Conrad Athens The Ilisian opens and redefines an Athenian landmark | News

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, becoming a contemporary urban resort in the cultural heart of Athens.

Conrad Athens The Ilisian marks the brand’s debut in Greece and brings Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ signature blend of bold design, contemporary luxury and immersive connection to one of Europe’s most culturally resonant capitals. The hotel’s 278 rooms and suites are among the most spacious in the city and are located in the heart of The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination that brings together a vibrant array of restaurants and bars, a resort-style wellness offering anchored by Athens’ largest outdoor pool landscape, private residences and the private members club House of NYNN.

An Athenian landmark reinvented

Instantly recognizable to generations of Athenians, Conrad Athens The Ilisian conveys the spirit of a building deeply woven into the social and cultural fabric of the city. The hotel evokes the feeling of an open-air gallery, with the original unique 620 square meter sculpted marble facades by the pioneering Greek artist Yannis Moralis, a modernist sculptural tribute to classical mythology. In the evening, Emmy-winning lighting designer Eleftheria Deko brings the facade to life and invites guests to gather for a local aperitif as the installation comes to life.

Inside, the AvroKO-designed spaces revive the optimism of Athens’ modernist golden age, combining preserved mid-century elements with newly commissioned artworks and custom pieces from historic Athenian atelier Saridis and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki. Mare Studio, the hotel’s art consultant and curator, oversees the art program and designs the lobby together with AvroKO.

The rooms and suites offer some of the best views in the city, most with 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 views of the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea.

A new culinary address in the social heart of the city
Guests at Conrad Athens The Ilisian are surrounded by a vibrant culinary landscape, with nine different dining concepts, from the hotel’s own restaurants and bars to emblematic venues spread across the destination, that set the rhythm of the day and bring together Athenians and travelers from around the world from morning to evening.

At the center is Byzantino, reborn as the first Grande Brasserie of Athens, where French and Greek classics are presented side by side in a true brasserie character. Chef Angelos Lantos, the first Greek chef to earn two Michelin stars in Athens, leads the culinary charge through the hotel, with Byzantino as its flagship. The experience is completed by a cheese master, curated wine pairings and a special chocolate shop and pastry shop housed in the restaurant itself. The same spirit can be found in the Athenian Lounge, a natural meeting point where classic cocktails and beloved dishes set the tone all day long.

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. In addition, a further series of globally celebrated restaurant concepts will 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
Conrad Athens The Ilisian’s wellness offering is designed as a performance-oriented wellness destination, combining recovery, exercise and lifestyle. The experience unfolds in the Oasis, Athens’ largest outdoor pool, along with a poolside Italian restaurant, and the 700-square-meter Green Roof above, where panoramic views of the city frame a private athletics track, an outdoor gym and a pickleball court.

Inside, guests have access to a wellness zone with a specialist gym, dedicated studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic and spinning, a heated swimming pool and heat and cold therapy facilities. From May, the Odei Wellness Residence will introduce a curated menu of facial and body treatments inspired by the rituals of ancient Greece, while later this year renowned practitioner Dr. Costas Papageorgiou will bring his expertise to Athens for the first time and expand the offering to include longevity-oriented treatments, guiding The Ilisian’s holistic approach to wellness.

Experiences with impact: Athens beyond the expected
Conrad Athens The Ilisian invites guests to experience Athens from curated, insider-led perspectives. The hotel’s signature Conrad 1/3/5 experiences offer travelers meaningful ways to explore Athens at their own pace. From golden hour aperitivos with views of the Acropolis to architectural walks that reimagine ancient monuments in a contemporary perspective, the three- and five-hour experiences delve 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. “As our portfolio in Greece grows from just a handful of hotels a few years ago to more than fifty today, with more in the pipeline, the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian underlines our long-term commitment to Athens and Greece as a leading global tourism destination.”

“Athens is one of those rare cities where history, creativity and contemporary living collide,” said Dino Michael, senior vice president and global category head of Hilton Luxury Brands. “For Conrad, that makes it a very attractive place to be. Conrad Athens The Ilisian has brought a landmark back to life in a way that respects the past while being completely in harmony with the city that Athens has become.”

Nassos Papazoglou, Managing Director of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, added: “Hilton Athens opened on this date in 1963 and played a defining role in Athens’ cultural and social life for decades. Our vision has been to honor that legacy while creating a hotel that is open, dynamic and deeply connected to the city of today. From the way guests move through the spaces, to how they dine, unwind and explore Athens, every detail has been designed to create a truly provide a sense of belonging.”

Conrad Athens The Ilisian joins a global portfolio of 50 properties from Conrad Hotels & Resorts and marks the brand’s debut in Greece. This year marks an exciting moment for Hilton’s luxury brands, which entered the market with great momentum, with the opening of Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts earlier this month and Conrad Corfu later in the year.

The hotel is located in Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athens, 11528, Greece. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel website or the Hilton Honors mobile app