Amalia Hotel Athens

The hotel's signature feature is its prime central location, directly across from the National Gardens and adjacent to Syntagma Square, offering unparalleled access to Athens' major attractions and public transport. Guests consistently highlight the excellent breakfast as a standout, often described as one of the best they've experienced. The attentive staff also receives high praise for their helpfulness and welcoming demeanor. A significant draw is the stunning rooftop bar and restaurant, which provides panoramic city views, including the Acropolis. This hotel is particularly well-suited for sightseers and business travelers due to its walkability and convenient transport links. Families and couples also find it appealing for exploring the city. To enhance your stay, consider requesting a room that does not face the main road for a quieter experience, and be aware of the hotel's policy regarding pre-authorization payments, as some guests have reported issues with holds being released promptly.

Facilities & Amenities
Guests appreciate the range of facilities available, particularly the popular rooftop bar and restaurant, "Whispers," which offers impressive 360-degree views of the city, including the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi that is generally praised for its reliability, ensuring guests can stay connected. Rooms are equipped with convenient amenities such as a mini-bar, a safe, and an electric hot water kettle for in-room beverages, along with coffee and tea sachets and milk sachets. Many rooms feature balconies, providing pleasant outdoor space and views. While a gym is available, some guests found it to be less than ideal. The air conditioning system receives mixed feedback, with some finding it effective and quiet, while others note it may not cool rooms sufficiently, especially when facing the sun. The hotel also offers an efficient laundry service, and guests should be aware that the elevators are quite small.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel generally maintains a high standard of cleanliness throughout its rooms. Most guests find the beds comfortable, ensuring a restful sleep, though some note the mattresses can be firm or that two single beds are pushed together. However, the room condition often receives mixed feedback, with many describing them as dated or old, and the carpeting frequently mentioned as needing replacement or being stained. While some rooms are spacious, others are considered quite small. Noise levels are a recurring concern; despite efforts to block street noise, many guests report significant disturbances from the main road, as well as internal noise from other guests, staff, and even elevator doors and slamming doors. The bathrooms are often described as small and dated, with a shower design that can lead to water spraying everywhere and plastic curtains that cling. Despite this, water pressure is generally strong. Some guests also note that the curtains are not fully opaque, allowing light to enter.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast at the hotel consistently receives outstanding praise from guests, often described as fantastic and among the best they have experienced. It offers an excellent variety of options, including a rich Greek-style buffet with fresh ingredients, pastries, eggs, and bacon. The fresh orange juice is particularly highlighted as delicious. While some guests noted occasional issues with replenishment or a slightly limited variety, the overall quality and selection are highly regarded. The rooftop restaurant, "Whispers," is a significant dining feature, offering stunning views of the Acropolis and the city. Most guests find the food delicious and describe it as an upscale approach to Greek cuisine, suitable for a fine dining experience. However, feedback on the restaurant's atmosphere and service is mixed; some found it nearly empty or were seated in less desirable spots despite available view tables, and a few considered the pricing to be expensive or even exorbitant for the value received. A pleasant lobby cafe is also available for lighter fare.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is overwhelmingly cited as its strongest asset, placing guests directly opposite the National Gardens and adjacent to Syntagma Square. This prime position offers exceptional walkability to many of Athens' most significant attractions, including the Acropolis, Plaka district, and various shopping and restaurant areas. Guests appreciate being able to reach landmarks like the Parliament building, Hadrian's Gate, and the Acropolis Museum on foot. The hotel also boasts excellent accessibility to public transportation; the Syntagma metro station is just a short walk away, and the airport bus service conveniently stops nearby. Hop-on-Hop-off bus stops are also located directly across the street, making sightseeing effortless. While the location is ideal for exploring, parking is a notable challenge; the hotel does not have its own parking area, and guests report difficulties finding suitable spots, with nearby options being expensive and information regarding hotel arrangements with parking lots often being inaccurate.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and attentiveness. Many guests highlight the warm and welcoming demeanor of the team, who are often described as going above and beyond to assist with various requests. The check-in process is generally reported as smooth and efficient, with some guests even receiving complimentary room upgrades. Staff are commended for their assistance with luggage, arranging taxis, and providing thoughtful services like breakfast boxes for early departures. The laundry service is also noted for its efficiency. However, there are some instances of mixed feedback; a few guests experienced slow check-out or felt that staff needed more training in certain areas. Isolated reports mention unresponsiveness regarding issues like pre-authorization holds or specific instances of less-than-ideal interactions with certain front desk or breakfast staff, though these appear to be exceptions to the generally positive service.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of potential issues with the hotel's handling of pre-authorization payments, as several reviews detail frustrating experiences where holds were not released promptly, leading to financial inconvenience. The hotel has been undergoing renovations, particularly in the lobby area, which some guests noted upon arrival, though this did not significantly detract from their stay. There were also observations of smashed glass panels around the entrance, attributed to past demonstrations in the area. On a positive note, the hotel offers thoughtful gestures such as a complimentary bottle of wine upon arrival and a discount voucher for the rooftop restaurant, "Whispers." While the hotel's value for money is debated, with some finding it reasonable and others considering it overpriced for the room condition, its central location remains a key draw. Notably, the staff demonstrated remarkable hospitality during public demonstrations, opening their doors to shelter peaceful protestors, including families and the elderly, showcasing a strong commitment to community welfare.