Picolo recommends · Hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland
Kvosin
Big, plain rooms in pale timber on a small square behind Austurvöllur, for when you want the old town outside and space to unpack.
Kvosin is the name of the low ground between the harbour and the lake, where Reykjavik began. The hotel takes its name from it and sits on a little square just behind Austurvöllur, close enough to hear the city and far enough to sleep.
The rooms are the reason to come. They are generous by city standards and kept simple: light wood, pale walls, nothing that needs explaining. After a day of wind on the Golden Circle, there is room for wet jackets, boots and a suitcase lying open.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Kvosin
We chose Kvosin for the space. Families, friends and couples staying a week need room more than a scene, and here you get it in the oldest part of town, with the best restaurants a few streets away.
There is no grand lounge and no buzzing hotel bar, so evenings happen out in town. Travellers who want a hotel to be a destination in itself, with spa, cocktails and people watching, will be better off by the harbour.
What you get
- Spacious rooms in Nordic style
- Small square behind Austurvöllur
- Room for families and groups
- Restaurants a few streets away
- Quiet, low-key service
A day at Kvosin
- Morning
- A loop round Tjörnin, the city lake, before the tour buses arrive.
- Midday
- Hot dogs from a harbour kiosk, the most Icelandic lunch there is.
- Afternoon
- A museum stop in the old town when the weather turns.
- Evening
- A long dinner in the old quarter, then back across the square.
Location
Kvosin, Reykjavik, Iceland
Open in MapsQuestions about Kvosin
Is Kvosin hotel good for families?
Yes. The rooms are larger than most in central Reykjavik, which makes it a practical choice for families or friends sharing a trip.
Does Kvosin have a restaurant or bar?
It is a simple hotel without a big bar or lounge. Plan to eat out in the old town, where many of the city’s best kitchens are close by.
Where exactly is Kvosin in Reykjavik?
Behind Austurvöllur, on a little square in the old town where Reykjavik began. Tjörnin lake, the harbour and Laugavegur are all an easy walk.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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