The 30 Best Hotel Openings of 2021

Shou sugi ban wood and blackened steel frames on the façade of the harborside Reykjavik EDITION hint at Iceland’s natural beauty. Indeed, the striking landscape, marked by lava, geysers, and hot springs, guided the design of this 253-room hotel led by local architects T.ark, New York firm Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors, and Ian Schrager Company. This is evident in the lobby, where a stacked basalt slate totem sculpture, made in partnership with Icelandic artisans, is a focal point. A 3D digital rendering of the Northern Lights also grounds the hotel in its location, as does the central open-flame fireplace in the lounge, accompanied by custom furniture like a white shearling armchair. A highlight of the public spaces is the bar, Tölt, outfitted with teak tambour walls, pony hair poufs, and custom rugs decorated with Icelandic geometry patterns. Photo by Nikolas Koenig