In what is known as the commercial triangle, where old Athens meets the buzzing modern city on the corner of Vissis and Aiolou streets, a new hotel stands out from the rest.

As the name implies, the unpretentious Blend Hotel aims to offer a seamless combination of the city’s many attributes, functioning as a starting point for those wanting to experience both its historic and its contemporary aspects. It is housed in a 19th century building previously owned by the famous chocolate company Pavlidis, which served it’s first hot chocolate here in 1852.

For the building’s renovation, architect Alexandros Athanasiadis and Aeter Architects worked together to create a look that combines retro and modern design elements, creating a style that, in a way, echoes the character of the location.

The exterior has been carefully revamped and looks much like before, only with fresh paint. Meanwhile the minimal retro interior is dotted with Scandinavian-style touches. There are twenty four rooms and suites, all with urban views.

On the ground floor, the hotel’s restaurant, Folk, serves international cuisine with a focus on the Middle East, and made with fresh Greek ingredients.