O&B stands for 'ochre and brown', which is, as a colour pairing, may sound a little, well, boring. But at this smart Athens hotel they are partnered with true flair, and set off by a colourful location on the edge of the Plaka's flea market district. From a rather unassuming side-street entrance, you enter a calm, low-lit lobby dotted with striped chairs, colourful pouffes and a welcoming vase of tiger lilies at reception. To the back is the sky-lit bar and restaurant; a petite lift takes you up to the 22 rooms and suites. Silvery-gold curtains part to views of the Observatory, and brown lacquered headboards grace the double beds.
A short stroll through funky flea markets and busy bistros and you're at the base of the Acropolis and the Parthenon; O&B’s friendly staff will be happy to guide you to other sights. Don’t be deterred by the unglam aspect of the Psiri neighbourhood - this is a real hip area, and it’s charming if not spic and span. And you’re coming home to a beacon of clean and cool. Expect a glass of champagne and fresh fruit to be waiting.
Highs
- Small, stylish hotel near the must-see sights of Athensn in a boho neighbourhood
- Brilliant staff - courteous, warm and friendly
- Overflowing breakfasts, fresh to order
- Compact but well-designed rooms
- Nice technical touches like Wi-Fi in every room and private telephone number with voicemail
Lows
- The rooms look a bit bland and could do with some splashes of colour
- The surrounding area may appear a little run-down, but this is a true Greek neighbourhood and there are some excellent local restaurants and bars nearby
- Some rooms have no view at all and look onto the street or side alley
Best time to go
Whenever work or pleasure brings you to Athens: it is open all year and prices remain constant. If you’re still at the planning stage, consider visiting Athens over a Greek holiday such as Orthodox Easter, Whitsun (7 weeks later) or ‘Clean Monday’ (7 weeks earlier), when the city empties but major sites and museums remain open. Carnival time (Feb-March) is also quite fun. It can be stiflingly hot from mid June to early September, but the roads are quieter in August when Athenians flock to the coast.
Our top tips
Psiri is an odd neighbourhood: a ramshackle labyrinth of type-setters and leather workers, it was suddenly anointed the new hotspot of Athenian cool. It's still not sure what it is. But the live music and no-frills ouzeries are decidedly hip hangouts.
- Boutique Hotel
- 22 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
The rooms have been redecorated since our last visit and - regrettably, we felt - have lost their splashes of colour. But what they lack in colour, they make up in elegance. Expect sleek gold, silver and bronze touches, supreme comfort and some welcome calm away from Athens’ busy streets.
The Standard Rooms and Superior Rooms may face the street but they are sizeable with plenty of closet space and large, comfy double beds with down quilts and 300-count Egyptian cotton sheets. The Thissio Deluxe Rooms are actually smaller than the superiors but they have Juliette balconies and views to the domed Observatory in the hills of Thissio. Also with this view is the larger Grand Superior Room, which also features a private terrace. Unbeaten for views however, are the Acropolis Petite, Junior and Grande Suites, which as the name suggests, overlook Athens’ icon, the Acropolis.
Bathrooms are big with spacious shower stalls (no baths) and a generous helping of Molton Brown toiletries; bathrobes and slippers await when you step out from the steam. All the high-tech boxes are ticked: flat-screen plasma TV with cable and satellite reception, CD and DVD players, private phone line with personal voicemail and high speed WiFi.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
Make your way down to the restaurant in the morning and it won’t be long before you find a creamy cappuccino in front of you. Then it’s a breakfast of fresh-squeezed orange juice, yogurt with honey and fruit, choice of eggs (try scrambled with cheese) and fresh baked bread, hash browns, pastries, whatever you want, all served with a smile to your table.
Staff will be happy to direct you to local restaurants for lunch - or just wander along the cobblestone car-free streets between the Thissio and Monastiraki metro stops and choose any of the open-air eateries. They’re a tad touristy but pretty reliable for typical and inexpensive meze dishes like taramosalata or skewered grilled meats (souvlaki).
For more upmarket fare, head back to the hotel's restaurant O&B Athens All Day Bar Restaurant - the dinner menu has delicious starters like mushroom saganaki using traditional white cheese from Limnos and various fresh fish and risottos for main dishes. There is also a first-rate selection of both Greek and French wines.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Nightlife
- Shopping / markets
Kids
Children of all ages are welcome - and there is a cot available free of charge - but it's really more of a boutique couples' place.
Family friendly accommodation:
Cots Available
Baby equipment:
Baby cots available on request
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Ochre and Brown is in the Psiri district of central Athens, very near Thissio metro station.
By Air:
There are various flights to Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport (20km away) from London and other European capitals, plus major North American and Asian hubs - click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport:
The taxi ride to the hotel takes anything from 20 minutes at night to 60 minutes during rush hour (it's a 35km journey by road due to intervening hills). You can also get a metro to Thissio (40-60 minutes, change at Monastiraki) - a 2-minute walk from the hotel. Alternatively, buses X93 and X95 go directly from the airport to Syntagma Square, from where you can take the metro or get a cab to the hotel.
By Car:
It's quite hectic in central Athens, but if you want to hire a car to explore the region see our car rental recommendations.
Getting Around
The hotel's central location means you can walk to many of Athens' main sights. The metro is clean and efficient with regular trains, and there's also a tram network around the city.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Greece and getting around.
Airports:
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos 20.0 km ATH
Other:
- Beach 35.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 1.0 km