THE GRAPEVINE’S BIG-ASS BAR GUIDE 2015!

Wow, can you believe our bar guide is five years old already? That means, in just 15 years, it will be old enough to go drinking downtown. And it’ll definitely know all the best places when it does. Over the last few weeks, we sent our team (who previously could have been described as “fresh-faced and intrepid”, but are now more “grey-faced and shaking”) to grab a beer, people-watch, and take in the atmosphere of Reykjavík’s many downtown bars, and report back accordingly.

In total, we went to just shy of fifty bars. This included a fresh look at all of the places we covered last year. And while that might seem like retreading old ground, downtown Reykjavík is actually a bar merry-go-round on which places are constantly opening, closing, changing spaces, changing floors, changing names, taking back a previous name, or even reviving a long-dead one. Bars here also regularly change hands, and when they do, the decor, drinks selection, staff and atmosphere often change too, according to the new owner’s taste. So, we took one for the team, you know. Once more into the breach…

Of course, you may not agree with everything we’ve written. Bars change feel according to the time of day you visit, or how familiar you are with their secrets, quirks and eccentricities. Or, maybe we just plain got it wrong in some cases – you can write us an angry letter about that, if so. We won’t mind. This guide is ultimately for the purposes of entertaining you, informing you, and inciting pub-table discussion. And if it helps you find a new bar you love, then all the better. All that said, there was some method to our madness. Here’s the criteria we used.

Reviewer Instructions:
These are the instructions we gave to our reviewers before they embarked upon their mission.

Define: Bar
A bar is an establishment that has ‘the sale and consumption of alcohol’ as its main purpose and goal. It can sell food and host events, but the emphasis must be on drinking.

Method
Each reviewer was instructed to drink one beer at each bar reviewed. To ensure that all bars were reviewed under similar circumstances, they were asked to go there between the hours of 23:00 and 1:00 on a djamm (“party”) night – typically Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. At the bar, they were instructed to take notes in their fancy notebook, which they did not forget to bring (because forgetting that would be horrible). They noted the following:

Atmosphere
What’s the vibe? How’s the decor, the setting, the general mood?

Prices
The cheapest price of a beer, glass of wine, and ‘single + mixer’.

Music
What’s on the stereo, by type (DJ, playlist, live music) and genre?

Clientele
Who hangs out there?

—

Legend:
Beer
Single + Mixer
Wine

Music / Genre
Age
Clientele
Special feature
Troubadour Alert

Our Review Team:
Gabríel Benjamin, Hannah Jane Cohen, Helgi Harðarson, Hildur María Friðriksdóttir, John Rogers, Jón Benediktsson, Larissa Kyzer, Mark Asch, Ragnar Egilsson, Ragnar Hrólfsson, Rx Beckett, York Underwood.

—

American Bar

Austurstræti 8

The American influence on Reykjavík bar culture is already so widespread that “American Bar” is perplexing. Bjarni Fel (cheapish towers of bad beer; walls covered entirely in flatscreens), Kex (Edison bulbs; hardback books by the yard), and Lebowski Bar (named after ‘The Big Lebowski’) feel more ‘Murcan than this high-ceilinged space. The long, curving bar is how it should be, as are the several TVs playing 80s music videos, but the walls of neon liquor logo signs and NFL helmets are obviously alcohol-distributor giveaways. The bottled and draught beer list also skews heavily towards Icelandic breweries, which is no longer a novelty given Reykjavík’s maturing beer culture.

1000 1500 1200

What’s more American than an acoustic cover of an old Icelandic rock song?
Young (20s – 30s)
Americans, despite having spent thousands of dollars to travel thousands of miles from America. Icelanders, despite having a culture of their own.
Darts (not pool, pinball, shuffleboard, or a mechanical bull, but *darts*). Live Premier League football. You can order Icelando-American messy/upscale food from next door’s Dirty Burger and Ribs.

The American Bar has the authenticity of the English Pub mixed with the chilly high-ceilinged ambiance of an airport lounge. – MA

Austur

Austurstræti 7

Austur is one of the few bars in Reykjavík that might be considered a club. People go there to buy bottles of vodka for their reserved table, dance to insanely loud EDM, and show off their muscles/suits/tans. If that’s your thing, this place has it in spades.

1090 1500 1250

Expect only electronic dance music if you plan on drinking at Austur.
Young (20s – 30s)
Bodybuilders, tan monsters, bankers, beautiful people.
All the mirrors, oh so many mirrors.

