The Retreat at The Blue Lagoon
Produced in Collaboration with Inspired by Iceland
Photography & Words by Alison Engstrom
This is the unique experience of entering into the the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon, a sublime luxury hotel where these distinctive environs flow effortlessly indoors and work in harmony with its surroundings. Since opening its doors in 2018, the destination has served as both a gateway and a getaway for guests looking to reconnect with nature in an intimate and profound way through its soothing design, unparalleled location, and immersive experiences. This 62-suite hotel brings the outdoors in with its intentional and understated aesthetic completed by Design Group Italia, a Milan-based firm. Upon walking through it’s large doors, visitors are greeted with floor-to-ceiling windows, which peer out over the lagoon, a tonal color palette that’s reflected in the smooth concrete walls and custom B&B Italia furniture, and a showcase of commissioned pieces from Icelandic artist Ragna Róbertsdóttir—all setting the mood of this serene environment.
Above: Rooms with a view.
There are different levels of stays to choose from at The Retreat including The Blue Lagoon Suite—which is the ultimate in luxury and includes a private lagoon, spa, and butler service—to the Moss Junior Suite, all boast splendid views of the lagoon and beyond. Each night, you’ll sink into the plush Jensen bed draped with a custom Enzo degli Angiuoni blanket that will induce a restful sleep, and each morning, you’ll wake up to nature’s vista. Every room is stocked with Blue Lagoon skincare, Nespresso machines, a rainfall shower, a complimentary minibar, a private terrace—bedecked with Paola Lenti armchairs, and a B&B Italia table—and daily group yoga sessions. If you are traveling between September and March, be sure to have the front desk give you a wake-up call if the Northern Lights are on display, then head up to the rooftop terrace to take in the awe-inspiring sight.
Above: Each suite is outfitted with a Jensen mattress, which is the equivalent to sleeping on a cloud.
An experience at The Retreat Spa heightens every sensorial note and wellness desire you didn’t even know you needed. Like the hotel, nature is beckoned into each of the spaces with tactile design cues including walls carved from lava, moody cavernous nooks and alcoves, and a trickling lava spring. Visitors can meander through the calming space and explore the sauna, steam room, and cold plunge at their leisure, taking dips in the private Lagoon as they please.
Guests to the spa can further submerge themselves into total relaxation by indulging in their 4-step ritual, all of which can be done at your own pace and be innumerably repeated during your stay. The wellness journey begins with a white sugar face scrub that gently polishes the complexion, while the black salt body scrub, which gets buffed onto the skin, leaves it baby soft. Next, slick on the full-body silica mask, a pale green formula that looks like decadent pudding. It’s formulated with the same minerals that give the lagoon its namesake. The silica, a key component to the destination, floats in the water and reflects the sunlight giving it the striking pale blue shade. The algae—which also grows in the lagoon—treatment is lighter in consistency and gets rinsed after application in one of the many rainfall showers. The final step is warming their signature oil between your palms and letting it melt into the skin. You’ll leave with your body feeling relaxed, your skin glowing, and a new appreciation for the healing power of geothermal water. In addition to treating yourself to the ritual, you can also book an in-water massage, a floating massage (for more, click here), or a beauty treatment. After soaking or the ritual, enjoy a light lunch at The Spa restaurant; try their Caesar salad or miso soup, all while enjoying the views of the lagoon.
Above: A free-standing tub in the Moss Junior Suite.
For dinner, book a reservation at Moss, a Michelin-recommended restaurant where you can choose from a 5 to 7-course tasting menu—there is also a delicious option for vegans. The team, led by Chef Agnar Sverrisson, offers a menu that celebrates both land and sea and puts seasonal Icelandic ingredients at the forefront. A recent visit started with lime-marinated scallops presented in a clamshell on a bed of crushed ice, followed by the creamiest burrata paired with sweet San Marzano tomatoes. Then it was a brothy stew of chanterelle mushrooms and sorrel served alongside a dollop of pureed celeriac. For dessert, experience the decadent Volcano, which is a molten lava cake streaked with vibrant yellow and pink icing. But be sure to save room for the box of pastries that arrives at your table after dessert, which includes chocolate bon bons, French macarons with blueberry filling, and warm pistachio madeleines that are knee-buckling delicious.
Above: The Volcano served at Moss; the wine cellar, which is ensconced in centuries-old lava rock.
Driving down the flat road toward The Blue Lagoon, you are flanked by endless moss-covered lava fields. But rising off in the distance, you’ll see what you would assume to be a power plant, vigorously pushing steam through its steel towers. But take heed, you’ve entered into an intriguing sustainable ecosystem that has not only served as an attraction for visitors since it was founded in 1992 but also as a healing venue, where the mind can be coaxed into utter relaxation and the body can be restored.
The lagoon was discovered in the 1980s when locals first began bathing in the water, which was a by-product of the geothermal plant. It soon became apparent that this was no ordinary body of water, rather it had a beneficial cocktail of silica, algae, and minerals that on a physical level reduces symptoms of psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema, and a less tangible affect the mental benefits of taking a soak. The lagoon contains natural water within a manmade complex and is comprised of 70% seawater 30% freshwater that is retrieved by going down 2,000 meters where the temperature is a scorching 240 degrees Celsius. At that level, the rocks are softened resulting in a release of potent bio-actives which make it silky. The Blue Lagoon company was officially birthed in 1992 and since has been a must-visit destination for any tourist in Iceland.
Have you already been to The Blue Lagoon and want to experience something new? visit the Sky Lagoon, Reykjavik’s newest geothermal pool. Discover
Above: The surrounding area can be enjoyed by taking a walk down the Blue Lagoon trail, which boasts shallow pools, 2,000 year old lava fields and vistas as far as the eye can see.
Above: The striking facade of The Retreat at sunrise.
