Almost immediately after opening its doors in 2020, Shila established itself as the must-stay address in Athens’ chic Kolonaki neighbourhood: a three-storey neoclassical mansion that’s part art gallery, part events space and part boutique bolthole, with a roof deck, a leafy garden and six suites gorgeously styled by local creative director Eftihia Stefanidi. This month, Stefanidi and Shila’s owner, Shai Antebi, are opening Mona, a sister property in a reclaimed eight-storey textile factory in Psyrri, Athen’s vibrant downtown.

A penthouse suite at Mona, Athens

Gella Valavanis

The master bedroom in one of Mona’s penthouse suites

Eftihia Stefanidi

They went to lengths to preserve rather than jettison as many original architectural elements as possible, from a grand circular iron staircase to terrazzo floors. Stefanidi then embellished the spaces with modernist designs from Shila’s “maison d’objets” design studio (all of which are available for purchase). The 20 open-plan rooms run the gamut from snug (but great-looking) doubles to loft apartments; some have balconies or patios. There’s a pop-up café-bar at ground level, a gallery space and a basement lounge with speakeasy leanings. The idea is for Mona to lure Shila habitués and members (yes, there’s a members’ club too, called House of Shila) to this busier, grittier but super-vibrant downtown location. Based on their form, and those rooftop Acropolis views, I’m betting on their success. mona-athens.com, from €205