Pulling up to the Brimslod Atelier Guesthouse transports you back in time to a secluded beach house in the 1800s. Or maybe even a Nicholas Sparks book. Nestled in northern Iceland in the small-town of Blonduos, the house is set on the edge of the sea. Seagulls squawking, whales socializing, and misty clouds rolling over the mountain set a sublime scene.
The Guesthouse recently opened in 2016 after renovations were made to an old auto garage. The separate building was a house from Denmark, each piece of wood numbered and put back together one-by-one. Instead of Paint by Number, they had themselves a House-by-Number.
Lodging at the Guesthouse in Iceland
It’s hard not to notice the hospitality and generosity of the owners as soon as you check in. They ask many questions about yourself, dietary restrictions if you’re joining for dinner, give a brief history of the guesthouse, and then personally escort you to your room.
When entering the separate house or main guesthouse, there is one rule: Take your shoes off. After all, it is a house. This rule was hard to get used to as you felt like you were in the lobby and at dinner without shoes on. But it sure made it feel even cozier and like I was right at home. And luckily, no one’s feet smelled!
At the guesthouse, they offer rooms in the main house with a shared bathroom or rooms in a separate house with private bathrooms. Each room had been chicly decorated by the owner. We opted for the house with the private bathroom, which actually gave us a room with an ocean view.
Dining at the Brimslod
At the Brimslod Atelier, joining a “family” dinner is optional. However, it’s hard to pass up a chef with multiple published cookbooks serving freshly prepared ingredients. Not to mention there’s only about six other restaurants in the town.
Dining at the Brimslod means enjoying local cuisine at a communal table with a view of the ocean. If you’re lucky, you may even see a whale or two like we did!
Dinner
Of our three course dinner meal, the first course was a bright display of freshly picked blueberries, raspberries, and greens. Beneath the greens lay a few pieces of meat.
Our host at this guesthouse in Iceland began explaining the history behind the cuisine of the country (which he did for every new plate), leading him to reveal that the meat was actually horse. Yes, horse. Apparently, Icelandic horse has been a staple on the island since it had been secluded for hundreds of years. Figuring it was part of the culture, I gave it a shot…and it wasn’t bad. Although, I don’t need to eat that again (I think I’ll stick to riding them and admiring their beauty)!
Luckily, the main course consisted of fresh fish with a celery puree. Healthy versions of puree that mimic mashed potatoes seems to be a trend in Iceland. And of course, to finish the meal, we had a flourless volcano cake with skyr (my absolute favorite — I had to bring some back to the U.S.!).
Breakfast
The price of the stay also comes with a hearty breakfast — a typical Icelandic spread of smoked fish, fresh meats and cheeses, and more savory options for those with a sweet tooth.
____________________________________________________________________________
Leaving the Guesthouse felt like leaving a little part of home. If I ever find myself in northern Iceland again, I’ll most definitely be staying here to transport myself back in time once again.
The Brimslod Atelier Guesthouse double rooms cost 180 Euros. Family rooms are slightly more.
Thank you to Inga and Gisli for a beautiful and engaging stay at this guesthouse in Iceland!
Don’t forget to check out other things to do in Iceland as well!