When John saw how amazing his tan pecs looked in the mirror, he gave himself a wink and flexed just ever so slightly. – RJH

B5

Bankastræti 5

B5 is made for grinding; it’s the closest thing to a Miami night club in Reykjavík, but not that close.

1000 1400 1000

Pop music, Top 40, and occasionally something from the past millennium (if the DJ is feeling frisky).
Young (20s – 30s)
Professional athletes, would-be yuppies, young bankers, realtors, gold diggers.
t They have a VIP section downstairs where you have to buy a bottle of hard liquor to get a table. There’s also a burger joint in the back that’s open during the day.

No hipster would ever say that this is their favourite bar, but a lot of other people do—and being at someone’s favourite bar is always fun. – JB

Bar 7

Frakkastígur 7

The bar has a certain desperate charm. If you show up early you can enjoy the cheapest pints in town and run into tourists with a similar eye for frugal drinking. However, nighttime gives it a darker shade. The threat of violence begins to permeate the air, which excites some and puts off others.

550 1300 800

It sounds like they are playing whatever the bartenders have on their iPods.
Older (40+)
Cheapskates, possibly underage drinkers, and the dentally lacking. Yet, amidst it all, there can be a rose in the concrete, and you could end up having a very interesting conversation.
The bathroom has been broken for four months, so you need to cross the street to Obladi Oblada to use the facilities— which will cost you a beer each time.

Much like Zen, the only joy you get here is what you bring, and I recommend not coming empty-handed. – YOU

Bar 11

Hverfisgata 18

It’s like an amalgamation of every reality show about ink, choppers, the South, and nü-metal. Spanning three rooms on two levels (one of them being completely obsessed with Tuborg), Bar 11 unabashedly embraces the kitschier side of rock ‘n’ roll.

900 1100 1100

Rock hits!
Young (20s – 30s)
Metalheads, punks, rockabilly types, tattoo addicts, people who just came to play and/or see the gig tonight, some token underage kids.
The coffin-shaped DJ booth, the Tuborg basement, and the cigar store Indian behind the basement bar.

Whatever, Mom, you don’t understand. This is the REAL ME. Deal with it. *Devil Horns* – RX

Bar Ananas

Klapparstígur 38

Painted in bright yellows and greens and decked out with tiki decor and palm fronds, Bar Ananas is like the swim-up bar of a tropical resort in Cancun (minus the swimming up). It’s quite nice, but it unfortunately closes at 1:00 AM, so if you get there at midnight, they’re already cleaning up.

900 1200 1200

Bar Ananas keeps it real with fashionable house music and hot summer tunes.
Young (20s – 30s)
Yuppies, artists, hip musicians, journalists, dreamers, schemers, slightly sketchy 101 rats, people who have never been to the tropics.
The whole place is meant to look and feel like a tropical beach, which is pretty special and cool.

“Let me take you to my rocky island—it’s tropical!” – RX

Bjarni Fel

Austurstræti 20

A small sports bar with almost as many TVs as seats —it’s not the best in town but it still gets a lot of traffic due to its central location.

1090 1500 1490

I believe they maybe play pop/rock music, but any tunes are completely drowned out by the sports programmes on the TV.
Young (20s – 30s)
Tourists and sports fans, small groups looking for somewhere quiet-ish to hang out.
Bjarni Fel shares the best smoking patio in town with Hressó and you can order food from Hressó as well. They’ll show anything that’s on TV, from football and mixed martial arts to Eurovision.

Bjarni Fel is an extension of Hressó, just smaller and with sports. – HMF

Boston

Laugavegur 28B

Decorated like a Palladian-style sex dungeon with less comfortable chairs—mock flock wallpaper, rococo bric-a-brac, sultry light, an erotic print whose symbolism 101’s finest minds have yet to fully parse—Boston is appealingly loungey even on party nights. Their “dance floor” is not the typical sweaty mess, but instead has people dancing sexily/dorkily around tables where it’s still possible to sit and have a conversation.

900 1400 900

House music, in which the house is large enough to contain a roller coaster, of love (say what).
Young (20s – 30s)
Hipsters, backpackers looking for love, clean-shaven guys in suits, women who drink on their tabs, Pétur Jóhann Sigfússon.
A capacious, summery patio; an upstairs seating area everyone always forgets; the occasional pop-up kitchen; the aforementioned erotic art photo, purportedly a gift from Björk (most people just bring wine to a housewarming).

