KEX Portland, Oregon
Icelandic Spirit Meets Portland’s Creative Soul
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A beautifully layered hybrid hotel where Icelandic design sensibilities meet Portland’s independent creative culture.
● Authentic interiors filled with antique finds, reclaimed materials, and handcrafted details collected from across Europe.
● More than a hotel—a lively social hub where locals and travelers gather over exceptional food, coffee, cocktails, music, and conversation.
From Reykjavík to Portland
KEX began life inside a former biscuit factory in Reykjavík, where it quickly became one of Iceland’s most beloved design hotels. Its Portland sibling carries the same philosophy while embracing the personality of the Pacific Northwest. Housed in a historic industrial building, KEX Portland preserves its exposed brick walls, timber beams, steel columns, and warehouse proportions, creating a backdrop that feels both honest and effortlessly stylish. Rather than copying the original, the hotel translates the Icelandic spirit into something distinctly Portland—creative, welcoming, and full of character.
Collected, Never Decorated
The interiors tell stories rather than follow trends. Founder Kristinn Vilbergsson worked with former Hollywood set designer Hálfdan Pedersen, who spent weeks travelling through Europe sourcing architectural fragments, vintage lighting, reclaimed tiles, antique furniture, and one-of-a-kind objects. The result is a hotel that feels assembled over decades rather than installed overnight. Every corner rewards attention, with carefully chosen pieces creating spaces that are rich in texture without ever feeling overly designed.
The Social Heart
The centre of KEX is Pacific Standard, one of Portland’s most inviting restaurant and bar spaces. Its sculptural oval bar, wrapped in reclaimed Egyptian tiles salvaged from 1950s Cairo, anchors an interior filled with warm timber, brass, leather, vintage lighting, and global influences. Throughout the day the atmosphere shifts naturally—from morning coffee and laptop sessions to lively dinners, cocktails, and late-night conversations. Like the best boutique hotels, KEX succeeds because locals visit as enthusiastically as overnight guests.
Simple Rooms, Rich Atmosphere
The guestrooms deliberately step back from the drama of the public spaces. Inspired by Nordic minimalism, they offer clean lines, natural materials, comfortable beds, and understated furnishings that encourage rest rather than distraction. Whether choosing a private room or hostel-style accommodation, guests enjoy the same thoughtful design language that defines the rest of the property. The emphasis isn’t on luxury for luxury’s sake, but on comfort, quality, and authenticity.
A Creative Community
KEX has always been about bringing people together. Regular live music, vinyl nights, tastings, exhibitions, pop-up events, and collaborative dinners reinforce its role as one of Portland’s creative meeting places. Travelers, artists, musicians, designers, and locals naturally mix throughout the building, giving the hotel an atmosphere that feels organic rather than programmed. It’s a place where staying overnight becomes only part of the experience.
Why It Works
KEX Portland demonstrates that great hospitality is about personality more than perfection. By combining Icelandic warmth with Portland’s independent spirit, it creates an atmosphere that’s welcoming, creative, and genuinely memorable. Every reclaimed tile, vintage chair, and well-worn leather sofa contributes to a hotel that feels collected rather than designed—a place with stories built into its walls and new ones waiting to be written.
