Exeter Hotel

Exeter Hotel stands right on the Reykjavik harbor, filling out an old warehouse block that’s now all glass, steel, and concrete. The main entrance sits just off Tryggvagata – easy to spot if you look for the bakery window stacked with pastries in the morning. Inside, the lobby stretches toward a courtyard, with the scent of coffee and bread drifting in from Deig, the bakery on the ground floor. Deig keeps things moving most of the day: mornings start with pastries and strong coffee, and by evening, the same counter shifts into a bar. Le Kock, the hotel’s restaurant, sits just off the lobby. The menu leans toward burgers and a handful of more ambitious plates – locals use it for late dinners or a drink before heading out. Breakfast sets up in the café area, where sunlight pours in through big windows facing the street. Most guests settle at a table here to plan the day, or drift out to the courtyard if the weather’s decent. Upstairs, rooms line both sides of the building. Some face the harbor, with views out to the bay and mountains, while others look back toward the city. A few rooms come with small enclosed balconies, and most have blackout curtains, heated bathroom floors, and a mini fridge tucked under the counter. Robes are standard, and beds are set up for comfort, not just looks. On the top floors, the best views open up – especially on clear days when the mountains stand out behind the harbor cranes. The sauna and spa sit in a quieter corner of the building. There’s a cold water bucket for cooling off between rounds, and most guests make their way down in the evening after a day out. The elevator reaches every floor, so there’s no need to haul bags up stairs. Parking isn’t on-site, but city lots sit a few blocks away – locals usually point guests to the open-air lot behind the old fish market. Reception handles the usual: taxis, restaurant bookings, and last-minute changes. The building keeps the industrial bones of the old harbor – exposed beams, polished concrete, big windows – but the rooms and common spaces are all new, with enough warmth to balance out the steel. Most people use Exeter as a base for exploring both the city and the rest of Iceland, since it’s easy to walk straight out the door to the harbor paths or head a few blocks into the city center.