Hotel Nordica by Joanna Monkhouse

Nordica hotel is Iceland’s premier conference hotel. A $20 million renovation has turned the Hotel Esja into the modern and minimalist Nordica hotel (with a small h). Geared primarily to groups and business travellers, it also has benefits for tourists too – a 1000m2 spa with 10 treatment rooms, one of Reykjavik’s best restaurants and great views of the bay and the Mount Esja beyond.

The vast lobby gives a flavour of what is to come, natural materials, neutral colours – stone, glass, leather, black, white and beige. The focus is provided by the long and minimalist fireplace, next to which the open plan bar nestles under the wide curving staircase, and leads through to the restaurant, Vox.

The new wing houses 125 of the 284 rooms and is infinitely superior to the original wing, in both décor, bathrooms and for facilities like high speed internet access – in the business and executive rooms only. These categories of rooms are worth going for over the deluxes as they also include access to the spa (2500 Ikr for others) and the executive lounge’s glass walled panoramic open bar on the 7th floor. This is one of the city’s best places to see the summer sun dip beneath the horizon for half an hour. On a clear day you can see the glacier at the end of the peninsula.

I’d go so far as to say don’t bother with the standard rooms – if you’ve seen any pictures of the hotel your expectations would be utterly shredded. As yet unrenovated, the flowery bedspreads make you realise how well they’ve spent the millions transforming Hotel Esja into Nordica hotel. Likewise, always request a room on the front with seaview – it can’t be guaranteed but it’ll put you one step ahead. There is no reduction in price for rooms on the back, and unless you’re staying in winter when it’s barely light anyway and you’ll be out for what little daylight there is, the stunning front views outrun those on the back 100-1.