Vintage and boutique treasure troves, fine art galleries and international restaurants line Laugavegur, one of Reykjavik’s oldest streets. Its name translates to water or wash road, after the city dwellers who once brought laundry up and down it to be cleaned in hot pools. The formidable Alda Hotel, one of the best hotels in Reykjavik, sits at Laugavegur’s quieter end: a modern building with supersized Gothic wall art on one side; within, a collection of stylish monochromatic rooms with leather, wood or perhaps a red armchair for trendy interior accents.
Its casual contemporary kitchen and bar, Brass, prides itself on Icelandic fare – from skyr to free range lamb. A superb taste of the capital, with culture and the mesmerising water’s edge just a few moments away.
