Best Of
Reykjavík
Every year around the beginning of July, we make a BEST OF REYKJAVÍK ISSUE celebrating some of what makes Reykjavík-life worthwhile, posting some good entries into a hopefully neverending discussion. The primary purpose of BEST OF REYKJAVÍK is celebration! It’s about big-upping stuff, giving mad props to it and patting it on the shoulder. The following are some nice tips we culled from BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2012, which you can find in full at www.grapevine.is
BEST POOL: LAUGARDALSLAUG
Swimming is a favourite pastime in Iceland. Most towns around the country have a swimming pool and Reykjavík has seven of them. They do in fact all have their charm, but we think it’s safe to call Laugardalslaug the best pool. Why? Because it’s huge, it has a bunch of hot tubs at varying temperatures, it has a killer waterslide and the stadium seating blocks out the cold northerly winds, which are usually accompanied by sunny rays. Not to mention, it was just remodelled this past Winter.
Located at Sundlaugavegur 30
BEST BOOKSTORE: MÁL OG MANNING
After several years of humiliation, Mál og menning—once Reykjavík’s favourite bookstore—seems to have finally gotten its shit together in a big way. Aside from building up a respectable (for Iceland) stock of literature and magazines and hosting various fine literary events (readings, discussions, etc), they have opened an art gallery on their top floor in conjunction with the crew from Havarí and generally seem in good spirits. This is great news for downtown Reykjavík!
Located at Laugavegur 18
A GUIDE THAT FUCKS YOU UP
Lebowski Bar Every day from 16:00 to 19:00. 2 for 1 beer for 900 ISK and wine for 1000 ISK. Micro Bar Every day except Saturday from 16:00 to 19:00. Selected draft microbrew for 500 ISK, 2 for 1 on beer on Saturdays. Miðgarður Bistro bar Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. 50 % off all drinks. Beer for 500 ISK, wine for 600 ISK. Obladi Oblada Every day from 12:00 to 20:00. Beer for 600 ISK.
Austur Every day from 20:00 to 00:00. Beer for 495 ISK and wine 550 ISK. B5 Every day from 16:00 to 22:00. Beer 550 ISK, cider 750 ISK, wine 550 ISK.
Dillon Every day from 16:00 to 20:00. 2 for 1 beer for 850 ISK. Dolly Every day from 16:00 to 20:00. Beer 500 ISK and wine 500 ISK. Dubliner Every day from 16:00 to 20:00. 2 for 1 beer (Pilsner Urquell) for 1000 ISK. Faktorý Every day from 17:00 to 20:00. Gull beer for 500 ISK. Fálkinn bistro Every day except Sundays from 17:00 to 22:00. Beer for 500 ISK and wine for 500 ISK. Harlem Every day from 17:00 to 22:00. Beer 550 ISK, wine 700 ISK. Hemmi og Valdi Every day from 12:00 to 20:00 (to 22:00 for Viking Lager). Draft beer for 550 ISK, Viking Classic and Viking lager. Wine for 700 ISK.
Located at Austurstræti 12
Kaldibar Every day from 17:00 to 20:00. 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine for 900 ISK, 2 for 1 on all drinks. Kolabrautin Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. Beer for 500 ISK. Wine for 700 ISK. All cocktails 1000 ISK. Champagne glass 1500 ISK.
101 Hótel Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. Beer for 450 ISK, wine for 645 ISK.
Celtic Cross Every day from 17:00 to 20:00. Gull and Tuborg for 500 ISK. Den Danske Kro Every day from 16:00 to 19:00. 2 for 1 beer and wine for 900 ISK each.
The Grapevine is not exactly super mainstream, but we think a mainstreamer bar is one that appeals to a wide range of people and plays music that appeals to the masses, featuring for instance cover bands and troubadours playing lots of Bubbi songs. English Pub fits the bill pretty well. However, the Lebowski Bar—formerly Oliver—was a really, really close second.
Kaffi Zimsen Sunday - Thurs from 17:00 to 22:00. 2 for 1 beer for 800 ISK.
A list of every Happy Hour in 101 Reykjavík
Bjarni Fel Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. 2 for 1 beer for 890 ISK. Boston Every day from 16:00 to 22:00. Beer 500 ISK. Wine glass 500 ISK, wine carafe 1000 ISK.
BEST MAINSTREAM BAR: THE ENGLISH PUB
Download the FREE Grapevine Appy Hour app! Every happy hour in town in your pocket. Available in the App store and on the Android Market. Hilton Hotel Bar Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. Beer for 500 ISK and wine for 650 ISK. Hótel 1919 Every day from 16:00 to 19:00. 2 for 1 beer for 1000 ISK, white wine for 1190 ISK, Red wine for 1290 ISK, Cocktail of the Day for 1919 ISK. Hótel Holt Gallery Bar Every day from 16:00 to 19:00. Stella for 475 ISK, Kaldi for 550 ISK, Wine for 695 ISK, sparkling wine for 750 ISK, Cocktail of the Week for 950 ISK. Hótel Plaza Bar Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. Beer for 500 ISK.
Prikið Weekdays from 16:00 to 20:00. 2 for 1 beer for 690 ISK. Roadhouse Friday and Saturday 22:00 - 23:00. 2 for 1 Beer for 790 ISK, wine for 790 ISK. Slippbarinn Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. 50% off beer 475 ISK and wine 500 ISK. Stofan Every day from 17:00 to 20:00. Beer for 500 ISK and wine for 600 ISK. Tapashúsið Every day from 16:00 to 18:00. 2 for 1 beer for 950 ISK and wine 1150 ISK. Uno Every day from 17:00 - 19:00. 50% off all drinks. Beer for 450 ISK, wine 575 ISK. Uppsalir - Bar & Café Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. 2 for 1 Beers for 900 ISK, except Tuborg Classic for 950 ISK, wine for 1100 ISK. Þingholtsbar Every day from 17:00 to 19:00. Viking beer for 500 ISK.