101 hotel

The Best Hotels in Iceland, From Rural Lodges to Reykjavik Boutiques

"Reykjavik has creativity running through its soul, and for the artful travelers looking to experience the height of the country’s design scene, a stay at 101 Hotel comes highly recommended. An exalted member of the Design Hotels group, 101 Hotel offers refined and sophisticated interiors that are unabashedly fashionable and self-assured. The striking black and white interiors play backdrop to a collection of contemporary Icelandic artwork, with tasteful furnishings selected to bring about that effortless designer style. Rooms are quite warm and personable, with rugs thrown across wooden floors, heavenly beds, and a picturesque view of Mt. Esja across the water. There’s a restaurant on-site with a devout local following, and a chic bar for cocktails after a day of wandering around Reykjavik, with chairs gathered around tree-trunk tables and a cozy fireplace. All this is nestled a short walk from Laugavegur, the city’s main thoroughfare." - James Taylor

"On first glance, it would be easy to dismiss the 101 Hotel as merely a functional option. Stepping inside the austere five-story concrete building on Hverfisgata, however, guests discover an ultra-modern boutique lodging with minimal black-and-white decor—the work of owner-designer Ingibjörg S. Pálmadóttir—that gives it the feel of a chic downtown gallery. Contemporary paintings, photography, and sculptures by local artists appear througout the property, complementing the oak floors and wood-heavy Nordic furniture in the 38 rooms. Queen and king-size beds (there are no twin rooms) come topped with fine Italian linens, entertainment systems are state of the art, and open-plan bathrooms make extensive use of glass and offer Aveda bath products; deluxe rooms and suites up the ante with with claw-foot tubs. The hotel also has a moody restaurant and bar, a gym and spa, and a comfortable lounge area where you can put your feet up by the fire."

"Most of the hotels have an oddly corporate vibe, but the 101 is a former art deco 1930s office building turned modern boutique spot that serves as a great home base before venturing into the countryside."

101 Hotel

"It’s not much to look at from the outside—a mud-brown high-rise overlooking Arnarhóll Square—but the interiors are stunning, a slick blend of traditional Scandinavian minimalism and offbeat Icelandic art. The ground floor—with its stylish reading lounge, swank bar, and Euro-Asian "cafeteria"—could easily double as a modern art gallery. The 38 surprisingly cozy guest rooms balance heated oak floors and sheepskin rugs with stainless steel and matte-black furniture, high-speed Internet, DVD players, and disposable cameras (befitting the island’s obsession with technology). Tucked in the basement are Japanese-style baths and a steam room heated by the geothermal pools that lie beneath Reykjavík. The hotel is within walking distance of the historic town center, the main shopping streets, and the mega-trendy 101 nightlife district—the hotel’s namesake."

48 Hours In Iceland

"Centrally-located city hotels include the stylish boutique 101 Hotel." - The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Editorial Team