Conveniently located in the middle of historic Athens, across the street from the Temple of Zeus
Rooftop Ioannis restaurant and bar overlooks the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis
Outdoor pool surrounded by greenery and loungers
Lounge bar and pool bar
24-hour room service
Spa treatments available through local partnership
Free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the property
Fitness center with an array of machines and free weights
Business center with computer stations and 18 meeting rooms, some with views of the ruins
Library off the lobby, with views
Executive and Deluxe rooms are dark
No tea- or coffee-making facilities in the rooms
The 264-room Royal Olympic Hotel is a classically designed luxury hotel set amid Athens' historic treasures. Across the street from the Temple of Zeus and a 12-minute walk to the Acropolis, the hotel is at the center of historic Athens. The entire property is decorated grandly -- with lots of bronze details, Greek art and mosaics, and blue-carpeted hallways -- but the Executive and Deluxe Rooms could use a little more space and light. The hotel has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a rooftop garden restaurant and bar, and free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the property. An on-site Wellness Center is in the works, but has not opened as of December 2016. Right now guests can book spa treatments through a local partnership.
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Scene
Family-run, large and regal
The Royal Olympic has a regal sense of style. A spacious, bright lobby is adorned with gold-framed artwork, much of it classically inspired, and mosaics. The crest-like pattern of the green and gold couches make them look noble and impressive. Hallways and staircases are bright, shining spaces of blue and gold and bronze detailing in the railings. The reception desk is a long oak counter with a centerpiece that undulates out, mimicking the seascape in the painting behind it. Off the lobby is a large library, where guests can peruse the hotel's book collection or relax with drinks in its gold couches or chairs, or observe the city outside its many windows. The lobby lounge bar overlooks the pool, which also has bar. The two drinking holes have entirely different aesthetics; While the pool bar has wicker chairs and is more low-key, the lounge bar exudes the vibe of a smoking club, with deep, green leather button chairs and a line of gold-framed pictures along the back wall.
Location
Across the street from the Temple of Zeus
Set in the midst of the historic center, the Royal Olympic is convenient for tourists looking to take in the sights, and have several dining spots nearby. The hotel sits across from the historic Temple of Zeus and the National Garden, and from its upper floors and rooftop bar and restaurant offers views of Hadrian's Gate, the Marble Stadium, and the Acropolis, which is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel -- Kallimarmaro Stadium is about a 10-minute walk in the other direction. The Plaka, great for shopping, is also within a 10-minute walk.
Rooms
Could be larger, but they're well decorated in a traditionally elegant style
The Royal Olympic Hotel has 264 rooms spread across three buildings. Executive Rooms and Deluxe Rooms differ little In size, but they could use a bit more lighting. Executive Rooms, decorated in yellow-gold and blond wood, feel comparatively brighter but less regal. Majestic Deluxe Rooms, whose blue and gold decor includes three-scoop blue valences and gold curtains, exude royalty but seem to absorb more light than they reflect. Athenian Panorama Rooms are much bigger and brighter, with more gold than blue and large windows that look out on the historic sights nearby. These rooms come with seating areas and bathrooms with separate tubs. Two-room Suites are large and have the same majestic blue-and-gold color scheme but also have curving moldings, circular bed curtains, and porthole mirrors that give the impression of first-class ship quarters. All rooms come with free high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars, but do not have coffeemakers. Bathrooms include basic toiletries.
Features
Outdoor pool, Ioannis restaurant, three bars, fitness center, spa treatments, and library
The hotel has a gym with an array of cardio- and weight-training equipment, and an on-site Wellness Center is in the works; for now, guests can book spa treatments at the hotel through a partnership with a local business. The Royal Olympic also has an outdoor pool with a bar. Set inside the triangle of the hotel's three buildings, the pool feels surprisingly secluded for the busyness of the street on the other side. The hotel's restaurant, Ioannis, serves a buffet breakfast (which is included in some room packages) and a la carte lunch and dinner. The restaurant and attached bar, on the Royal Olympic's top floor, and offer stunning views of the city at any time of day. In a location that's ideal for tourists, the hotel also has a business center and an extensive array of meeting rooms, some with exceptional views, which could make the Royal Olympic a good choice for business travelers too.
