The Excelsior

When they say “hidden in plain sight,” this is what they mean. Right in the busy heart of the city center, just a block from Thessaloniki’s scenic waterfront, the Excelsior is a bit of a surprise. The classic facade gives little hint of the sort of hotel that awaits inside — this is a luxury boutique in the contemporary mold, a hotel whose urbane, understated modern design belies Thessaloniki’s history-first reputation.

The classic rooms have been re-outfitted in a modern style, sunny and light-filled, the original full-length windows and pocket-sized balconies remaining alongside hardwood floors and a minimal color palette, all furnished with contemporary designer pieces and artworks by local artists, and the Excelsior Suites are not just bigger but also more stylish than the rest. There’s a distinct buzz to the city outside; light sleepers might wish to book a courtyard-facing room, or make strategic use of the iPod-ready Tivoli radios.

And if you detect a certain pan-European influence, you’re not imagining it. The Excelsior’s restaurant serves a fusion of French cuisine highlighting Greek ingredients, a mellow lounge occupies the mezzanine level, and the roof garden, probably the hotel’s most surprising space, provides a panoramic view of the city.

How to get there: The Excelsior Hotel is 10 miles (15km) from Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport (approximately 35-50 minutes by taxi depending on traffic). Thessaloniki train station is 1.2 miles (2km) from the hotel.