Kex Hostel

Kex Hostel descritpion

Set just 800 feet from Laugarvegur shopping street, this central Reykjavik hostel offers guest rooms and dormitory rooms with free Wi-Fi access. Harpa Concert Hall is 0.6 miles away.
A seating area and a wardrobe feature in all rooms at Kex Hostel. Some rooms have a private bathroom with shower.
Guests have access to a communal kitchen on site. A buffet breakfast is available each morning, while other meals are served at the in-house Sæmundur í Sparifötunum Restaurant. Drinks can be enjoyed at the on-site Drinx Bar.
Leisure options include a communal lounge and a heated outdoor terrace. Hostel Kex offers free luggage storage. Bicycles can be rented on site.
Whale watching trips depart from Reykjavik Harbour, a 20-minute walk from the hostel.

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Facilities of Kex Hostel

Outdoors ：Grounds | Terrace

Kitchen ：Shared Kitchen

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Bicycle Rental

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs EUR 0.50 per day.

General ：Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests

Languages Spoken ：Icelandic | English

Reviews for Kex Hostel

Review 1：1/ no lift in the building it's a bit challenge for me to take my heavy luggage to walk up to 3rd floors. 2/ laundry room - only available from 4-8pm, time is too limited and not convenient at all

Review 2：1/ great location, few minutes walk to main street, and 10 mins walk to Harpa Concert hall 2/ great vibe as well!

Review 3：Wish I had booked and extra day, as the bar closes at 12am and my bus to the airport was at 3.30am. That was the only thing.

Review 4：Big fan of this hostel, it's nestled on the coast of downtown Reykjavik over looking a spectacular veiw. Room and facilities were clean, bar and food were fantastic when you want a breather from the ice and snow. Over all a fantastic hostel when in town.

Review 5：Not enough lounge spaces- too many of the "communal" spaces looked great (as art installations) but there was actually not enough comfortable lounge areas to sit and read or talk with other travellers. (what hostels are really about!) There was only two seats in the whole place with enough light to read or knit during the long Reykjavik evenings. Dorms are small- especially once people have luggage.

Review 6：Lovely breakfast and bar area. Helpful staff. Gorgeous views! The location is reasonably central and good for walks along the water front

Review 7：A bit slow in service, often no one on reception and sometimes ignored by the staff. Customer service generally fairly low

Review 8：Fantastic location. Great bar, funky rooms. Top notch breakie!

Review 9：The room we stayed in was very comfortable, the location was perfect, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. The hostel was amazing for meeting other travelers and the atmosphere was very inviting. Very cool and vintage interior decorating. Loved it!

Review 10：Worst shower I have ever experienced. Check-out at 10 am is too early. Staff think they're too cool for school.

Review 11：Very good location and lobby bar/restaurant had a nice selection of drinks.

Review 12：The bathrooms were not very clean, and they felt really old and dark. Bathrooms is the first thing that should be improved in a future renovation. The rooms were ok.

Review 13：The bar and restaurant area is amazing. It has a really unique atmosphere. The breakfast and dinner was lovely too.

Review 14：1st floor shower wasn't really up to much - difficult to get wet in and cold but I heard that is unusual.

Review 15：Great location, nice bar and food downstairs, very clean and looked after. Friendly staff. Free earplugs.

Review 16：- the dorms with cluttered with way too many people than the room can handle. - not enough place to leave your things... - no cerfew so other guests were not sensitive about time and noise. - staff were busy and not always available

Review 17：- close to city

Review 18：The front desk made a mistake while booking my transfer to the airport. As a result I almost missed my flight. I sent them an email asking for an explanation, but have got no answer. Quite disappointing. The kitchen is not inspected the way it should be. People abuse and make a mess, and nothing happens.

Review 19：The location, atmosphere and decoration are excellent. The bar is great!

Review 20：Late nighters coming in at 3-4am.. better ventilation for really rank poop smells in the bathroom flowing into the hallways and smelly feet roommates.

Review 21：Loved the atmosphere.

Review 22：Value for money is medium as over priced with breakfast Not included deal.

Review 23：Style and LOFT design as it is a reshaped historical candy factory building. Young and easy going. Food a la carte in restaurant is delicious. Good and friendly service. Good location near city center.

