Glyfada, also known as the Athenian Riviera, was the vacation spot of choice in the 1970s for Hollywood stars and politicians. The creatively driven Ace Hotel group has chosen this very location to open their new property, on the site where the iconic Fenix Hotel once stood—an establishment that thrived during that golden era. “It could be described as a bridge project connecting three cities (Athens, Glyfada, and the future Ellinikon—the new urban development rising on the former airport grounds) and three different eras (modernism, the 1970s, and Athens’ contemporary art scene),” explains Alphonse Sarthout, co-founder of ciguë, the studio that handled the renovation and interior design in collaboration with Atelier Ace. Indeed, wandering through the hotel’s bright, airy spaces feels like connecting the dots between a multitude of aesthetic and cultural references. You’re tempted to lean in and examine every detail—who created that installation, who made the rug, who designed that chair and when, who embroidered the linen sheet? Art is everywhere, even on the hotel’s façade, where a mural by artist Claire Manent sets the tone. Inside, sculptures, paintings, prints by local artists, and a lively lineup of exhibitions add to the creative atmosphere. The value of Ace Athens isn’t reserved solely for tourists—the hotel was conceived as a gathering spot and source of inspiration for the neighborhood’s residents as well. The Swim Club is open to all, as are the cultural and musical events. Athens is just a twenty-minute Uber ride away—but you might just forget that.

Words Meraviglia Paper. Pictures De Pasquale + Maffini