It’s a long-lived bar that’s on the right side of dingy. – MA

Bravó

Laugavegur 22

A dark room with amber-toned light, simple furniture, and cosy bohemian pillows tossed along the window seating, Bravó feels like it should always be filled with fragrant wafts of strawberry tobacco. There might be candles and black paint abound, but the mood is light and lovely.

700 1400 800

To please their cool clintele, Bravo curates a playlist of well-manicured electro, indie and retro-pop.
Young (20s – 30s)
Whoever got a table first, lots of young cool couples out on double-dates with other young cool couples making new friends with other young cool couples, nice tourists, one random loudmouth drunk jerk.
Nothing particularly special, but they do occasionally host poetry nights and vinyl parties.

No one is seeing and no one is looking and no one is putting on airs; you can just sit with your drink and forget all your cares. – RX

Café Rosenberg

Klapparstígur 25

With low lights, bookshelves, and dark wood, this place is class. It’s a mix of cosy pub and spacious, old-timey living room.

700 1350 900

These dudes have live music every night: folk, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, and jazz to flamenco, tribute bands, singer-songwriters, acoustic acts; even a ukulele night.
Older (40+)
Regulars, live music junkies, nouveau beatniks, wine drinkers, banjo enthusiasts, jolly groups of middle age/ middle class arty types, tourists, folks who like a good sing-along.
The live music, of course. But aside from that, this place just has a really nice vibe. Good people, good music, and a good (but pricey) menu.

There’s a lot of live music vying for your attention in this town, but if you want to close out the bar while listening to the sweet, sweet strains of a mandolin, this is the place for you. – LK

Celtic Cross

Hverfisgata 26

Celtic Cross has the trappings of an Irish pub, but it’s too scatterbrained in its delivery, with Christmas lights and brass instruments hanging on the walls, and a leather-cushioned downstairs section that’s completely out of place.

1090 1300 1000

It sounds like they are playing whatever is on the bartender’s iPod.
Young (20s – 30s)
Graduating students, people in their 30s and 40s, suits, leather-clad folk, birthday party people, stars that don’t want to be seen out by anyone that matters.
There is a smoking area, and a secluded side room with a coffin in it. Whenever there’s a game on, it’s projected onto a wall. Despite their priding themselves on being an Irish pub, serving both Guinness and Kilkenny, my bartender still managed to pour my drink the wrong way, turning what was supposed to be a delicious pint into unserviceable goop.

Celtic Cross is a watered-down and unremarkable watering hole. – GB

Den Danske Kro

Ingólfsstræti 3

Ironically, this place is as Icelandic as they get—it’s like an extremely corny house party.

1000 1500 1200

I hope you like “Wonderwall,” ’cause they have troubadours every night!
Young (20s – 30s)
Students, professional drinkers, people who like troubadours, weekend dads.
They have darts, and live sports when they are on.

This place is good enough if you’re really drunk, but not one of the bars you would go to if you only had one night in Reykjavík. – JB

Dillon

Laugavegur 30

Tough as nails, stripped down to the support beams, Dillon is a badass kind of joint. It’s got that unpredictable vibe that can go from waiting-for-the-bathroom to getting punched-in-the-face in a split second. Good for seeing long-haired, leather-clad dudes topple off their bar stools and for getting scowled at by women with the best dye jobs in town.

900 1350 900

Through those horns up with a mix of rock, punk, metal and classic rock—don’t worry, there’s a minimum of three AC/DC songs per night, guaranteed.
Young (20s – 30s)
Old school badasses, punks, hardcore kids, goths, Amma Rokk (Andrea Jónsdóttir), legendary musicians, potheads, whiskey lovers.
An extensive and impressive selection of whiskies for distinguished palates.

No one gets between me and my windmill headbanging along to Judas Priest. – RX

Dolly

Hafnarstræti 4

Dolly is cool with an edge, celebratory to the point of hedonism. You feel like everyone knows everyone or at least knows of them. It’s glam-electronic-hip-hop with a smoking section that looks like a silent film: everyone’s jaws are moving but no one is talking. It’s the type of place you’d recommend to people who are looking for things to get a little bit weird. Earlier in the day, its old furniture and low lights give it a lounge-ish feeling, but, if only those walls could talk.

