Mona Athens

A 1950s Factory Space Reimagined as a 20-Room Boutique Hotel

Renovated to maintain its 1950s architectural allure, this former textile factory’s designers, The House of Shila, have augmented the space with sustainably made, upcycled found furnishings in wood, textural velvets and ethereal cottons, creating a sensual scene that’s equal parts immersive experience, art gallery, and boutique sleep spot, with a bold splash of vintage glamour. The brainchild of the vibrant, House of Shila design studio, the hotel and its sister property, Shila, are design-world darlings, featured in publications from Condé Nast Traveler to Vogue and Tatler, to National Geographic and Monocle’s Book of Entrepreneurs.

The building’s bold iron staircase, terrazzo floors, original metal windows and marble façade reveal the building’s 70-year history, and the addition of imaginative accents by Shila Maison D’Objets design studio transforms the space into a hip oasis of experiential design. The project’s design stimulates the senses, appealing to sight, scent, touch, sound and taste, via music choice, tactile furnishings, food offerings and original art.

The hotel’s commercial spaces include the open-air, Acropolis-view rooftop with a three-meter-long glass and metal table, outdoor showers, a bar, sofa lounge and lush plants. It’s open to hotel guests and members only and is available for private events. The Living Room is a street level, multidisciplinary space that doubles as a café and concept/pop-up space, with an open-plan kitchen and various seating arrangements and a curated art/design collection. The Underground Venue is a speakeasy-like setting for hosting art openings and residencies, dinners, music nights, and exclusive private events. The hotel also features a rotating collection of photography, collage, paintings and ceramics, and it commissions art by select creatives. All works are for sale with international shipping arranged.

All rooms are open-plan and vintage styled, designed with a touch of theatrics against their industrial backdrops. Custom-made lighting adds to the Athenian sunshine, and the spaces are sensually tactile. Intimate queen- and king-sized spaces range from 16-square-meter rooms to 55-square meter suites, all with period furnishings, industrial finishes, custom textiles, natural bath amenities, dedicated workspaces, dramatically styled private bathrooms (some showers, some tubs, some both) and complimentary breakfast. Some rooms have a balcony or outdoor space, too.

Mona offers six room types (some with optional balconies):

Intimate: Double occupancy (queen bed), 16-20-square meters, vintage desk, soaking bathtub, open toilet

Intimate with Balcony: Double occupancy (queen bed), 16-20-square metes, vintage desk, soaking tub, bath with toilet, balcony

Velvet: Double occupancy (queen bed), 24-30-square meters, desk, soaking tub and metal shower, open toilet, kitchenette

Velvet with Balcony: Double occupancy (king bed) 24-30-square meters, desk, soaking tub and metal shower, kitchenette, balcony

Floret: Double or triple occupancy (king bed, signature recycled brick sofa daybed), 28-30-square meters, lounge, kitchenette with wood sink, soaking tub, shower, separate toilet

Amour: For two to four guests, 36-square-meters (king bed; sleeper sofa); desk, kitchenette soaking tub, shower, separate toilet

Penthouse: For two to four guests, 45-55 square meters (king bed; daybed for up to two, vanity desk, kitchenette, soaking tub, shower, separate toilet

Penthouse with Balcony: For two to four guests, 45-55-square-meters (emperor bed 200x200 and daybed for two), balcony terrace, vanity desk, kitchenette, soaking tub, shower, separate toilet

Mona’s Suite: For four guests, 55-square-meters, king bed, double sleeper sofa, single daybed, unlimited urban and distant Acropolis views, walk-in bathroom with soaking tub, shower, separate toilet, kitchenette, vanity desk, sunroom lounge

Additional information

Mona is available as a varied event space for social gatherings, pop ups, film/video productions, dinners and private events, weddings, and happenings.

Around

Mona is located in one of Athens’ most vibrant neighborhoods, Psirri, moments from the Acropolis, ancient Agora, and also Monastiraki, the largest downtown antiques market. The area, like the hotel, is a bridge between the city’s past and present. Psirri offers authentic, unconventional, artistic Athens, an area that’s bold, urban character dates to the early 20th century when it was home to working-class rebels and refugees from Asia Minor—known locally as the “Manges” and the “Rebetes” living side-by-side. Today the neighborhood presents a vibrant mix of contemporary art and cool culinary outposts as well as hip bars, artisans’ workshops and the buzzy Varvakios food market. Street art and wall murals are splashed on stone, and Monastiraki Square is a minute’s walk from the hotel.

The hotel’s manifesto characterizes the Greek capital city of Athens as its "canvas, stage, amusement park; the lover I come back to for more…who shares the same curiosity… and reveals layers of color, texture and raw truth.” It defines the aesthetic goal as a “A climate of chaos wrapped in rocker chic—loyal to the artist in values, visions and aesthetics.” Mission accomplished. The hotel in Psirri is indeed an “homage to the art of living and a kind of sanctuary for the wild at heart.”

Location

Psirri, Athens, Greece. Nearest airport: Athens, M3 Metro transport, or by car, taxi, Uber, Beat (45 minutes to an hour)

Best time to visit

Year round