"The Most Beautiful Hilton In the World"
LOCATION
April 20, 1963, was written into the Athenian history books as the day when the Hilton Athens was born. The two-day opening ceremony was attended by Conrad Hilton and many other famous celebrities. For its time the building was state of the art and Emanuel Vourekas’s architecture has survived to this day and is still a great architectural creation. The hotel was thoroughly renovated for the 2004 Olympics and was the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. Its prestige location is a stone’s throw away from all the main attractions of the Kolonaki area.
ACCESSIBILITY
The most popular areas of Kolonaki and Plaka – Kolonaki is known as the more prestige part of Athens – are both reachable on foot and the Evangelismos metro station is basically at the entrance of the hotel. Hilton’s underground parking is standard for such hotels and in normal traffic conditions it will take you about 35 minutes to get to the airport, which is very easily accessible. After the Olympics the city traffic has become smoother and has been flowing more freely, so you most likely won’t encounter any problems in getting around the city.
COLD APPETIZER - Architecture and Aesthetics
Due to its monumental architecture, the Hilton has definitely been a controversial building – one can either love it or hate it. Four top Greek architects (Emmanouil Vourekas, Prokopis Vassiliadis, Spyros Staikos and Antonis Georgiades) worked on its construction from 1958-1963. In 2003, Alexandros Tombazis and Charis Bougadelis added a seven-floor northern wing with 74 rooms ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Of all the architectural details what stands out the most is the facade, which is the work of famous Greek artist Yiannis Moralis.
WARM APPETIZER - Staff and catering
In terms of professionalism and overall care, the Hilton almost never disappoints. The same goes for the self-service breakfast in the Byzantine restaurant, which is a true experience. Besides the standard offer of dishes, we were surprised by the Greek selection of pies, cheese, and bougatis. The special story starts in the Galaxy Bar and Restaurant, which is known in the city as “the place to be” – here you experience excellent Mediterranean cuisine coupled with stunning views of Athens. No hotel of this caliber can be perfect without an exquisite wine offer and with its first class wine labels from Greece and abroad the Hilton is no disappointment. A combination of innovative cooking and professional service, as well as good coffee breaks and delivering the most challenging of receptions, is the formula for a reliable offer tailored to congresses.
MAIN DISH - Conference hotel service
Ceiling windows in the executive rooms make for a great first impression and allow you to see the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill. The rooms are spacious and practically equipped. With regards to the decor, attention to detail has been considered down to the very last corner of the room. Excellent air conditioning and comfortable beds are also big positives. The congress centre is one of the biggest in Athens and has space for 1,300 participants in the 22 conference halls that are available, along with lots of exhibition space. The design of the congress centre is modern, functional and timeless.
DESSERT – The extras
The swimming pool is not directly connected to the event organisation, but if you love swimming you have to try out the city’s biggest hotel pool, which is 25 metres long by 15 metres wide.
FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
If you are planning to carry out an event in Athens, try to avoid the high summer tourist season, as the low season will be a much more pleasant experience for both you and the guests.
TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
Incredible architecture, which survived the ravages of time and keeps amazing congress organisers with its originality and timelessness.
OVERALL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
A hotel that is loved by guests like Aristotle Onassis, Frank Sinatra, Ingmar Bergman, Anthony Quinn, and the Rolling Stones has made it the place to be. The area around the hotel is known among locals simply as the Hilton area. It impresses with its professional congress service and a modernistic design with Mediterranean touches, creating a visually perfect and pleasing image. Hilton has successfully been following all of the latest trends in terms of cuisine and overall service, which is why it is the perfect choice for organising events. A special option, which is one of our favourites, is to book the legendary pool for your next pool party.
FINAL GRADE: 4.70 SILVER CITY MEETING HOTEL
GOLD final score from 4.81 to 5.00
SILVER final score from 4.61 to 4.80
BRONZE final score from 4.41 to 4.60