700 1350 1000

Dolly played glam-electronica with slices of hip-hop and rave culture.
Young (20s – 30s)
Local partiers, unrepentant pleasure seekers, and those few tourists looking for a weekend of fear and loathing.
A thin dingey smoking section that’s fenced in. Think post-apocalyptic Kaffibarinn.

You don’t decide between the blue pill or the red pill: you take both. – YOU

Dubliner

Hafnarstræti 4

A large Irish-style pub with music and loud, merry customers. The interior is exactly what you would expect from an Irish pub and the place even smells distinctly Irish (that is, of alcohol, as the wooden furniture is probably marinated with it).

900 1400 1000

Only troubadours or live Irish music here, and why any of this would attract anyone, I don’t know…
Older (40+)
A lot of happy and normal-looking people who seem to just want to sit down and talk to their friends by trying to shout louder than the extremely loud music (fuck, I sound old…). Don’t get me wrong, though— the people seem to really dig the music too.
They have a great outdoor seating/ smoking area, but the best part of it all is the taco truck!

Dubliner’s loud and Irish with no frills. – HMF

English Pub

Austurstræti 12A

This is a comfort-zone bar. Yeah, it may be themed, but it lacks any eccentricity, giving Americans, Canadians, and inhabitants of Great Britain a sanitized pseudo-pub for the sports-obsessed and listeners of simple music. Sing along with ground-down troubadour favourites or try spinning a wheel to win a round of pints for your table of philistines.

1100 1500 1300

The difference between the music played at English Pub and the table of contents of a “Learn Guitar in 4 Chords” book is slight, very slight.
Young (20s – 30s)
Tourists, armchair football coaches, and lost couples trying to reignite a long burnt-out flame.
A surprisingly enjoyable patio facing Austurvöllur in the afternoon.

This is a great afternoon pub with a sunny patio, and a great beer-and-go walkthrough on your night out. – YOU

Frederiksen Ale House

Hafnarstræti 5

It’s an airy, wood-panelled downtown bar room with large windows, basic furniture, and a spacious feel. There’s table service in the daytime—it’s positioning itself as a bar restaurant.

1000 1550 1100

The small stage area seemed to threaten the troubadours, and they played only classic soul and rock’n’roll standards.
Young (20s – 30s)
Tourists, groups of girls, regular dudes, the occasional rock guy—like a quieter English Pub.
Frederiksen has successfully exorcized the ghost of the previous bar occupied this spot, Cafe Amsterdam—one of the grimmest dives in Iceland. No mean feat. Also, Grapevine’s food critic recently gave this place 5/5, which doesn’t happen super-often.

Frederiksen Ale House is a no-frills watering hole that does what it says on the tin. – JR

Gaukurinn

Tryggvagata 22

Gaukurinn is a spacious dark venue that loves to please. We especially recommend their karaoke nights where you can go up on stage and sing any song you want (they just look it up on YouTube).

900 1300 900

It depends on the night, considering they have live music sometimes, karaoke, open mics, stand up, game nights…
Young (20s – 30s)
The crowd varies, depending on what’s on that evening. Rockers frequent the concerts but a younger, poppier crowd frequents the karaoke evenings.
They have events every day, whether it’s a live band, pub quiz, karaoke night or something else.

Gaukurinn is one of the most versatile bars in the city when it comes to events. – HMF

Glaumbar

Tryggvagata 20

It kind of gives you the feeling that you’re in a friend-of-a-friend’s massive loft area instead of a bar. There’s a lot of space to either dance or just sit and drink.

1090 1500 1400

A not-so-impressive YouTube playlist.
Young (20s – 30s)
There are a lot of groups of young people there, probably taking advantage of the bar’s late happy hour. The place is mostly frequented by young college and university students.
The bar is an island in the middle of the loft, so really it’s easy to get to, which results in there being less crowding than often happens at other bars. The happy hour lasts until 2am!

Glaumbar is basically a big dark loft with happy hour until 2am. – HMF

Hressingarskálinn (Hressó)

Austurstræti 20

Go here if it’s your first night in Reykjavík and you can’t decide between sitting, dancing, or chain-smoking in a fullycovered gas chamber. It’s a place to get everyone on the level they want to be on, but definitely don’t stay all night.

