It is second to none in the whole city. Grande Bretagne’s atmospheric lounge with its imposing columns, stained glass, gold details and plenty of natural light, has been bringing a slice of the high life to the city’s centre and serves a brunch that is truly epic. Every Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 2pm, accompanied by the sounds of soft music, the marble tables of the Winter Garden flaunt wonderful baskets filled with homemade butter and gianduja, croissants, mastic scented tsoureki (sweet bread) and brioches with Corinthian raisins and lime cream, along with homemade seasonal fruit marmalade and sweet lemon cream. It is the perfect accompaniment to coffee, tea and the freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices. But the pleasure does not end there. You will then have to choose between an amazing mini vegetable ravioli with crab, avocado and citrus fruit, and an eminently likeable jamon Serrano served with a warm salad with forest mushrooms, truffles and dried sour cherries. Soon after, you are faced with yet another dilemma, where on the one hand you have the soft boiled organic farm-fresh eggs with a marinated and smoked Le Jajik salmon, and the other, eggs Benedict with lobster and hollandaise sauce – these delicacies curated by executive chef Asterios Koustoudis are both exquisite. Either way, the sweet finale features elaborate desserts from the pastry shop of this historic hotel, served on a beautiful tiered tray. For €48 per person, which includes all the above and a glass of champagne, the value for money of the Winter Garden’s “Weekends” is simply unmatched.

(Hotel Grande Bretagne, Vassileos Georgiou 1, Syntagma, +30 210 3330000, metro: Syntagma)