Hotel Snapshot
The Iceland Parliament Hotel is right on Austurvöllur Square, directly across from Parliament and just down the street from Reykjavik Cathedral. It’s part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, though that detail doesn’t really come through. What’s more obvious is how well the hotel blends into the block; you could walk past it and assume it’s been there for decades.
The property connects seven buildings, each one with its own past life. One was a girls’ school. Another held the city’s telecom offices. The main one, Landsímahúsið, still has its original stonework, now paired with newer glass additions that look modern without clashing. The buildings feel distinct but connected, which tracks with how the hotel operates in general: it’s polished, sure, but still feels very much part of the neighborhood.
Design & Character
The original architecture takes center stage, and inside you'll find natural materials like warm wood, polished stone, and dark metal details that are a Nordic designer's dream.
But the art? That's the real surprise. It's not hidden away in some corner gallery. It's everywhere. Paintings in stairwells, sculptures by the elevators, and entire hallways lined with textured abstracts and moody landscapes. Turns out the collection comes from one of Iceland's largest private art holdings, and you can tell. These aren't just hotel-wall fillers. They actually change how you move through the space, like the building's telling you a story as you wander.
The Rooms
Guest rooms are arranged with clarity and care. Wood warms the space; fabrics bring softness. There’s a gentle curve in the headboard that wraps the bed like an embrace. Blackout curtains draw the night inward. A custom-built nook holds an espresso machine. The desk is solid oak.
From the window, the square feels like a still frame. One morning, snow gathered slowly on Jón Sigurðsson’s statue, collecting in folds of bronze. In other rooms, the view drifts toward residential rooftops and narrow streets, where chimney smoke rises through the cold and cats trace lazy arcs across low stone walls.
Food & Drink
Hjá Jóni, the hotel's restaurant, does simple exceptionally well. Breakfast delivers thick, tangy skyr, warm rye bread, and Arctic char kissed with lemon and dill. Lunch centers on a standout fish soup—rich but not cloying, built on dark beer and cream. Dinner turns up the dial without losing its ease: lamb shoulder with a perfect char, or cod so tender it surrenders to your fork on contact.
Next door, Telebar transforms into a proper local haunt after dark. The lighting hits that golden-hour sweet spot that flatters everyone, and the cocktails punch above hotel bar weight.
The Amenities
I almost skipped the spa entirely, figuring it'd be the usual steam room situation. Glad I didn't. The place is way bigger than it looks, and the geothermal pool alone is worth the detour with steam drifting up like something out of a fairy tale.
The lounge next door has the same energy: low lighting, little nooks carved into the walls, thick blankets, chairs you could disappear into for hours. For some activity, the gym's open around the clock and have those big windows and solid Technogym equipment if you're into that.
Location & Neighborhood
The location's hard to beat. You can walk to almost everything. Harpa Concert Hall, with its shimmering glass, is within 10 minutes. Laugavegur (Rainbow Street) is a twelve-minute uphill stroll. I stopped at Brauð & Co., where the air smelled like cinnamon, cardamom, and melted butter. The line moved fast, and the bun disappeared faster. Around the corner, Bæjarins Beztu still draws hot dog lines at weird hours. (I saw someone grab the Bill Clinton special at 9 am.) Get in that line.
The Lava Show is about fifteen minutes away and sounds touristy, but it isn't. They pour actual molten lava onto ice, and it's oddly moving to watch. The Old Harbor is another favorite with puffin boats in summer and northern lights tours at dusk in winter.
Fast Facts
Location: Reykjavik, Iceland
Rating: Five-Star
Room Count: 163
Food + Drink: Hjá Jóni (restaurant), Telebar (bar & lounge)
Starting Rate: $286
Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel : The subterranean spa; it's minimal, silent, and unexpectedly luxurious.
Nearest Airport: 45 minutes from Keflavík International Airport
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