Kvosin Hotel - Reykjavik

Every hotel featured is visited personally by members of our team, given the Smith seal of approval, and then anonymously reviewed. As soon as our reviewers have returned from this boutique hotel in Reykjavik and unpacked their Icelandic sweater, a full account of their city break will be with you. In the meantime, to whet your wanderlust, here's a quick peek inside Kvosin Hotel in Reykjavik…

Location is important at the best of times, but when the country you’re staying in has the word ‘ice’ in its name, the stakes are a bit higher (in the winter, anyway). Thankfully, Kvosin Hotel is so central that you could say it had pipped two pillars of society for the most central spot in the city: it’s got the Althing (parliament) on one side and the cathedral on the other. Cultural politics aside, this means that you’ve got all the best museums, coffee shops and even Michelin-starred restaurants within easy strolling distance – a real bonus when the mercury sinks to sporting levels. That said, you won’t be rushing off in a hurry when you see the rooms, which merge traditional Icelandic style with Scandinavian design to create an atmosphere that radiates cosiness. Then there’s the staff, who go above and beyond to make you feel at home and ensure you get the most out of their city; incidentally, one of the reasons the hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant is to encourage guests to get out and explore everything Reykjavik has to offer.