Tucked into the beating heart of Athens, with a perfect view of the Acropolis and mere steps from Greece’s former royal palace, stands the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
It’s a noble name with a reputation to match, attracting powerful leaders and royals from all over the world, including British kings (Charles III) and American queens (Lady Gaga).
Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Marriott property, is not only the oldest hotel in the city that birthed democracy, but it’s also the most famous. So when I planned a trip to Greece, I knew I had to stay there.
Could the 5-star hotel live up to its royal reputation?
The Hotel Grande Bretagne has always had a prime spot in the capital city.
The Grande Bretagne sits in Syntagma Square, which was renamed in 1843 to commemorate the first constitution granted to the Greek people (“Syntagma” means “constitution” in Greek).
Many hotel rooms have views of the Greek Parliament, allowing guests to watch the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony from their balconies. Also across the street is the National Garden — a lush escape with flowers, ponds, and even some ancient ruins.
Additional tourist attractions — including the Monastiraki flea market and Acropolis museum — are within walking distance from the Grande Bretagne, and a metro station is just around the corner.
I was immediately impressed with the towering columns and ornate touches in the opulent lobby.
Men in forest-green jackets with gold buttons and matching hats opened the front door, inviting me into a lobby already bustling with energy on a Sunday morning.
A cornucopia of patterns, including the iconic meander motif that borders so much ancient Greek architecture, covered the marble floors. Heavy gold mirrors hung from the walls, adding to the regal atmosphere.
I admired the marble and gold accents as I checked in.
“You’re Greek!” a woman at the front desk happily exclaimed after looking at my passport. She then sent me up to the sixth floor so I could see how the VIP check-in differed.
A receptionist delivered a heavy flute of Champagne and apologized that my room wasn’t ready, revealing that the hotel — which has 259 guest rooms and 61 suites — was “fully booked, again.”
She noted that guests staying in the hotel’s suites have access to a 24-hour butler service, which includes a WhatsApp number you can text to book reservations or ask for recommendations.
I decided to head to the pool while I waited for my room, sharing an elevator with a British couple and their teenage son.
“How’s the Champagne?” the man asked his wife.
“Pretty good,” she replied. “Not as good as the one on the flight.”
For the record, I thought the Champagne was delicious.
The hotel’s outdoor pool overlooks Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in central Athens.
It’s a stunning sight, especially as you look out across the sea of hundreds of white-roofed apartment buildings.
The pool itself was packed, no surprise since I was there during the peak summer season. When I tried to sit on a daybed that appeared unclaimed, a staff member ran up to me and said it was reserved. In fact, all 16 daybeds were occupied.
He asked if I wanted to be added to a waitlist, but I opted to grab some lunch instead. When I went back to the pool right after breakfast the next day, there were plenty of open daybeds.
For lunch, I decided to try the Winter Garden restaurant in the hotel lobby.
With its elaborate stained-glass ceiling, high-tea offering, and classical music playing in the background, the atmosphere felt more like a British palace than a Grecian resort.
The menu similarly leaned on dishes you could find in any European or American hotel: Caesar salad, burgers, lobster rolls, carbonara pasta, and avocado toast.
It was a bit of a mishmash, but I spotted a few Greek classics to order.
I opted for the Greek salad and avgolemono soup.
My parents immigrated to the US from Greece in the 1980s and cooked dishes like avgolemono soup and Greek salad (also known as horiatiki) weekly. I’m a tough critic when it comes to both, but I also find them deeply nostalgic.
The Greek salad at Winter Garden was solid, albeit unmemorable. It didn’t compare to the fantastic version I had eaten at Ella — a nearby Athens restaurant — a few nights prior, or to the best I’ve ever had (my mother’s, obviously).
My father’s avgolemono soup also reigned supreme, though I did enjoy this version’s lovely, light broth and tender chicken.
The presentation for both dishes was also sloppier than I’d expect at a luxury hotel. I’m currently taking a monthslong cooking course, and my teacher won’t even let us serve our classmates’ dishes without wiping the plates. When you’re operating at a 5-star level, these small details make all the difference.