Review 24：Lack of social environment present at other hostels. Activities or a bar crawl or something would be a good way to promote socializing among travelers. Also, the bar seemed to be full of locals which is fine but it makes it difficult to meet other travelers.

Review 25：Great staff and cool bar.

Review 26：As anywhere and anything else in Iceland, Kex Hostel's room rates are comparatively extremely expensive. I could afford only a room with three other people and with the price I paid per night I would have stayed at a luxurious hotel in most countries in Europe!

Review 27：I liked the positive, friendly, easygoing and at the same time, professional attitude of the staff and also the guests at Kex Hostel. It takes you back to your university years and it is so easy to meet interesting, fellow travelers and to chat. The bar of the hostel is very popular among locals in Reykjavik. The hostel is very clean. The showers are efficient. The breakfast is quite satisfactory with varieties appealing to different tastes. You can meet people from all ages and walks of life at the Hostel. I met backpackers, Golden Girls-like mid age ladies, old couples, lonesome travelers, all very adventurous and colorful people. I am so luck to have stayed at Kex Hostel. On a last note, its location is very central. It is just on the shore road overlooking at the Reykjavik Bay.

Review 28：The interior was awesome, but the light on the floors and kitchen was too dim for me.

Review 29：As everything in Iceland is oh so expensive, staying in hostel is a perfect option. But staying in Kex is even better! Everything was great: location, stuff, friendly people who stayed there, evening concerts at the bar...Do not even doubt!

Review 30：The hostel is extremely dirty, one of the worst I've stayed in. Ear plugs are given out at the counter, can't do without them at night. Room didn't have a light.

Review 31：Beds were pretty comfortable, and location was close to most stuff. Decor was detailed in the reception area.

Review 32：When they had a festival going on the music and bass were incredibly loud so that the lockers started vibrating...

Review 33：It is a nice and cozy place! You can book tours and transfers directly in the hostel!

Review 34：Noisy, party environment, not very clean (dusty, lots grit on floors, dust bunnies under my bed, bathroom mildewed). Some staff were professional, some borderline rude, so that was a mixed bag. Also, curtains to partition individuals while showering would be nice, rather than open barracks style shower.

Review 35：Great steampunk decor in the bar, good layout to kitchen with door to limit smells/ noise. Comfortable couches in common areas.

Review 36：This was the second time i've stayed at Kex and fourth time for my girlfriend. As you'd expect by the fact we've stayed here so many times, we normally love it here, but this time it was really truly lacking in a number of departments. Apart from an initial smiley welcome, most staff looked miserable and it felt a few went out of their way to try to not make eye contact and smile. The communal bathrooms were also, on both days we stayed, pretty dire and dirty which did make for an uncomfortable stay i'm afraid. Maybe if it was 50/60 Euro cheaper, i'd be complaining less, but due to the high number of visitors to Reykjavik at the time, my rate was pretty high (149 Euro per night) and made me come to the conclusion that it was nowhere near worth it! Very unfortunate and disappointing experience which has likely meant i'll be picking somewhere else to stay in Reykjavik in future. Be good for the owners to try the facilities themselves from time to time to make sure staff are on top of their game!

Review 37：The obviously great bar area and the speedy wifi!

Review 38：The noise -concerts were playing almost every night. The doors slam and creaks very loud. The shower curtains in the bathroom were dirty.

Review 39：I liked the location. The decor was interesting.

Review 40：Cleanliness was shocking!!!!!! Seriously I don't think I've seen such a disgusting shower in my whole life. And not to mention, the shower head has like 5 holes..... It was so difficult to shower with. Also! In addition to having individual shower/toilet rooms, there was a room with multiple showers in it.... But it was all open! So it was like a prison shower! As in you all shower naked right in front of each other! The bunk beds are basic and the top bunk has no where for you to put your stuff (no nook). Rooms are very small! The bathroom has dim lighting which made getting ready/washing face difficult. The breakfast was very basic and not good value for money. The dishes were also dirty and the staff had to give me new ones. Also, it's quite far away from everything, it sort of felt like you were out in the industrial area of Reykjavík....a decent 15 min walk to town centre. I was quite disappointed overall because I had read such good reviews about the place online..... But don't be fooled! If the level of cleanliness stays the same.... I won't be coming back.

