After deciding to go to Athens, this was one of the first hotels I saw and I didn't need to look any further. I travelled in a group of 14, so had booked four triple rooms and two singles. The location couldn't be any better for a weekend trip to Athens - the hotel overlooks the Acropolis, and is within 10 minutes' walk. Within walking distance are dozens of restaurants, bars and shops, along with several of Athens' most well known attractions. The hotel itself is very nice and the staff are friendly and welcoming. We were offered advice on what to see and do during our stay in Athens. The triple room I stayed in was more than adequate - clean, nicely decorated and with a very comfortable bed. The bathroom was small but the shower was fantastic. We were in a room at the rear on the 5th floor and had a reasonable view from our window, but the best view of the Acropolis can be seen from the 6th floor. Breakfast was excellent with a very good selection of hot and cold food and drinks, plus a few Greek specialities too. All in all extremely good value, and highly recommended for central location when visiting Athens. The only (very) minor criticism would be that the hotel doesn't have free wifi - otherwise it was perfect!

We selected this hotel (November 2011) based on a very reasonable price and a supurb location in the heart of the Plaka district. Walking distance to ALL the major historic attractions with restaurants and shops nestled nearby. Only two blocks from a Metro stop. Our room was bright, clean and comfortable. The breakfast buffet was generous (but no decaf coffee) and the Greek corner was a special treat. (My wife has been raving about the homemade Greek yogurt for months.) Elevator was small but we got a lot of kissing done in there. Most spectacular was the view from our room and from the rooftop lounge at night of the Acropolis grandly illuminated - jaw dropping. We'll gladly go back.

Stayed here 27th- 31st January and found no faults at all. We have stayed in Athens many times and this has been by far the best all round hotel for location, facilities , cleanliness and friendly helpful staff. Will not hesitate to return when ever in Athens

Once I discovered the Hotel Plaka in 2004, I haven't stayed anywhere else in Athens. I've been travelling to Greece every year on vacation since 1974, so I've tried many of the Athenian hotels. What amazes me about the Hotel Plaka is that every time I return, I find that the hotel just keeps getting better and better! In fact the recent renovations and the additional ammenties offered, totally defy its 3+ star rating. I write this unsolicited (and I know, rather lengthy) review because I truly believe that the Hotel Plaka offers the best stay and a good value to both first-time and regular visitors to Athens. Thanks to Owner/Manager Dorina Stathopoulou, the Hotel really cares about what guests think. Dorina takes guest feedback and unlike many other hotels, the Hotel Plaka actually turns this feedback into action! The result is a comfortable, reasonable, and conveniently-located hotel that puts you right in the heart of Athen's historic pedestrian district.

The Hotel Plaka is perfect for travellers who simply want to see the sights and enjoy the city of Athens – without breaking the budget to do so. It is not for people who must have a swimming pool, room service, a huge balcony (often with no view at all) or 5-star dining restaurant on premises. The Hotel Plaka is within walking distance to all of the major ancient sites and a wealth of eating establishments and local shops. There are also tourist trams and Hop-on Hop-off buses nearby if you want to get an overview of the city before you head out on your own. In addition, the Hotel is conveniently located near the Monastiraki subway station, so for a few euros you can access the airport, outlying suburbs, port of Piraeus, and closer by, the National Archeological, Benaki, Cycladic, and War Museums.

The Hotel is conveniently located a few steps from Ermou Street; now a pedestrian shopping area frequented by Greeks and tourists alike. GAP, H&M and Sephora are just a few of the international stores available, if you forgot to pack something. Two small Byzantine churches, street musicians, numerous cafes, the Cathedral of Athens, and the infamous Thanasis “kebabs” complete the experience.

If it's extremely hot in the city, you can also get a day pass for the Hilton Hotel's pool or better yet, take the subway to Piraeus and hop a hydrofoil to the nearby island of Aegina; an easy day trip for a swim and visit to the Temple of Aphaia. There are also nice beaches with playgrounds, restaurants etc. in the nearby suburb of Glyfada or Vouliagmeni area just 20 km from the city center.

The Hotel Plaka's room size is modest and the bathrooms are small, but totally adequate for a visit. The bathrooms are furnished with the latest in plumbing fixtures and supplied daily with plenty of clean towels, soaps, and shampoo. The beds are twin, affording greater flexibility depending on how you wish to configure your room. Brand new mattresses offer the BEST night's sleep; extra pillows and blankets are readily available in the wardrobe. The walls are not totally sound-proof, as is typical of European-style hotels, but Management closes the roof-top bar at midnight, so this is rarely a problem. The Plaka neighborhood attracts people until the early hours of the morning, but with air conditioning and double-pane windows, noise has never been a problem at the Plaka Hotel; in fact it's been much less of an issue than in other major cities like New York and Rome. Our room has always been spotless. The rooms are furnished simply and adequately with plenty of closet space, air-conditioning, in-room safe, television, hair dryer, and an empty mini-fridge that allows you to stock up on your own choice of beverage. What a relief to be able to avoid the over-priced, stale, minibar selections offered in most hotels!

Some of the Plaka's rooms have a view of the Acropolis, illuminated until 2 a.m. or so. If your room doesn't have an Acropolis view, worry not! The Hotel's roof garden is open all day until 12-midnight. The view from the roof garden is one of the BEST in Athens! The rooftop is furnished with chairs, tables, new comfortable sofas, and sunbeds. During the day, one can often have the whole place to oneself; at night a small bar operates from 6:30 – midnight with a view of the illuminated Acropolis that will astound you! My photo hardly does it justice!

The Hotel Plaka's Breakfast Room is delightful; recently renovated and comfortable, its buffet style breakfast offers a hearty Euro/American breakfast as well as some Greek specialities like yogurt & honey, cakes, veggies & olives. The coffee machine is the same one used by many hotels. If you don't like hotel coffee (a problem we've sometimes encountered in both Greece and Italy) there are many places that serve coffee, as well as custom omelets etc., in the surrounding area. For early departures, Management has always kindly offered to open the Breakfast Room early for a quick cup of coffee and cake/bread. The Breakfast Room has quite a useful brochure rack, containing one of the best Athens city maps available. Complementary tea, coffee, ice water and biscuits are available throughout the day.

Last, but certainly not least, the Plaka's staff is welcoming and helpful whether you have a specific issue with your room or just need some general directions. From the initial booking to check-out, our reservations have always been handled in a professional, courteous, and efficient manner. The Manager/owner will often greet you personally at breakfast in order to ask how your stay is going or what information she might be able to provide so that you can get the most of your day.

All in all, the Hotel Plaka is an exceptionally good value for a well-situated, inner city location. We are very happy to see how much the Hotel has thrived over the years under Dorina's leadership. This review is genuine. As an extremely satisfied guest, I will be happy to answer any questions I can. We have always thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Hotel Plaka and yes, we'll be returning in 2012!