Tales of the Table · Tales of the Table
Hótel Saga (Súlnasalur) (1962–2020) – Lost Tables
Hótel Saga was built by the Icelandic Farmers' Association in its headquarters, Bændahöllin, at Hagatorg: ground was broken in July 1956, the hotel opened in 1962, and a seven-storey north wing was added in 1982–85. For half a century it was where Reykjavík dressed up – its Súlnasalur ballroom hoste
Hótel Saga was built by the Icelandic Farmers' Association in its headquarters, Bændahöllin, at Hagatorg: ground was broken in July 1956, the hotel opened in 1962, and a seven-storey north wing was added in 1982–85. For half a century it was where Reykjavík dressed up – its Súlnasalur ballroom hosted dinners, balls and dances, and singer Ragnar Bjarnason's band played at the hotel for nineteen years in a row. World leaders, politicians and artists stayed there, as did Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during their training in Iceland. Costly renovations, years of operating losses and then the pandemic proved too much, and the hotel closed indefinitely on 1 November 2020. In December 2021 the state and the student services body Félagsstofnun stúdenta bought the building, which reopened in December 2025 as University of Iceland premises with student apartments.
University of Iceland premises and student apartments
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