Source: The Times {Weekend} Edition: Country: UK Date: Saturday 11, March 2017 Page: 25,26,2... Area: 8193 sq. cm Circulation: ABC 443108 Daily Ad data: page rate £16,645.00, scc rate £75.00 Phone: 020 7782 5000 Keyword: Pallas Athena

Great city breaks on the cheap Take a mini break to Budapest, Florence, Brussels, Prague, Vienna, Lisbon or with our guide to hotels for less than £100 and the best cheap eats

Hotels under £100 7-page special

period furnishings, antiques and Murano chandeliers. The largest are on the Florence fourth floor, with huge frescoes.

Breakfast is served at the top of the house, and there’s a bar and restaurant. Where to stay Details Doubles cost from about £99 (£100) B&B (tornabuonihotels.com); Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci Via de’ Tornabuoni Tucked among Florence’s fashionable boutiques on the pedestrianised Via Tornabuoni, this hotel is just north of Firenze Number the Arno River. Dating from the 1900s, it Nine retains much of its early charm, despite An air of much-needed calm having been completely refurbished. The hits you as you enter this 60 rooms are spacious and feature f

Reproduced by Gorkana under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines), FT (Financial Times/ft.com) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. All FT content is copyright The Financial Times Ltd. Article Page 1 of 24 384423498 - ROBSHE - A24436-5 - 123247384 Source: The Times {Weekend} Edition: Country: UK Date: Saturday 11, March 2017 Page: 25,26,2... Area: 8193 sq. cm Circulation: ABC 443108 Daily Ad data: page rate £16,645.00, scc rate £75.00 Phone: 020 7782 5000 Keyword: Pallas Athena

You can’t miss the pink and aquamarine (innathens.com); 3 Souri Street front of this member of the Design By Tom Chesshyre Hotels group. Fresh Hotel is in a bustling central neighbourhood with cheap Tom Chesshyre was a guest of the Greek fashion shops and market stalls. Expect National Tourism Organisation furniture by Philippe Starck, Charles (visitgreece.gr) and Easyjet, which Eames and Zaha Hadid throughout. The has Gatwick-Athens flights from £46 rooftop bar and pool are supercool. Details B&B doubles cost from €100 (£86) (freshhotel.gr); 26 Sophocleous Where to eat in Athens Karamanlidika Wyndham Grand On a corner near busy food This towering 276-room hotel opened markets in the central district of last December in the Psiri, Karamanlidika serves district to the north of the city centre wonderful Greek-Turkish food (about a 20-minute walk from the featuring fiery sausages and Acropolis). Its highlight is the superb tasty cheeses (there’s a deli to ninth-floor cocktail bar/restaurant buy supplies) and is much loved by locals. My spicy sausage, egg overlooking the Acropolis and and yoghurt starter was served Lycabettus Hill. Rooms are modern and sizzling in a copper dish. The have shiny well-appointed bathrooms. taramasalata was first-rate and Details Doubles cost from €90 B&B my main course of ham, egg and (wyndhamgrandathens.com); Karaiskaki tomato was simply delicious. Square Details Three courses cost from €16 (karamanlidika.gr); Athens Tiare Hotel 1SokratousStreet The best rooms at this new hotel Mavro Provato overlook Omonoia Square, with This is a hangout of actors, Lycabettus Hill in the distance. Rooms artists and writers on a tucked- are smartly decorated with modern art. away corner in the Pagrati Sofa beds are in some, suiting families. residential district. The food is There’s a jolly café. It’s a short walk to excellent, with small plates such ’s many edgy bars. as pasta with vegetables Details B&B doubles cost from €86 and a rich soy sauce, (athenstiarehotel.com); Omonoia Square and veal in a red wine sauce. The Grecotel Pallas Athena owner has kept Next to the town hall on the northwest prices low corner of , Grecotel Pallas (despite great Athena is a flamboyant design hotel with popularity) out modern art throughout. Some rooms of respect for have wallpaper with a tree and mountain those suffering motif, while others are more minimalist. during recent Details B&B doubles cost from tough economic €98 (grecotelpallasathena.com); times. Booking a 65 table is advised. For a drink near by, check out the cool Chelsea Hotel bar InnAthens on a corner of Varnava Square. This delightful little 22-room hotel is Details Three courses cost from tucked away in a courtyard, just south of €15 (tomauroprovato.gr); . InnAthens opened a 31 Arrianou couple of years ago, with the best rooms facing the courtyard. All have an Therapeftirio uncomplicated pared-down style. This wonderful tavern is on a Details B&B doubles cost from €90 side street lined with orange

Reproduced by Gorkana under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines), FT (Financial Times/ft.com) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. All FT content is copyright The Financial Times Ltd. Article Page 21 of 24 384423498 - ROBSHE - A24436-5 - 123247384