Hótel Borg

A four star hotel (do not expect the services of a five star) offering some of Reykjavík’s most luxurious accommodations and a sense of old world glamour, the stately Hotel Borg overlooks the picturesque Austurvöllur square.

• The Scandanavian take on Art Deco style
• Suitably glamourous guests of the past include Marlene Dietrich and the King of Denmark.
• The 360-degree view from the Tower Suite is hard to beat.

The Borg, well located in downtown Reykjavík within walking distance of all the shops and most restaurants, is an authentic Art Deco property (I met a young American woman whose grandparents were married in Iceland during World War II and who came to the Borg for Champagne and dancing to fête the occasion). Opened in 1930, the Borg has an old-world feel that’s missing from most other hotels in Reykjavík, like the 101, which go for a more cutting-edge design scheme.

The hotel’s fifty-six rooms, housed in the original white façade building and new addition, were all redone in 2007 and feature parquet floors, black marble–clad bathrooms and gray-painted walls. Standard double rooms are small—I overheard one couple complaining that there was not enough room for both of their suitcases, so one ended up on top of the desk during their stay—so go for a suite. The best is the Tower Suite, which occupies the top floors, with a cozy sitting room that has spectacular views across Reykjavík. Don’t expect five-star amenities, though: there’s no turndown service, and room service ends at 10 P.M. during the week and 11 p.m. on weekends.

Indagare Tip: If you’re staying at the Borg (or any hotel in downtown Reykjavík, for that matter) over a weekend, request a room facing the back. The capital is known as a party town, and rooms on the lower floors at the Borg that face pretty Parliament square get a lot of noise, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

Those who enjoy hotels with a sense of history and old-world flavor will appreciate the décor and ambiance of the Hotel Borg.  From the grand spiral staircase and monographed elevator doors to the display of gleaming silver service dating from the hotel’s opening in 1930, the Hotel Borg offers guests a chance to step back in time without giving up on today’s creature comforts.