Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina

Hipster hangout by the old harbour

Word to the wise: Stump for breakfast - featuring fresh salmon, fresh-baked breads and a variety of local cheeses, amongst a range of hot and cold dishes - the daily buffet is super-gourmet.
Noteworthy for: In good weather, you can see the northern lights across the harbour from your oceanview room, and from the ground-level lobby and Slippbarinn.

Don't be put off by the airline affiliation - as corporate hotel chains go, Icelandair Hotels are among the world's best. Set in a fully renovated historic building, the newly-opened Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is arguably the most hip of the bunch.
Boasting clean, Scandinavian design, the hotel's 101 spacious rooms are so neat they may initially seem spartan, until you notice quirky, characterful touches - like the string basket resembling a fishing net that holds the television remote control, and the feature wall papered in an Icelandic fishing knot print - that lend to a decidedly cosy vibe. Next to the lobby, the Slippbarinn is Reykjavik's watering hole du jour. On Thursdays, you can catch live bands performing here, and the vintage-styled bar packs out with locals at the weekend.