Review: Hotel Keflavik, Keflavik, Iceland
We arrived at Hotel Keflavik ahead of our return flight back to the UK for which we had a very early start. (The hotel is just a 6-minute drive from the airport.) The building actually houses two hotels, both under the same management – the four star Hotel Keflavik and, on the uppermost floor, Diamond Suites Luxury Boutique Hotel. Many of the facilities are common to both hotels. We are able to bring you details on both hotels since our sons stayed in a room at Hotel Keflavik, whilst we stayed in the Diamond Suites.
The welcome
Two large stone lions stand on guard at either side of Hotel Keflavik’s main entrance. Parking close to the hotel entrance was free, with plenty of spaces available when we arrived.
Inside, an airy foyer and unexpectedly glitzy reception desk was where we were effortlessly checked in before making our way to our respective rooms.
The room
The comfortable room consisted of twin beds, a chair to relax and a desk area.
An amalgam of muted tones were interrupted by a series of fancy lampshades that offered a splash of colour.
Icelandic artwork adorned the walls and the room also came with a TV, phone, safe and Nespresso machine.
The room looked out over over a couple of guest houses and to a fishing pier and a sheltered bay in the North Atlantic. The name Keflavik translates to ‘Driftwood Bay’.
We found it to be a quiet neighbourhood so you should be assured a good night’s sleep.
The bathroom
The room’s bathroom was compact but with everything needed for a short stay: WC, basin, shower and bath, hair dryer, bathmat, flannels and towels.
A toiletry pack came complete with shower cap, bath salts, sewing kit, shoe mitt and Diamond Suites branded shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower gel and soap.
The facilities
Dinner at KEF Restaurant, where the emphasis is on fresh Icelandic ingredients, is a special part of any stay at Hotel Keflavik.
The lobster soup, flavoured with chilli, cilantro, ginger, lemongrass and star anise is a treat for the tastebuds.
The stand-out main dish for me was the monkfish with chorizo, olives, tomatoes, nut pesto, pearl onion, potatoes and yuzu hollandaise.
Meat eaters will love the grilled leg of lamb – served pink – with yellow beet purée, grilled yellow beet, rainbow carrots, herb crust, fondant potato, herb and date demi glace.
Sweet treats included this chocolate and caramel brownie served with vanilla ice cream and forest fruits.
If you’re worried about the pounds gained from the restaurant, the hotel also has a 7,000 sq. ft. fitness centre, complete with treadmills, cross trainers, exercise bikes, power bench presses and an assortment of free weights, resistance bands, flexion machines and weight machines.
Location
Set on the Reykjanes Peninsula just a 2-minute walk from the North Atlantic Ocean, one of the big draws of Hotel Keflavik is its location. The hotel’s proximity to Keflavik International Airport is a major plus. Whether you are arriving into Iceland quite late at night, or leaving on an early morning flight, you’ll enjoy the convenience of being just a 6-minute drive from airport.
Cost
Standard double or twin rooms start from around 25,000 ISK, including breakfast.
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The best bit
The best thing about the hotel is its location and in particular its proximity to the airport. It is only a short taxi ride away and close to a petrol station should you be needing to return a hire car with a full tank. It is also a 20-minute drive from the Blue Lagoon and a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik.
The final verdict
Hotel Keflavik is a clean, funky and well-located 4-star hotel with a good restaurant. For us, it was perfect place to base ourselves for our last night in Iceland given that we had to be up early the next morning in order to return our rental car and arrive at the airport in plenty of time for our flight, and meant that we didn’t have to rise quite as early as we would have done if we were still based in Reykjavik. For an even more luxurious stay, consider Hotel Keflavik’s sister hotel, the Diamond Suites, which occupies the top floor of the same hotel.
Planning a trip to Iceland yourself? You can watch a video from our trip to Iceland here:
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hotel Keflavik. Our trip to Iceland was also sponsored by Helly Hansen.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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There are so many 4* hotels in the world that at the end of the day they are quite bland. I’ve stayed in a lot on business and although they are usually OK they are not that memorable.
Personally, I think that funky is good. Anything that gives a hotel its own character is to be applauded. I wouldn’t forget being greeted by those lions.
I know what you mean, Attesh… it’s always nice if there’s something that makes a hotel stand out and be different. The hotel has done a number of renovations over the last year or so which have really made a difference. The glasshouses at the front of the hotel are all new (and can be opened on sunny days), as are the Versace tiles, luxurious furniture and decor that you see in the lobby area, giving it a fresh and more modern feel.
I know that most hotels are switching to soap and shampoo dispensers and for very good environmental reasons.
The thing is that it’s nice to sneak some toiletries home to provide memories of nice hotels and great holidays.
Hi Dave – Hotel Keflavik really ‘went to town’ with the toiletries by presenting them in a stylish display box, and including all manner of things that you might not expect.
A coffee machine pretty much comes as standard at 4* nowadays. Not everyday that you get Icelandic art on the walls.
Yes, it was a nice little touch, I thought.
It’s certainly funky. From the modern exterior I really wasn’t expecting a 1930s look Art Deco reception.
Yes, it was quite ‘blingy’ in reception and some of the communal areas which was really unexpected from the building’s exterior.
I like the look of the restaurant. Dinner there would be a great way to finish your adventures in Iceland.
I agree. The rooms look fine, but it’s the restaurant that really holds appeal for me here…
Yes, it was definitely a highlight of our stay.
Thanking you so much. Dinner there would be a great way to finish your adventures in Iceland.
I remember reading this review soon after it was posted and it has stuck in my mind. As my partner and I are hoping to do a long weekend in Iceland next spring, it could be a contender for one of the places we stay. Having re-read this again it is still up there as a possibility.