O&B Athens Boutique Hotel

We booked a Grand Suite and a Basic Suite, both with Acropolis views, at O&B Athens boutique hotel for 18-24 Jan. The condition of the rooms and the service left us very disappointed. The flooring was badly stained and old, and pieces were coming off the chipped balcony door. We had to work out how to connect the Espresso coffee maker ourselves because it was left unplugged. The living room Venetian blind wouldn’t lock at the top and hung down for more than three days, until I asked reception to fix it. They did so in five minutes. The balcony was never cleaned, and the chairs were always out of place. Breakfast was the same buffet every morning. The restaurant staff were keen to please, but the repeated items got boring, and there were no freshly made options, just food sitting on the buffet from 0700h. We also found the general response to requests was often “No.” It felt to us like this attitude came from above. After speaking for 20 minutes with the Ops Mgr, who kept referring to “policies and instructions from the higher management” to defend the staff’s negative behavior, that was the impression we came away with.

For a short stay, this hotel is fine. The staff were very friendly and helpful, with lots of tips about restaurants and must-sees. Our room was okay but could use a few small fixes: the bathroom had very little light, the curtains barely closed because they weren’t wide enough, and hooks instead of a proper towel rail made it hard to dry towels. Breakfast and the location were both fine, and overall we had a pleasant stay.

That Acropolis view from the balcony was so clear and close, I misjudged the walk when we headed out for our tour. The balcony in room #11 is huge, big enough to make me want to invite my closest 25 friends over for a barbecue. The room itself was lovely. And breakfast was the highlight. It changed every day, with plenty of variety: fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly squeezed juice, perfect croissants, charcuterie, Kalamata and Green Olives, a full Greek yogurt bar, and perfectly poached eggs. I may have eaten a bit too much. I’ll definitely stay here again when I’m back in Athens.

We found the neighborhood quiet and felt safe there. Some reviews mentioned noise and a rough area, but we didn’t experience either. It’s a vintage district where people sell antiques and used goods, which we actually thought was cool. The hotel is a couple of streets from Little Kook, so we missed its crowds, noise, and bright lights. We even had a view of one of the Acropolis monuments from our room. We arrived at 8am after a cruise and were staying two extra nights to see Athens. They held our bags and took time to explain the area, with tips on food, shopping, sightseeing, and answers to our questions. Everyone was welcoming and helpful. Our room was clean, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and although the AC wasn’t working when we checked in, it was fixed by the time we got back from sightseeing. We didn’t need to change rooms. Housekeeping came regularly without disturbing our things. There was a free snack and drink in the room, plus two cold bottles of water that were restocked. Breakfast had lots of choices, and the coffee was especially good. We slept well, even with Athens being a late night city, and we were in bed by 10 each night. Whether you’re just passing through or here to see the sights, this was a fantastic stay. Highly recommend, 10/10.