Greece is somewhere that everyone should go at some point in their life. It is the cradle of civilization with 5th-century B.C. monuments to the gods and thousands of years of history.
It has fantastic Mediterranean weather, some of the most beautiful islands in the world, and the central part of the country is filled with alpine mountains, verdant forests and charming medieval villages.
And then there’s Athens, a vibrant and bustling metropolis filled with historical sites, an over the top nightlife, and trendy shops and restaurants.
Kolonaki is Athen’s version of Beverly Hills or London’s Bond Street. Elegant fashion boutiques alternate between haute bistros with bedazzling women in designer wear lunching with their hipster boyfriends. Urban explorers and switched on businessmen visiting Athens and Kolonaki stay in the middle of it all at a chic boutique hotel, the Coco-Mat Hotel Athens.
Most of the well-to-do in Greece will know the Coco-Mat as a lifestyle brand of home furnishings and accessories. Coco-Mat is now becoming internationally recognized due to its sleek contemporary designs and 17 stores in metropolitan centres around the world.
The core of their business is their beds which are known for their exceptional comfort and providing a better night’s sleep. They’ve revolutionised bed making by creating beds with four layers of natural fibres and no metal springs.
One of the main fibres is made from coconuts so thus the name, Coco-Mat. So what happens when one of Europe’s top home furnishings company decides to open a hotel?
You can rest assured that each hotel is a showplace for the Coco-Mat products and allows guests to live in the brand’s offerings for a few nights.
It’s like living in a showroom of your favourite furniture store. On the first floor of the hotel is the Coco-Mat store and showroom so you’ll actually enter the hotel through a store with their range of furnishings and amenities for the home.
For the visitor to Athens, the Coco-Mat Hotel Athens is a good base from which to explore the city. Athens is made for those who love history and humanities and is one of the oldest cities on earth filled with monuments to the god’s, museums, and UNESCO heritage sites.
On a rock bluff, visible from every part of the city, is the Acropolis and the must visit icon of the city. There’s so much to see in the city and all is easily accessible by foot or the underground metro which is only a few blocks from the hotel.
First and foremost the Coco-Mat Hotel Athens is a designer hotel. On the top floor is the roof top terrace which is a functional piece of art with large murals from avant-garde local artists and comfortable outdoor furnishings in the lounge areas.
From there the view is of the Acropolis that dominates the Athens skyline. The Rooftop of the Coco-Mat Hotel Athens is the perfect place to take in the sunset, gather with friends or to just chill out and read a book. Service is a short call away and the hotel’s staff is at the ready to bring a glass of rose, cocktail or lunch.
On the zero floor of the hotel is the reception and a lovely bistro. The restaurant serves your complimentary breakfast as well as snacks and nibbles throughout the day.
As a show place for the Coco-Mat brand, the accommodations do not disappoint. The design is clean, edgy and industrial with a modern minimalist design.
Light wood panelling, urban contemporary furnishings, and state of the art electronics create a comfortable space to relax. The bathrooms are exquisite as well with marble walls and floors and bespoke bathroom amenities.
Needless to say the star of the rooms are the Coco-Mat beds. Guests feel it right away as it is noticeably more comfortable than a traditional bed. For that morning stretch, many of the rooms have a balcony overlooking the action of Kolonaki below or views of the Athens skyline.
The staff at Coco-Mat is more hip than corporate. They are fun and engaging and ready with a quick recommendation about what to do and where to go around the city. Most of what guests will want to see are either within walking distance or a short subway ride away.
Breakfast is not your normal boring buffet of cold food left forgotten under rows of terrines. It is authentic Greek food with an impressive spread of Greek pastries, pies, fresh fruits and other breakfast items provide by local producers. Eggs are served on order and prepared to your liking. It is really a great way to start the day.
Kolonaki is the place where Greece’s hipsters and pretty people hand out. Tsakalof Streets is a walking street just a five minute hop from the Coco-Mat Hotel. It is lined with cool bistros, sexy bars and is a great place to hang out for dinner and some serious cocktailing.
To step your game up to the next level, check out Mayors which is one of the top gastro pubs in Athens. Once inside the décor is uber sexy with dramatic design and lighting and thumping lounge music orchestrated by Athens top DJs. The energy is electric and so popular that even Athens’ in crowd has to have a table reserved for dinner and even for drinks.
For lunch the pace is a bit less up tempo and it’s a perfect time to have a long lunch with friends in between bobbing in and out of the trendy shops and boutiques nearby.
The menu is haute gastro pub cusine with a fantastic presentation. Each dish is delicious but not to be missed is the Angus beef tartar with egg confit and crunchy bread yeast.
Although this is not technically a fine dining restaurant, they sure act like it with a wine pairing with wines from Greece’s top rated wineries. Each of the sommelier’s recommendations seem to perfectly compliment the next gourmet dish that arrives at your table.
Athens is a fascinating city and the coolest place to be, without contender, is Kolonaki. For the business traveller or urban explorer, the ideal place to stay and play is the Coco-Mat Hotel Athens.
Address: Patriarchou Ioakim 36, Athina 106 75, Greece
Phone: +30 21 0723 0000
