Luxury Stays in Reykjavík: Three Apartment Options
Luxury in Reykjavík is a different thing from luxury in a larger capital. The city is small, so what counts is space, light and a good address rather than a long list of services. This page lists three stays that carry the luxury label: Black Pearl Apartment Hotel, a five-star property 350 metres from the Old Harbour, an 83 square metre downtown apartment with its own garden, and a terrace apartment in Kópavogur near the Smáralind shopping centre. Only the first is a rated hotel, so I say plainly what each one offers and who it suits, from a couple after a harbour-side base to a family that wants room to spread out.
Reykjavík, while compact, possesses a unique personality that blends urban sophistication with a deep connection to nature. It's a city where cutting-edge design meets ancient sagas, and where a vibrant culinary scene thrives alongside remarkable natural wonders. The luxury accommodations here reflect this duality, offering sleek, contemporary spaces that often provide views of the city or the surrounding mountains and sea. This blend creates an atmosphere of understated elegance, perfectly suited for a high-end travel experience.
Where to stay
Space, light and a good address
Reykjavík has few classic grand hotels on this list, and that is worth knowing before you book. What the luxury label covers here is mostly apartment living: heated floors, a kitchen of your own, a terrace or garden, and a view over the city. If that is what you want, the three stays below are honest answers. If you want a lobby, a spa and a concierge, read each description closely first, because only Black Pearl Apartment Hotel is a five-star rated property.
Black Pearl Apartment Hotel is the one rated property here, with five stars and a 9.2 score from 597 reviews. Its apartments sit 350 metres from the Old Harbour in central Reykjavík, and each has free WiFi, contemporary furnishings, an iPad and a balcony facing the city. The suites are bright and spacious, with large windows, blackout curtains and heated marble floors, which matter in a place where mornings are cold for much of the year. From here the harbour, Harpa and Laugavegur are easy to reach on foot. The setting is compact, so most sights stay within a short walk or ride.
Luxury New Apt in Downtown is a different kind of stay: an 83 square metre ground-floor apartment with one bedroom, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen. Its garden, terrace and balcony are rare for a central address in Reykjavík, and the apartment adds air conditioning, free WiFi and streaming services. Guests score it 9.5, though from only 99 reviews, so the sample is small. It is not a hotel and has no star rating, which suits travellers who value privacy over staff and a front desk. For longer stays that independence is a real advantage over a standard room.
The Kópavogur apartment by Smáralind Mall is in Kópavogur, the town next to Reykjavík, not in the city centre. The apartment is spacious and has a fully equipped kitchenette, free WiFi, a private terrace, a balcony and an outdoor seating area, which makes it practical for a family that wants to cook and sit outside. It holds an 8.8 score from 18 reviews, the thinnest record of the three. Plan on a drive or a bus ride for the sights in the capital. Check the exact transfer time with the host before you book.
Which one should you choose? For a first visit with the harbour and city streets on your doorstep, I would pick Black Pearl Apartment Hotel. For a longer stay with a garden and a kitchen, the downtown apartment is the better fit. For a family with a car that values space and a terrace over a central address, the Kópavogur apartment makes sense. None of the three is a spa hotel, so book a pool or lagoon visit separately if that is part of the trip. Whichever you pick, confirm bed and kitchen details against the listing.
A traveler's takeI would choose Black Pearl Apartment Hotel for a first luxury stay, because it is the only five-star property on the list and sits 350 metres from the Old Harbour. For a longer trip I would take the downtown apartment with its garden and kitchen, and the Kópavogur apartment only with a car. My advice is to decide whether you want hotel service or apartment space, then pick the stay that matches, since none of these does both.
LuxuryLuxury New Apt in Downtown (83 sqm)
Spacious downtown apartment with garden, terrace, and modern amenities
Why guests love itI would pick this ground-floor apartment for a central Reykjavík stay with its own outdoor space. It has one bedroom, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen, plus a garden, terrace and balcony. Air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, streaming services, a washing machine and a dishwasher are included, and the main attractions are close. Guests rate it 9.5 across 99 reviews. With one bedroom, I would choose it for a couple, or a small family happy to share the living room.
LuxuryBlack Pearl Apartment Hotel
Luxury apartments with city-view balconies near Old Reykjavik Harbour
Why guests love itBlack Pearl sits 350 metres from Old Reykjavík Harbour, the departure point for whale-watching boats, so the car can stay parked for the whole city stay. The apartments are bright and spacious, with heated marble floors and blackout curtains that matter in June. Our editorial take for families: walk to the harbour for an evening boat, eat downtown, and use the balcony to watch the city settle before an early start toward the Golden Circle.
LuxuryUnwind in Luxury Steps From Smáralind Mall
Spacious apartment with terrace and modern comforts near Smáralind Mall
Why guests love itDespite the luxury billing, this is best understood as a spacious, well-kept apartment in Kópavogur, close to Smáralind, Iceland's largest shopping centre. A family gets a private terrace, a balcony and an outdoor seating area, and soundproofing helps children sleep through light summer nights. The kitchenette handles breakfasts and simple dinners rather than ambitious cooking, and streaming services fill a rainy evening. I would book it for a longer stay near the shops; guests rate it 8.8 from 18 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Choose by service level first: Black Pearl Apartment Hotel is a rated five-star property, while the other two are unrated apartments.
- 2Walk the Old Harbour, Harpa and Laugavegur if you stay downtown; you rarely need a car for the city centre.
- 3In Kópavogur, plan for a car or the bus when you want to reach the sights in central Reykjavík.
- 4Use the kitchen or kitchenette for breakfast and quiet evenings, and keep your restaurant bookings for one or two special dinners.
- 5Ask the property about arrival details in advance, since an apartment without a front desk needs a clear check-in plan.
- 6Book a thermal pool or lagoon visit separately: none of these three stays is a spa hotel.