Fosshotel Raudara

Despite converting to Fosshotel Raudara in 2016, this former Best Western property still looks, from the outside at least, like a standard chain hotel built for function. It's situated in a three-story white corner building that extends into a converted 1928 brewery that now houses six of the rooms. The lobby has been thoroughly rehauled, with laminate wood floors and pleather furnishings replaced with concrete floors and quirky-cool touches, like black nesting tables, bright polka-dot stickers on windows and walls, and different colored fabric panels along the back of a long leather banquette. A long reception desk doubles as a bar in the evening. A work area is set up along the floor-to-ceiling window in one corner for guests to use, and there's a cooler with beer, sodas, and snacks for sale. The spacious breakfast room received a chic makeover, as well, with multi-color seating, wood floors, and gray walls -- plus lots of natural light. Some of the hallways have already been renovated with Fosshotel's minimalist-chic look (think concrete walls and black room doors), but others still expose the property's Best Western past, with dated printed carpeting, mottled beige walls, and composite wood room doors (the newly gold paneled ceilings are cool, though). The hotel is planning completing renovations -- and adding a business center and meeting room -- throughout 2018. Guest staying here lean toward leisure travelers looking to save money by booking slightly outside of the city center, and the range of room sizes can accommodate solo business travelers, couples, and families. 

Fosshotel Raudara is situated in a residential area about a three-minute walk from the end of Laugavegur, the city's main shopping street, and about a 20-minute walk from the heart of downtown Reykjavik. The area is replete with hotels and hostels, and plenty of shops and restaurants are within walking distance, mostly in the direction of downtown. The iconic Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral is a 10-minute walk from the hotel and the Sun Voyager Sculpture is a 15-minute walk. The Raudararstigur bus station is just down the road, a one-minute walk away, and Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is about a 50-minute drive. The hotel offers an airport shuttle for an extra fee, and it also offers free parking, which is unusual for the area.

Fosshotel's 85 hotel rooms range from Single Rooms to be-level Family Rooms with separate living areas on the first floor and lofted bedrooms. The majority of rooms are located in the main older section, though some are situated in a wing that's part of a historic 1928 brewery. In most of the rooms, Fosshotel has done away with Best Western's generic, slightly dated standard chain hotel decor and replaced it with a look that is a clear step up -- one with minimalistic modern decor, chic monotone coloring, and an artsy industrial vibe. Un-renovated rooms still have wood laminate furniture and red armchairs, but the hotel is planning on renovating these throughout 2018 and for the most part, you can expect to find white and gray-washed wood floors, gray walls, exposed concrete accents, and black furniture. Renovated bathrooms are equally chic, with pendant lights, square sinks, and spacious showers (half of the rooms have shower/tub combos, and the other half have walk-in showers). All rooms include work desks, 26-inch flat-screen TVs (with limited satellite channels), mini-fridges, tea- and coffee-making facilities, iron and ironing boards, and safes. Deluxe rooms have sofa beds. Thin walls can be a problem and street-facing rooms (about half) may get noise from outside. Other rooms face the courtyard.

The hotel has few extra property features, but it does offer some nice freebies. A spacious, modern breakfast room is host to the hotel's free daily breakfast, which includes a selection of cold and warm dishes. Drinks are available from a convenience store-style fridge in the lobby, and the reception area doubles as a small bar in the evening and even offers daily happy hour deals. The lobby also has a computer for guest use. The front desk is open 24 hours and offers concierge services, luggage storage, and currency exchange. By 2018, the hotel plans on opening a business center and meeting room. On-site parking and hotel-wide Wi-Fi are both free.