“ACE Hotel”: Design Excellence and Relaxation on the Athens Riviera

A Creative Tribute to Heritage and Design Excellence on the Athenian Riviera

On a sunny Saturday morning, in the heart of Glyfada, leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and immerse yourself in the charm of the Ace Hotel. A weekend in the heart of the Athens Riviera, dedicated to design excellence and relaxation could be the title of this experience.

Surrounded by the legends of a bygone era, when the Athens Riviera was an enviable holiday destination for Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Onassis and many other celebrities, we surrender to the natural beauty of the area and the charm of the region. The bohemian liberation of the 60’s and 70’s may be over, but its traces follow us and continue to fascinate us.

Ace Hotel has 120 rooms and its design is influenced by Greek modernism, naturalism and the charm of 1970s seaside resorts. Something that is immediately apparent even before you enter the space. Combining structural and aesthetic elements from two different architectural movements, Brutalist aesthetics and Japanese Metabolism, the dynamic image of the façade exudes an air of renewal on solid foundations that resist time.

“I stayed at the hotel before it became the Ace Hotel ten years ago, on my return from Syros, as part of my holiday in Greece. At the time, the hotel evoked the clichéd charm of the 1960s Riviera, but also the nostalgia of an even older time, when summer seemed endlessly distant.

It was a place where each room stood alone, with its own story, and yet all shared the same view: the sea, the horizon, the landscape. This landscape was like a huge swimming pool, while the window of the room was like a diving board for the imagination. It was like a living mural, a tribute to David Hockney. I dreamed of immersing myself in his paintings, of merging the sea and art,” writes Claire Manent, who designed the mural that welcomes you to the hotel, for her stay at the Ace ten years ago, when the hotel had not yet been transformed into the Ace.

Ace today, with its particular aesthetic, seems to carry on this tradition of paying tribute to art and timelessness. The mural that Claire describes may be a tribute not only to Hockney, but also to all those who have passed through, leaving a small piece of their own history in the space.

A second large-scale mural is on the front of the building’s swimming pool. The work of Panos Profitis is striking with its images of birds in flight. A favourite motif, that of birds, is repeated in other objects by the artist, such as the wall sconces inspired by Greek and Roman mythology.

From the moment you walk through the hotel door, you are greeted by a space that straddles the line between austerity and luxury. “Welcome!” says the lobby, and smiling staff welcome you to a welcoming environment full of natural materials. Wood, stone and minimalist furniture in earth tones give the impression that the environment has respected nature as much as man. The simplest of everyday objects are not randomly placed around the room. Artistic compositions from a caring curatorial eye.

Designed by French architecture and interior design firm ciguë, inspired by Greek architect Aris Konstantinidis, renowned for his post-war modern designs and the colours of the Mediterranean palette, the hotel is the epitome of design, both inside and out.

Personalised furniture and lighting by ciguë, iconic design pieces from the 60s and 70s selected by Back To The Future, works of art adorn the hotel’s public and private spaces. An ode to aesthetics, a place that invites you to stop time and savour every moment.

The room numbers embroidered on the outside of the door give a hint of the interior. The attention to detail – from the finishes of the doors to the decor of the room, from the colours to the textures of the fabrics – creates a harmonious retreat that you won’t want to leave.

The soft bathrobe on the wall will become one of your favourites, as will the blankets, all designed by Salma Barakat. You’ll want to get your hands on them, and you can, along with many other wonderful products from Greek brands in the lobby shop, including traditional local herbs and spices from Daphnis & Chloe, jewellery from Vasiliki, clothing from METHEN and beach towels from the Alekos Fasianos Museum. The entire collection is another indication of the art and design that the space represents.

Wine and a cool salad at Sebastian, the ground-floor bistro serving seasonal French and American dishes by renowned Athens chef Elvi Dimitris Zyba, who is also the hotel’s executive chef.

Featuring a carefully curated wine list by the Wine Is Fine team, Sebastian offers dishes that combine modern Greek cuisine with international flavours, all served on ceramics reminiscent of handmade creations.

Next to Sebastian and the lobby, the heart of the Ace Hotel in Glyfada beats in the Swim Club. In a few weeks it will be a unique setting, especially on sunny days. The Swim Club welcomes everyone, friends of the neighbourhood and non-resident guests. A rooftop pool restaurant – the hotel’s latest culinary highlight – is expected to open in spring 2025.

The rest of the day can be spent making small talk with the many interesting people you will meet around you from all over the world, in your books and in the magazines that abound in the lobby, a suggestion curated by the Hyper Hypo bookshop.

Enjoy a coffee at Good Chemistry, which opens early every day in a space that exudes the unpretentious charm of boho style – a combination of natural materials, colourful patterns and objects that tell stories.

The environment is warm and welcoming, full of inspiration from different cultures, while remaining connected to the Greek identity. A place that takes you on a journey without straying from groundedness and authenticity, avoiding seriousness and pretension, but full of life and character.

The ACE Hotel in Glyfada is a fresh, creative look at how a hotel in Athens can honour its heritage, showcase its Greek identity and connect with the world, with naturalness and a sense of authenticity, far from excess.