Rendezvous in Reykjavik: A Luxury Weekend Escape to Iceland’s Capital
Where to Stay A luxury Reykjavik adventure begins with a great choice of upscale accommodation options. One of the standout choices is The Reykjavik Edition, a contemporary 5 star hotel nestled next to the famous Harpa Concert and Conference Centre by the Old Harbour. Many of the rooms offer breath-taking views of the harbour and Mount Esja, and the signature restaurant, Tides, was created by Iceland’s first Michelin-star Chef. A smaller and boutique option is Ion City Hotel (sister property to the iconic and award-winning Ion Adventure Hotel), located in a vibrant street in downtown Reykjavik. A member of ‘Design Hotels’, this gorgeous hotel has just eighteen rooms and suites. My final offering, Sand Hotel, is located next door to one of Reykjavik’s oldest bakeries and offers a blend of modern art-deco and historical charm, with individually designed rooms and a focus on personalised service. With the bakery next door, breakfast here is a must!
Culinary Delights The foodie scene in Reykjavik is incredible, with plenty to offer all tastes and diets. For a phenomenal culinary experience you can’t go wrong with ‘Dill’, a Michelin-starred restaurant renowned for its Icelandic tasting menu which is prepared with a modern twist. For fine dining with a view, ‘Kopar’ is located within the Old Harbour and offers an adventurous menu combining local products from both land and sea. For a more humble experience, I absolutely adored Himalayan Spice which serves excellent traditional Nepalese food with warm and friendly service.
All About the Experiences It’s an easy task to fill your weekend with unforgettable memories in Reykjavik itself – from a visit to Perlan or the iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church, to viewing incredible architecture and countless museums, the city centre is extremely walkable and easy to navigate. There’s a ‘sculpture and shore walk’ path that runs for 5km along the waterfront, and you’ll definitely come across the main shopping street Laugavegur (home to boutiques, high-quality Icelandic wool and unique jewellery shops) at some point during your stay; Reykjavik also hosts a marvellous amount of street art and colourful murals that make for a interesting walk around the city. Travelling outside the city is worth the effort however if time allows. If travelling during our winter months, a trip to see the mesmerising Northern Lights is a definite highlight – there are private jeep options available as well as options to view them from the ocean too! A visit to a geothermal spa is an iconic Icelandic experience, and whilst the Blue Lagoon is deservedly a better-known option (and conveniently located near the airport if you have a late flight home), a closer and more unique experience can be found at the Sky Lagoon, just south of the city. Other incredible experiences to take from Reykjavik include whale and puffin watching tours, volcano helicopter tours, horseback riding and glacier hiking – but honestly, the list would be endless.
I’ve focused this article more on information for the luxury traveller, however Reykjavik offers enough to make anyone’s visit there truly unforgettable.
