Hotel Klettur

The mid-range Hotel Kletter features a minimalist Nordic style. The exterior resembles a low-rise office building, with an off-white facade and long windows. In the lobby, green and orange rectangular chairs and sofas stand out against white walls and a smoky gray reception desk. Accent walls built from gray stone bricks add a natural touch to a fairly sterile atmosphere. The breakfast room is similarly low-key with blond wood floors, cabinets, and tables, as well as high-back dark brown chairs. A nearby bar has a handful of swiveling black leather stools set in front of a gray stone half-wall. The lounge has a blue felt pool table and semi-professional foosball table set up in a simple space with white walls and a blond wood floor. The style is simple enough to appeal to families or young couples, but business travelers might prefer something with more business amenities.

Hotel Kletter is in an eastern part of Reykjavik and a three-minute walk from the Hlemmer bus station, one of the main terminals for the Straeto line, which carries passengers through much of Western Iceland and along the coast. The neighborhood isn't particularly scenic except for the Hallgrimskirkja, a 20th-century Lutheran cathedral located 14 minutes away from the hotel on foot, which has an iconic, pointed shape inspired by Iceland's landscape. There are several restaurants and shops within walking distance, and downtown Reykjavik is about a 10-minute drive from here -- some parts can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center is a five-minute drive from here, while the National Museum of Iceland can be reached in eight minutes by car. Most of the natural attractions are a drive outside of Reykjavik, such as the Blue Lagoon, which is a 45-minute drive, or the Strokkur Geyser, which can be reached in 95 minutes. Keflavik International Airport is around a 50-minute drive.

Rooms here are clean, and bright, thanks to large windows letting in plenty of natural light. The look overall is streamlined, Scandinavian style with minimal color or embellishment. Standard Rooms are a bit small, with little space to maneuver or lounge around. White walls are paired with blond wood floors and furniture including desks, night tables, and chairs. Amenities include mini-fridges, tea/coffee facilities, LCD TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Deluxe Rooms offer more space and have armchairs, plus some have balconies. Bathrooms are fairly small and simple, covered in beige tile; they have small sinks, showers, heated towel racks, and wall-mounted hairdryers.

Hotel Kletter offers a handful of on-site facilities, including a small bar that serves draught beer and cocktails, but it's open during limited hours. There's also a game room with a pool table, foosball, and a TV. The free breakfast buffet includes cold cuts, hard boiled eggs, fruit, cereal, and some Scandinavian options. A small conference room is available for boardroom-style meetings. There is no business center nor fitness facilities, however. Parking is free, as is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.