Skardsstrond Budardalur, Iceland
Renovated
2019
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Local HeritageOutside the door
Corrugated sheep farmhouse
The former sheep farm runs as an artist-led cultural hall, hosting seasonal exhibitions and home-cooked dinners beside the fjord.
What it’s good at
Notable
Corrugated aluzinc cladding encloses interiors supported by salvaged beach driftwood columns.
Notable
An artist-run homestead serving breakfast made with home-grown rhubarb and wild angelica.
Listed
A 1936 concrete sheep farmhouse restored with traditional pitched roofs and timber frames.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Mount Nýpurhyrna rises directly behind the property. To the west, the quiet coast looks across the islands of Breiðafjörður.
The rooms
Wood panelling and exposed concrete define the extension bedrooms, finished with salvaged doors from Reykjavík and local clay tiles.
At the table
Hosts serve dinners of local lamb and greenhouse vegetables beneath skylights in the converted barn.
How it began
Built in 1936 to replace turf dwellings, the concrete farmhouse stood abandoned for three decades before its cultural revival.
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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.