One&Only’s First Resort in Greece Brings Retro Glamour Back to the Athens Riviera

Siobhan Reid
·3 min read
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Greece’s vibrant capital is abuzz with stylish hotel openings, from the Bauhaus-style Apollo Palm to the Parthenon-facing Dolli.

But Athen’s newest opening is also its buzziest. On Nov. 11, the seafront One&Only Aesthesis opened to guests on the Athens Rivera, a sophisticated strip set within a 50-acre coastal forest in Glyfada—just a half-hour drive from the Acropolis. It’s an steeped in yesteryear glamour and names like Jackie Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, and, yes, even Richard Nixon.

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The brand’s first outpost in Greece, its private stretch of coastline promises paparazzi-free sunbathing, while its Guerlain Spa delivers treatments inspired by ancient wellness traditions and designed exclusively for the resort.

An overview of One&Only Aesthesis
With just over 100 rooms, the resort packs a much larger punch.

All 95 bungalows, 18 residences, and two villas come with expansive terraces with private pools, botanical gardens, outdoor showers, and fireplaces. Bright, airy interiors bring in the coastal surroundings while incorporating midcentury influences, like modular sofas, angular wood furniture, and geometric art.

The crown jewel is the 15,000-square-foot Villa One, a bi-level hideaway with a private beachfront pool, daybeds, and a fire pit right next to the water’s edge. A private gym, kitchen, wine cellar, and a dedicated host round out the offerings. The villa can be connected with the neighboring Villa Nostos to create a four-bedroom retreat perfect for families or larger groups.

While Athens is known for its red-hot dining, the One&Only Aesthesis has seriously upped the culinary ante, with two restaurants helmed by Michelin-decorated chefs and a trio of stylish bars. Helmed by half-Greek, half-Italian chef Ettore Botrini of Athens Michelin-starred Botrini’s, the hotel’s all-day restaurant serves creative Mediterranean cuisine in an open-air dining room with a seafront terrace. There’s also an Andalucian-Aegean pop-up concept from acclaimed Spanish chef Paco Morales of the two-Michelin-starred Noor restaurant in Córdoba, Spain. Fans can expect a lighter, brighter take on the chef’s Moorish-Mediterranean flavors.

At sunset, the seafront Thimisi bar has the best perch for golden hour vistas, while the Alelia Bar serves olive-based cocktails infused with fresh herbs from the resort’s garden. There’s also an all-day pool bar with sundowners and, of course, DJ beats.

Cabanas at One&Only Aesthesis
It’s cabana-rama by the pool.

But its worth leaving the resort and exploring the thermal springs, heritage-listed sites (like the ancient Temple of Apollo), and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center just up the coast.

The hotel can even coordinate a sailboat charter along the Saronic Gulf or a visit to nearby Lake Vouliagmeni.

Of course, there’s plenty of ways to stay active, while staying put. The hotel has three pools, an adults-only beach club, tennis and padel courts. At the spa, the Olympian-worthy Legendary Strength ritual is said to improve musculature, posture, and cognitive performance.

Why are you going to Mykonos again?

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