1090 1500 1450

If there’s no band playing, it’s chart pop, hip-hop and dance music.
Young (20s – 30s)
It’s a mixed bag of young locals, tourists, and the confused elderly. You’ll probably meet three or four aspiring filmmakers and a solo traveller trying to find himself. You will end up in the middle of no less than two dance circles. Put those Ukrainian dance lessons to use. Baba would be proud.
IT HAS A GIGANTIC SMOKING SECTION, COVERED AND HEATED.

This is a great bar for big impersonal groups to drink together, but not necessarily hang out together the entire time. – YOU

Húrra

Naustin

Big, loud, dirty, spilling drinks, grinding bodies, sweat everywhere—it’s like meat before it gets to the market, just jammed into a crowded space with little light and lots of commotion, hoping to get out unscathed or maybe with a new boo. It’s also nearly impossible to get service here.

900 1100 1100

Reykjavík’s leading gig venue; during the weekend it’s party time, via dance remixes, electronic hits, house music, pop etc.
Young (20s – 30s)
Hip musicians with complicated shoes, artists with unchanging wardrobes, yuppies, hot dancers, overzealous bimbros, girls’-night-out groups, long-term volunteer ecotourists, hippies, desperate lonely lovers.
It has an excellent smoking area.

Húrra is a mild-mannered, wellgroomed professional by day; a laid-back, effortlessly cool artist by evening; a debauched, disrobed charlatan by night. – RX

Hverfisbarinn

Hverfisgata 20

A big, dark dance club that used a smoke machine (a bit too much for our taste) to try to make the empty dance floor look a bit fuller. As we were about to leave, the floor started filling up so maybe this club doesn’t peak until quite late in the night…

600 1000 1000

A extremely sweet DJ playing pop music encouraged us to ask him for requests (which I’m sure he later regretted).
Young (20s – 30s)
Young people there to dance the night away. The average age is probably 21.
They have one of the best dance floors in town, and it’s usually pretty spacious, so you can bust all the moves. Plus, their drinks are cheap!

Hverfisbarinn’s got cheap drinks, semi-current pop music, and a dance floor just for you. – HMF

Íslenski Barinn

Ingólfsstræti 1

A spacious gastropub with delicious food and a lot of tables to sit down and chat at, the place is emblematic of rustic Icelandic style. The staff is great and very knowledgeable about their large selection of beers. The only downside is that the drinks are on the expensive side.

950 1300 1100

They’ll play anything as long as it’s Icelandic, and sometimes have troubadours and a pianist.

Young (20s – 30s)

All sorts. Mostly groups of people in their 30s as well as tourists who come there for the traditional Icelandic food (you can usually spot them from the shark smell coming from their table).

They have a wheel that you can spin by the bar and one of the best selections of Icelandic beers in town. I’d say Íslenski Barinn and Frederiksen Ale House tie for the best gastropubs in Reykjavík.

Íslenski Barinn is a rustic Icelandic place with good food and a great selection of Icelandic beers. – HMF

Kaffibarinn

Bergstaðarstræti 1

What can we say? Kaffibarinn is 101’s living room, and your best shot at having a great night out in Reykjavík.

850 1150 850

Cool, fresh tunes by day; house music by night.

Young (20s – 30s)

101 rats, tourists.

Good beer selection with a great guest tap, local legend says Damon Albarn used to part-own it.

A legend of the scene, Kaffibarinn holds the title of the best place to party in Reykjavík. – JB

Kaldi Bar

Laugavegur 20b

A packed little bar, this is the place to have beer with friends. It’s focused on serving the Icelandic microbrew Kaldi.

1100 1600 1200

Unless someone decides to let loose on the out-of-tune piano, they played low volume background music.

Older (40+)

Aging bohemians, creatives, highfunctioning alcoholics, randoms, occasional tourist.

Fairly large outdoor area, out-of-tune piano, nooks, crannies, bronze color scheme, plenty of Kaldi beer, competent staff.

Gets ludicrously crowded and the crowd is aging fast, but Kaldi’s a solid place for a pint earlier in the evening. – RE

Karaoke Sportbar

Frakkastígur 8

This is the quintessential group outing dive bar. You’re not there to talk or socialize. You’re there to dance obnoxiously and sing your heart out. This is the perfect place for a surprise karaoke champion, so sit back and time your performance wisely. You want to come after a poor rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing,” and before anything Metallica. Appreciation ranges from high fives to the threat of violence, so be warned.

