Meet Eftihia Stefanidi

Eftihia Stefanidi: The visionary weaving art and hospitality in Athens

In the heart of Athens, where neoclassical grandeur meets the raw pulse of contemporary creativity, Eftihia Stefanidi has quietly but surely redefined the city’s hospitality landscape. As the co-founder and creative director of House of Shila, she has created immersive, intimate spaces that feel less like hotels and more like artistic sanctuaries. Her vision goes beyond hospitality; it is a love letter to experience, aesthetics, and human connection.

Born and raised in Athens, Eftihia’s artistic journey began in theatre dramaturgy before expanding to filmmaking in Prague and a Masters degree in Film Aesthetics at Oxford. Her grounding in visual storytelling is evident in everything she touches. She honed her craft in London’s immersive events scene, collaborating with Secret Cinema, a pioneering experiential film collective. Photography, another of her lifelong passions, remains a constant thread throughout her work, influencing her ability to create spaces that feel cinematic, yet deeply personal.

Her return to Athens marked the beginning of House of Shila, a concept born out of her partnership with entrepreneur Shai Antebi. Their first creation, Shila, is a boutique hotel housed in a 1920s neoclassical mansion that has been carefully restored to preserve its character while offering an eclectic, sensual experience. With just six suites, Shila feels like stepping into an artist’s home: every detail meticulously curated, every corner whispering a story.

Not content with one masterpiece, Eftihia and Antebi unveiled Mona in 2022, a bold departure from Shila’s poetic nostalgia. Set in a former 1950s textile factory, Mona is a raw, industrial-chic space that balances urban grit with elegance. With 20 individually designed rooms, a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of Acropolis, and an underground speakeasy, Mona is more than a hotel—it is a cultural hub hosting exhibitions, supper clubs, and live performances.

Eftihia’s ability to combine art and hospitality stems from her deep appreciation of Athens—a city she describes as a juxtaposition of contrasts. The ancient and the modern, the refined and the rough, the serene and the chaotic. Her work captures this essence, offering guests not just a place to stay, but an invitation into an intimate, curated world where beauty lingers in every detail.

To step inside a House of Shila room is to enter Eftihia’s mind. A place where the past and future of Athens dance together, where every texture, shadow, and scent tells a story. For travellers seeking a stay that transcends the ordinary, Shila and Mona promise an unforgettable immersion into the city’s artistic soul.