The Reykjavik Edition is opening in preview on November 9, 2021. The 253-room hotel has a lineup of bars, signature restaurant and nightclub, and introduces a new kind of modern social wellness concept.
The hotel is designed in partnership with local architecture firm, T.ark and New York-based studio Roman and Williams with the guidance of ISC (Ian Schrager Company). On a harborside perch, against mountain views, The Reykjavik Edition is adjacent to Harpa, the landmark concert hall and conference center, and just minutes from Laugavegur, the main shopping street in downtown Reykjavik. The clean lines of the hotel have been angled to make the most of the views and its lively harborside setting with a double-entrance lobby accessible either from the pedestrian Harpa plaza, or the Harbor. The latter is similar to The Times Square Edition, featuring a canopy. Its underside is illuminated by 12,210 glass LED nodes.
In the hotel’s lobby, basalt stone is prominent, appearing on the flooring, which has been laid with an intricate pattern inspired by Icelandic geometry, besides a sculptural reception desk. The lobby bar beverage menu focuses on global wines by the glass and classic cocktails with an Icelandic twist. The lobby lounge has a central open-flame fireplace, surrounded by seating and a collection of custom-made furniture in intimate seating groups, such as the Jean-Michel Frank-inspired armchair in white shearling and Pierre Jeanneret-inspired chairs in black velvet.
Accessible from the lobby, the ground floor is also home to Tides, a restaurant with a private dining room and a café with homemade baked goods, and Tölt, an intimate bar that takes its cues from The London Edition’s Punch Room. Tides, which has an outdoor terrace and its own waterfront entrance, is helmed by Gunnar Karl Gíslason.
Breakfast is a mix of clean juices, pastries, fruit, cereal and skyr (Icelandic yogurt) supplemented by an à la carte menu of hot dishes and a selection of open-face sandwiches. For lunch and dinner, Gíslason serves modern Icelandic cuisine with a focus on seasonal local products mainly cooked over an open fire. Alongside an extensive wine list, guests can expect dishes such as a vertical salad topped with fried oyster mushrooms, aged soy sauce and roasted almonds; whole Arctic char stuffed with lemon, dill and garlic butter; baked Atlantic cod, grilled potatoes, mixed herbs and butter; and lamb shoulder braised and slowed grilled, pickled onions mint and apples. There is also a weekend brunch menu and for three nights a week, The Counter, overlooking the open kitchen, will serve an eight-course tasting menu with wine pairings for up to 10 people. Those looking for something more casual can pop into the bakery and café for a coffee and a selection of crowberry scones, sourdough or rye bread sandwiches for dine-in or take-away.
On the opposite side of the lobby, Tölt, named after the unique fifth gait Icelandic horses are best known for, is a cozy bar, designed with three intimate nooks where guests can enjoy a menu of cocktails inspired by Icelandic culture using local Icelandic spirits. The Roof is located on the hotel’s seventh floor and offers panoramic mountain, North Atlantic Ocean and old town vistas. It is a versatile space that can be divided by a glass door for private events. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a large wraparound seasonal outdoor terrace, scattered with comfortable seating and a large fire pit. Here, the casual vibe is supplemented by a small menu of comfort foods like grilled flatbreads, toasted sandwiches and fresh salads.
Each of the hotel’s 253 guestrooms and suites have their beds facing floor-to-ceiling windows, while some feature an outdoor terrace. The bathrooms with custom handmade white ceramic tiles made in Italy are furnished with a white marble vanity, matte black accessories and fittings alongside custom Le Labo toiletries of Edition’s exclusive scent. From its prime corner spot on the sixth floor, the one-bedroom Penthouse Suite, with its own private terrace has harbor, Harpa and mountain views that are complemented by bright interiors, an oversized bathroom and a central fireplace.
The lower ground floor is home to Sunset, opening later this year, a cool underground night spot with a sound system and theatrical lighting that illuminates a dark and edgy black concrete interior with a black cast concrete bar. Sunset can be divided into three spaces with access from the hotel and Harpa square. Along with a cocktail menu and an ongoing roster of events, the club will play host to top DJs and performers. There is also a private entrance.
The Spa has three treatment rooms, along with a hammam, steam room, sauna and plunge pool, which offers hydrotherapy; there is also a central lounge with a spa bar, which serves a healthy menu of post-workout Viking shakes, champagnes and moss vodka infusions alongside snacks like volcano bread with black lava salt. This can be enjoyed in the Geothermal water splash pool together with the 60-minute Sundown Spa treatment, which includes a body massage and a cool onyx scalp massage. The Spa is located directly opposite Sunset.
Also on the lower ground floor is a gym, which has strength training, weight and cardio equipment.
For more information, visit www.editionhotels.com/reykjavik.
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