Conrad Athens The Ilisian Opens, Redefining an Athenian Landmark
Athens, April 25, 2026 – Hilton today announced the grand opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian, a property that redefines one of Athens’ most iconic landmarks. Formerly known as the beloved Hilton Athens, the hotel has undergone an extensive transformation to emerge as a contemporary urban resort, now a vibrant addition to the cultural heart of Athens.
This opening marks the debut of the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand in Greece, bringing its signature blend of bold design, contemporary luxury, and an immersive connection to its location. The hotel’s 278 guest rooms and suites are among the most spacious in the city and form the core of The Ilisian, a new mixed-use destination. This destination includes a dynamic array of restaurants and bars, a resort-style wellness area featuring Athens’ largest outdoor pool, private residences, and the exclusive House of NYNN private members’ club.
An Athenian Landmark Reimagined
Instantly recognizable to generations of Athenians, Conrad Athens The Ilisian continues the legacy of a building deeply embedded in the city’s social and cultural fabric. The hotel evokes the ambiance of an open-air gallery, showcasing the original 620-square-meter sculpted marble façades by pioneering Greek artist Yannis Moralis, a modernist sculptural tribute to classical mythology. At night, Emmy award-winning lighting designer Eleftheria Deko illuminates the façade, inviting guests to gather for a local aperitif as the installation comes to life.
Inside, spaces designed by AvroKO capture the optimism of Athens’ modernist golden era, blending preserved mid-century elements with newly commissioned artworks and bespoke pieces from the historic Athenian atelier Saridis and ceramicist Eleni Vernadaki. Mare Studio, the hotel’s art consultant and curator, oversaw the art program and contributed to the lobby’s design alongside AvroKO.
The guest rooms and suites offer some of the city’s finest views, with most featuring private balconies. The hotel boasts Athens’ largest suite collection, including three Presidential Suites, a Royal Suite, and the Omega Penthouse, set to launch later this year, complete with a private pool and panoramic vistas of the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea.
A New Culinary Address at the Social Heartbeat of the City
Guests at Conrad Athens The Ilisian are immersed in a vibrant culinary landscape, with nine distinct dining concepts. These range from the hotel’s own restaurants and bars to signature venues throughout the destination, setting the rhythm of the day and attracting Athenians and global travelers from morning to night.
At its core is Byzantino, reimagined as Athens’ first Grande Brasserie, offering a blend of French and Greek classics in a true brasserie style. 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 enhanced by a cheese master, curated wine pairings, and a dedicated chocolaterie and patisserie within the restaurant. This same spirit extends to the Athenian Lounge, a natural meeting point where classic cocktails and beloved 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 position as one of Athens’ most iconic rooftop destinations. Additionally, a further lineup of globally celebrated restaurant concepts will debut in Athens at The Ilisian, alongside the 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 integrates recovery, movement, and lifestyle. The experience unfolds across the Oasis, Athens’ largest outdoor pool, complemented by an Italian poolside restaurant, and the 700-square-meter Green Roof above, which features panoramic city views, a private running track, an outdoor gym, and a pickleball court.
Indoors, guests will have access to a wellness zone equipped with a specialist gym, dedicated studios for yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, and spinning, a heated pool, and heat & cold therapy facilities. Starting in May, the Odei Wellness Residence will introduce a curated menu of face and body treatments inspired by ancient Greek rituals. 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 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. “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 brand’s debut in Greece. This year is an exciting one for Hilton’s Luxury Brands, which has gained significant momentum with the opening of Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels & Resorts earlier this month, and Conrad Corfu slated for later in the year.
The hotel is located at Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 46, Athens, 11528, Greece. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel’s website or the Hilton Honors mobile app.
Source: https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/conrad-athens-the-ilisian-opens-redefining-an-athenian-landmark/
