MUSIC, ART AND MEDITERRANEAN LUXURY: ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB ATHENS
words and images PATRICK BOYLE
On the sun-soaked edge of Glyfada, ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB ATHENS has quickly become a destination for music, art, and wellness, where the mood shifts seamlessly from beach to city, from luminous mornings to electric nights. Inspired by the vibrant energy and eclecticism of Athens and its artistic scene, French architectural firm Ciguë has reimagined the pre-existing brutalist canvas to create a space that feels as cool as it is warm. Events, workshops, and a stellar lineup of DJs bring the hotel to life, reminding guests that ACE ATHENS is more than a stay, it’s a lifestyle.
Stepping into the lobby feels less like checking into a hotel and more like being welcomed into somebody’s ‘70’s Mediterranean living room. Low-slung sofas, deep woods, and naturalistic curves bring a sense of playful luxury while creations from local artists spark intrigue along the bleached walls. The room is calm and tactile, a space for sunlit coffees and unhurried conversations, yet in the corner the DJ decks sit poised, a hint of the night to come.
Upstairs follows a similar tune. Bedrooms carry the ease of Mediterranean modernism. Earthy tones meet flashes of Aegean blue and orange contrasted by black marble. The room is laden with artworks that nod to the city of Athens, however, its true masterpiece comes in the form of bed linen by Greek-Egyptian designer SALMA BARAKAT. The collagist quilt is so luxurious that it risks ruining all other bedding for you. Fortunately, ACE have addressed this potential issue by making it available to purchase for a mere €450. Drift past the bed and you’ll find yourself on the sun-drenched balcony overlooking the SWIM CLUB. Sparkling water stretches beneath, framed by striped day beds, cabanas and parasols. This is the spot to breathe in the seaside air and steal a quiet moment of reflection on the night before.
At ACE ATHENS, music and art aren’t a side project, they are the heartbeat of the hotel. From wellness journeys guided by TREE CARR, JADE SHAW, and VALENTINA OLPER, to artist-led workshops and a steady rhythm of parties, the calendar is full. Throughout the summer, ODYSSEY, in partnership with Plisskën have brought international and local DJs for day-long hedonistic parties on the third Wednesday of each month. Complimentary for guests but open to all, highlights of the summer schedule included ROSS FROM FRIENDS, DAMIAN LAZARUS and MIDLAND. During my stay I was lucky enough to catch HORSE MEAT DISCO boogie it out poolside.
The night unfolded with the warmth and fun of a house party, only here the ‘house’ was a luxury hotel with mixologists on hand and a world-class DJ. Disco balls shimmered, spicy margaritas flowed and the dancefloor pulsed with some of the best movers that I’ve seen in a long time, all set against the sunset sinking into the Aegean Sea. Beyond ODYSSEY, Plisskën have also relocated their notorious Sunday rave EDEN to the hotel for the season, bringing acts like HUNEE, AVALON EMERSON, ÂME and Lindstrøm to the Athenian Riviera on the last Sunday of each month. Day or night, poolside or on the dance floor, ACE HOTEL & SWIM CLUB ATHENS delivers a soundtrack worth remembering, where music, art and the Mediterranean collide in effortless harmony.
