Eric the Red Guesthouse

I spent two nights at the guesthouse after my wife was hospitalised after becoming ill on our flight from the US to the UK.
I would just like to thank Edda and Runar for the kindness and hospitality shown to us both and also for inviting us to share an evening of good food and conversation with them.
Thanks again...

I'm sorry we haven't been able to thank the two of you personally yesterday for all the care you provided us (if that is good English). We wouldn't have had as much a nice time as we had now if it wasn't for you!
Your breakfasts were a feast too!

Thanks again for everything and stay healthy!

Love,

Mark, Ineke, Sil and Jana

Best place to stay in Reykjavik

We spent a wonderful week in the guesthouse Eric the Red. We enjoyed to see the Hallgrimskirkja in the morning sun each time we left the house. The city center can be reached by a short walk. We enjoyed the delicious breakfast and the conversations with Rúnar and Edda. Each time we had a little question like: is this pool still open? Rúnar took immediately the telephone and said: I'll check it out. We felt at home and welcome from the very first to the last moment and when we will come to Reykjavik again this friendly guesthouse will be our first choice.

Sorry - just a brief erratum to the last post. Not all rooms have kitchenettes - but ours did. So ask for that one!

It’s difficult to say more than has already been said about this cosy, relaxed guesthouse, except that it's more of a home than a hotel. Edda and Runar have created one of the warmest, friendliest places I’ve ever stayed in, right in the heart of Reykjavik by the Hallgrímskirkja. The rooms are warm and comfortable and have their own kitchenettes for those late night tea-and-snack moments. Not that you need them. The breakfasts are to die for, with Edda’s home-made bread and glorious date loaf (thanks for the secret recipe Edda!) gracing a delicious, heaving table every morning. She went out of her way to bake a birthday cake for one of the guests, or supply us with traditional, naughty treats for our outdoor excursions, and started New Year in style with celebratory food and drink, including the notorious Hákarl and Brennivin! Even the guesthouse cat is friendly and affectionate – and likely to sneak into bed with you if you let him. Our experience of this most beautiful country was truly enhanced by the genuine kindness and joie-de-vivre of Edda and Runar. We went as visitors and left as lifelong friends.

A few photos are here:

View from Erik the Red:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28232489@N05/4245353751/in/set-72157623140093630/

Breakfast:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28232489@N05/4246154194/in/set-72157623140093630/

Raggi, the (appropriately) red cat:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28232489@N05/4246155630/in/set-72157623140093630/

What an absolute wonderful place - and right next to everything too! I felt at home at once - there is such good karma in this house. Runar and Edda are very friendly and helpfull hostes and make a breakfast to remember - fresh homemade bread and lovely tango music - can't think of a better way to start a new day.
I will strongly recommend Eric the Red to everybody going to Reykjavik, and will look forward to my next stay - one simply has to come back :)

When in Reykjavik – you can stay at the Hilton, or you can stay with Runar & Edda in their Guesthouse - Eric the Red.
In the Hilton you will probably have luxury rooms and international bacon & egg-breakfast
At Runar & Eddas – you will have heart warmth - and homemade bread.
In the Hilton you will – I guess – have a professional team to satisfy your wishes.
In Eddas kitchen you can talk about everything, and Edda will tell you and take care of you. Dentist? Museums? Art? Bus for14 people and a wheelchair? Restaurants? Everything – except for weather forecast. In Iceland no one – not even Edda – can tell you how the weather will be. But – as the Icelanders say – who cares? The weather is!
In the Hilton - I guess – the hotel manager will not appear at the breakfast table in a long morning dress and with long fairy hair – giving a warm hug to us all! But this happens in Eric the red

We were 10 friends in 7 days at Edda & Runars guesthouse. This place is not at hotel – it`s a home.
We will return to Iceland very soon. And we will absolutely stay at Eric the Red.

We stayed at Eric the red on our second visit to Iceland in July 2009. The guest house was recommended to us and we had a very enjoyable time. A warm and friendly welcome was received from our wonderful hosts Edda & Runar. The accommodation offered everything we needed. Each day we looked forward to a delicious breakfast, with a good range of healthy produce. The guest house is in an excellent location, with a short walk to the city centre with its many shops, restaurants etc. Highly recommended as a great place to stay. A unique and beautiful country, with kind and helpful Icelanders who made our visit so memorable.

We stayed at Erik the red back in March and it was great. It truly was a Home away from home. Edda & Runar are super friendly and did everything they could to help us. The rooms and the flat are cosy, with a personal touch and clean. The breakfast was great and hearty, just what you need with these temperatures in Iceland.
If you like arts, you will like the collection of Runar!

Best place we know in Reykjavik. Kindest warmest and most interesting hosts we ever met. Thank you very much Edda & Runar. In addition we had (and you will get) perfect rooms, perfect location in the heart of the city. You can not miss it and you should not miss it… do not expect a hasty breakfast – you will be faced a hearty one :-)

BTW: Runar knows backpackers problems very well – so no need to travel back with a soaked tent :-)

Couldn't have stayed in a better place. Runar and Edda make a home for their guests and when you're coming to a place you've never been before, that inclusiveness and warmth goes a long, long way. I highly recommend it for everyone staying in Iceland, first time or returning. You have everything you need whether it's the kitchen area, your room, or direct access steps away from Reykjavik. You can't ask for a better home base.

GREAT!!!

We rented the apartment (four people) during the winter. Veeeery comfortable, veeeery cozy, and veeeery nice! We had everything we needed, from the heat after a cold and snowy day to the perfect relax we had on our mattresses. The kitchen fitted with many tools (microwaves, kettle, dishing machine, oven...). Edda and Runar provided us every information we asked for. If we'll remember this vacation for a long time, it will be also 'cause of this wonderful place.