Review 41：Overall it has a nice, friendly, laid back vibe to the place.

Review 42：The showers weren't very nice - but after camping for two weeks, there is no such thing as a bad shower ;)

Review 43：Wonderful hostel with an incredible common area. Spacious and friendly.

Review 44：Showers are just horrible. :(

Review 45：Rooms are small, but still good. Beds are ok. Really enjoyed the breakfast. Bar and lounge are great, the lunch menu as well. Friendly staff.

Review 46：it can be a bit noise at night but its nothing really bad

Review 47：The enviroment if this hostel is amazing! Lots of young people, backpackers, very easy to make new friendships

Review 48：Bar closes at 11.

Review 49：Ace Hotel-like lobby, restaurant, and bar. Hip vibe throughout and creative decor. Duvets on bed. Concierge helpful to book excursions and other travel.

Review 50：I had trouble sleeping when the band was playing, but they have free ear plug.

Review 51：Stuff we're very helpful especially when I had trouble with my credit card payment. I went to Blue Lagoon with an arranged trip. It will well planed. Breakfast was pretty good and healthy.

Review 52：beds were squeaky, we were 4 travellers in one room, if one turned the bed squeaked

Review 53：great and fun place to be, great staff, wonderful breakfast, cool location

Review 54：None. Had fabulous stay.

Review 55：Everything. U can just lay on the couch on 2nd floor or just about anywhere. Its sooo laid back,free spirit no stress hostel. Music is nice. Lots of ppl u cab meet. View is nice too. Near camping equipment so u can rent ur stuff. Wifi works great. I was on 3rd and 4th flr as I decided to stay more. Kitchen is ok lots of free food from previous ppl who left. Staff r courteous, helpful and nice.It has a clean hip young vibe that is good for any ages. And I saw a guy with a dog on the bar. That is super cool!♡♡♡♡ will definitely recommend the place.

Review 56：No negative experiences.

Review 57：There was free Jazz show while I was there with really great music. The breakfast was great. It started early enough that I could go down to breakfast before the shuttle picked me up for a tour. The staff was super helpful and accomodating. Travelling throughout Europe, this hostel was by far my favorite. I will go back.

Review 58：Extras are quite expensive: €10 for breakfast, and €32 for a half-day bicycle hire is a bit of a ripoff even by Icelandic standards. As regards meeting people it wasn't quite as friendly as I expected. A bit of a queue for shared bathrooms sometimes.

Review 59：Very nice decor, nice common areas, great food available (but priced at restaurant levels), overall a pretty good vibe. Great reading material available everywhere in the hostel. Rooms were clean and spacious.

Review 60：Nothing! It was awesome!

Review 61：My Kex stay was the first time I've ever stayed at a hostel so I was a bit nervous but it was awesome! They had live music every night and a bar and it was located right across the street from the ocean so you had a great view! They even have a locked area to keep your luggage if you are early for checkin or your flight back is later and you have to checkout. The staff was very friendly!

Review 62：The bathrooms were dirty and lacking in soap the entirety of our stay. The doors--to the bedroom and to the floors--slam shut, which makes it very hard to sleep after about 6:30 a.m. (or whenever people start waking up).

Review 63：Quirky vintage decor and a great, relatively inexpensive bar.

Review 64：There's nothing else like KEX! Amazing atmosphere (great bar, concerts, music nights, all the quirky decor), super friendly and helpful staff, complete kitchen you can use and they even store free food and toiletries that other people left there - backpacker's heaven and a must-stay for any music fan.

Review 65：Nothing! All great.

Review 66：Loved Kex, great place to hang out, meet people and have fun. Great music too. Staff were awesome and couldn't have been more helpful.

Review 67：I felt like the breakfast bufet wasn't good for the price. I recommend having your breakfast somewhere else or use the nicely equipped kitchen they have.

Review 68：I stayed in a 4 person dorm. The room was ok, two bunk beds, small lockers, enough space. The bed was nice and the sheets were clean. Shared bathroom and shower were ok. The hostel has a bar and most of the times luve music which is very nice. Thursdays are jazz nights.

Review 69：Only point I'd raise is that out of all the places I stayed in Iceland, including 2 other places in Reykjavik this was the most expensive per night that didn't include breakfast. Had to pay extra for that... It was very good but think it should be included as part of the room rate.

