Review: Moxy Athens City – a Modern Greek Delight

Kicking off my Greece trip in Athens, I was on the hunt for the perfect hotel. To be specific, I needed something that would tick all the boxes, as I was bringing my parents along.

When I narrowed my search down to big chain hotels, the choices seemed to be either super fancy with a hefty price tag, too far from the city centre, or just plain outdated.

Then, like a beacon of hope, I stumbled upon Moxy Athens City. It checked all the right boxes: smack dab in the heart of Athens, recently opened, reasonably priced, and backed by the Marriott brand guarantee.

Sure, the Moxy vibe might lean towards the younger crowd, but hey, I thought my parents might enjoy a little trip down memory lane to their wilder years.

Booking (October 2022)

I booked the room for €140 a night, taxes and fees included. I was a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member at the time, so breakfast was on the house (more on that below).

While this may look average, the euro was extremely weak against the dollar at the time, which made it feel like a fantastic deal. Back in 2022, rates at Moxy Athens hovered around €180 a night in summer and dropped to €85 a night in winter, a no-brainer.

Location

Moxy Athens City overlooks Omonia Square, within walking distance of many attractions in the city centre and just a short distance from Monastiraki and Syntagma Square.

The hotel is also right next to the Omonia metro station, which makes it an excellent transportation hub. It’s just two stops from Syntagma station, where you can catch a direct metro line to the airport.

However, I rented a car from Hertz to keep my parents comfortable during our travels. Since we planned to explore other parts of Greece, the flexibility of a car was essential.

Lobby & Check-in

You’d have no issues checking in if you arrive by public transit or taxi, but arriving by car wasn’t seamless. The hotel has no driveway or parking lot in its building.

Upon arrival, I stepped out of the car and handed the keys to my dad, instructing him to circle around until I finished checking in and got parking instructions 😰. I could have been more prepared, but I never expected a hotel entrance without a driveway.

Parking

The only option is to park off-site, at the Polis Park garage about a 5-minute walk away. We paid €12 for 18 hours and 44 minutes.

1 / 2

While the parking fee wasn’t outrageous, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was essentially paying for the INCONVENIENCE.

Check-in

The check-in process itself was quite straightforward. Just like at other Moxy hotels, the check-in desk also works as the bar counter, under a neon “CHECK IN” sign.

I personally didn’t run into any issues, but I couldn’t help but notice that the check-in area had very limited space. It made me wonder whether it gets chaotic during peak check-in and check-out hours.

Despite that, I found myself captivated by the striking interior. Potted olive trees and globe lights line the hallway, with a pair of bulldog sculptures, one red and one black, at the end.

1 / 2

Room (Moxified Triple)

The Moxified Triple isn’t really a room with three beds, but rather a queen bed and a sofa bed. Upon entering room 519, my immediate thought was, “Wow, this room is tiny!”

Bed

The queen bed comes with Moxy’s signature “I WOKE UP LIKE THIS” cushion. The sofa in the corner is possibly the smallest sofa bed I’ve seen at a hotel, and pulled out, it sits right next to the queen.

There are floor-to-ceiling windows with both sheer and blackout curtains, and a wall-mounted TV faces the bed. Other than the size, the room was neat and cozy.

1 / 2

Welcome Gift

Beside the bed, there was a small table with a thoughtful welcome gesture: two bottles of water and two bottles of Greek juice. The peach-flavoured juice was incredibly delicious, a delightful touch to the room.

Storage & Desk

There was barely any space to put our luggage: no closet, no drawers whatsoever. Opposite the bed, there’s a hanging rail, a luggage rack, and a small panel that flips out to work as a desk or a makeup vanity.

The wall around them is a pegboard with hooks, which helps a little.

Bathroom

The bathroom, albeit small, was equipped with all the essentials, including a hairdryer. It has a walk-in shower behind a glass door and a round, backlit mirror over the sink.

However, one downside of Moxy hotels is their toiletries. Personally, I’m not a fan of their Muk brand 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, so if you’re particular about toiletries, I’d recommend bringing your own when staying at a Moxy.

1 / 3

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in the lobby check-in area. As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite member, I got it for free.

The spread was similar to other Moxy hotels I’ve stayed at in Europe, with some delightful Greek touches. You guessed it: Greek yogurt and Greek salad.

Here’s what was on the buffet:

• Bakery: croissants, pains au chocolat, koulouri (Greek sesame bread rings), phyllo pastries and doughnuts, with apricot jam, peach jam and peanut butter
• Cold: yogurt three ways (no lactose, low fat and full fat), cheeses, smoked turkey, ham and salami, fruit salad, cucumber and cream cheese crostini, and anthotiro, a fresh Greek cheese, rolled in seeds
• Hot: an omelette with olives and peppers, potato wedges, frankfurters and sliced sausage, plus boiled eggs
• Drinks: orange juice and a coffee machine

I’ll throw more photos here for you to swipe through 🙂

1 / 20

Amenities

Gym

Moxy Athens City doesn’t have a pool, but it has a fully equipped gym in the basement. There are Life Fitness treadmills and bikes, a cable machine, dumbbells, benches and a punching bag.

The yellow shelves hold mats, jump ropes and pink boxing gloves, in case you want to box.

1 / 7

Lobby & Second Floor

Throughout the lobby and second floor, there was ample space for relaxing, socializing, or even working. Downstairs, there are sofas, hanging egg chairs by the street-side windows, and a spiral staircase up to the second floor.

1 / 4

Upstairs, there’s a work desk with two iMacs and a printer, and long tables under a neon sign that reads “this must be the place.”

1 / 3

While I admired the interior design, the excessive spaciousness seemed to encourage guests to find their own secluded spots to unwind, rather than mingle with other travellers.

Luggage Lockers

Lastly, there are lockers in the basement where guests can store their luggage before or after their stay. There are 20 of them, each with its own lock.

Final Thoughts

As a fan of Moxy Hotels, I must say Moxy Athens City lived up to my expectations. I particularly appreciated its prime location and the freshness of the hotel.

However, there is definitely room for improvement when it comes to parking. It would help to have valet parking staff or a bellman available, and if that’s not feasible, reimbursing the parking fee would be a thoughtful gesture.

It was an unpleasant way to end my stay, trekking back to the parking garage along a bumpy road while lugging my carry-on behind me.

Would I stay again? Yes, for the location and the modern building. Just sort out your parking before you arrive if you’re driving.

Have you stayed at Moxy Athens City, or another Moxy in Europe? Let me know in the comments.