The Ace Hotel & Swim Club pool parties introduce us to the world of urban summer hedonism
Saturday, sun, retro vibes, and a margarita in hand. The pool at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Glyfada filled with cool crowds and great music, giving the signal that summer had officially begun. And we were there when it all started.
- 30/05/2025, 15:10
When does summer really begin? With the first swim? The first open-air cinema night? The first time you step outside and don’t hear that nagging voice -whether internal or external- reminding you to “bring a jacket”?
This year, for me, summer began with a pool party. The location: the pool at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Glyfada. The vibe: like being on vacation just a breath away from the city center. From the moment I entered -or rather, stepped out onto- the pool area, I knew: this was it. Summer, in its most stylish, fresh, and authentic form, was officially here.
First thought: “I want to celebrate my birthday (Leo, July, naturally) at this luxurious yet laid-back adult playground full of positive vibes.” Stegi Radio’s music was playing from early on. DJs Madam X and Poor J’Darr were behind the decks, and the first beats dropped almost in sync with the first ice cubes hitting mezcal-filled glasses, rimmed with black salt. Every track, every rhythm, made the atmosphere more and more alive, full of good energy and -most importantly- effortlessly cool.
Ace Hotel & Swim Club Athens has managed to bring to the southern suburbs an upscale yet relaxed lifestyle that, until now, we’d only seen in Instagram posts from Miami or Palm Springs. But here in Glyfada, it comes with true character, a local touch, and a youthful spirit. Barefoot, soaked, dressed in linens and swimwear, everyone moved naturally through a space that felt more like a community than a hotel. And that was the best part: you didn’t feel like a “guest” in something exclusive or “overstyled” – you felt like you belonged.
The cabanas and daybeds were buzzing with groups of friends. The dance floor was never empty. Colorful inflatable balls floated in the pool, later becoming the perfect excuse to feel like carefree kids again. The whole scene was straight out of a movie -only this time it was real, ours, and happening right here in the south.
If you ask me what the flavor of the party was, I’d say: mezcal margarita with a smoky edge (because sure, Aperol and Negroni are great, but sometimes you need a change) and the incredible Mango Sgroppino, somewhere between sorbet and cocktail – a playful bridge between childhood memories and adult fun. The menu, curated by Paris-based Quixotic Projects, is well worth exploring.
I can’t tell you what the best moment was. Was it lying back on a waterbed with a cocktail, oysters, and a burger? Was it dancing in your wet hair and swimsuit among the crowd? What I can say is that the general vibe of the party was that no one was trying too hard—everything just happened naturally, authentically, beautifully.
The feeling I left with was simple: finally, something new. Something real, crafted with both aesthetic and substance. The Ace Hotel & Swim Club promises this every Saturday, all summer long. With free entry (as long as you reserve a cabana, daybed, or lounger), you gain access to an entire lifestyle – not just a party. And this first, kick-off experience? Just the beginning.