Resting on the edge of Reykjavik’s Old Harbour next to the soaring, glass Harpa concert hall and conference center, the new Reykjavik EDITION raises the standard for stylish lodging in Iceland’s capital. Steps from Laugavegur — the city’s main shopping street — and within easy walking distance of museums, restaurants and cafés, the hotel combines luxury and attentive service with a location ideal for experiencing the energy of this spirited city.
© Nikolas Koenig
The creative vision behind the property is Ian Schrager, whose influence is apparent throughout. The exterior façade is clad in shou sugi ban timber, charred to a deep ebony using an ancient Japanese technique, set against blackened steel frames that evoke lava-covered slopes. Inside, basalt stone flooring and a striking reception desk sit beside a dramatic Icelandic lava stone sculpture, establishing a strong connection to the island’s raw geology.
Corner suites offer expansive views of the harbor and Harpa’s multicolored façade through floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a vivid sense of sky, sea and distant mountains. Suites are designed for comfort and social living, with full-sized dining tables, a powder room, a large living area with a long sofa, daybed and lounge chair, bookshelves featuring works by Icelandic artists and designers, plus a serene bedroom with an en-suite bathroom that includes a separate shower and a deep-soaking tub.
© Nikolas Koenig
Thoughtful tactile details reinforce the bond to Iceland’s landscape. Handmade stoneware water vessels and drinking cups in each room, created by ceramics artist Guðbjörg Káradóttir, echo glacial forms. Furnishings are gallery-worthy, featuring custom wood-and-leather chairs, original works by Icelandic artists such as Pall Stefansson and Ragnar Axelsson, and wool bed throws from local textile maker Ístex.
The hotel’s 253 guestrooms and suites are complemented by lively social spaces. TIDES restaurant is led by celebrated chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason. Tölt, a cozy bar tucked off the main lobby, showcases a green marble-topped bar with backlit bronze shelving, burnt-orange nooks, a walnut-paneled ceiling and pony-hair poufs. On the seventh floor, the Roof bar offers glass-enclosed seating and a seasonal outdoor terrace with panoramic views.
© Nikolas Koenig
A professional events team can coordinate meetings and private gatherings. The hotel also features a subterranean nightclub and a Nordic-style fitness center and spa equipped with modern workout machines, three treatment rooms, a hammam, steam room, sauna, plunge pool and a geothermal water splash pool. Guests can enjoy spa refreshments such as a Viking shake or an Icelandic moss–vodka infusion at the spa bar, and sample volcanic bread sprinkled with black lava salt.
Once the heart of Reykjavik’s trawling industry, the surrounding waterfront neighborhood has evolved into a vibrant shopping and activity hub, and serves as a departure point for whale-watching and Northern Lights boat tours. The concierge can arrange excursions, or you can simply stay in and savor the hotel’s atmosphere. In the evening, the lobby bar and signature Living Room are perfect for relaxing — settle into a sheepskin-draped chair by the indoor fire pit, sip Icelandic birch liquor, and watch a gentle Aurora Borealis display flicker along one wall.