Hotel Grimsborgir

In 2009, the sophisticated Hotel Grimsborgir opened with only apartments, and hotel rooms were added in 2013 and 2014. The hotel is modern and, for the most part, elegantly designed. The lobby is trendy with a gray desk and leather bar stools that complement the gray-stone tiled floor and shaggy gray rugs. Decorative china plates dot the walls, a unique, yet chic addition to the decor. The main building houses the restaurant, bar, and reception, and the apartments and rooms are set in a number of separate buildings that aren’t connected. This can be cumbersome for guests when it’s extremely cold outside or raining. Though most of the hotel has an elegant vibe, the restaurant leans toward a kitschy style; its gray chairs and sleek wooden floors are modern, but they don't match the pink tablecloths and purple and gray paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The bar, however, is contemporary, with modern gray or burnt-orange armchairs and sofas clustered near a stone fireplace. Guests are mostly vacationing couples, though the apartments attract a significant number of families, too. 

Hotel Grimsborgir has a secluded countryside location next to River Sog and within the Golden Circle tour, one of the popular tourist routes in Iceland. It’s a location best suited for those with a rental car, as sights, dining, and entertainment are not within walking distance. Kerid, a volcanic crater lake, is a seven-minute drive away. Skalholt, a historic site, takes 27 minutes by car. The lovely waterfall of Gullfoss is a 55-minute drive. Keflavik International Airport is an hour-and-40-minute drive from the hotel, while the city of Reykjavik is an hour and a half by car. Selfoss is the closest town at a 16-minute drive away. 

Hotel Grimsborgir's 64 units are split between rooms and apartments. The style is airy and elegant, but decor differs among the rooms. However, all have wooden or white-tiled floors, a white-and-tan color palette, and modern chairs, simple but chic art pieces, and soft rugs. All rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, and terraces with outdoor seating. By contrast, the apartments come with two to four bedrooms, sitting areas, and kitchens, complete with microwaves, ovens, stocked refrigerators, and stoves. Some even have private hot tubs on large wooden decks. The white bathrooms are sleek with shower/tub combos and rainfall showerheads, toiletries, and hairdryers. Bathrooms in the apartments have separate showers and tubs, plus extra space. 

On-site dining is a highlight at this property, and the Grimsborgir Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a variety of Nordic and international options. Breakfast, which includes Icelandic touches like skyr with granola and fresh fish, is included in the room rates, and the picnic area is open in the warmer months. However, the restaurant is pricey, reviews of the food quality varies, and there’s no room service. The hotel bar, with plush armchairs and loveseats, provides a cozy place to relax with a drink. There are a couple of hot tubs for guests to use, a nice option from which to view the Northern Lights. Massages are also available upon request. The Grimsborgir provides a number of sightseeing tours from the hotel each day for a fee. Though the hotel is not particularly geared toward business travelers, there is a single fully equipped meeting room and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. Parking is provided at no extra charge.