Hotel Borg stands on Austurvöllur Square, facing the Parliament building and a stretch of green that locals use as a meeting spot. The building is easy to spot – classic Art Deco lines, a little grand but not flashy, with original details still visible in the lobby and dining spaces. Step inside and the main lobby has a few places to sit and a coffee machine that sees steady use, especially in the mornings. Elevators lead up to the guest floors, where rooms run larger than most in town and some look straight out over the square.
There are 99 rooms and suites, each with a Nespresso machine tucked in and enough space to spread out. Downstairs, the restaurant and bar fill a high-ceilinged Art Deco dining room. Breakfast comes as a buffet with a wide spread, including options for kids. A small gym sits off to one side – basic but functional – and the spa downstairs includes a sauna, steam room, and massage rooms. Luggage storage is easy to arrange, and for those flying out, the hotel can check bags in so guests can use their last day in the city.
The location puts most of Reykjavik within easy reach. Main shopping streets are a couple minutes’ walk, and the city’s restaurants and bars cluster nearby. The main bus stop for tours sits just around the corner. The marina and Maritime Museum are about a 15-minute walk – straight down the hill and past the old harbor. There’s no parking on-site, but City Hall has a public lot two minutes away, right by the pond with the swans.
The building has been here since 1930, first opening as Reykjavik’s original luxury hotel. It has kept its bones and most of its old-world feel, even with modern touches layered in. Housekeeping keeps the rooms in shape, and the front desk handles check-in and basic concierge requests. The place runs on a steady rhythm – business travelers, families, and a regular stream of visitors moving through, all anchored by the square outside and the Parliament across the way.
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