If you were ever wondering how we get to hear about and feature so many glorious hotels on this site then here’s a little secret.

It’s not all ears to the ground journalistic endeavour.

We actually rely quite heavily on PR agencies, who give us the heads up as soon as they know a client is due to open a new venue.

Often we follow this up with a visit but sometimes, when time and travel budgets are in short supply, we engage in telephone or email conversations with designers, architects, owners and photographers in order to collate our stories.

A one off view of the ancient world

Our decision to follow up on a PR story is made, either because we already know a bit about the project/client/designer, or because the accompanying photography  excites us.

And so it is with The Dolli, a new hotel set in a beautifully proportioned building in Athens.

It’s the photo showing the Acropolis reflected in water that truly caught our attention (shown above).

And once we delved a little deeper, we realised that we couldn’t go without giving mention to what is obviously a very special project.

The Dolli has now opened in the heart of Athens.

It is a lovingly restored neoclassical, 1920s building in Plaka, one of Athens’ oldest neighbourhoods, and just a few steps away from the Acropolis.

Embarking on a pursuit of the rare and exceptional, the owners, Grecotel Hotels and Resorts, have restored the building’s heritage with meticulous craftsmanship and authentic finesse, ably assisted by award-winning London based design studio, SUITED ID.

Plaka is one of the more picturesque and colourful Athenian neighbourhoods, close to the city’s museums of antiquity and culture.

Due to the hotel’s history and location, the rooms have been designed to appeal to a discerning guest, travelling to Athens to explore its culture.

The Dolli Lounge captivates with original art pieces from Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau, designer works by François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne, 18th century antiques, custom-made furniture from the finest contemporary designers such as Pierre Augustin Rose, and a collection of ancient Greek ceramics.

The public spaces feature stunning architectural details that were painstakingly restored to recreate the original 1925 interiors; all the original arched windows were restored to their original condition as was the beautiful coffered hand plastered ceiling.

The authentic historic envelope is made elegant and comfortable by the use of oversized contemporary furniture arranged in an eclectic mix.

The lobby bar is an antique console for display only while the actual bar is a secret exclusive bar at the back of the hotel.

A timber panelled tea room housing a collector’s art collection and a rooftop restaurant with views of the Parthenon are added features to the public space.

The rooms are designed as a “pied-a-terre” in Athens, and serve to feel like a primary residence for the guest, a place where they can retire in comfort after a day of exploration.

The hotel is a full refurbishment of 48 individual rooms all with a distinct identity and most with striking views of the Parthenon.

The Dolli  reflects the glory of the historical marvels and energy of the city.

And that picture, the one reflecting the Acropolis in water, was taken at the hotel’s rooftop infinity pool that sits alongside the restaurant, which, we are told, is “the ultimate ‘pièce de résistance’, an iconic culinary haven with mesmerising views of the city’s panorama.”