GREECE IS

The feel is different at 18 Micon Street in Psyrri, where the reception and dining area resemble a trendy Athens café. Hidden behind a plain grey façade, it features industrial touches, like walls of cement, wood and brick (all actually wallpaper, but you’d never know without touching it), paired with distinctive pieces of furniture, such as the long, custom-built dining table.

The morning when I visit, the table is set for breakfast, and a handful of guests greet each other and the receptionists before serving themselves treats from the red SMEG fridge and the small buffet. In the 1950s, the building was a warehouse owned by one of the city’s first tool merchants. Now, it features 15 luxurious, modern guest rooms, all in the minimal style of the reception, but personalised with individual touches.