The highly anticipated Conrad Athens The Ilisian blew me away — here's why
Editor's Note
How does a hospitality company take a 1960s modernist landmark — a place well loved by Athenians, tourists and celebrities (think Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones) — and turn it into a hotel that preserves a decades-long history, while also ushering it into a new era of sophistication?
It's a tall order, to say the least. But that's exactly what Hilton managed to do with the newly minted Conrad Athens The Ilisian, which officially opened its doors in April of 2026 as a fully reimagined version of the former Hilton Athens.
From an impressive attention to detail around every corner of the hotel to thoughtful art direction and inspired menus in the restaurants, Conrad Athens The Ilisian gets a lot of things right. And because the hotel is a fresh take on a historic property, it has that certain je ne sais quoi that so many hotels simply can't achieve. It feels like a living, breathing part of the city.
When I arrived a Conrad Athens The Ilisian on a sweltering day earlier this summer, I certainly had high hopes for the property. TPG caught wind that Hilton was planning to renovate the legendary Hilton Athens into a Conrad and we knew the hotel would have a place on our most exciting hotel openings list for 2026. But despite all of our excitement and anticipation, I didn't realize just how big of an impression Conrad Athens would make on me.
The property itself is the stuff of a hotel editor's dreams (more on that below), but the location is excellent, too. It's far enough away from the hustle and often exhausting bustle of the charming yet densely touristed Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods (which are about a 15 minute drive or 30-45 minute walk from the hotel), but it's not so far that it's inconvenient. Guests of the Conrad also have the benefit of being the literal neighbor of the Athens National Gallery. Just around the corner, you can hike through a beautiful and upscale residential area to Mount Lycabettus, which offers panoramic views of the city and the sparkling sea beyond.
Here's what to know about booking a stay at Conrad Athens The Ilisian — and why I can't wait to go back.
Know before you go
- The vibe: Upscale and sophisticated with nods to midcentury modern art, design and Greek culture. The Athenian Lounge and the pool area feel like places to see-and-be-seen, while the rest of the hotel feels like a glamorous, slightly hushed home-away-from-home.
- The location: The hotel is conveniently located in Ilisia, near the Kolonaki and Pagrati neighborhoods, about a 15-minute drive from the Acropolis.
- Getting there: Conrad Athens is roughly a 30-40 minute drive, depending on traffic, to Athens International Airport (ATH). Taxis and rideshares are available, and there is no hotel airport shuttle, but the property can arrange a private airport transfer for a cost.
- Parking: Self parking and valet are available, both for 35 euros per day.
- Size: There are 278 accommodations at Conrad Athens The Ilisan, and the hotel feels quite spacious, between multiple restaurants and bars, the pool, the wellness center, the sprawling lobby and event spaces.
- Food and drink: There are four primary restaurants, each with a bar component, across the property. In-room dining is available, too.
- Pet policy: Guests can have one dog per room for 100 euros Service animals are permitted.
Rooms
Of the 278 rooms and suites throughout the property, I had the pleasure of spending three nights in a King Premier One Bedroom Suite - Acropolis View. Given the size of the hotel (the former Hilton Athens had over 500 accommodations), the reduction in rooms means that many of the accommodations are very sizable — often a rarity in a European metropolis like Athens.
The space was sprawling at just over 700 square feet, with a large, light-filled living room that featured a stylish dining area and a comfortable sitting area (complete with a flatscreen TV and plenty of coffee table books) overlooking the balcony. T
here was a chic marble counter and sink with dishes and a coffee machine, as well as a small washroom right off the room's entrance.
Beyond the living area was an huge bedroom, also overlooking the balcony, which featured views of the pool below, and, the best part: the Acropolis.
The suite's design, with its mixed fabrics, pops of color and dark wood and marble accents, felt like an exceptionally elegant apartment, with plenty of nods to Greek culture and midcentury design.
The bathroom was a masterpiece on its own, with beautiful marble countertops, his and hers sinks and a standalone white porcelain soaking tub. Bathroom amenities were Byredo, and smelled divine.
