The NEW Hotel’s Art Lounge Rooftop Restaurant in Athens, Greece, is a culinary destination that melds traditional Greek flavors with modern culinary techniques. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Babis Kountouris, the restaurant offers an innovative menu that revives and reinterprets classic Greek dishes. Ingredients are carefully sourced from various regions of Greece, ensuring authenticity and quality.
Dishes such as “Bianco” from Corfu, “Ospriada” featuring a blend of legumes, “Soutzoukakia” (spicy meatballs), “Giouvarlakia” (meatball soup), and “Giouvetsi” (meat with orzo) are highlights of the menu, offering a taste of Greece’s rich culinary heritage. Each dish is a testament to the chef’s commitment to preserving traditional flavors while introducing contemporary twists.
Continue reading for the restaurant review from DSCENE Travel Editors:
The design of the NEW Hotel, where the Art Lounge is situated, mirrors this philosophy of blending tradition with innovation. The hotel’s architecture and interior design harmoniously combine classical Greek elements with modern aesthetics, creating an environment that is both inviting and reflective of Greece’s artistic and cultural heritage. This gastronomic experience is not just about food but also about immersing in the Greek way of life. The rooftop setting of the Art Lounge offers stunning views of Athens, making it an ideal spot for both locals and tourists to savor the flavors of Greece in a modern, stylish setting.
Throughout the entirety of NEW Hotel, including Art Lounge, simplicity and innovation coexist, and creativity is founded on the principles of tradition. Through the utilisation of historic elements in a contemporary manner, the well-known design pair Fernando & Humberto Campana were able to give the hotel its own personality. They did this by bringing moments from the past into the present and by working with materials that are typical of Greek architecture. This underlying principle of the aesthetics of the NEW Hotel is the same philosophy that permeates the cuisine of the Art Lounge, which has been significantly updated. In order to produce a really one-of-a-kind dining experience, the combination of pioneering spirit, simplicity, and tradition is essential.
The restaurant’s commitment to reviving and celebrating Greek culinary traditions is a unique offering in Athens’ dining scene. It’s a journey through Greece’s gastronomic history, reimagined for the contemporary palate. The Art Lounge is open daily, and reservations are recommended to experience this fusion of taste and tradition. Having served as the head chef at Art Lounge for a number of years and having previously worked in the kitchens of prestigious Greek hotels and European restaurants that were awarded two or three Michelin stars, Babis Kountouris is famous for his ability to strike a balance between tradition and innovation, thereby generating new ideas in the culinary world that consistently centre on their original flavours. Just in time for the 2024 Holidays chef Kountouris and his team have also prepared a special Festive 2023 Holiday Menu.
Discover more of the new menu in DSCENE’s gallery:
Opening Hours: Daily, 12:00 pm – 00:00 am (last order at 11:15 pm)
Reservation Phone: +30 210 3273170, +30 6946379500
Address: Art Lounge at NEW Hotel, Filellinon 16 & Navarchou Nikodimou 1 (entrance from Navarchou Nikodimou)
About New Hotel – perfectly situated between the ancient Plaka neighbourhood and the up-to-date commercial centre of Athens, connecting the old and new parts of the city. The Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, along with architecture students from the University of Thessaly, worked together to create the NEW Hotel, which combines traditional and modern elements of the Athens neighbourhood. It is unique because it uses traditional items in new ways, like historical postcards of Athens, unique glass structures for protection from the “evil eye,” and shadow theatre figures based on “Karagiozis,” bringing folklore into the modern world. The team also worked on finding new uses for old furniture, lights, and materials from the Olympic Palace, which used to stand in the same spot, and turning them into something bold and modern.
