Grindavik, IcelandBlue Lagoon
Silica Hotel
Geothermal lava lodge
Blue Lagoon Grindavik, Iceland
Renovated
2016
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Wellness Design LocalOutside the door
The house
Blue Lagoon IcelandGeothermal lava lodge
A private geothermal lagoon sits right outside, giving guests quiet mineral soaks away from the main resort crowds.
“Stay at Silica Hotel, a 10-minute walk away, where Nordic-designed rooms have views of volcanoes and lava fields.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Private geothermal seawater lagoon rich in mineral silica, with in-water floatation treatments.
Notable
Low-slung Basalt Architects buildings open onto moss-blanketed volcanic rock and private verandas.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Designed by Basalt Architects, the 35 rooms are low-slung and minimal, their large windows looking out over volcanic rock and the otherworldly Reykjanes Peninsula landscape.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Moss-covered lava fields stretch around the property, and a footpath reaches the main Blue Lagoon in ten minutes.
The rooms
Private verandas open straight onto the mossy volcanic rock, with expansive windows facing the rugged lava plain.
The lagoon
Bring a swimsuit.
Wooden boardwalks border channels of warm, milky-blue seawater that weave directly through the jagged black lava rock.
In-water massage
Therapists guide massages directly in the warm geothermal water, supporting guests on floating mats amid the rising steam.
The gym
Treadmills and exercise bikes face floor-to-ceiling glass looking straight out across the mossy volcanic fields.
Restaurant
Silica Bistro and Lounge
Morning buffets of fruit and pastries sit beside floor-to-ceiling glass looking straight onto the steaming lagoon.
Less than a kilometer from the main Blue Lagoon complex, but world's apart from the crowds, this was formerly the Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel and now sister to The Retreat.
At the table
Drinks are poured along the windowed bar counter, where armchairs sit beside a central wood-burning fireplace.
How it began
The property opened in 2005 as a clinic, using mineral-rich geothermal seawater to treat psoriasis and skin ailments.
Grindavik
More like this
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland
“Subterranean lava hideaway”
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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.