Hotel Review: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre, Reykjavik in Iceland

A stylish gateway to both the Icelandic capital and the dramatic landscape beyond, Christopher Rosar discovers that Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre is the perfect luxury starting point to explore this extraordinary country.

Located conveniently in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre is a fashionable lifestyle destination hotel for tourists and business travellers alike.

Hilton’s first Canopy brand hotel is situated in a historical building consisting of 6 large interconnected houses that have been rebuilt into a large, chic boutique property. Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre sits on Hverfisgata, a few seconds walk from Reykjavik’s buzzing main high street of Laugavegur that abounds with restaurants, bars and designer shops.

The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, a few seconds walk from the buzzing main street

The dramatic Hallgrimskirkja church, as well as the Olafur Eliasson-designed Harpa concert hall and idyllic Tjornin Lake are a 10 minutes walk away. A roof terrace has dramatic views over the city, the quaint harbour and the dramatic mountains across Hvalfjordur.

Inside there is a fashionable lobby area with a music station for playing vinyl records, a cosy bar, acclaimed Geiri Smart restaurant and a well-equipped 24-hour gym and fitness centre with facilities to suit all tastes from weights to yoga mats. The outdoor terrace has a pop-up food court in the summer.

For those travelling with children the hotel has a babysitting service, a children’s menu in the restaurant and cribs and highchairs on request. The reception and concierge desks in the ground floor lobby have helpful, attentive staff who can advise on tours, places to drink and dine as well as arrange bike hire for free to explore the city and transfers to Keflavik International Airport 45 minutes drive away.

The hotel features a fashionable lobby area with plenty of spaces for guests to relax

There are four varieties of room: standard, premium, one bedroom suite and junior suite. Our premium room was large and warm with underfloor heating, a welcome relief on the cold, snowy day we arrived. Very tastefully designed with modern furniture designed by the family that used to occupy the building that was once partially a furniture factory.

The walls blend an earthy, warm colour palette of volcanic greys, heather greens and snow whites. There is art by Icelandic artists covering the walls and delightfully cute touches such as the cushions with covers featuring Icelandic pattern designs that are normally found on locally made woollen jumpers, and even a music box / hurdy gurdy that plays Icelandic lullabies.

The rooms are tastefully designed in neutral colours with luxury touches

The large bed is very comfortable with fine linen sheets, deluxe goose down duvets and heavy, beautifully designed, woollen blankets. The room comes with a large flat-screened television, well stocked mini-bar and Nespresso machine as standard. The large bathroom has underfloor heating, a fantastic spacious walk-in shower with geothermally sourced hot water.

A fantastic buffet breakfast is served at the Canopy Central Café every morning. The substantial spread includes fresh juices, fruit, cold meats as well as of course a variety of eggs, sausages and bacon. Local artisan breads and Icelandic staples such as smoked salmon and of course skyr yoghurt. There is an additional child-friendly buffet and very evening from 6pm there is a free buffet ‘Taste of Iceland’ in the lobby.

In the evenings the popular Geiri Smart restaurant serves delicious modern Icelandic cuisine using locally sourced produce. The impressive menu from head chef Jóhannes Steinn Jóhannesson includes tasty favourites such as starters of langoustine bisque with fresh scallops and succulent sugar snap peas and delicious mains of locally caught ling and outstanding organic Icelandic lamb.

Geiri Smart’s signature dessert is the mouth-watering twisted doughnut ice cream, with white chocolate, whey, rhubarb and hazelnuts. On the weekends, Geiri Smart offers a weekend brunch buffet of hot and cold dishes, eggs, bacon, lamb salmon, salads, charcuterie, fruits and deserts .The hotel bar serves a solid choice of locally brewed beers and craft ales as well as wines and cocktails. It is a relaxing, intimate location to unwind in and is popular with visitors and locals alike.