Hlemmur Square on Postcard

"Nicer than your average hostel, cooler than the typical chain hotel—this buzzy hybrid offers hostel-style dorms and more traditional accommodations in a 1930s Art Deco building on Reykjavik’s main drag. Designed by hotelier-owner Klaus Ortlieb (of New York’s Gotham Hotel and London ’s Claridge’s), the hostel rooms are simple but smart, featuring metal-frame bunk beds, designer armchairs and sofas, and wood tables. The 18 hotel rooms are much more impressive, with elegant coffee-and-cream color schemes, king-size beds draped in Lissadell linens, and en suite bathrooms with C.O. Bigelow products. Most also come with private balconies that look out over colorful rooftops and mountain landscapes. The old-fashioned lobby and bar area—which is strewn with antique furnishings, exotic wall hangings, and leather sofas and armchairs—is a popular hangout for the city’s bright young things, but if you’re looking for something more low-key there’s an on-site movie theater with a carefully chosen selection of Icelandic films."

The Best Hotels in Iceland

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"The 26 hostel rooms at this hybrid property are Scandi-chic, with stark white beds and colorful Danish Modern furniture; those with a bigger budget can choose one of 17 stylish hotel rooms that start around $300 a night. And since the place is in the site of a former watering hole—it’s where horses rehydrated in the 1900s—you can still take a carriage ride with one of the Icelandic horses waiting out front."

Hlemmur Square

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Adam Johnson

Google

The front staff were friendly and always available. The room and all bedding were clean. The bathrooms were of a public restroom style and the showers were in a locker room style. The kitchen area was a bit cramped for countertop space with no place to store non-refrigerated foods. The refrigerator was packed full and was hard to find room for my items. The location and price were great.

Lisa Morlan

Google

First off—I had a very hard time finding the entrance. There is not much signage to direct you to the reception. Also upon entering the building I wasn’t even sure if it was the correct hostel. The rooms—nothing special. I had one bed in a four bedroom dorm. Large open area. Small windows with limited airflow. Hot room. Semi comfortable beds. The rooms and floors in the rooms could be cleaned a little more often. The kitchen is ABSOLUTELY disgusting. I would not want to eat off of any of the silverware or plates. There is food everywhere, most of it probably expired. very smelly. Bathrooms were dirty and cramped. The soap to wash your hands. I didn’t use showers but if they were anything like the bathroom m, I wouldn’t of used them anyways. It’s a perfect location to bus pick up if that’s what you need. Location is good for restaurants, grocery stores and souvenir shops. Front desk staff was nice and very helpful. However, I would not sleep here again. You pay for what you get.

C Critzer

Google

Location was perfect! Staff were very helpful and sincere making a great visit. Excellent craft beer bar in lobby with daily happy hour. We stayed on 5th floor hotel area. Comfortable accommodations - it is not a full service hotel so no coffee in regular rooms although coffee daily in lobby. Minibar/fridge, down comforters & pillows. Terrace was nice to enjoy morning coffee and evening drinks. Very easy walking into downtown. Good value and great place to stay.

Kim Arenas

Google

The location is really great - walking distance to the city center, but also one of the main stops for any tours/excursions that include ground transportation. Beds were clean and comfy though the photos online make the (hostel) rooms look a bit more luxury than they actually are. The bathrooms (specifically the showers) were not great - tiny shower stalls with vinyl curtains that you have to try not to touch. Stayed for about 5 days and I don't think it was cleaned once while I was there. I would advise against including breakfast when you book - it wasn't bad, but it was very basic and pretty much the same every day. Great bar up front to have a nightcap or, in my case, wait out a snow storm. For the price and location, I'd still recommend it, but loses one star for the shower situation.

Cassandra Bjelajac

Google

The lobby, bar, bistro and lounge areas are wonderful. But the rooms, kitchens, bathrooms are yucky. At least four outlets in the 12 bed room didn't work. At least two of the bed lamps didn't work. The kitchen was a dirty disaster from people being pigs and not cleaning up properly. There were fabric seat cushions in the kitchen that we're practically black with stains and grime. There was a two person shower with dingy curtains to separate yourself. The toilet room has about four small stalls and the door to the room can hardly be opened if anyone is inside. There are drawers under the beds for your luggage, and they all seemed to have garbage or gunk in them. The desk staff were wonderfully friendly and the lobby/lounge areas around the desk were clean and comfortable. Beer and wine at the bar were good and the bistro area has maybe a dozen tables for restaurant food service.

K W

Google

Nice, very friendly and very helpful people. They will help you arrange pick up, print tickets and save money on unnecessary things. Nice place as well. Clean and tidy, at least for my standards. Surprising quite, even though it's located so close to the road. The bus stop and the stop for excursions is... On the doorstep of the hotel. On the opposite side of the road you have a shop open 24/7. In the hotel you have two options. The normal hotel room, which is nice and fairly priced or the hostel option which is very cheap. I can honestly recommend it.

