Conrad Athens The Ilisian Opens, Redefining an Athenian Landmark
- EDITOR
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Hilton today announces the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, marking the rebirth of one of Athens’ most iconic landmarks. Formerly the beloved Hilton Athens, the property has undergone a significant transformation to emerge as a contemporary urban resort in the cultural heart of Athens.
Marking the brand’s debut in Greece, Conrad Athens The Ilisian brings Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ signature blend of bold design, contemporary luxury, and immersive connection to place to one of Europe’s most culturally resonant capitals. The hotel’s 278 guest rooms and suites are among the most spacious in the city and sit at the heart of The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination that unites a vibrant line-up of restaurants and bars, a resort-style wellness offering anchored by Athens’ largest outdoor pool landscape, private residences, and the House of NYNN private members’ club.
An Athenian Landmark Reimagined
Instantly recognizable to generations of Athenians, Conrad Athens The Ilisian carries forward the spirit of a building deeply woven into the city’s social and cultural fabric. The hotel evokes the feeling of an open-air gallery, with the original one-of-a-kind 620-square-metre sculpted marble façades by pioneering Greek artist Yannis Moralis, a modernist sculptural tribute to classical mythology. By night, Emmy award-winning lighting designer Eleftheria Deko brings the facade to life, inviting guests to gather for a local aperitif as the installation comes to life.
Inside, spaces designed by AvroKO revive the optimism of Athens' modernist golden era, pairing preserved mid-century elements with newly commissioned artworks and bespoke pieces by historic Athenian atelier Saridis and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki. Overseeing the art programme and shaping the lobby alongside AvroKO is Mare Studio, the hotel's art consultant and curator.
The guest rooms and suites frame some of the city’s best views, with the majority featuring private balconies. The hotel offers Athens’ largest suite collection, including three Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite, and, launching later this year, the Omega Penthouse, complete with a private pool and panoramic vistas across the Acropolis and Aegean Sea.
A New Culinary Address at the Social Heartbeat of the City
Guests of Conrad Athens The Ilisian are surrounded by a vibrant culinary landscape, with nine distinct dining concepts, from the hotel's own restaurants and bars to signature venues across the destination, shaping the rhythm of the day and drawing Athenians and global travelers together from morning to night.
At its heart is Byzantino, reborn as Athens' first Grande Brasserie, where French and Greek classics are presented side by side in true brasserie character. Executive chef Angelos Lantos, the first Greek chef to earn two Michelin stars in Athens, leads the culinary direction across the hotel, with Byzantino as his flagship. The experience is completed by a cheese master, curated wine pairings, and a dedicated chocolaterie and patisserie housed within the restaurant itself. The same spirit carries into the Athenian Lounge, a natural meeting point where classic cocktails and well-loved dishes set the tone throughout the day.
Later this year, the legendary Galaxy Bar will return as Galaxy Dispensary and Galaxy Supper Club, reclaiming its place as one of Athens' most iconic rooftop destinations. Additionally, a further line-up of globally celebrated restaurant concepts will also make their Athens debut at The Ilisian, alongside Japanese restaurant Onuki, designed by studio Yabu Pushelberg, which opened in 2025.
Wellness Designed for Modern Life
Conceived as a performance-led wellbeing destination, Conrad Athens The Ilisian's wellness offering blends recovery, movement, and lifestyle. The experience unfolds across the Oasis, Athens' largest outdoor pool, along with an Italian poolside restaurant, and the 700-square-metre Green Roof above, where panoramic city views frame a private running track, outdoor gym, and pickleball court.
Indoors, guests will enjoy access to a wellness zone featuring a specialist gym, dedicated studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, and spinning, a heated pool, and heat & cold therapy facilities. From May, the Odei Wellness Residence will introduce a curated menu of face and body treatments inspired by the rituals of ancient Greece, while later in the year, renowned practitioner Dr. Costas Papageorgiou will bring his expertise to Athens for the first time, expanding the offering with longevity-focused treatments, guiding The Ilisian’s holistic approach to wellbeing.
Experiences with Impact: Athens Beyond the Expected
Conrad Athens The Ilisian invites guests to experience Athens through curated, insider-led perspectives. The hotel’s signature Conrad 1/3/5 experiences offer travelers meaningful ways to engage with Athens at their own pace. From golden-hour aperitivos overlooking the Acropolis to architectural walks that reframe ancient landmarks through a contemporary lens, the three- and five-hour experiences go deeper into the city’s culinary and creative scenes. Each experience is tailored to personal interests, making discovery feel effortless, intuitive, and distinctly local.
“Greece is one of Hilton’s fastest-growing markets in Europe, driven by record visitor demand and a growing focus on high-quality, year-round tourism,” said Simon Vincent, CBE, president, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Hilton. “With our portfolio in Greece growing from just a handful of hotels a few years ago to more than fifty today, and more in the pipeline, the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian underscores our long-term commitment to Athens and to Greece as a leading global tourism destination.”
“Athens is one of those rare cities where history, creativity, and contemporary living exist in conversation with one another,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and global category head, Hilton Luxury Brands. “For Conrad, that makes it a deeply compelling place to be. Conrad Athens The Ilisian has reawakened a landmark in a way that respects its past while feeling entirely in tune with the city Athens has become.”
Nassos Papazoglou, general manager, Conrad Athens The Ilisian, added, “Hilton Athens opened on this date back in 1963, and for decades played a defining role in Athens’ cultural and social life. Our vision has been to honor that legacy while creating a hotel that feels open, dynamic, and deeply connected to the city today. From the way guests move through the spaces, to how they dine, unwind, and explore Athens, every detail has been designed to offer a genuine sense of belonging.”
Conrad Athens The Ilisian joins a global portfolio of 50 Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ properties and marks the debut of the brand in Greece. This year marks an exciting moment for Hilton’s Luxury Brands, which arrived in the market with major momentum, with the opening of Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts earlier this month and Conrad Corfu later in the year.. Read more here - Hotel Management Global Outlook Link
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