KEX Hostel and Hotel Reykjavik

Quick Verdict

KEX is one of the few places in Reykjavik where the social space genuinely earns its keep regardless of whether you're staying the night. The bar and common areas on Skúlagata 28 pull in a crowd that mixes travellers, locals, and creatives — which means the atmosphere is less sterile than a standard hotel lobby and more reliable than a hostel common room. If you've visited once and are wondering whether to return or recommend it, the answer is yes, with caveats around timing and what you're after.

What to Expect

KEX has been a fixture in Reykjavik long enough to have shed the novelty factor that props up newer openings. The building itself — a former biscuit factory on the harbour side of the city , gives the interior a scale and visual texture that most Reykjavik bars can't match: high ceilings, industrial bones, and enough space that the room doesn't feel crushed even when it's full. That visual character is the strongest argument for a return visit if you've already been once and want to show someone else around.

For regulars, the smart move is to arrive in the early evening, before the bar shifts into full-volume mode. The value-per-round equation in Reykjavik is almost universally painful by northern European standards, and KEX sits in the mid-range of that scale , not the cheapest option on the street, but not charging boutique-hotel premiums either. If you're budgeting carefully, one or two drinks here before moving on to Bodega or 12 Tónar is a sensible pattern. Spending a full evening here is viable but requires accepting Reykjavik's drink prices rather than fighting them.

Booking difficulty is low , the bar is walk-in and the hostel and hotel side are direct to reserve without special timing gymnastics. That ease of access is one of KEX's real advantages over more in-demand spots. For a broader view of where KEX sits among Reykjavik's options, see our full Reykjavik bars guide, our full Reykjavik hotels guide, and our full Reykjavik restaurants guide. If you're planning wider in Iceland, Kramber and Prýði in Vestmannaeyjabær are worth knowing about. For an international point of comparison on well-run hostel bar culture, Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu sets a high bar for what an independent hospitality space can achieve.

Quick reference: Walk-in bar, easy to book accommodation, mid-range Reykjavik pricing, early evening recommended for leading value.