LGC

Google

Very clean, pleasant accommodations. Staff was friendly, and helpful if you needed any sort of assistance. Great place to stay, walking distance to most shops and bars with one inside of the Hostel itself. I would definitely stay there again, but would probably inquire into getting a private room.

Tim Marshall

Google

A good hostel/hotel. The students stayed in dorms which served the purpose and were clean with shared showers. Staff had comfortable rooms on the same floor or better rooms in the hotel above. Was a little crowded at one point as they had three big groups in, but they managed the breakfast sittings well. Good food in the packed lunches and for dinner was very good.

Adam Johnson

Google

The front staff were friendly and always available. The room and all bedding were clean. The bathrooms were of a public restroom style and the showers were in a locker room style. The kitchen area was a bit cramped for countertop space with no place to store non-refrigerated foods. The refrigerator was packed full and was hard to find room for my items. The location and price were great.

Lisa Morlan

Google

First off—I had a very hard time finding the entrance. There is not much signage to direct you to the reception. Also upon entering the building I wasn’t even sure if it was the correct hostel. The rooms—nothing special. I had one bed in a four bedroom dorm. Large open area. Small windows with limited airflow. Hot room. Semi comfortable beds. The rooms and floors in the rooms could be cleaned a little more often. The kitchen is ABSOLUTELY disgusting. I would not want to eat off of any of the silverware or plates. There is food everywhere, most of it probably expired. very smelly. Bathrooms were dirty and cramped. The soap to wash your hands. I didn’t use showers but if they were anything like the bathroom m, I wouldn’t of used them anyways. It’s a perfect location to bus pick up if that’s what you need. Location is good for restaurants, grocery stores and souvenir shops. Front desk staff was nice and very helpful. However, I would not sleep here again. You pay for what you get.

C Critzer

Google

Location was perfect! Staff were very helpful and sincere making a great visit. Excellent craft beer bar in lobby with daily happy hour. We stayed on 5th floor hotel area. Comfortable accommodations - it is not a full service hotel so no coffee in regular rooms although coffee daily in lobby. Minibar/fridge, down comforters & pillows. Terrace was nice to enjoy morning coffee and evening drinks. Very easy walking into downtown. Good value and great place to stay.

Kim Arenas

Google

The location is really great - walking distance to the city center, but also one of the main stops for any tours/excursions that include ground transportation. Beds were clean and comfy though the photos online make the (hostel) rooms look a bit more luxury than they actually are. The bathrooms (specifically the showers) were not great - tiny shower stalls with vinyl curtains that you have to try not to touch. Stayed for about 5 days and I don't think it was cleaned once while I was there. I would advise against including breakfast when you book - it wasn't bad, but it was very basic and pretty much the same every day. Great bar up front to have a nightcap or, in my case, wait out a snow storm. For the price and location, I'd still recommend it, but loses one star for the shower situation.

Cassandra Bjelajac

Google

The lobby, bar, bistro and lounge areas are wonderful. But the rooms, kitchens, bathrooms are yucky. At least four outlets in the 12 bed room didn't work. At least two of the bed lamps didn't work. The kitchen was a dirty disaster from people being pigs and not cleaning up properly. There were fabric seat cushions in the kitchen that we're practically black with stains and grime. There was a two person shower with dingy curtains to separate yourself. The toilet room has about four small stalls and the door to the room can hardly be opened if anyone is inside. There are drawers under the beds for your luggage, and they all seemed to have garbage or gunk in them. The desk staff were wonderfully friendly and the lobby/lounge areas around the desk were clean and comfortable. Beer and wine at the bar were good and the bistro area has maybe a dozen tables for restaurant food service.

K W

Google

Nice, very friendly and very helpful people. They will help you arrange pick up, print tickets and save money on unnecessary things. Nice place as well. Clean and tidy, at least for my standards. Surprising quite, even though it's located so close to the road. The bus stop and the stop for excursions is... On the doorstep of the hotel. On the opposite side of the road you have a shop open 24/7. In the hotel you have two options. The normal hotel room, which is nice and fairly priced or the hostel option which is very cheap. I can honestly recommend it.

LGC

Google

Very clean, pleasant accommodations. Staff was friendly, and helpful if you needed any sort of assistance. Great place to stay, walking distance to most shops and bars with one inside of the Hostel itself. I would definitely stay there again, but would probably inquire into getting a private room.

Tim Marshall

Google

A good hostel/hotel. The students stayed in dorms which served the purpose and were clean with shared showers. Staff had comfortable rooms on the same floor or better rooms in the hotel above. Was a little crowded at one point as they had three big groups in, but they managed the breakfast sittings well. Good food in the packed lunches and for dinner was very good.

Hlemmur Square

Hlemmur Square

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Highlights

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