For those who appreciate fine dining and love to travel the world, a glorious new gastronomy gem nestled in the heart of Athens is a discovery to delight. Opened to discerning guests earlier this year, xenodocheio Milos is the city’s first true luxury gastronomy 5* hotel and has rapidly gained the enviable reputation as the city’s most sought after and coveted foodie’s delight.
xenodocheio Milos is home to estiatorio Milos and of all its distinguished guests from around the world. It prides itself in being a place where “philoxenia”, the sacred art of making a stranger feel like home, is firmly in its DNA.
Enviably located in downtown Athens opposite Old Parliament, an area bursting with history and celebrates the best of Greek heritage, art and cuisine, this culinary hotel is a short walk or short taxi ride to most of the city’s famous world heritage sites including the fabled Acropolis, regal Syntagma Square, Lycabettus Hill and the original Olympic Stadium.
Elegant and refined are two words which perfectly describe both boutique hotel, restaurant and bar. A
unique combination of luxury and simplicity has been achieved throughout.
The moment you enter the main doors, you leave the bustle of this busy city behind and enter a serene oasis of calm. It’s remarkably quiet and after a long and delayed flight, the peace is most welcome.
The 43 individually styled rooms and suites are so tastefully designed. Each of the bedrooms and suites are classically designed, taking hints from Athens glorious architecture outside. High ceilings, large glass windows and doors give a real feeling of space, softened with plush velvet furnishings. This harmoniously blending of contemporary design, minimalistic art and sophisticated décor creates a restful and luxurious ambiance and guest also delight in the fact each room is complemented by a series of handpicked personalised touches. Some of the rooms and suites even have spacious outdoor sunny terraces – a number of which boast spectacular Lycabettus Hill and Old Parliament House views.
If these gorgeous rooms are not already snapped up, do opt for the Milos Signature Suite or Milos Terrace Suite.
The first is designed as an authentic Athenian neoclassical apartment and pays tribute to bespoke luxury and timeless elegance. This expansive suite offers incredible views of Lycabettus Hill and historical Old Parliament House, and enjoys high ceilings and handpicked fabrics and materials, combined with a separate bedroom, spacious seating and dining area and exclusive amenities.
Our favourite though is the spacious and luxurious Terrace Suite, which includes a large outdoor seating terrace with a jacuzzi, perfect for enjoying a glass of fine champagne or two gazing out on to the roof tops and historic sites beyond.
Of course, being a gastronomy hotel, a stay here is as much about the incredible dining experience offered as it is the rooms, suites and amenities. The beautiful white-on-white restaurant with high ceilings, a sweeping staircase, floor to high windows dressed in fine floaty drapes is a visual as well as culinary delight. Everything from the quality of the glassware to snow-white crispness of the table linen is of the highest level and sets expectations for the cuisine to match.
We certainly were not disappointed. It’s evident the chefs select the finest fresh raw materials and cook them with minimum interference to preserve their wonderful natural flavour. All the produce has been selected from farmers and fishermen each most carefully chosen by the founder, Chef Costas Spiliadis, whose quest for quality and perfection remain unchanged and renowned.
The menu provides a world-celebrated take on Mediterranean cuisine. We dined on the most delicious of menus carefully curated to ensure my coeliac young niece had just an amazing culinary experience as myself. For every course the team went above and beyond to ensure they stringently met her strictly gluten free requirements and still presented dish after dish of delights. If you adore seafood this restaurant is a must. I’ve rarely experienced fish as wonderfully prepared and tasty. The service is warm without being overly intrusive and all the team are incredibly knowledgeable and the very best at what they do, and nothing is too much trouble. We recommend you enjoy an aperitif or after dinner cocktail masterfully prepared by their expert mixologists at the super bar too.
Over all, whether for a long stay or short pre-cruise stay xenodocheio Milos is a truly wonderful hotel to dine and stay at.
Nightly rates at xenodocheio Milos start from £310 for a classic room.
For further information and to book visit: www.xenodocheiomilos.com/
