Let’s face it: summer in the concrete jungle is tough. Sweltering subway stations, cramped apartments and limited pool options beckon a vacation to somewhere far away with a cool breeze and cooler culture.
Enter Iceland’s Hlemmur Square, a new hotel in Reykjavik from European hotelier Klaus Ortlieb (Claridge’s in London, The Gotham Hotel in New York City, The Hotel Modern in New Orleans) that combines affordable and chic hostel rooms with luxury hotel accommodations under one roof.
The hotel was named for the central meeting spot that once served as a watering hole for travelers and their horses. Built in the 1930s, the five-story building embraces modern design elements while maintaining the historical relevance behind its title.
Bonus: most of the hotel rooms feature balconies where guests can take in the surrounding scenery—which most likely beats your current view of the neighbor’s fire escape.
Hlemmur Square, Laugavegur 105, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
Rooms are available now at special preview rates and the full opening is slated for late summer.
