Oraefi, Iceland
Opened
2016
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
ÍslandshótelGeometric timber lodge
Dark timber volumes sit against the base of Hvannadalshnúkur, giving travelers a modern stopping point along the south coast.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Rooms look out through vast windows, and showcase the warm side of Nordic modernism; the restaurant, meanwhile, is an upscale one with a sensible focus on local produce and Icelandic flavors.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon lies thirty minutes east, and the hiking trails of Skaftafell sit twenty minutes to the west.
The rooms
Beds are topped with Icelandic wool blankets. Wide picture windows look straight out across the mossy plains.
Sauna and hot tubs
Tiered light-wood benches fill the dry sauna, and outdoor hot tubs open onto the coastal plains.
The gym
Rowers, treadmills, and free weights look directly out toward the southern plains through floor-to-ceiling glass.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon Restaurant
Dinner brings Icelandic lamb and local seafood under glowing glass pendants overlooking the plains.
Every single space throughout the property makes the most of the landscape with massive windows and moody interiors that complement the moss surrounding the hotel in the summertime.
At the table
The lobby bar pours draft Icelandic beers under black geometric paneling, with an outdoor wooden terrace for warmer days.
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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.