One&Only Aesthesis | Athens
-Review-
{ all opinions and experiences expressed are of my own }
One&Only Aesthesis is a captivating coastal hideaway that harks back to the golden days of the Athenian Riviera. Set within 21 hectares of protected forest reserve in Glyfada, the resort is just a short drive from the ancient wonders of the Greek capital. Drift into our seaside retreat and experience a vibrant lifestyle that takes you back to the effortless sophistication of a bygone era.
Upon my arrival at the International airport of Athens I was greeted warmly by a lady with beautifully styled hazel coloured hair, dressed smartly in a suit - she went by the name of Elizabeth. She assisted me with pushing my trolley out and we were greeted swiftly by our Cheffeur, Dimitiri. I was told that the drivers are outsourced by the hotel, but boy - are they brilliant. Not only do they respect the guests - but they also know when to allow guests to sit in silence after a long flight.
Dimitiri informed us that he was also South African and used to live in an area called Benoni. He went on to kindly recommend some local restaurants which we could try out during our short stay in Athens.
After a forty five minute drive we arrived at the beautiful hotel. We bumped into some unprecedented traffic along the way - I ended up missing my appointment at the newly opened Guerlain spa (the first spa to have opened in Greece), however, I was not disappointed - as the resort was so incredibly beautiful, I couldn’t wait to explore. Also, this just means I need to visit again! ;)
From the pools, to the tastefully landscaped scenery, to the stylish interiors - there was so much to see in the short amount of time we were to spend in Athens.
We had a quick check-in with zero hiccups and I was introduced to the incredible marketing manager, Myrto. She did a speedy resort tour for us and introduced us all the facilities available in her golf cart. We then made our way to our sea-view room. The room itself is about 48 sqm / 516 sqft and comes with a balcony: 15 sqm / 161 sqft. We found it very spacious and enjoyed watching the sunset.
Kevin and I got ready whilst Myrto met us for drinks with Yan, the general manager of the resort. They both were so incredibly friendly and ensured our stay was perfect to say the least.
After having drinks at bar Alelia, we savoured the creative Mediterranean cocktails and flora-infused drinks crafted with local olives and herbs at the Cocktail Bar in Glyfada, Athens. We proceeded to dinner. Dinner was nothing short of spectacular. We dined at Ora. Inspired by the sun-blushed cuisine of the Mediterranean, Chef Ettore Botrini brings relaxed elegance to Ora all-day dining restaurant.
Drawing on local culinary traditions and his own family heritage, Chef Ettore presents a playful, inventive twist on Greek cuisine through an Italian lens. My favourite dish from the dinner was definitely the prawns and oyster. You could taste how fresh the locally sourced seafood was. The pasta with sea urchin was also so creamy and an absolute winner for me! The wine pairing was very unique. We were lucky to meet the in-house sommelier and avid wine enthusiast, who proceeded to introduce us to some beautiful locally sourced wines from Greece. I had no idea Santorini produced wines, and had the opportunity to taste some very authentically sourced white and red wines.
After our dinner, we decided to head back to our sea-view room and turn in after the lovely evening. We were greeted with turn-down service, slippers and a comfortable mat at our feet. We went to bed listening to the gentle rhythmic movement of the sea and were whisked off by the Cheffeur promptly at 08:00 for our departure to Paros the following day.
If you’re ever in Athens be sure to bookmark this hotel. The dinner service, the breakfast and bedrooms are nothing short of world class. You’re never greeted without a smile from the staff and feel as if you are home away from home.Truly.
A special thank you to the team at One&Only Aesthesis! We hope to visit again. Thank you for making our stay so special - we miss everyone already and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
For all bookings to the resort click here