More about Classical Athens Imperial
Athens Imperial was very nice
by TripAdvisor Member loosee
We stayed for 4 nights at the Athens Imperial- The rooms were very large and the bathrooms very spacious too- The hotel was built in '04 for the Olympics- it is very clean and the buffet breakfast had a nice selelction.
The location is a block away from the metro station- Take the metro to the 3rd stop, Syntagma and you will be about 3 blocks from the Plaka- the metro is .80 euros- We even took it to the airport - $.80 euro each verses $45.00 for a taxi!! for the airport route -you switch on to the "blue line" at Symtagma and then get off at the last stop, just wait in the station for the train wihich drops you off right across friom the airline terminals.Metro runs from 5:30 am .
Could this be the best Chinese food in Athens?
by Confucius about Imperial Town
Shanghai immigrants own and manage this restaurant in the Omonia district of Athens, which has a small Chinese enclave in Athens. There is enough evidence to support my theory that this could indeed be the best Chinese restaurant in Athens, even though I did not dine there.
First, it was recommended to me by the manager of Shanghai Night restaurant in the Plaka district. If this is the restaurant where Chinese restaurant managers go to eat, then it must meet high standards for authenticity.
Also, Imperial Town is recommended in Japanese guide books. You are lucky that I can read Japanese, because travel books published in Japan are seldom wrong about Chinese restaurants overseas.
Finally, I got my hands on the menu while in the Omonia district. (It was closed on Easter Sunday.) I can sometimes tell just by looking at the menu if a Chinese restaurant is special or not. There are certain items that distinguish Imperial Town's menu from ordinary Chinese restaurants in Europe, a notion that supports my confidence in presenting this tip on VT. Here are the menu items which I believe distinguish Imperial Town from other Chinese restaurants in Athens:
Appetizers:
Steamed Chinese Bread (Mandarin "mantou")
Steamed Shao Mai
Special Fried Tofu with Pork
Entrees:
Chinese Rice Cake with Vegetables
Transparent Soy Noodle with Shrimp
Almond Chicken
Stewed Whole Fish with Green Onion
Braised Tofu
Lettuce in Oyster Sauce
Great value for Athens!
by TripAdvisor Member wlslb
This is our first time in Greece and we decided to visit Athens en route to the Cycladic islands. We stayed from May 19-21st and May 27th. My husband and I chose the Athens Imperial hotel because of several reasons: it's part of a chain hotel (w/amenities of a large hotel), the rooms seem more spacious (we’re used to American standard room sizes), air conditioning and that the hotel is situated in close proximity to visit the Acropolis and neighboring sites but not in a noisy area (i.e. Plaka). The cost of the room was a good value compared to the higher prices for staying in the Plaka area or Syntagma Square. The Athens Imperial hotel was located across the street from the metro stop (red-line) Metaxourghio and was less than 10 minutes aboard a train to the downtown area and less than 30 minutes to the Port of Piraeus to catch the ferries. The concierge (who was fully fluent in English) was very helpful and courteous with questions or requests that we had. Our room was very spacious and decorated with nice modern furniture. The queen size bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was very spacious with double sinks, a rain-showerhead and a separate bathtub.
There was construction on site during our stay but the noise was not invasive. There is no view from our hotel room but if you go to the roof top you can see beautiful views of the Acropolis. We barely stayed in our room since we only had a few days in Athens to explore. We definitely recommend this hotel.
Beware!
by TripAdvisor Member balboarocky
I arrived at Midday at the Athens Imperial Hotel on a very hot and dry day where all I wanted was access to my room and a cool shower. I waited for 3 and 1/2 hours in reception while they got my room ready. Pretty shoddy service when you take into account I booked 3 months prior to arrival.
The first room I stayed in was an adjoining room where the neighbours decided to stay up late and get up early and proceeded to shout at each other. I requested a room move and my next room was bigger but smelled of cigarette smoke which I asked not to be put in. Another room change and I was put in a non smoking room which seemed ok.
Ohh no.....the shower flooded the bathroom, the bathroom sink was still covered in toothpaste, the carpets were heavily stained and there was a strange white residue on the headboard of the bed, I'll let your mind wander on that one!
Once I had claened my own room I decided to begin work on my laptop but I couldn't because there was no internet connection. I called reception as the message on the screen said that I had not checked into my room! The night manager was so rude and when I went down to reception he actually tutted at me! Nevertheless, I never got my problems addressed and I checked out and went to the 3* Best Western Hotel Zinon, a king in comparison.
Definately not the 5* hotel that Grechotels think it is.
Great place for a little getaway
by TripAdvisor Member samiva
The Athens Imperal was a perfect place for our little christmas getaway. We stayed there for six nights and enjoyed the hotel very much. Rooms and the bathroom were very clean and the service at the front desk, lobby bar and the dining area was absolutely amaizing.
The location was little bit of the city centre, but still a walking distance away from there. We like to do a little walking so for us it was a perfect place to stay. The metro station was also just around the corner when we wanted to go eg. near the sea.