Dining and drinking
This is where the hotel really sings. I expected to eat delicious food because, well, Greece. But the food at Conrad Athens The Ilisian was some of the best food I've had at a hotel, full stop. It's clear that the dining program across the property has been meticulously crafted to reflect not only the flavors of the local cuisine, but also the ingredients available to the Greek Mediterranean climate. And where the hotel chose to venture into another region's cuisine, like the Japanese-inspired Onuki, that intentionality really shone through in the quality of the food.
It should also be mentioned that the level of service across all restaurants was above par — certainly expected at a hotel of this caliber, but sometimes brand new hotels take time to really hit their rhythm. Not so at Conrad Athens; wait staff were knowledgable, friendly and efficient.
Byzantino Grande Brasserie
Greek and French cuisine blend together in a fresh, upscale atmosphere at the indoor-outdoor Byzantino, which feels like a Grecian spin on a classic French brasserie. Don't miss the strapatsada (eggs with fresh tomatoes and feta, a Greek classic) for breakfast and the burgundy snails, Greek salad and pastitsada (chicken with bucatini and spiced tomato sauce) for dinner.
Athenian Lounge
The Athenian Lounge, which serves elevated bar food with a local spin, epitomizes an old school, refined hotel lounge: there are locals reading newspapers over coffee, foreigners celebrating their holiday over Greek wine and beautifully plated seafood, an abundance of fresh greenery and beautiful light fixtures. I went back twice for the tomato and burrata salad, and the steak with pasta with langoustine was a dish I won't soon forget.
Ancora Un Po'
One word: Vibes. This poolside, open-air bar and restaurant feels as fun and fresh as the blue-and-white-striped circular bar, with its pops of yellow and upbeat playlist. Don't be fooled by the laidback atmosphere though; in keeping with the rest of the hotel's dining offerings, Ancora Un Po' holds its own in the menu department, with refreshing, seafood-forward items like clams and linguine and fresh ceviche.
Onuki
Thoughtfulness and intentionality is the name of the game at Onuki, the Stamatis Skriapas-helmed restaurant that overlooks the pool and pays homage to Japanese flavors. The warm, beautifully appointed interior of the restaurant is just as stunning as the plating and flavors of Onuki's menu, which boasts dishes like wild prawn tempura, robata salmon with spicy miso, Japanese wagyu strip loin and an impressive menu of signature sashimi and nigir offerings.
Amenities and service
The service throughout the hotel felt friendly and anticipatory, without feeling overbearing.
The hotel is home to many wonderful amenities, including the following:
- A wellness spa offering services like massage and facials, complete with facilities like steam rooms, saunas and an indoor pool
- A full fitness center, including pilates and yoga studios
- A business center
- An on-site boutique, offering local clothing, jewelry, books, art and more available for purchase
- A flower shop
- A full-service outdoor pool
- A kids club
How to book Conrad Athens The Ilisian
You can book Conrad Athens The Ilisian directly through the property's website, which allows you to book using cash or Hilton Honors points.
Nightly rates over the next six months start from $404 or 117,000 Hilton Honors points. Keep in mind that high season for the hotel is summertime and early autumn, so rates will be significantly higher during those seasons.
Accessibility
Conrad Athens The Ilisian has many accessibility features, including accessible guestrooms with mobility features like doors that provide 32" of clear width, visual alarms, emergency pull cords in bathrooms, grab bars and roll-in showers.
Elevators feature lowered buttons, and there are wheelchair accessible routes available throughout the property, like from the hotel's accessible public entrance to accessible guestrooms, event spaces, the business center and the space. The pool is also accessible.
Service animals are welcome.
For more information, see the hotel's accessibility web page here. As always, TPG recommends calling the hotel before booking to ensure they can meet your needs.
Bottom line
To say that I can't wait to return to this Athens landmark is an understatement. Not only have I been dreaming of waking up in those crisp linens to a sprawling view of Athens and the Acropolis in the distance — and I've most certainly been dreaming of Byzantino's Greek breakfast offerings and Onuki's sushi spread — but more than this, I can't wait to experience that "home away from home" feeling that Conrad Athens The Ilisan imparted upon me. Staying there felt like participating in a piece of history.
Something about the service, the decor and the overall vibe at this hotel made it one I'll never forget, and if you have a stack of Hilton points you're waiting to burn, I can't recommend this hotel enough for your next Greek holiday.