ERGON House Athens

Some of the most successful hotels are hotels almost incidentally. Ergon House is first and foremost a multi-pronged food market, featuring a butcher, a fishmonger, a baker, a grocer, and a restaurant, all under the same Ergon Foods banner that’s been exporting upmarket Greek flavors all across Europe for a decade. It just so happens that above this “modern-day Agora” is a 38-room boutique hotel — and the hotel, it turns out, is no afterthought, but a fully realized holistic hospitality experience, one that takes service and comfort as seriously as it takes its cuisine.

The interior style is unique, sharing some aesthetic and functional similarities with traditional Japanese hotels, though the resemblance is coincidental — they’re inspired by the building traditions of Pelion, to which the Ergon House’s proprietors trace their roots. Modern must-haves like espresso makers and Bluetooth speakers complement the timeless aesthetics, and some rooms have views of the Parthenon. It’s a surprisingly quiet place, given the bustle of activity downstairs in the market hall — and needless to say it’s a real luxury having easy access to such a wealth of fine Greek food just an elevator ride from your room.