All-in-All, Athens Imperial is good value for money!
A really great hotel
by TripAdvisor Member findparis
I stayed at Athens Imperial the previous week during the Athens Fashion Week. I had great time. The hotel is big with an amazing breakfast the most important is that the subway st. is 10 meters from the hotel. Is the same line that goes to Acropolis and to Syntagma. The room was spacious enough and in the marble bathroom you can play football (is very big compared to other hotels that i stayed before). The reception gave me a very nice room, which was an upgrade of the room that I booked. The staff was really helpfull to everything with me and my friend and in the amazing Atrium Restaurant I ate the best french fries ever! The only thing that I did not like at all was the fact that the roof garden was allready closed for the winter and I didn't have the oportunity to admire the breathtaking view . They have done great job there. I will be back guys...
Great hotel, great location
by TripAdvisor Member CTHeather
The Athens Imperial is a well-appointed, clean, centrally located hotel. The metro is one or two blocks away for easy access to all of Athen's major attractions. After a 10-hour flight from New York, my husband and I checked in and quickly headed to the rooftop bar for a snack. We were amazed by the gorgeous view of the Acropolis and Mt. Liccavitus. We enjoyed the rooftop pool and made it a point to visit the rooftop every night to savor the nighttime view. The moon rises from behind the mountains - a spectacular site further illuminated by the lights at the Acropolis.
The breakfast buffet has a wonderful selection. The gym was mediocre at best with broken/outdated equipment. Be warned - the gym has porthole windows that allow a clear view of swimmers in the pool.
Rooms were spacious with bathrooms unlike what we experienced anywhere in Greece. We would highly recommend this hotel.
A 5 Star Hotel? I don't think so.....
by TripAdvisor Member saxtog
If you are thinking of staying at the Athens Imperial here are a few things to bear in mind. We booked it on the basis of the 5 star rating and the "easy walk to the Plaka" area of Athens. In reality both are far from the truth. The hotel itself is no way a 5 star standard establishment. Dark rooms with no natural light or fresh air (even the Air Con smelt of Cigarette Smoke). A really poor breakfast buffet - luke warm food and restaurant service comparable to an average motel. And the location? The grim square is actually a traffic roundabout with no redeeming features. There are no local cafes or restaurant that you wouldn't describe as rough. To walk to the Plaka area takes you through narrow grim streets full of pretty shady characters (even in daylight) and the less said about going through the Omnia square district the better. Overall this is a business conference hotel for Greek companies. It's not a tourist hotel in ambience or location. The only redeeming feature were the staff who were friendly and helpful.
Great value, great breakfast
by TripAdvisor Member Starling1
We stayed here for a couple nights on our honeymoon in Sept '06. We got an *amazing* value at bookings.com- only $100 euro a night, but it was a pre-pay, no refund deal. If I had paid $277 I would probably not be nearly as enthusastic (I would stay somewhere else for that price), but we got an awesome deal—especially as other places I looked at in Athens seemed pretty expensive for not much. The metro was right outside which was very convenient for sightseeing as long as your are not out too late. The breakfast buffet was the absolute best of our honeymoon- they had lox, bagels, toppings, delicious greek yogurt, eggs, sausage, fruit, everything you could want or imagine. Table service for beverages. I think the reg price for the breakfast alone was around 20 euro each if you had to pay (and worth it), so we got quite the deal with our room.
The bathroom in the room was large and great, the shower was one of those waterfall showers with fabulous water pressure- the best of our stay. There was a seperate tub we didn't use.
The staff was very helpful and cashed our travelers checks with no fee.
There is a pool (a bit chilly) upstair and bar with a great view.
The area itself was nothing special but the metro access made it convenient. If you can't get a good deal I would probably stay somewhere else closer to Plaka, but this was the best hotel value we got on our trip and it worked out great for us.
Forum Posts
URGENT ADVICE FOR ATHENS HOTEL!
by friendly66
It's me again. Thanks for your quick replies to Friendly6. I am using a package tour and have to use certain hotels. Still need to give deposit by tomorrow to hold trip.
Does anyone know if the Athens Imperial Hotel or Divani Palace Hotel are ok? Is either hotel near Plaka or Syntagma square? Are these hotels nicer and maybe cleaner than the Titania hotel? These hotels are the other ones I can use on my package tour. I cannot chose any hotel...only ones on package tour.
Thanks so much for all help. Friendly6/Friendly66
Re: URGENT ADVICE FOR ATHENS HOTEL!
by ronsar
Athens Imperial should be great because it belongs to the Grecotel chain of hotels which is really excellent. I have been inside (only the lobby and the other commonly used areas) and it was impeccably clean. It's not close to Syntagma or Plaka but it' s in the center of the city.
Re: URGENT ADVICE FOR ATHENS HOTEL!
by leics
http://en.venere.com/hotels_athens/akropolis/hotel_divani_palace_acropolis.html
http://en.venere.com/hotels_athens/omonia_vathi/hotel_athens_imperial.html
The former seems more central than the latter (i.e. nearer the historical centre). Location maps on the links above.
