Reykjavik, IcelandMidborg
Apotek Hotel
Art Nouveau apothecary
Midborg Reykjavik, Iceland
Opened
2014
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Social DesignOutside the door
The house
KeahotelsArt Nouveau apothecary
The capital's former pharmacy runs as a lively downtown stay, where cocktail shakers rattle beneath preserved Art Nouveau woodwork.
What it’s good at
Notable
Guðjón Samúelsson designed this 1917 landmark, home to the capital's pharmacy for decades.
Notable
Cocktail bartenders wear lab coats at the buzzing ground-floor bar facing Austurvöllur Square.
Listed
Bedrooms across five floors balance original Art Nouveau bones with clean parquet and subway tile.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in AFAR.
Inside the Apotek are 45 rooms that blend century-old Art Nouveau architecture with contemporary design, all in service of a lively, modern boutique-hotel experience.
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Austurvöllur Square sits right outside, and the shops along Laugavegur are a two-minute walk away.
The rooms
Bedrooms stay quiet with parquet floors and subway-tiled showers. A signature suite spans three levels inside the corner tower.
Restaurant
Apotek Kitchen + Bar
Chefs prepare Icelandic dishes over an Argentine charcoal grill, and illuminated wall niches display rows of amber medicine bottles.
The property’s 45 rooms blend elements of the past while seamlessly incorporating modern design touches, employing neutral colors, parquet floors, and simple-but-refined furnishings to create a sense of calm;
How it began
The building was one of Iceland's first large concrete landmarks, and it still keeps its original spiral staircase.
Reykjavik
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.