Review: Topaz Suite, Diamond Suites, Keflavik, Iceland
Occupying the uppermost floor of the already-renowned Hotel Keflavik, Diamond Suites Luxury Boutique Hotel is Iceland‘s first five star hotel and consists of a collection of individually-decorated suites. Whilst the building’s exterior might seem rather unremarkable, each suite is ultra-luxurious and has its own unique character and theme for travellers who demand the best.
The welcome
Tucked away on the top floor, Diamond Suites is completely private and separate from Hotel Keflavik, and even has its own small reception desk. This was unmanned at the time of our visit, with a smooth and seamless check-in performed instead at the main hotel reception area on the ground floor.
The room
The door into Diamond Suites initially takes you into a private area shared by all the suites. Think of it as being like a Club floor in a larger hotel.
Versace marble floors, comfortable leather seating and a kitchenette are among the amenities available for the exclusive use of Diamond Suites guests.
We stayed in the first suite on the right – the Topaz Suite – which is also the most modern of the suites, covering an area of 420 square feet.
The Queen Size Bed, dressed with luxury bed linens, assured us with a good night’s sleep.
The suite enjoys hardwood floors and an elegant design with contemporary modern furniture, showcasing authentic Icelandic artwork on the walls.
There’s extensive use of technology within the suite from the 42“ Bang Olufsen flatscreen TV and Apple TV entertainment system to the iPad controls at the door with SONOS music system. LED mood lighting, underfloor heating, remote controlled curtains and electric black-out blinds, as well as a free private WiFi connection exclusive to each suite are further examples.
Red leather seating and matching foot stools are eye-catching items of furniture that enable you to relax in front of the TV.
Other extras include a safe, cordless phone, Nespresso machine, kettle and daily housekeeping.
The bathroom
The modest bathroom features luxury fixtures including a rain shower head, luxurious whirlpool bathtub, heated Duravit toilet seat and a very fancy faucet designed by Philippe Starck. There’s also a great quality shaving mirror, and super fluffy towels and flannels.
A very smart boxed toiletry set is supplied, complete with shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and shower gel, but also a whole host of extras including bath salts, sewing kit, shower cap, shaving kit, comb, toothbrush, vanity kit, ear plugs and pen. Bathrobes and slippers are also supplied.
The facilities
Although the suites include access to their own kitchenette, you would be missing out if you didn’t try dinner at KEF Restaurant back on the ground floor.
The lobster soup, flavoured with chilli, cilantro, ginger, lemongrass and star anise is a treat for the tastebuds.
The stand-out main dish for me was the monkfish with chorizo, olives, tomatoes, nut pesto, pearl onion, potatoes and yuzu hollandaise.
Meat eaters will love the grilled leg of lamb – served pink – with yellow beet purée, grilled yellow beet, rainbow carrots, herb crust, fondant potato, herb and date demi glace.
Sweet treats included this chocolate and caramel brownie served with vanilla ice cream and forest fruits.
If you’re worried about the pounds gained from the restaurant, the hotel also has a 7,000 sq. ft. fitness centre, complete with treadmills, cross trainers, exercise bikes, power bench presses and an assortment of free weights, resistance bands, flexion machines and weight machines.
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Location
Diamond Suites is a popular choice because of it convenient location, just a 6-minute drive from Keflavik International Airport and within walking distance of Keflavik’s amenities, not forgetting also the Atlantic Ocean which is just a two-minute walk away. Both The Blue Lagoon and Grinadvik, from where you can explore recent volcanic activity on the south of the Reykjanes Peninsula, are each just a 20-minute drive away.
An extra special benefit to staying here is access to two private outdoor hot tubs situated on a balcony overlooking the sea. These are for the exclusive use of Diamond Suites guests.
Cost
Suites start from around 140,000 ISK, including breakfast.
The best bit
The best thing about the hotel is its luxurious and opulent suites. In addition to the Topaz Suite described above, there is an Emerald Suite, Pearl Suite, Sapphire Suite and Ruby Suite. All five suites can be hired together exclusively as a suite combination known as the Diamond Suite.
The final verdict
A stay at Diamond Suites is an extra special treat and a great way to either start or finish your trip to Iceland.
Planning a trip to Iceland yourself? You can watch a video from our trip to Iceland here:
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Diamond Suites Luxury Boutique Hotel. Our trip to Iceland was also sponsored by Helly Hansen.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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Those 2 hot tubs looking out to the sea are a nice touch of luxury.
Hi Jen – yes, nice and private too!
It looks a very generously proportioned suite. Some hotels like to think that providing a sofa at the of the bed entitles them to call an average sized room a suite. This one really is a suite.
It certainly is, Julian, and with the separate shared lounge access and kitchen as well (which must have been around three times size of our own suite) means that you truly have lots of space when staying there.
Big windows and lots of light is usually an ingredient for a good looking hotel. When lights at a premium during the short winter days it’s a worthwhile design feature. It’s a trick that most of the Icelandic hotels you stayed at seem to have used.
Yes, they were very well-equipped with black-out blinds for the Summer months and ample lighting for those darker Winter months. Of course, when households are only paying around one third of what we pay here in the UK per kWh of electricity (and businesses around 50% less than that), then you start to realise that there are some benefits to living in a geothermally active country.
Those red recliner chairs look very comfy for watching the telly. It’s high time that we replaced our sofa which we’ve had since we got married 27 years ago.
I love those chairs, too! Although if I visited Iceland, I think I’d feel guilty relaxing indoors when I could be outside!
I know what you mean, Henry! I can’t say we used them much but they were very comfortable.