Conrad Athens The Ilisian opens, many May rates starting at about $650 a night
The reimagined property, which debuted in 1963, is the talk of the town
Hilton announced the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, "marking the rebirth of one of Athens’ most emblematic landmarks.” Formerly the Hilton Athens, the property has undergone a significant transformation to emerge as a “contemporary urban resort in the cultural heart of Athens.”
We’re not huge Hilton fans — not when Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta rakes in north of $36 million a year while keeping room rates at hotels across the brand out of reach of most Americans — but the opening of this particular hotel is big news for Athens. More from the press release, and we quote:
Marking the brand’s debut in Greece, Conrad Athens The Ilisian brings Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ signature blend of bold design, contemporary luxury and immersive connection to place to one of Europe’s most culturally resonant capitals. The hotel’s 278 guestrooms and suites are among the most spacious in the city and sit at the heart of The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination that unites a vibrant line-up of restaurants and bars, a resort-style wellness offering anchored by Athens’ largest outdoor pool landscape, private residences and the House of NYNN private members’ club.
An Athenian Landmark Reimagined
Instantly recognizable to generations of Athenians, Conrad Athens The Ilisian carries forward the spirit of a building deeply woven into the city’s social and cultural fabric. The hotel evokes the feeling of an open-air gallery, with the original one-of-a-kind 620-square-meter sculpted marble façades by Greek artist Yannis Moralis, a modernist sculptural tribute to classical mythology. By night, Emmy award-winning lighting designer Eleftheria Deko, brings thefaçade to life, inviting guests to gather for a local aperitif as the installation come to life.
The project was led by Athens based AETER Architects. Inside, spaces designed by AvroKO revive the optimism of Athens’ modernist era, pairing preserved mid-century elements with newly commissioned artworks and bespoke pieces by historic Athenian atelier Saridis and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki. Overseeing the art programme — and shaping the lobby alongsideAvroKO — is Mare Studio, the hotel’s art consultant and curator. The guestrooms and suites frame some of the city’s best views including Acropolis views, with the majority featuring private balconies. The hotel offers Athens’ largest suite collection, including three Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite and, launching later this year, the Omega Penthouse, complete with a private pooland panoramic vistas across the Acropolis and the Saronic Gulf.
A New Culinary Address
Guests of Conrad Athens The Ilisian are surrounded by a vibrant culinary landscape, with nine distinct dining concepts, from the hotel’s own restaurants and bars to signature venues across the destination, shaping the rhythm of the day and drawing Athenians and global travellers together from morning to night.
At its heart is Byzantino, reborn as Athens’ first Grande Brasserie, where French and Greek classics are presented side by side in true brasserie character. Executive chef Angelos Lantos, the first Greek chef to earn two Michelin stars in Athens, leads the culinary direction across the hotel, with Byzantino as his flagship. The experience is completed by a cheese master, curated wine pairings, and a dedicated Chocolaterie & Patisserie housed within the restaurant itself. The same spirit carries into the Athenian Lounge, a natural meeting point where classic cocktails and dishes set the tone throughout the day.
Later this year, the legendary Galaxy will return as Galaxy Dispensary and Galaxy Supper Club, reclaiming its place as one of Athens’ most iconic rooftop destinations. They will be joined by a further line-up of globally celebrated restaurant brands making their Athens debut at The Ilisian, alongside Japanese restaurant Onuki opened in 2025, designed by studio Yabu Pushelberg.
Wellness Designed for Modern Life
Conceived as a performance-led wellbeing destination, The Ilisian’s wellness offering blends recovery, movement and lifestyle. The experience unfolds across the Oasis, Athens’ largest outdoor pool, along with an Italian poolside restaurant, and the Green Roof on the pedestal where panoramic city views frame a 770-meter long private outdoor running track loop, an outdoor gym and a pickleball court.
Indoors, guests will enjoy access to a wellness zone featuring a specialist gym, dedicated studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic and spinning, a heated pool, and heat & cold therapy facilities. From May, the Odei Wellness Residence will introduce a curated menu of face and body treatments inspired by the rituals of ancient Greece, while later in the year, renowned practitioner Dr Costas Papageorgiou will bring his expertise to Athens for the first time, expanding the offering with longevity focused treatments, guiding The Ilisian’s holistic approach to well-being.
Experiences with Impact: Athens Beyond the Expected
Conrad Athens The Ilisian invites guests to experience Athens through curated, insider-led perspectives. The hotel’s signature Conrad 1/3/5 experiences offer travellers meaningful ways to engage with Athens at their own pace. From goldenhour aperitivos overlooking the Acropolis, to architectural walks that reframe ancient landmarks through a contemporary lens, the three-and five-hour experiences go deeper into the city’s culinary and creative scenes. Each experience is tailored to personal interests, making discovery feel effortless, intuitive, and distinctly local.
“Greece is one of Hilton’s fastest‑growing markets in Europe, driven by record visitor demand and a growing focus on high‑quality, year‑round tourism,” said Simon Vincent, CBE, president,
Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “With our portfolio in Greece growing from just a handful of hotels a few years ago to more than fifty today, and more in the pipeline, the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian underscores our long‑term commitment to Athens and to Greece as a leading global tourism destination.”
“Athens is one of those rare cities where history, creativity and contemporary living exist in conversation with one another,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and global category head, Hilton Luxury Brands. “For Conrad, that makes it a deeply compelling place to be. Conrad Athens The Ilisian has reawakened a landmark in a way that respects its past while feeling entirely in tune with the city Athens has become.”
Nassos Papazoglou, General Manager, Conrad Athens The Ilisian, added, “The Hilton Athens opened on this date back in 1963, and for decades played a defining role in Athens’ cultural and social life. Our vision has been to honour that legacy while creating a hotel that feels open, dynamic, and deeply connected to the city today. From the way guests move through the spaces, to how they dine, unwind, and explore Athens, every detail has been designed to offer a genuine sense of belonging.”
Conrad Athens The Ilisian joins a global portfolio of 50 Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ properties and marks the debut of the brand in Greece. This year marks an exciting moment for Hilton’s Luxury Brands which arrived in the market with major momentum, with the opening of Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts earlier this month and Conrad Corfu later in the year.
The hotel is located at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athens, 11528, Greece. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel’s website or the Hilton Honors mobile app. Read more about Conrad Hotels & Resorts at Stories.Hilton.com.
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Extra, extra!
Conrad Athens The Ilisian is housed in one of the most important structures of post-war modernist architecture in Greece, combining international hotel design with strong references to Greek materials and artistic tradition. The original architects credited with the design of the building are Emmanuel (Manolis) Vourekas, Prokopis Vassiliadis, Antonis (Anthony) Georgiades and Spyros Staikos.
We reviewed the oddly-named House of Nynn previously.
Room rates are high.
For real authentic Athenian “big hotel” flavor without a lot of bells and whistles (or Japanese restaurants) we still prefer the Divani Caravel.