Review 70：Great location with very clean and comfortable rooms. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere all round. There's usually some sort of live music in the evenings and lots of locals hang out at the bar (so not just tourists). The style and decor is great and feels like the equivalent to London's Shoreditch and East London hangouts.

Review 71：The shared shower without cubicles

Review 72：I could book last minute and they helped me get all my luggage upstairs which was absolutely awesome! Kudos to them!

Review 73：Most of the staff were helpful and kind, but a few were aloof. it kinda feels given in a place so hipster. ;)

Review 74：The design was fabulous! I loved the lounges, both the main room downstairs, and the smaller lounges on each floor. The food was excellent as well. I could have easily spent my entire visit inside KEX and still had fun (but don't don't, it's so centrally located, you can walk everywhere!)

Review 75：The decor was fantastic and having the best bar in Reykjavik right underneath us was so perfect. The reception staff were helpful with everything we needed. The place was spotless.

Review 76：The doors to every floor do not have closers so slam every time someone goes through it. This makes it very hard to sleep!!!

Review 77：Stayed in a double room with a great view and really comfy beds. Had dinner one night and it was well worth it!

Review 78：This is a hostel so remember it isn't expensive.... It was difficult to find so remember it's 2 doors up from Dimino's.....and it will have music or a band playing but thes stop at 12 so best to go out and party somewhere else till the early hours...

Review 79：Felt like a chic hotel just a bit more hipster....great atmosphere and definitely buzzing on the Saturday night....

Review 80：Nothing.

Review 81：The Kex Hostel was very clean, the staff were very helpful and the food was so good. I would definitely recommend the Kex to anyone looking for reasonably priced accommodation in Reykjavik.

Review 82：The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The food was fabulous we can thoroughly recommend the pulled pork. Right in the center it's the perfect place to stay. Entertainment is given on various nights at no extra cost and you can even get a haircut while listening to jazz and having a beer If you want a stay to remember choose this hotel . We will definitely be back.

Review 83：Booked 2 private rooms. 1 of the room had a double bed that was not kept. It seems as though the previous tenant just left.

Review 84：Very nicely decorated hostel

Review 85：Kitchens lacked supplies, refrigerators smelled soooo bad. Water pressure & water temp sucked in some of the showers. Some employees were helpful and friendly, others looked like they had never smiled in their life. Everyone was very hip, almost unbearably so. Was the most expensive place we stayed in Iceland, overall, probably not worth it.

Review 86：Cool atmosphere, neat spaces, good wifi, excellent breakfast & food @ the restaurant. Comfy beds, dorms were nice - everyone was respectful & quiet at night.

Review 87：Noisy , not enought light in bathroom , not dvd player like they was describe not Even TV normal channel Even not one , and thé personnel exept on reception who was really proff and naturly smiling , om thé breakfast its not good they torget smile and happinnessss at home ,

Review 88：The atmosfar decoration Amazing good , and the bread fresh and reaaaalllllly good , books in thé room ,

Review 89：When we checked in we were told that our room price was a lot more than what we had booked originally, something to do with the way they work out currency conversions. The guy on reception helped to reduce the cost to match the amount we had originally booked, although this came across more as a favour than something we were entitled too. The main room is also very dark, and difficult to see what you're eating. Door's slamming kept waking us up throughout the night.

Review 90：Kex hostel is in the ideal place for a stay in Reykjavik. The inside decor is interesting and cosy. We stayed in a private double room which was warm and comfortable.

Review 91：The crying baby in the next room!

Review 92：The comfy bed (in our double room...I don't know about the dorms), the bar and restaurant, the food, the live music, the style and feel of the place, and the staff were nice too...

Review 93：Only thing irritating was the shower, which was too high, it would fit a person with a length of 2 meter and 15 cm's, and the most annoying was that most of the times the water was cold or only a bit warm.

Review 94：I loved the bedroom, the fantastic view at the Ocean, the great food, the interior is fancy and very nice! Also the people working there are enthusiastic and very willing to help you out with any kind of problem.

Review 95：There wasn't anything to dislike about this place!

Review 96：Everything about this place is brilliant! Such a good vibe and everything is top notch! Will stay here again and recommend everyone to do so! Stayed in Center Hotels Plaza while here too and much preferred the hostel in terms of pretty much everything including cleanliness.

