Black Sand Hotel

The black-sand beach outside isn't decoration; it's the whole point. This minimalist hotel on Iceland's south coast, forty minutes from Reykjavík, keeps its profile low and its interiors spare, warmed mostly by good textures and DUX beds in fine linen. The restaurant faces the beach through floor-to-ceiling glass, and the surrounding south coast puts waterfalls, geysers, and the Northern Lights within reach.

One honor, in evidence: