Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Hotel Review
Nonstop Dan rating
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens
A near-perfect beachside retreat — our favourite hotel at the time of review, and the one to beat in Greece
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens sits on a private peninsula just outside the Greek capital, offering something rare in luxury hospitality: a genuine beachside resort experience within easy reach of a major international airport and city. This is one of the most expensive hotels in Greece, occupying a historic property that blends grandeur with the natural beauty of the Athenian Riviera. The property is split across two buildings: Arion, an adults-only wing, and Nafsika, which welcomes families. Multiple restaurants, a private beach, adults and family pools, villas with private pools, and an extensive spa complete the picture.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens hotel signage
Our expectations going in to our stay at the Four Seasons Astir Palace were, perhaps dangerously, sky-high. The Four Seasons is the luxury hotel brand, and at this price point, every detail feels important. The stay that followed was extraordinary in most ways, and a slight letdown in others.
When booking through a travel advisor, Oskar and I paid 1,527 Euros for one night in Room 221, an ocean view room in the Arion building on the second floor. This was shoulder season, the end of September. That rate was also the most either of us has ever spent in cash on a single hotel night. Our booking through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner rate included complimentary breakfast, a free upgrade (subject to availability), early check-in and late checkout (subject to availability), and a $100 property credit, all at the same price as booking directly. In peak season, rates climb considerably higher.
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
Four Seasons Astir Palace Check-in Experience
Upon arrival , the staff asked for our name at the entry gate, and by the time we reached reception, they already knew who we were. Not because we are YouTubers, but simply because the information had been shared. These are the kinds of small, seamless touches that set the service apart. It’s always nice to be welcomed by name!
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens hotel lobby
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens lobby staircase
Four Seasons Astir Palace Arion Ocean view Room
Room 221 is a beautiful space, but it is compact. For a hotel at this price point, the room size is the one area where expectations and reality diverge. The room has a thoughtful layout, but when you add all your luggage, it feels tight. There is simply too much furniture crammed into the available space. The pieces themselves are lovely, but there is a sense of everything being squeezed in. The wooden floor is beautiful, though the rug shows some light staining.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room bedroom
What the room does offer: a striking mirror TV that appears as a regular mirror until switched on and includes Chromecast, which is a welcome addition.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room tv
Waiting on the table was a thoughtful welcome: Four Seasons stationery, a welcome bowl of fruit (pears, apples, grapes) and water. You’ve also got two chairs, a welcome touch since a room for two guests with only one chair is a common frustration.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room dining area
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens welcome amenity chocolate covered nuts
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens welcome amenity fruit bowl
We were happy to see that the room h curtain controls. A practical note: there are no global plugs. The room has one European port and two USB-A ports at each bedside, plus one additional power port near the seating area and one adapter provided. Guests needing more adapters can request them.
The first thing Oskar said when he woke up the next morning was: this bed. He said he had never slept so well in his life, and I felt the same. It feels like sinking into a cloud, with every part of the cloud caressing you. We went in with high expectations for the Four Seasons bedding, and it delivered completely. One of our most comfortable nights of sleep in a long time!
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room bedroom
The beautiful marble bathroom features a gorgeous rainfall shower, a deep soaking bathtub with a breathtaking view, and double sinks with a mirror wide enough for two people. There is a toilet with a bum gun, which we always appreciate. The bath mats are luscious, and the bathrobes are hung one on each side of the bathroom, a logical touch. There is also a small bench and a scale. The only reason it falls short is the layout: two people may need to squeeze past each other, which at this price point is noticeable.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room bathroom
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion Diptyque bathroom amenities
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view toilet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view bathroom
One layout quirk: the hand towels are positioned near only one sink, meaning a guest at the other sink has to walk across the bathroom to dry their hands.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Arion ocean View Room Terrace
The balcony is almost the size of the room itself, and it re-frames the entire stay. Looking out over a private bay docked with yachts, with pine trees scenting the air, the view is breathtaking. Two loungers are set up and ready. It becomes immediately clear that the design philosophy of this hotel is to make the outdoors the primary living space, and the balcony makes that case convincingly. The compact room matters far less once you are out here.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room balcony
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view
The minibar includes Aperol Spritz, basic sodas, chocolate, snacks, and fruit mix jellies with a vegan marking. The coffee setup uses Lavazza pods rather than Nespresso, which is arguably a step up. It is not easily accessible from a standing position due to the room layout, a minor irritation.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room minibar drinks
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room minibar snacks
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room tea coffee
The closet can be closed off, which is a nice touch, but it is on the smaller side. A standard suitcase cannot be fully opened inside it, which means luggage ends up staying in the already compact room.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room closet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room closet
The rooms has an iPad controls and handles dining orders, spa bookings, housekeeping requests, and express pressing. The hotel initially appeared to offer only chargeable spa products when we scanned the QR code in the bathroom, but the iPad revealed a full complimentary amenity list on request. Everything you could want is available, but you do need to know to look for it through the iPad rather than expecting it to be laid out in the room.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room Ipad control
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view Ipad control
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view Ipad control
When it comes to wifi, the speed test showed 17.4 Mbps download and 18.7 Mbps upload. A good benchmark for 2025 is over 100 Mbps download and at least 50 Mbps upload, so this falls well short of that. Adequate for typical guests, but not Youtuber friendly.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Arion ocean view room wifi connectivity
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Dining Experience
Breakfast is served across two restaurants: Nafsika, the larger buffet option, and Arion, the more Greek-focused alternative. Both are located on the same property, and guests are welcome to dine at either. The buffet at Nafsika offers an impressive selection of fresh fruit, pastries, local cheeses, salads, hot dishes, and gluten-free options.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika breakfast buffet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika breakfast buffet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika breakfast buffet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika breakfast buffet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika breakfast buffet
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Nafsika menu
We ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice, tofu scramble and the boost smoothie with banana, peanut butter, soy milk and cinnamon from the a la carte section. Everything tasted good, but not spectacular.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens vegetarian breakfast
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens avocado toast
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens tofu scramble
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens vegan pancakes
The setting was stunning and the restaurant itself beautiful. We expected every dish at this hotel to be that mind-blowing, which was perhaps an unfair expectation to bring to breakfast. Overall it was a fine breakfast. In Europe you do not get the same type of sprawling buffet you find in Asia or the Middle East, and that context is fair to keep in mind.
We also stopped by Arion on the way back. Most of the hot dishes are the same, including fried eggs and scrambled eggs, with a slightly smaller overall selection. It leans a little more Greek in character.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato Restaurant (Lunch)
The standout meal of the stay, and one of the best restaurant experiences of the entire Greece trip.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato restaurant
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato menu
The vegan panzanella salad was exceptional, a 10 out of 10 dish that we would return to Athens specifically to eat.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens vegan panzanella salad
Focaccia with a generous serve of tapenade followed. After that, we tried the Arrabbiata served on a plate designed to look like the ocean with a touch of espresso.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato focaccia
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato arabiatta pasta
The final linguini was perfectly cooked.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Mercato pesto linguine pasta
four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Room Service
We ordered a vegan burger with fries for dinner. The total came to 70 Euros for two. The food was fine, nothing more. For that price, we expected something closer to the quality of lunch at Mercato, and it did not reach that level.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens vegetarian dinner
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Beach & pool
The private beach and the pool are the heart of this hotel, and they are exceptional. The adults-only pool is quiet, intimate, and surrounded by impeccably kept grounds with pine trees scenting the air. There is no music playing at the pool or beach. You hear only waves and nature, a choice we deeply appreciated and that feels increasingly rare. The beach itself is stunning with crystal clear water (and I say that as a beach snob), with beautiful seat covers on the chairs that wrap around the seat like an airline mattress pad, preventing the towel from slipping.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens swimming pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens swimming pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens swimming pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens swimming pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens swimming pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens infinity pool
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens sunscreen amenities
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens beach
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens ocean entry ladder
We also ordered non-alcoholic pina coladas, which were excellent. Free cabanas are available on a first-come first-served basis, manned from 10:00 AM, with swimming permitted at any hour of the day or night. That is how it should be done.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens beach menu
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens pina coladas
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens sunset at beach
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens beach
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens beach menu
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens iced matcha latte
One small gripe: no beach bags are provided, which at this price point feels like an oversight.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Gym & spa
We initially entered the private fitness studio by mistake, which has yoga mats, a massage table, and is intended for private sessions. The actual gym includes weight training equipment, cardio machines, a whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and studio classes, accessible 24 hours. It's very good for a resort property, though not quite at the level of the best hotel gyms we've reviewed, such as the one at Four Seasons Singapore.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens gym
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens gym coffee machines
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens gym bikes
The spa menu is extensive, with 50-minute massages from 240 Euros and a wide range of treatments. We did not use the spa during our stay, but it is clearly a significant part of the hotel's offering for guests who build their stay around wellness.
