Review: The Reykjavík Edition

Why book?

Reykjavík finally gets the five-star hotel it deserves with this sexy newcomer, a mash-up of everything we love about EDITION Hotels with plenty of Icelandic flair.

Set the scene

An enormous black lava rock “totem” strewn with (faux) fur blankets and throw pillows anchors the hotel’s sprawling lobby area on one end, and an enormous undulating wall projection of the Northern Lights on the other, and from there, guests disseminate into any of a number of cozy nooks. Much like the city itself, the EDITION’s ground floor is a microcosm of the different types you’ll see in Iceland: expense account types sharing a business dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Tides; ice climbers debriefing an expedition over coffees at the Tides Café; and elegant Reykjavikians grabbing a drink at the lobby bar before waltzing over to the Harpa concert hall next door.

The backstory

Hotelier Ian Schrager brings his signature sense of alchemy to this design-forward hotel, a partnership between Roman and Williams and local firm T.ark. The hotel blends in seamlessly with the neighboring condo buildings (some of the most expensive real estate in Iceland) and was angled just-so to make the most of the surrounding harbor and mountain views. So while EDITION Hotels in New York, London, Tokyo and beyond might be known as sleek, sceney, urban epicenters, this one has a few natural touches that suit its quintessentially Icelandic location.

The rooms

The rooms start with a clean, minimalist foundation of concrete, pale ash, and gray oak. From there, they turn up the hygge with faux fur rugs, custom Italian-made furniture which simply begs to be lounged on, Le Labo toiletries made with EDITION’s exclusive scent, a minibar with local touches like quirky Omnom chocolate bars, and colorful, impossibly cozy bed throws from local wool company Ístex. Stunning landscape photographs from Icelandic photographers Pall Stefansson and Ragnar Axelsson bring the outside in, as do the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor, the mountains, the neighboring Harpa, and the cityscape. There isn’t a bad view in the house, but the corner rooms and suites offer particularly spectacular panoramas.

Food and drink

There are a few food and bev outposts here, with the idea being that guests can visit the hotel and have something to do at any time of day or night. Located off the lobby, the Tides Café coffee and snack counter provides an early-morning hangout for guests to linger over a cappuccino before check-in, as most flights from the U.S. arrive in the very early morning. As the day progresses, more and more of the action migrates over to the lobby bar for small bites, local beers and spirits. Try the potent Pimm’s Cup, made with classic Icelandic spirit Brennivín (“Black Death,” a type of aquavit) and a hint of cinnamon. And while the restaurant Tides offers lunch service as well, it really comes to life in the evenings, as the sun sets over the harbor and the gorgeous woodworked interior takes on an elegant, sexy atmosphere. Chef Gunnar Karl Gísalson–the force behind acclaimed Reykjavik restaurant Dill–leads the way with caught-that-day seafoods, high-quality meats, and unexpected flavor pairings. A beetroot starter with smoked lemon emulsion? We loved it. Scallops with clementine and kombucha? Fantastic. Tender, flavorful Icelandic lamb loin with turnips and onion? Sublime. Just save room for the truly transcendent house-made coffee ice cream that comes with a drizzle of coffee oil. It gives Reykjavik’s iconic rye bread ice cream a run for its money.

The spa

Iceland has a history of wellness tourism and making the most of its geothermal waters, but “The SPA” here takes recharging to a whole new level. There are three treatment rooms for the expected massages, facials, and so forth, but the main attraction here is a communal hammam connected to a swanky spa lounge, where guests indulging in the “social spa concept” can enjoy food and drink service between steams and soaks. Even if you aren’t a spa person per se, consider penciling in some time here. It’s a much more intimate, curated experience than sharing a lagoon with hundreds of strangers. It’s a concept we wouldn’t mind EDITION exporting to their other properties around the world.

The neighborhood/area

Iceland is a land of contrasts, and from this waterfront location in the city center, it’s all available mere steps from the EDITION’s front door: a cityscape behind the hotel, and waterfront views in front; fisherman loading up their boats just feet from multi-million dollar condos next door; the Harpa concert hall on one side, and the Icelandic Phallological Museum on the other. Hallgrimskírkja is less than a fifteen minute stroll away. For an urban escape with everything at your fingertips, the location couldn’t be better.

The service

The main difference between a five-star hotel in Iceland versus, say, Paris is that white-glove and reverential service never sacrifices warmth. Bags appear in your room without a hitch, the lobby staff are on hand to make reservations and call a taxi with ease, but there’s always a smile and perhaps a dry Icelandic sense of humor, as well.

Eco effort

Rooms come with reusable pitchers for water and zero single-use plastics.

Accessibility

There are no steps to get up into the lobby, and elevators take you from the basement spa to the rooftop with ease.

Anything left to mention?

Open only on Friday nights, the ground-floor speakeasy Tölt is the place to be–if you can get in. It’s a cozy jewelbox of a space that serves up cocktails made with Icelandic spirits, and is completely sound-proofed from the rest of the hotel. Hotel guests are given the password, but if you’re just passing through for dinner or drinks, try to make friends with the lobby bartender and see if they’ll sneak you in.

Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List?

Iceland’s tourism boom has opened up countless ways to explore the country—whether you’re a lagoon goon, a waterfall aficionado, or a high-adventure seeker—but until now, Reykjavik’s hotel scene has been adequate but not necessarily exciting. The opening of this EDITION is a vote of confidence from the hotel industry powers that be that five-star luxury should, and does, have a place in Reykjavik. The backpacker lodges and more family-oriented properties are still there, but we’re glad that there’s now a more splurge-worthy option, too.