Review 97：The place was dark, the internal lighting was really poor, in the bar I can understand, but the rooms, hallways and other common areas were really dark. Security, while OK, wasn't great. The check in desk isn't in view of the entrance so anyone could just "ghost" in behind someone

Review 98：The bar downstairs was great Location was excellent Staff were really helpful booking transport and activities

Review 99：I wanted to take a shower but non of the ones on my floor had hot water, when I asked for help in the reception the woman wilting there was alone with no possibility to do anything about it except asking me to go to all of the showers in the entire hostel so see if could find one that worked. In the end third floor had a big common shower with several shower heads that worked. But still, took me half an hour to find hot water. It was also very windy during our stay so we could hear the wind singing all night through the door gaps and windows.

Review 100：The atmosphere was great an the bar downstairs where very busy in the evening which was nice. It is locaded close to the old part of Reykjavik. Staff was very friendly

Review 101：The private room had a prison vibe, with just a metal bed, a small desk, and metal lockers to decorate the concrete room. There are shared bathrooms with showers (one room, one person at a time). If you want a nice hot shower, don't stay here. It's hard to get a hot shower there. You have to fiddle with the hot/cold water taps and you usually get ice cold or scalding hot. Too expensive for a room with a shared bathroom that's inadequate.

Review 102：The common room and bar area exude a hipster vibe, and is good for socializing. The bed was surprisingly comfy with a memory-foam mattress topper.

Review 103：Bathrooms were always wet. Better lighting in the common areas upstairs would improve the ambience.

Review 104：The first floor restaurant/pub was cozy and comfortable. Good food and beer. Great breakfast.

Review 105：Hot water was a little on and off at times. There was a door on our floor (4th floor) which kept slamming shut. Needs to have a soft close mechanism on it as it was quite disruptive No heating in bathrooms

Review 106：Really good vibes. Helpful friendly staff. Great food. Good bathroom cubicles. Comfy and warm rooms.

Review 107：No elevator, we had a lot of luggage! We were on the 4th floor. 2 stair cases per floor!

Review 108：Cheap, great location, wonderful food, fun, funky atmosphere! Would gladly return.

Review 109：Shower facilities less than par Bit pricy for a hostel Loud bar crowd on weekend nights (and yes, you hear it from your room)

Review 110：Lobby/common area was very spacious and good for anyone (not just hostel guests) Comfortable beds Great views of water

Review 111：We wish the bar was open later!!!

Review 112：We very much enjoyed our spacious room with a view of the water, a sitting area, and bath. Although we were not the cool hipster hostel types that were lounging in the lobby, we felt comfortable and really enjoyed ourselves.

Review 113：N/A.

Review 114：The decor, the breakfast buffet and the friendly atmosphere.

Review 115：The food was delicious, the atmosphere was fantastic.

Review 116：No

Review 117：The location

Review 118：The room felt a tad like a prison

Review 119：The atmosphere and location

Review 120：Cheap (for iceland) Nice bar

Review 121：the showers, it was difficult to stay warm and paces to store things while you shower.

Review 122：the decor, the bar staff the food. Felt like home

Review 123：Bar and food downstairs was nice, and made it easier to meet people. The location was great.

Review 124：no hairdryers in men's room.

Review 125：whole environment of hostel.

Review 126：Friendlyness of the staff, the sound of the bed

Review 127：The bar, the view, the location

Review 128：Check out by 10am :-(

Review 129：Great bar / food

Review 130：Super cute place, great friendly environment. Loved all the fun design features throughout the place. Comfy beds too!

Review 131：Food was below average. Staff at bar and restaurant were not helpful. Eating out was a much better choice.

Review 132：Clean and busy place.

Review 133：Everything was metal, so was very noisy. Bar open late at weekends.

Review 134：Price of beer / food

Review 135：Common area / bar

Review 136：a bit too expensive for a hostel

Review 137：great atmosphere!

Review 138：Not very clean.Veeeery busy!Staff not very polite.

Review 139：Tasty breakfast,fun communal area.Hot water in the communal showers.

Review 140：My wifi wasn't the best

Review 141：Loved the atmosphere and the decor. Also loved the people who went there.

The Fine Print

Please let Kex Hostel know your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking or contact the property.