hotel recommendation in Athens?

Amazon, Attalos, Cecil, Magna Grecia, Acropolis View, Metropolis, Arethusa, Pan.

You will want a hotel near the Acropolis in Plaka or Monastraki. Brotherlee's suggestions meet that requirement.
We have stayed at Attalos several times. It is a budget hotel, nothing special except its location and its rooftop bar overlooking the Acropolis.
Try searching for a hotel on booking.com. It gives you prices and availability of multiple hotels as well as their location.

In this album the 7-9th pictures are from Attalos rooftop bar.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/570719132pdjjHG

We just came back from Athens and stayed at Hotel Phaedra. Although it's nothing fancy, the staff is friendly and it's quiet and in a great location. It also has a rooftop dining area with a view of the Acropolis.

Internetwiz, when y ou say "dining area" do you mean they now have a RESTAURANT up there? When I have stayed at Phaedra before, there were rooftop tables and umbrellas for use of guests, but no food service or requirement. Please clarify! Thanks!

I'll add my faves to the list Cypria, Achilleas, Amalia,Amazon, Hermes, Central,...all within a couple blocks of one another...at The Cypria, request a "new" wing room..at the Amazon a higher floor, at the Achilleas, a room facing Lekka Street. At the Hermes and Central (next door to each other) there are some Acropolis view rooms..the Central has a nice view from the roof. Personally, I would avoid the Cecil and the Attalos. There are great options in your price range. stay near Syntagma Square for ease of transport, orientation,
and ease of seeing the city.

Have stayed at Acropolis View 2X, and would recommend it.

Johnnie, why would you avoid the Attalos? I have it booked for late October.

The Attalos is not located where I like to be, its clean, and you will be fine..I find it grossly over rated..and the last time I stayed there, the bathroom floor drain (they are in every bath in Greece), was really gross smelling. My friends, who go to Athens twice a year, always stay there, and think I am too choosy abut areas..they say its fine. Place is also getting worn..as it is a busy place...mostly thanks to Matt Barretts' Greece guide.

thanks again to everybody! We are booked at the Cypria, and will request a new wing room, as per johnnieb's suggestion..

travelerjan, I should have put "dining area" in quotes (re: Hotel Phaedra). No restaurant but the roof does have a great view and we had a picnic brunch up there. Also, I would not recommend anyone pay extra for breakfast there. Breakfast was included in our rate, but even so, the choices were meager.

Johnnie, thanks for your comments. Although I love the rate I received from the Attalos, I don't want smelly drains. Would you ID your top 2 or 3 budget to moderate Athens hotels? Thanks, Linda

Achilleas (around the corner from The Astor, on Lekka St)
The Pan (basic, clean, fabulously located)
Metropolis Hotel (on Mitropolis St, a few blocks downhill from Syntagma Square...across from the Cathedral of Athens..spartan but clean w/bath/ac/TV)...that should give you some options.

those were the budget ones...the moderate ones that I like
Cypria (new wing)
Hermes or Central (next door to each other)
Amazon

all six are within a couple of blocks of one another, located close enough to the Airport Bus or Metro to walk to, as long as you do not have a steamer trunk! Syntagma Square area is always my first choice.

for luxury options..
The Grande Bretagne
The King George
The Electra Palace (not to be confused with the Electra Hotel)
Athens Gate

Linda, one smelly drain does not a whole hotel make. I've stayed at the Attalos and had a very pleasant experience.

Others in the same neighborhood that are convenient to both the Plaka, Metro and Syntagma Square are the Arethusa, Pan, Metropolis, Amazon and Acropolis View. Most recently I stayed in the Amazon (last July) and was very happy with my room. They have done a complete renovation and the room I had was modern and clean.