Sapphic Travel Review: Ion City Hotel Iceland

• Property: Ion City Hotel 
• Location: Laugavegur Street, Reykjavik, Iceland
• Hags’ Rating: 4 stars

During our first Icelandic adventure back in 2022, we stayed at the Ion City Hotel in Reykjavik. We were both instantly impressed by the accommodation’s high-end furnishings, moody decor, and friendliness of the staff. With a 4-star classification and 4-plus-star rating on TripAdvisor, here’s a closer look at our experience at one of the city’s trendiest hotels. 

Where to Stay in Iceland: Ion City Hotel Review

Location 

Ion City Hotel is located on one of the busiest streets in Reykjavik: Laugavegur. It’s the go-to road for shopping and offers a vibrant nightlife. Those qualities come with both pros and cons. On the positive side, guests have easy access to food and retail, and if you enjoy a late night, you don’t have to worry about walking very far to your bed. Yet, it can get a bit loud during the busy season. Luckily, we didn’t experience any sound transfer during our stay. 

Service Quality

We had fairly minimal interaction with the team, but the front desk staff was incredible at check-in and check-out. They were also good-natured when we ordered food delivery, even bringing it up to our room when it arrived faster than we expected. 

Room Quality 

The team truly kept the hotel clean and sparkling during our stay. The room was one of my all-time favorites with a very comfortable, cushy bed and cozy linen. At the time of our visit (October 2022), they used duvets with a nice weight and super fluffy pillows that encouraged a good night’s sleep. 

Mimicking the rest of the hotel, the in-room lighting was low and ambient, muted by wood features and blackout curtains. The total space is small and compact, but it served to further enhance that sense of coziness that I personally look for when booking a hotel. 

Amenities 

As a 4-star hotel, they offer all the in-room perks I expect as a guest, including toiletries, free (and fast) WiFi, and in-room coffee and tea as well as a small mini fridge. There is also a gym on site, but I opted to stuff my face with fried fish instead, so I can’t speak to its size and/or quality. 

Dining

My biggest complaint with Ion City Hotel is the lack of in-house dining options, but it’s not surprising considering its small size. The location also makes it convenient to go out and grab a meal or order in, which we did multiple times during our stay. [Big shout out to bistro 101 for best fish and chips I’ve ever had!]

Value for Money

Boutique hotels are pretty much always on the higher end of a price band, and add that on top of Ion City Hotel being a 4-star classification, it’s not an option that I’d label “budget-friendly”. Of course, if you’re looking for a 4-star boutique hotel, then budget likely isn’t a top priority. I’d say its standard rates are a bit on the high side, but it’s an option I’d be happy to pay for again based on the quality of the room and the friendliness of the staff. 

What You Need to Know About Ion City Hotel

Parking

If you plan on renting a car, it’s important to know that there isn’t any guest parking available. Instead, you’ll have to rely on street parking or a parking garage – the latter is easier to find and usually accessible with fewer time restrictions. 

Food

As mentioned above, there isn’t an on-site dining option, and since Iceland is known for its higher food costs, it’s important to factor in meals when budgeting travel plans. There are grocery stores within walking distance, which can help mitigate some costs, but there aren’t cooking appliances in the room. Additionally, there are duty-free snack and drink products at the airport that can be purchased after arriving, but again, cooking options are limited. 

Staying at Ion City Hotel As a Queer Person

As a lesbian couple that grew up in a very rural, religious area, we’re well versed in even the most subtle signs of homophobia. Based on our experience, I can confidently say that Ion City Hotel is welcoming of queer and sapphic patrons – a quality found throughout Reykjavik. However, it doesn’t boast an inclusivity policy or statement, which is a prerequisite for many sapphic travelers who want to focus their spending on businesses that are outspoken about supporting the LGBTQ+ community. 

Ion City Hotel Iceland: To Book or Skip?

Overall, the Ion City Hotel was a great space to be introduced to Reykjavik. I think it’s an excellent option for lesbian couples and solo sapphic travelers who want a more luxurious stay during their trip to the land of fire and ice. 

Have you stayed at Ion City Hotel? Did your experience match ours? Let us know by dropping a dm or comment on social! We’d love to hear from you.