Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre Review
The Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre could be a great property. It is a brand new building in a great location. It opened in July 2016 and still has a lot of work to do before it becomes great. You can read my post on suggestions for the property.
Canopy brand: Canopy by Hilton is a new, millennial focused brand of hotels. Similar brands would be Andaz (or maybe Centric), Kimpton, or W, but less swanky and more accessible. There is an emphasis on community space, neighborhood integration, sustainability, etc. All those buzzwords that are associated with millennials.
The Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre happens to be managed by Icelandair.
Location: The two main streets through town are Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur. The Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre is a short block from where the two streets converge. Restaurants, bars, shopping and sites are all just outside the front door.
A short walk up hill will take you to Hallgrimskirkja, the cathedral that can be seen from anywhere in town. A short walk down hill will take you to the Harpa Concert Hall and waterfront. The location cannot be beat.
If you take the FlyBus in from the airport, you will need to transfer at the BSI bus station and a shuttle will take you to a stop near the hotel.
Check In: Before even arriving at the lobby, I had to drag my suitcase through a muddy construction zone. The streets around the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre are under construction but should be done in a few months. Be warned if you go prior to 2017 that it is tough to get to.
When I walked in to the lobby the staff just stared blankly at me. I had to initiate the process with a “Hi, I’m here to check in”. Not a good first impression. The staff seemed disinterested in helping me and quickly went through the process.
I was thanked for being a Diamond member however the typical amenities (late check out, points bonus) were not mentioned. I asked about the dinner offered to Diamond members at the hotel and was told that promotion ended. I let them know I had talked to a staff at time of booking and they confirmed I would receive this. Begrudgingly the staff member gave me the coupon for the dinner.
I was offered a small bag of popcorn (all members receive this) and a chocolate bar (as a Diamond).
My room was on the 5th (top) floor and the staff explained directions on how to get there. I had to go up the elevator, down a hallway, out on to the roof patio (and into the rain), across the patio, into another door, down another hallway, and I would find my room. The directions were correct and I was able to find my room but it was quite a hike.
The lobby itself is quite modern and hip. The design is industrial with exposed wood and metal.
A library with fireplace is just past the lobby.
On the other side of the lobby is the cafe.
Room: I was upgraded to a King Junior Suite (Room 510) which happens to be the room featured on the website. Based on the layout of the hotel, my guess would be that there is quite a variety of room set ups.
Upon entering the room the open concept closet with provided robes was on the left. 
To the right was the coffee maker, mini fridge and safe.
The bed was in the middle of the room and a small bench was under the window.
The bed was quite comfortable with high quality sheets and a wool blanket. Power outlets located by the bed.
The bedroom and living room areas were divided by a bookcase with two TVs (one on each side).
The living room had a pull out couch, table and desk.
My room was on the top floor and had a great view of the ocean and Harpa concert hall.
Overall the room was stunning. It had high ceilings and you still smelled of fresh paint. It felt new but also cozy.
Bathroom: The bathroom was off the living room area and divided by a sliding barn door. There was only a shower (no tub) but it was quite spacious and had an overhead shower as well as a hand wand.
The bath products were quite high quality and advertised as natural.
The water pressure was VERY good (almost too powerful). Water was immediately hot.
Breakfast: Breakfast is included for all guests of the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre. It is served on the first floor in the Geiri Smart Restaurant. It is a self serve buffet with lots of standard options and a few not so standard.
If you preferred, you could also have a light breakfast brought to your room. You just had to put out the provided bag the night before.
Evening Tastings: Each night at Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre there is a tastings event. The bar on the second floor opens up for free samples of a drink and snack. The evening I was there it was a local beer and chocolate with strawberries. Another evening it was beer and smoked salmon.
Dinner at Geiri Smart: During the first months of the hotel’s opening, Diamonds were invited for a 3 course dinner with wine pairings at Geiri Smart, the onsite restaurant at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre. The restaurant specializes in local cuisine. I had langoustine stew and monkfish. The restaurant was busy and many of the diners did not seem to be guests of the hotel.
Overall: Assuming the construction finishes and the staff improves even slightly, I think the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre will be a great option for staying in Iceland. The location can not be beat. The property itself is hip but warm. I hope the hotel succeeds; it just seems like they rushed to open.
I look forward to trying out other Canopy properties; I’ll just wait a year or so after they open.