KEX Hostel
Iceland's landmark hostel — converted biscuit factory on the waterfront, 4,198 reviews at 8.1, with a gastropub locals still come to and Esja views from every dorm.
KEX is Iceland's most famous hostel — a converted biscuit factory on the waterfront with a gastropub-restaurant that Rough Guides and Lonely Planet both feature, 4,198 reviews at 8.1, and a design aesthetic every other hostel in town has tried to copy. Live music three nights a week, proper brunch until 14:00, and the Esja mountain and Harpa concert hall framed in every window.
KEX occupies the Frón biscuit factory on Skúlagata — a long low industrial building on the Reykjavik waterfront that has been a hostel since 2011 and is the reason the word 'KEX' has an entry in the New York Times travel archives. The conversion kept the concrete columns, the exposed steel beams, the factory-glass windows, and added pale wood bunks, wool throws, and an enormous gastropub that runs the ground floor. Locals eat Saturday brunch at KEX; backpackers stay upstairs. The 4,198 reviews averaging 8.1 are the most-reviewed Iceland hostel data point you will ever see.
The dorms are spread across three floors above the restaurant, mostly 6 and 8-bed rooms with curtained bunks, lockers, and the factory-style industrial windows overlooking either Skúlagata (quieter) or the bay (Esja views, slight morning traffic noise). Shared bathrooms are on each floor — reviewers flag the occasional morning queue on the 8-bed floor. The shared kitchen is smaller than Loft's or Nordic's, which is deliberate: KEX wants you eating in the restaurant. The restaurant, in turn, is genuinely good — a brisket burger for €20, skyr-and-rhubarb pancakes for €13, happy-hour pints at €7 from 16:00 to 19:00.
The live music is the unadvertised soul of the place. Icelandic indie acts (Hjaltalín, Retro Stefson alumni, folk duos nobody has heard of but should) play in the restaurant 2-3 nights a week, free for guests and locals both. There's no dance floor, no DJ — this is a listening-room gig with a beer in your hand. If you want a rúntur bar-crawl, Laugavegur's Lebowski and Kaldi Bar are 10 minutes up Skólavörðustígur; if you want one cinematic Reykjavik evening of slow beer and slower music, KEX's restaurant is where that happens.
- 01The restaurant-bar is genuinely where locals eat, not just hostel guests — the Saturday brunch queue is Icelandic 30-somethings more than backpackers, which is the highest compliment a hostel bar can get
- 02Live music in the restaurant 2-3 nights a week — Icelandic indie and folk acts, free, no cover for guests, the listening-room energy is a rare Reykjavik experience
- 03Waterfront dorms have actual Esja mountain views — ask for an even-numbered dorm on the second floor for the best panorama
- 044,198 reviews at 8.1 is Iceland's most-reviewed hostel data point — you know what you are getting because thousands of travellers have already told you
- 4,198 reviews at 8.1 — the most-reviewed hostel in Iceland, an aggregate that cannot be faked or gamed
- On-site gastropub-restaurant serves brunch until 14:00 (locals' favourite), dinner mains €18-28, and live music three nights a week
- Waterfront location on Skúlagata — every north-facing dorm has a view of Esja mountain across the bay, sunsets over Harpa
- Converted 1930s biscuit factory (hence the name — 'kex' is Icelandic for biscuit) with polished-concrete-and-steel interior every designer hostel in Europe has copied
“Hostel is very well located and staff are nice and always helpful. The restaurant downstairs was honestly the best meal I had in Reykjavik.”
“This place is a piece of art in terms of design. Very convenient, very clean. The staff was amazing. Everyone should stay here once in Iceland.”
“Fabulous for a mixed family of grandparents, parents and teenagers. Lots of lovely quirky corners. The staff at reception were kind and patient.”
- Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) sculpture400 m / 5 min walk
- Harpa Concert Hall850 m / 10 min walk
- Hlemmur Mathöll food hall650 m / 8 min walk
- Laugavegur main drag (top end)650 m / 8 min walk
- Old Harbour (whale watching)900 m / 10 min walk
- Bónus supermarket (Laugavegur)700 m / 9 min walk
