Athena's Nest is a real gem -- the best possible home base for people eager to explore central Athens.
The neighborhood is urban, but there are a lot (and we mean a *lot*) of restaurants squeezed in between the travel agencies and office supply shops. Right next door to Athena's Nest, for example, is a French/Greek bakery, where Michael serves up strong coffee and homemade bagels. (We showed up at 8:00 sharp to get them fresh from the oven.) Less than a block away is one of those "modern Greek" dinner spots everyone is raving about: O Tzitzikas ki o Mermigkas (The Ant and the Grasshopper). Pretty good sushi, Chinese, and Indian food are all within a minute's walk.
If you're not that food-focused, you can easily whip up your own coffee and breakfast in the generous, modern kitchen at Athena's Nest. Feeling dirty? Run a load of wash. Social? Plop down in the living room (with a big screen t.v. and space for four to six folks, with more seats in the dining area, if you need them. Sleepy? Pile up in either of the two comfy beds.
The metro, a lively public square, and a bright shopping district are all on your doorstep here, making this house extremely convenient for tourists like us.
Don't be put off by the building itself. Any building from the 1940's and 1950's will have its quirks. (Here, you'll find a scary/cranky elevator and an odd system for keeping hallway lights on as you move through the building.) That said: Athena's Next itself -- the condo you're renting -- is spacious, modern, well-decorated, and feels like home. Enjoy the character of the building and the comfort of the house; don't let the "wrapper" on this one deter you in any way.