Atelier Ace has launched Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens, marking the brand’s first location in Greece.
Designed by French architecture and interiors firm Ciguë, the 120-room hotel follows the company’s latest openings in Sydney and Toronto.
With an inviting public lobby, two pools, multiple F&B outlets, and an extensive art program and gallery space, Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens is an overlap of eras, landscape, and local climate.
The design of Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens
Retaining the classic 1970s coastal resort-style façade of the former Fenix Hotel, Ciguë married the structure’s Brutalist bones with Greek modernism and the laidback, playful charm of poolside culture.
The property, which joins Palm Springs as a sister in Ace’s Swim Club brand extension, is imbued with vibrant contradictions—much like the city of Athens itself.
A sprawling ground floor stretches from the lobby to the expansive pool and dining area. From the roof, guests can take in seaside and mountain views from the dipping pool and the rooftop restaurant and lounge.
Cantilevered balconies crafted in a sea resort architectural style welcome natural light into guestrooms, which are filled with artful details, including custom bed covers, and trademark Ace furnishings like acoustic guitars and turntables.
“Our aim was to celebrate and revitalize the existing brutalist structure by transforming it into a timeless landmark in Glyfada,” says Alphonse Sarthout, founding partner of Ciguë. “We bridged the past with the present by uncovering and amplifying its geometric purity, transforming the iconic Fenix Hotel into a beacon of modern hospitality.”
Art takes centerstage
The hotel’s curated art program was envisioned through a partnership between Atelier Ace and Ciguë, supported by Matthieu Prat, as well as Aliki Lampropoulos in collaboration with Mare Studio. The collection showcases a colorful cross-section of the contemporary Athenian art scene, with commissioned works from established and emerging artists across disciplines, including sculpture, mural, photography, tapestry, painting, and drawing.
“The synergy between Ciguë and Atelier Ace is palpable in every corner of the Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens,” Sarthout adds. “Our shared passion for craftsmanship, authenticity, and cultural resonance has resulted in creating a place that celebrates Greek Modernism, contemporary design, and cutting-edge local arts.”
F&B and the Swim Club
The hotel’s dining concepts include Sebastian, the Lobby, Poolside, and Good Chemistry—all located on the ground floor.
The Swim Club, which will soon add a rooftop pool, is also accessible to the neighborhood and non-hotel guests.
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