Hotel Alda

Opened in June 2014, this hip boutique hotel draws you in with its fun features, but it also has the important elements to transform it into one of Reykjavik’s best hotels.

• Attic rooms and suites with a wide balcony and great views
• Cell phone programmed with local apps and maps provided to every guest
• Outdoor hot tub

Most hotels in Reykjavik try to embody Scandinavian style, with varying degrees of success. At its most design-forward, the aesthetic can be a little aggressive; conversely, it can resemble an Ikea catalogue with a more laid-back, apartment-style sensibility, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

This is where Hotel Alda comes in. It’s design-conscious enough while still feeling accessible, but you won’t mistake it for a pied-a-terre. Located on the main shopping street, the hotel has 64 rooms spread over four floors. On the top floor, the “Attic” rooms and suites share a large balcony with expansive views over Reykjavik and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Everything feels fresh and new (the hotel only opened in June 2014), and all of the rooms feature a monochromatic palette with blond wood and one or two whimsical accent pieces like a red chair or a gold cage lamp.

What makes it special though is that the hotel elevates the experience by adding delightful features that engage the guest beyond appreciating well-appointed accommodations. These include a barbershop and chocolate store in the lobby, a vinyl record player in the breakfast room, and a cell phone programmed with local apps and maps provided to every guest at check-in.

The hotel is popular with locals who come for a cocktail in the lounge. There is also an outdoor hot tub –an integral part of the Nordic experience—and Hotel Alda is the only hotel in its tier that offers this.

While the hotel clearly plays to a young, hip crowd, Alda would work well for most travelers who appreciate a boutique experience. Rooms with a view are hard to come by in Reykjavik, and the Attic rooms and suites here have that advantage.