The KEX Hostel in Iceland is, officially, the most upscale hostel I’ve ever stayed in. However, that description really only applies to the main floor and common areas, as the dorm rooms are disappointingly basic.

I’d heard about KEX from my sister and other travelers who have been to Reykjavik — I was told that even if I didn’t stay here, I had to stop by the restaurant / bar to order seafood because it’s truly outstanding. Now having tried it myself, I totally agree with this advice. I’ve had a top 10 meal of my life here. (More on that in a moment.)

Right up front, I should mention how expensive accommodation is in Iceland. I never looked into hotels or Airbnb, but a standard dorm bed in a hostel runs about $50 USD per night (a little cheaper if you bring your own bedding / sleeping bag), which is about on par with centrally located hostels in New York City and Los Angeles. KEX might be a tad pricer than other options within Reykjavik, but I think it’s worth it since it’s the most unique hostel I’ve stayed in.

Since I’m on a budget I could not justify spending $50/night for my whole stay in Iceland and luckily there is a cheaper alternative: camping. Later this week I’ll share a post about how I planned my route, which campgrounds are the best, and where to rent camping equipment in Reykjavik so that you don’t have to lug it all the way from your home country. But KEX Hostel was a nice way to bookend my Iceland camping trip — I took the longest, hottest shower of my life upon returning here a week after I arrived in the country.

Let me show you more about the hostel — this is KEX’s unassuming exterior:

This is the view from the main room on the second floor:

Here are some shots of the KEX lobby. My sister describes it as looking like the ACE Hotel in New York City; if you’re familiar with its funky aesthetic, you’ll see why:

And here are photos I snap of the restaurant and bar while waiting to check in:

I order the pan fried salmon and kale for lunch — it’s one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Like, I’ve had really good salmon many times and it’s one of my go-to dishes at a nice restaurant (not to mention my parents make a mean cedar plank grilled salmon), but this is flaky, crispy PERFECTION.

It’s served over a bed of mustard mashed potatoes, which only comes with the meal at lunchtime — I ask for the same dish for supper a week later at KEX and find out you have to order it extra on the side at dinnertime. (Worth it.)

Salmon and kale round two, this time with an Arctic Berry beer. Solid choice.

And on my final night in Iceland I order the cod dish at KEX — can you tell I really dig their food? — which my sister swears by. It’s served over celery, potatoes, and clams, although on their updated menu it looks like it now comes with chorizo instead of clams.

One thing is certain: Icelandic people really know how to cook seafood.

A musician performs at the bar on my final night at KEX:

FYI, if you’re driving a rental car parking is relatively straightforward at KEX. You have to pay to park in the lots out front, but I think it works out to $2 per day. Just feed a meter (one per block) and display the print-out on your dashboard.

This post is not sponsored by KEX, as they didn’t return my emails inquiring for a discounted blogger rate! I still liked my stay enough to write an entire post about it. The only downfall is that the dorm rooms are truly basic (and a little cramped) with just bunk beds and lockers — hardly worth $50 per night, and not really on par with the impressive decor throughout the rest of the building. But the overall aesthetic, location, and of course food are all reasons KEX is a great place to book in Iceland.