I booked a private room for my brother, sister and I with Ilias. I wasn’t quite sure who we were staying with, and found out it was his parents, which wasn’t a problem. Rather, it was a highlight of the trip. Eleni and Christos are incredibly hospitable hosts. They booked us a table at an incredible venue around the corner, offered many tips and were attentive yet aware of our personal space. Christos even took my sister out to buy her first bouzouki and Eleni made soup for my brother when he was ill. I can’t speak more highly of them- they’re great people. Communication with Ilias was easy and he was on top of everything.
The house is also beautiful. There is plenty of space and everything is clean. Well styled too.
The street is quiet, only accessed by foot, so you are not kept up by traffic.
Overall, I would definitely recommend booking through Ilias. It also feels like a slightly more responsible option in respect to Exarchia’s relationship with Airbnb (rather tense); to stay with a local, rather a recently gutted, renovated and temporarily occupied flat in a neighborhood that has historically supported the displaced.