Checking in at Perianth Hotel * Athens

Perianth Hotel is a haven of modern design in the historic center of Athens; Acropolis view included!

Among hotel trotters news like this travels fast. A hotel with a twist that opens in our city is like a beacon. Mesmerised by the news, I found my way to Perianth, a hotel that opened in what is probably the most vibrant spot of the city centre, housed in a mid-war modern building next to a Byzantine-era square, a stone’s throw away the buzzing Monastiraki district.

The mere sight of the mid-war imposing building with the minimal entrance, designed by the country’s hottest design firm, K-Studio, was clear evidence that I was about to have a unique experience. The Agia Eirini square, where Perianth Hotel opened, is full of life all day long, bustling with those vibes that every traveler I know wishes to feel in order to understand the city. The cafés and bars have made the square the most popular spot for young Athenians the past years. It also constitutes a really iconic landmark of the city, with the church surrounded by neoclassical houses and block of flats. The typical Athenian architectural mix that is.

The moment you step across the threshold of Perianth Hotel, you are in a serene urban paradise. The frenetic pace of life dissipates as soon as you arrive. You have already escaped the crowds of the piazza and you can relax gazing at the waterfall behind the sleek reception while you are checking in.

The architectural identity of the hotel is very strong, inspired by the Athenian modernist movement that characterizes the 1930s-era buildings like the one of Perianth. What surprised me as an Athenian is the use of materials like the mosaic floor -often associated with the city’s less stylish past- in an utterly innovative way.

Needless to say, the view from the balconies are breathtaking. I could sit for hours looking down upon the district below and the people come and go or enjoy my evenings taking in the city’s distinctive skyline while sipping a cocktail.

5 things that also impressed me in Perianth Hotel

The name! Perianth, an inner part of the flower, derives from the Greek peri, meaning around, and anthos meaning flower.
The use of mosaic, this material that was widely used in Greece in the 60’s. It consists of hundreds random gravels, so you could never know or have the same result.
The corridors! Not the usual hotel ones but arty, minimal, playing with the light and the curvy forms. The shape of the building is quite unusual, nearly octagonal. The architects that undertook its renovation spent endless hours in the dusty floors observing the natural light and functionality of the building. They decided to leave intact its circular and linear elements and its trapezoid (rectangular) form and designed a new, exciting interior layout. As a result at Perianth, you won’t find your classic hotel corridor with rooms on each side.
The breakfast, served in the hotel restaurant on the ground floor with the signature of Il Barreto, one of the most famous Athenian italian eateries. Tip: Have an instagrammable breakfast time in your room balcony with a view of the city and the Acropolis!
Art is everywhere! The hotel gives its guests the opportunity to acquaint with the art scene in Greece today. Curated artworks by contemporary Greek artists are on proud display both in the rooms and the public spaces.