Athens Flair Hotel Opens Doors for ‘Open House Athens’ Event

Athens Flair superior suite.

The Athens Flair, a boutique hotel in Athens and former private residence of Greek actress Ellie Lambeti, recently opened its doors for architectural tours within the framework of the city’s “Open House” event.

Founded in 2012, the event is organized by the non-profit organization Open House Greece and invites the public to explore and understand the value of architecture. Every year, for one weekend, a number of private and public buildings open their gates to everyone for free, likening Athens to a big museum with its buildings and architecture as the exhibits.

This year, from April 13 to 14, architecture enthusiasts had the opportunity to discover the impressive architecture of the building housing the Athens Flair hotel and learn its rich history. The former private residence of Greek actress Ellie Lambeti, the “Open House” event tour coincided with the anniversary of her birthday.

Athens Flair exterior.

The Athens Flair is housed in a neoclassical building on the corner of Delphon and Didotou streets in the Kolonaki district. Considered an emblematic sample of neoclassicism in the heart of Athens, it was designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen with its construction dating back to 1880–1889.

Hansen also designed major buildings in the Greek capital, such as Zappeion Megaron, Athens Academy, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Library.

The boutique hotel features six luxury rooms and suites of exceptional design and boasts a roof garden offering guests unique experiences overlooking Lycabettus Hill. Combining elegant comfort and the charm of neoclassical times, every traveler who passes through its doors will discover a unique destination, full of history and glamour.

The Athens Flair operates under the management of Hotelising, an Athens-based sales management company with a portfolio of 25 hotels in Greece, many of which are renowned for their high-quality architecture.

Elli Lambeti

Elli Lambeti. Photo source: Finos Film

The Athens Flair, the neoclassical mansion on Delphon and Didotou streets, is the former  private residence of the famous Greek actress Ellie Lambeti, who moved there during the German occupation in the 1940s.

Born on April 13, 1926, Lambeti was one of the most renowned Greek actresses of her generation. After noticing her talent Marika Kotopouli, a famous Greek actress in the 1900s, accepted her to her drama school.

Lambeti starred in numerous theater productions throughout her career and was nominated for best foreign actress in the 1960 BAFTA Awards for her role in the movie “A Matter of Dignity”.

She battled cancer for several years before passing away in New York in 1983 at the age of 57.

Established in 1992 in London, Open House is one of the most significant global institutions for the promotion of architecture spreading in more than 25 countries around the world.