic Ace playfulness. Instead of a turntable, which has thus far been a standard in all the Ace hotels we have stayed in, there was a guitar so we could make our own music. Unfortunately none of us play. :-)
At the back of this 120-key hotel there is a lush pool area, lined with palm trees and outdoor showers. Green-striped sun loungers and yellow-striped parasols complete the look. This is really a perfect hotel for lazy days in the sun. And if you would get bored, the tram for the center of Athens stops just down the street.
Welcome to Ace Hotel & Swimclub Athens!
First time ever for me when staying at an Ace hotel where the communal working table has been empty. Maybe a sign that this is a place for fun and relaxation, and not work.
Arrived at our room
A clear nod to the 70s in the design.
All other Ace hotels I have stayed at, there has been a turn table in the room. But not here. In Athens there is a guitar so you can make your own music.
I love the text on the guitar.
Out exploring the hotel and all the different spaces.
The bar
In all Ace hotels there is an in-house coffee bar. Here in Athens it is run by Good Chemistry.
This is my favorite photo from our stay at Ace. Full of Summer vibes.
Tables are set at in-house restaurant, Sebastian.
Having dinner at the hotel restaurant. The burger is a hit.
Five min from the hotel there is a tram stop so it is easy to zoom into town. We stopped for lunch at Wild Souls in Plaka area.
There are some really great coffee places in Athens. This is Neropistolo.
And another favorite coffee spot is hole-in-a-wall A tot.
Walked by Starlight Burgers so we had to go in and try it…
…and we weren’t disappointed.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…you like hotels with a vibe. If you appreciate the combo of well-designed but quirky spaces with club energy. An urban hotel with a coastal feel. If this all fits your wish list, you ware going to enjoy staying at Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the coffee. Ace Hotels always have a great on-site coffee bar. Here it is called Good Chemistry and they serve some excellent coffee.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to take the tram into town (Ace is located just south of the center). The area of Plaka, is a great area for food, drinks and coffee. See some of our favorites among the photos above.
If you like this hotel you might also like:
Ace Hotel / Kyoto, Japan
Shoreditch House / London, UK
Regina Experimental / Biarritz, France
Silver Lake Pool & Inn / LA, CA, USA
