Reykjavik hotels

For rooms with a view, look no further than The Reykjavik Edition. Located by the Old Harbour Port, most of the 253 rooms and suites at this uber-stylish hideaway have floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize those quintessentially Icelandic mountain views.

What I love about this hotel is that it truly celebrates all things Iceland. The black exterior has been designed to echo Iceland's lava landscape, while a sculpture designed to mimic southern Iceland's basalt column stacks stands in the entrance, and a digital artwork of the northern lights hangs in the lobby.

The hotel even has a wake-up service if you stay during the winter months and want to catch the aurora borealis. Make sure to visit the seventh floor bar, The Roof, for a cocktail or two with spectacular views.

I love a good hotel breakfast, and the one at Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel is excellent. The daily morning buffet is piled high with everything from bacon and boiled eggs to platefuls of cake and croissants. My favourite is the hotel's homemade Icelandic skyr yogurt, topped with their in-house muesli.

But it's not just breakfast that makes this one of the best hotels in Reykjavik. I'm also a big fan of the elegant light-filled rooms at Eyja Guldsmeden, which come with wooden four-poster beds draped in white linen cotton (a vibe that's admittedly more Bali than Iceland, but it works).

Located just off Laugavegur, the city’s busy main shopping street, this Reykjavik boutique hotel is also well placed for foodies. Restaurants such as Kaffi Loki that specialize in classic Icelandic cuisine, including fermented shark and rye bread ice cream, are just around the corner.

The first time I travelled to Reykjavik I was with my family, so we opted for the apartment-style Reykjavik Residence Hotel. Split over two different (but nearby) renovated historic houses in the downtown area, this stylish hotel was perfect for travelling with younger children.

We went for a two-bedroom apartment, but there are also three-bed options as well as Studios and Junior Suites. Each one comes with hotel trimmings (TVs, iPod docking stations, coffee machines), as well as fridge-freezers and a microwave. The larger apartments, such as the one we stayed in, also have full-sized kitchens.

Even better, the properties are located near the main shopping street of Laugavegur and the rainbow-coloured Skolavordustigur street, and a 15-minute walk to the excellent ice cream shop Gaeta Gelato, making this one of the best hotels in Reykjavik for families.

Housed within an austere 1930s former office block, it would be easy to dismiss Hotel Local 101 from its stark exterior. But once you step inside, you quickly realize that this is one of the best hotels in Reykjavik—and one of the most unique.

I stopped for a drink at the ground floor bar and enjoyed the light-filled modern interiors, particularly the cool vintage benches and weather-worn wooden tables. Colour lovers might not appreciate the modern black and white bedrooms, but I thought they looked very stylish (some rooms are on the smaller side though, so do check before you book).

What I think makes this one of the best hotels in Reykjavik, however, is their art collection. You'll find a curated selection of modern Icelandic artworks scattered throughout the hotel, including a fantastic sculpture of a local fisherman that I wanted to take home with me.

Icelanders are justifiably proud of their country, and I love seeing this translated into cool hotel design. Take Ion City Hotel, for example, where everything from the wool curtains in the bedrooms and the specially designed lobby light to the dresses and jewelry worn by the hotel staff is made locally.

Of course, this isn’t the only reason why I think Ion City is one of the best hotels in Reykjavik—other factors include its prime location, right in the middle of Laugavegur Street.

Surrounded by shops, restaurants and bars, it’s a fun place to stay if you’re visiting with friends (I stopped by with two girlfriends for a drink and we vowed to stay here the next time we came to Iceland). It’s also a great place to base yourself for sampling the city’s nightlife; next door bar Dillon regularly has live music playing.

Just 35 minutes by car from Reykjavik, Hotel Kriunes is one for those looking to enjoy both the capital and some of Iceland's magical great outdoors.

The family-run Hotel Kriunes was recommended by a good friend, who loved its location next to a peaceful lake and the plethora of local activities offered. These include horse riding on Icelandic horses (one of the oldest breeds in the world), hiking along volcano trails and even a nearby trampoline park, which was heaven for my kids.

The hotel has gradually evolved over the years: it started as a family home before it slowly expanded with more modern and larger rooms added (some even come with hot tubs). Although we visited during the summer months, the friendly staff shared that this is a great location for spying the northern lights. Even more reason to go back!

If I were ever to join a private members’ club, I would want it to look like Sand Hotel. Cool but not pretentious, understated but with friendly and attentive staff, and with stylish but cozy bedrooms, this is hands down one of the best boutique hotels in Reykjavik.

Plus, its location in the heart of the city on stylish Laugavegur street is ideal. Hip neighbours include the oldest gentlemen’s tailor in Iceland and family-run Sandholt Bakery, purveyors of what I will happily argue are among the best pastries in town (try a kleina, an Icelandic doughnut, followed by a cinnamon bun).

Also handy is the nearby bus stop, where tour buses depart to other corners of Iceland—you can store any excess luggage at Sand Hotel if you plan to be gone for a night or two.

Hotel Borg was the first luxury hotel to be built in Iceland and remains one of the best hotels in Reykjavik to this day. It was the passion project of Johannes Josefsson, a famous local wrestling champion, Olympian and circus performer who spent the money he earned performing and competing overseas building this iconic Art Deco property.

The hotel opened in 1930 and has since welcomed everyone from Marlene Dietrich and Ella Fitzgerald to everyday folk such as me, who come to admire the period features and furnishings, survey the black and white historical photos lining the walls, and wave “hallo” to the bust of Josefsson in the hotel lobby.

Of course, the city's hotel scene has come a long way in the last 95 years, but this is still one of my favourite hotels in Reykjavik and well worth checking into for a night or two.

If you're looking to splash out, then you can't go wrong with Kvosin Downtown Hotel, one of the best hotels in Reykjavik. I'm a big fan of this Reykjavik boutique hotel, which sits within a 19th-century former library and soft drinks factory in the perfect downtown location.

Rooms inside this historic building are charmingly categorized as Cozy, Big, Bigger, and Biggest, and all come with a kitchenette. There's also the Top Floor Apartment, which is ideal if you're travelling with younger kids (it comes with a fantastic bunk bed).

What I really love about Kvosin Hotel, however, is their cozy bar Aldamot, which is home to the most incredible collection of wines, whiskeys and gins, as well as knowledgeable staff on hand to help if you can't decide what to order. My tip is to try one of their excellent Icelandic G&Ts.

Located at the quieter end of Laugavegur Street, the Alda Hotel Reykjavik is one that I recommend to friends who want to be close to the action but not right in the thick of it all.

This is a really stylish place to stay and its communal areas are decorated with fun artworks and designer furniture. The elegant guestrooms, meanwhile, come with Arctic goose-down bedding (particularly welcome during the winter months).

There are a few things that make this Reykjavik boutique hotel stand out. The first are the complimentary Android smartphones for guests to use during their stay. The second is the garden hot tub, where you will (hopefully) see the northern lights. And the third is the in-house barber shop that will ensure you look your best before hitting the town.