… where old and new Athens converge. Monastiraki, so named for the monastic compound that once dominated the area, is where the city’s layered history is most evident.
It is where ancient and contemporary Athens converge to give the district its unique character.
This is where Athens’ rich cosmopolitan history in the form of its Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques and synagogues, that have stood together for centuries under the gaze of the majestic Acropolis, unfolds.
The plethora of stores lining Athinas and Ermou streets is where you can hope to find just about everything reminiscent of the smells and colors of a souk.
Tradesmen once plied their trade and the elegant buildings on these iconic streets housed legendary hotels, banks and fabric merchants. Now, modern craftspeople are moving back in, producing leather sandals and quirky souvenirs, wicker chairs and tinware. Century-old buildings have been revitalized with extraordinary displays of street art.
Monastiraki is at its most enchanting, and liveliest, at night, when its daytime shops close and the trendy night-spots set their stools out on the narrow streets. The hotel overlooks several reminders of the city’s storied past, including the Greek Orthodox church of St. Dimitrios.
It is a vibrant neighborhood chock-a block with trendy bars, art galleries, vintage stores, thrift shops - all adding to its color and character. Each little lane here leads to new and exciting possibilities for shopping, eating out and nightlife. It is that intriguing, paradoxical mix that makes Athens so irresistibly seductive.
