Gatsby, Athens, Greece

Gatsby, Athens, Greece

Elegant yet rakish, small yet perfectly formed, new boutique Gatsby Athens charms with its good looks, sense of humour and devilishly indulgent food and drink offering.



F
Scott Fitzgerald would surely raise his coupe of Laurent
Perrier Grand Siecle to this 2021-opened Athenian homage to The
Great Gatsby, the novelist’s 1925-published depiction of the
flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age. Outside, clouds of verdant
foliage cascade from Juliet balconies across the creamy-white,
six-storey former police building, while, at pavement level,
canary-yellow taxis drop off and pick up people who look like they
belong in a Kooples ad. On entering, beyond the initial wow-factor
of the flower-bedecked lobby, guests will discover that the
management has ruthlessly done away with floor numbers – a first
indication of an ethos of playfulness that runs through the veins
of this glossy-yet-approachable design-driven stay. Having enjoyed
a warm, welcoming and super-speedy check-in, we wrap our fingers
tightly around our pastel-pink key card – “Hello stranger” – leap
for the lift, and press “L”, for “Lavish”.

Exploring the compact, 33-key boutique stay won’t
take long, but this centrally located, Lekka Street address packs a
big punch, considering its diminutive size. A not insignificant
asset is the residents-only rooftop terrace, Cloud 9: think
hypnotic flickering flames from the fire, fluffy pillows upon which
to rest your head as you gaze up at the stars, an open-air film
screening room and a sublime drinks list. We suggest ordering a
fruity cocktail and gazing out towards the silhouette of the
Acropolis while adopting the unreadable expression of a
Machiavellian 1920s playboy.


In-hotel dining can sometimes feel like settling, but not here,
where, at Gatsby Restaurant, a Mediterranean-leaning menu of bistro
classics and fresh Greek specialities deserves to be lingered over.
On our visit, a nuanced beetroot, walnut and Gorgonzola soup was as
gorgeous to look at as it was delicious, as was a towering
Portobello mushroom-based extravagance of a starter, while the
cheeseburger was a juicy crowd-pleaser, the handmade potato chips
with Parmesan sprinkles, simply amazing, and the feta-, olive- and
caper-scattered salad a masterclass in its genre. Desserts are
epic. White chocolate panna cotta on a chocolate crumb strewn with
candy-sweet strawberries and edible flowers, anyone?

Throw in a basement wellness area (press “B”, for “Balboa”),
with its own boxing ring (because, as the hotel’s website puts it
“bruises are hot in a kinky way”), and the fact that you’re within
600m of Monastiraki Square and the dazzling vintage stores of
Psiri, and this might just be the Athens go-to you’ve been looking
for all your life. Whether you’re in the Greek capital for
business, pleasure, or a bit of both, just don’t be surprised if,
on checking out, you find yourself taking one, last look at the
lobby’s floral froth, clock one last “ting” of the lift going down,
the happy purr of voices from the bar, and realise that having to
leave this rabbit hole of aesthetic zen is something of a tragedy
in itself. As Fitzgerald’s Nick Carraway would put it: “Angry, and
half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away.”

Rooms

Art deco flourishes add substance to pale, sleek guest rooms
equipped with cutting-edge technology. (Goodbye, having to get out
of bed to let room service in – there’s a button for that!). We
love the baby-pink velvet headboards, golden wardrobes and swish,
fight-ready cotton robes, the thoughtfully curated drawer full of
munchies, well-stocked minibar (particularly the tub of Caprice
choco-praline wafer cigars), balcony and rosy-hued, harlequin-tiled
bathrooms complete with beautifully packaged Ortigia products.
Water babies should book a Cool Corner Suite, for an ultra-glam
freestanding tub. Want more, more, more? Secure the Gatsby Suite,
and conduct your affairs from the comfort of your own outdoor
Jacuzzi.

A shower in a suite at Gatsby Athens, Greece
Toiletries in the bathroom at Gatsby Athens, Greece

What’s for breakfast?

An à la carte menu promising everything your hungry heart could
desire, from Nutella-swirled pancakes and house-made granola to
eggs every way, smoked salmon and grilled meats – all delicious,
and all served until noon. So civilised.

How about lunch and dinner?

Restaurant Gatsby excels at convivial all-day dining. Turn up in
jeans or an awards ceremony-worthy dress: either way, you’ll be
well looked after, fed and watered. On warmer nights, decamp to the
streetside patio.

Cocktails on offer at Gatsby Athens, Greece
The bar area at Gatsby Athens

Amenities

While there’s no spa, the hotel does have a treatment room, gym,
boxing ring and personal trainer, Tina – available on request.
Bedrooms have A/C, a smart TV, minibar, free bottled water, Amazon
Alexa speaker, Nespresso coffee machine and Ortigia bath products.
WiFi is strong and fast throughout.

How about their green credentials?

The property’s restoration was led by acclaimed Greek architects
WOA, to complement the heritage of the neighbourhood, and with a
design that is simple, elegant and eco-friendly. Much of the Gatsby
Restaurant menu is made with produce sourced from a select handful
of small, local suppliers, and the now-usual “we’ll only do your
laundry if you ask” policy is in place.

What about accessibility?

The communal areas are accessible for wheelchair users and
there’s a lift to all floors. Some of the Juliet Petit rooms have
been adapted.

Things I should know

Sudden party invite? Babysitting can be arranged with at least
four hours’ notice (from around £10 an hour).

Within a short walk I can find…

Everything. Pick up rare 1970s slacks and blouses, butter-soft
Eighties leather skirts and an entire stable’s-worth of suede and
fringed denim at Kilo Shop, No.120 Ermou Street. Later, drink in some
world-class mixology at Mario Basso’s understated Voulis Street
nightspot, Barreldier, where barrel-aged spirits meet
bartending at its best, all to a killer soundtrack, then end the
night dancing (in 1970s vintage) to an intimate set by legendary DJ
Christo Z at cocktail bar The Blind Beggar.

The Lowdown

Doubles cost from £150 per night on a B&B
basis.

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