When I reached out to the hotel for comment regarding the presentation of Winter Garden’s food, a spokesperson apologized that it wasn’t as “refined as it should have been.”
My room was ready by the time lunch was finished.
The Grande Bretagne offers a variety of rooms and suites, some with views of the Acropolis. Room rates start at $641 per night, while suites start at $985.
Business Insider received a media rate for two nights.
My suite opened into the living room, which featured a small couch, a desk, a large window, and a balcony with a view of the Greek Parliament.
Heavy drapes, a chandelier, and the patterned rug added to the palatial feel, but the dependence on yellow and beige tones was a bit one-note.
Instead of being transportive, it made the room feel a little stuffy and old-fashioned. A few splashes of color would have made the space feel a tad more welcoming.
A spokesperson for Grande Bretagne said the hotel’s rooms “reflect a classic design inspired by the heritage and character of the hotel.”
The bedroom featured a plush king bed underneath a chandelier.
Illustrations and lamps flanked the bed, while a floor-to-ceiling window, framed by fringed drapes, provided natural light.
I sank into the deluxe bed and, with the help of its soft sheets, immediately surrendered to an afternoon nap.
The marble bathroom was huge, a rare find in a European hotel room.
The bathroom featured a separate shower and tub, along with double vanities. It was easily one of the most spacious showers I’d seen during my travels across Europe — always a huge plus.
That night, I headed upstairs to have dinner at the GB Roof Garden Restaurant & Bar.
Located on the eighth floor of the Grande Bretagne, the open-air restaurant features beautiful, uninterrupted views of the Acropolis and Parthenon.
The restaurant’s interior design is kept relatively simple and chic with comfy sand-colored chairs, wooden accents, and white marble columns.
It’s a smart choice — why try to compete with the most famous landmark in all of Greece?
Watching the sun set over the Acropolis was a moment I’ll never forget.
The Parthenon appeared to glow as it basked in the sun’s rays. The sight of it was so beautiful, I couldn’t help get emotional. And I wasn’t the only one.
“I don’t care what this meal costs,” I overheard a man softly tell his wife at the table next to me. “You can’t put a price on this.”
GB Roof Garden’s dishes were fresh, creative, and beautifully plated.
At the recommendation of my server, I kicked things off with the seafood trilogy — a carpaccio-style dish seasoned with chives and lime. The fish was oh-so-tender, and I loved the splashes of chili oil, which added some heat and artistic flair.
An appetizer of wild artichoke stuffed with pickled artichoke and anchovy was another standout. The dish was topped with a generous serving of caviar, roasted leaves for crunch, and a sauce made with additional leaves and infused with mint and cumin.
Unexpected and extremely memorable, it was fine dining at its best.
The breakfast buffet is also served at GB Roof Garden, offering fresh Greek pastries and beautiful morning views.
I have always had a deep love for hotel breakfast buffets, especially when they’re unafraid to stray from the classics.
GB Roof Garden embraces its roots with a plethora of sweet and savory phyllo-covered pies, including spanakopita (stuffed with spinach) and tiropitakia (stuffed with cheese). They both get my stamp of approval.
The strapatsada, a Greek dish of scrambled eggs with tomato and feta, was another highlight. The eggs were cooked to creamy and cheesy perfection, a rare find when they aren’t made-to-order.
I also really appreciated that the hotel’s breakfast opens at 6:30 a.m., allowing me to grab a hearty meal before my 14-hour flight back to Los Angeles. It turned out to be necessary, since I was flying with the budget airline Norse Atlantic.
Even if you can’t stay at the Grande Bretagne, the rooftop restaurant is a must-visit in Athens.
Grande Bretagne is a 5-star hotel with 5-star prices, but you can still experience some of its magic with a dinner or some drinks at the GB Roof Garden.
There are many places in Athens that advertise Acropolis views, but this was the best I saw during my week in the city.
Who knows, maybe you’ll cry too!
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