I stayed in the apartment for three months over the winter. It was excellent, and exactly what I wanted and needed after 20 months in and out of strict pandemic lockdowns. This exquisite apartment quickly became my home, making me feel relaxed and refreshed. It was both a privilege and a pleasure to stay here. I highly recommend it.
The location is superb. The street is quiet, so you sleep well. It is within walking distance of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Plaka, the National Garden, galleries, Metro stations, buses, trams, supermarkets, high street shops, bookstores, quaint Anafiotica, ritzy Kolonaki, edgy boutiques, flea markets, wonderful Byzantine churches, and more cafes and restaurants than you’ll have time for, however long your stay.
Reading the excellent reviews here, it strikes me that those staying a week or less focus on the welcome arrival cheeses, wine, honey, olive oil and food basics; waking up to the view of the Parthenon; and eating on the terrace. All these are indeed very fine. But as days became weeks, what mattered most to me were the enduring comforts of the apartment, fine linen and towels, a well-designed kitchen, endless hot water and, yes, breakfast on the terrace in bright winter sunshine. I found the recommendations on places for coffee and cocktails, but I also found the patisseries, best bread shops, farmers’ markets, all suggested by Diana, that helped me not just to live here, but to live well, and feel at home. I learnt just how easy, how comfortable, it was to be here.
I had come in part to rest, take long walks, and enjoy the quiet season when the museums, galleries and archaeological sites were all but deserted. But I also wanted to indulge myself, to read, write, attempt to paint, and perhaps improve my Greek. As I sat by the window it was easy to lose myself in what I was doing. Then, looking up, I would literally be amazed to see the Parthenon, suddenly glowing, golden in late afternoon sunshine, floodlit at night, ablaze with fireworks, sprinkled with snow, and a couple of times arched by a double rainbow. The apartment was home, yes, but it never lost its sense of magic and surprise. I loved every minute here. Returning at the end of the day never ceased to be a treat.
I cannot praise highly enough Diana’s meticulous attention to detail. Little went wrong even across three winter months. But one morning the water company turned off the supply, unannounced: Diana left me six huge bottles within 20 minutes. The internet connection, always fast and reliable, was one day briefly breaking up: Diana provided a back-up router within the hour. When the temperature outside plummeted, Diana supplied an extra heating unit. Diana and Dimitris let me leave luggage between stays over Christmas. They were generously flexible over check-in times. They even left me a delicious, traditional New Year cake when I returned.
This is by far the best airbnb I have stayed in, and I highly recommend it. Everything is exactly as shown in the photographs. If you can only stay a few nights, then do. But stay longer if you can. It is another world, and yet one where you will quickly feel at home, your senses indulged, your mind and spirit refreshed.