Hotel Grande Bretagne

The Hotel Grande Bretagne is a bit of a departure for a Greek luxury hotel: rather than some sprawling compound out on a rock by the Aegean, this one is a Victorian mansion right in the bustling heart of Athens. Yes, you read that right — the meticulously restored facade is all Victorian, and wouldn't look out of place alongside some of London's classic hotels.

Perhaps that's why Winston Churchill was a fan, back in the original glory days of the Grande Bretagne. We say glory days because this grand old hotel allowed itself to fade a bit in the later decades of the last century — but after a two-year, obscenely expensive renovation, it is back in fighting form. The decor isn't so different, merely better; every oil painting, every piece of antique furniture restored to its original 1842 spendor. The rooms are palatial, elegant, yet tastefully pared down to avoid antique overload. Some have balconies overlooking no less a landmark than the Acropolis — obviously these are the ones to have.

Of course if you're not blessed with the finest view from your room, you can always have a look from the rooftop restaurant, with a panoramic view of all of Athens. And that deep Aegean blue that's lacking from the city setting is present in the spa, with a pool so blue (we know it sounds crazy) that you will swear you're alone in the sea. Service is absolutely top quality, the surroundings are impossibly plush, and the location is perfect, convenient to any number of downtown Athens destinations — it's hard to imagine a finer city hotel.