Where is Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Located?
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens sits on a private peninsula just outside the Greek capital, offering something rare in luxury hospitality: a genuine beachside resort experience within easy reach of a major international airport and city.
Acropolis
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens hotel coastal view
is the service good at Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens?
The can-do attitude throughout the stay was exceptional. The clearest example: Oskar asked the beach bar team if they had matcha, which was not on the menu. Without hesitation, the answer was yes, and two iced matcha lattes appeared. At Mercato restaurant, when the chef accidentally included cheese in the linguini, the team apologized immediately, sent a complimentary arrabiata to hold us over, and remade the dish. That is service.
One constructive note: staff do not proactively greet guests when passing in the grounds or hallways. At a resort of this calibre, a simple greeting when someone walks by makes a meaningful difference. Here, staff tend to wait to be acknowledged rather than greeting guests first. Not a serious flaw, but noticeable.
Turndown service was thoughtful. The housekeeper arranged toiletries on Four Seasons branded mats, provided fresh towels, and placed a glass of water with a cup on the bedside table.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens room turndown service
Slippers were left unopened rather than unwrapped, a small but considerate touch that avoids waste.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens room turndown service
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens room turndown service
Of course, this turn down service was nothing compared to the likes of Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens Detailed Scoring Breakdown
Room (7/10)
Bathroom (9/10)
Night's Sleep (10/10)
Value for Money (6/10)
Breakfast (7/10)
Condition (10/10)
Service (5/5)
Dining (5/5)
Location (5/5)
Amenities (5/5)
Gym (4/5)
Pool / Beach (5/5)
X Factor (10/10)
Final score: 88/100. See how it compares to other properties in our full luxury hotel rankings.
Four Seasons astir Palace Athens Overall Impressions
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens is a truly extraordinary hotel that earns its 88 out of 100 score. The bed is the best we have slept in. The service is exceptional, with a can-do attitude that makes every request feel welcome. The beach and grounds are impeccably maintained and deeply relaxing. And the Mercato restaurant alone is worth the visit.
The honest caveat is the room. For 1,527 Euros in shoulder season, a room that feels tight with luggage open, falling short of expectations at this price point. Guests should consider booking a larger room from the start, as the upgrade options are likely worth the additional cost. The room service dinner also does not match the kitchen's best work, and Wi-Fi is slower than ideal for heavy users.
Would we return? Without any hesitation. We left the hotel sad to go, already thinking about when we could come back. At this price, we would save up for a larger room and build several days around the beach and Mercato. At 88/100, the Four Seasons Astir Palace sits near the top of our hotel rankings at the time of this review, although Apurva Kempinski Bali is our top stay so far. If you can afford it, Greece has very few experiences that come close.
Positives of Four seasons Astir Palace Athens
The Four Seasons bed (best night's sleep in this review series)
Private beach with free cabanas, no music, and open swimming at any hour
Mercato restaurant (vegan panzanella is extraordinary)
Service can-do attitude (off-menu matcha, proactive pasta correction)
Balcony view over the bay with yachts
Immaculate condition throughout the property
Adults-only pool, quiet and beautifully maintained
Unique beach seat covers (no more sliding towels)
Location (beachside resort feeling, close to Athens and the airport)
iPad amenity request system (everything available on request)
Areas of Improvement of Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens
Room size and furniture (too compact for the price, with too much furniture squeezed into the available space)
Wi-Fi speed below expectations for heavy uploaders
No global plugs built in (one adapter provided)
Hand towels positioned at only one sink
Room service quality does not match the main restaurant
Staff do not proactively greet guests when passing in the grounds
No beach bags provided
Slippers on the smaller side
Want free breakfast, a room upgrade, and $100+ in credit?
Book through our travel advisor link and get the same rate as booking direct, plus meaningful extras at no additional cost.
- $100+ property credit
- Complimentary breakfast for 2
- Room upgrade, subject to availability
- Early check-in & late checkout, subject to availability
* More benefits may apply at select properties