700 1000 1000

It’s up to you! Fancy that!
Young (20s – 30s)
Old recently widowed men and tables full of sexually repressed accountants—not to mention spillage from Bar 7 and Obladi Oblada.
There’s a foosball table, one of the only ones in town. It also happens to be near the single tiny fire exit, so it’s well-placed in case of a fire.

You can walk in a nobody, but leave as a hero—unfortunately, this wears off once you are outside again. – YOU

Kíkí queer bar

Laugavegur 22

It may be Reykjavík’s only queer bar, but you don’t have to be gay to enjoy it—a great place to have fun.

900 1400 1200

Come here for glam, pop, disco, rock, and Eurovision songs.

Young (20s – 30s)

Queer people, unconfident women, lovers of life.

Occasional quizzes, karaoke nights and concerts. If you don’t like thinking about the darkness in your soul and just want to have a good time and dance, go to Kíkí. – JB

Kofinn

Laugavegur 2

It’s a small and cosy place with chairs and sofas. Before midnight, it’s a great place to sit down and chat. After midnight, there’s usually a DJ playing and that’s when they clear the floor and the place gets a more club-like atmosphere. The pub quizzes on Fridays are a lot of fun, but the downside is that there’s often not enough room for people in the bar.

900 1400 1490

Depends on the DJ, but usually they play current pop music during weekends.
Young (20s – 30s)
Tourists and chilled regulars.
After midnight, people in their 20s-40s tend to fill the place with extravagant dance moves. They have popular pub quizzes every Friday and one of those wheels you can spin to possibly get beers and shots.

It’s a cozy basement-type place that turns up the party after midnight. – HMF

Lavabarinn

Lækjargata 6a

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to this bar. Sorry!

It sits where illegal strip club Strawberries used to be, and offers a cocktail lounge bar upstairs and a nightclub on the lower level that plays everything from R&B to electronic music.

Lebowski Bar

Laugavegur 2a

It’s quite American—think a classy sports bar with a theme based on the Big Lebowski. That’s what it is. It gets pretty loud and rowdy late on the weekends.

1100 1500 1100

They rarely have live music, but a mix of soul, rockabilly, funk, 80s pop, and 90s pop.
Young (20s – 30s)
Icelandic bros, gangs of foreign bros on the prowl, a handful of attractive local women looking to score free drinks, people in their 30s, regular Joes and Janes, second-third-tier local celebrities.
They have an indoor burger shack by the dancefloor, a well-executed Big Lebowski theme, movie pub quizes, rockabilly nights, huge outdoor patio, a beer wheel of fortune, likeable and efficient bar staff.

Lebowski’s a nice place to sit and grab a beer until the roving bros take over. – RE

Loftið

Austurstræti 9

An upscale lounge pub with gorgeous decor. Don’t be too intimidated by the well defined jaws and veinless legs. Money does buy beauty after all. You might meet the next person to crowdfund your avante garde art installation.

1200 1700 1400

It’s a mixture of Dance or R&B played loud enough to groove to.

Young (20s – 30s), Older (40+)

Intimidatingly good looking or wealthy men, young professionals, and, I’m told, Skinka?

Fancy 1960s chic and a dress code at the door (no sneakers).

“This is a great place to pretend to be rich or cool…hell, maybe you are.” – YOU

Micro Bar

Austurstræti 6

Micro Bar is associated with the Gæðingur micro-brewery, and four or five of its ten taps are generally reserved for Gæðingur beers. Patrons huddle around tables in small groups, chatting amongst themselves. Despite having a very uninspired design, the bar is almost always at 70% capacity. It’s not cheap, but definitely a grand place to go with a few similarly-minded friends.

1000 1200 1200

We heard a randomly-put-together playlist at low volume, interrupted only by the mouth-watering sound of fresh artisanal beer being poured into welcoming receptacles (i.e. mouths).
Young (20s – 30s)
People in their 30s, beer nerds, professionals, foreigners, cool-butnot-too-cool-kids, small groups.
The bar has around 200 beer bottles on offer, and beer tasting trays with five or ten glasses each. The walls also features paintings by cartoonist Hugleikur Dagsson..

Come for the beer; stay for the conversation; ignore the interior design. – GB

Mikkeller & Friends

Hverfisgata 12

Reminiscent of a fashionable East London pub, Mikkeller is a small, loud, dark, crowded, slightly rowdy bar room with cool (and somewhat creepy) circus-themed decor.
1200 1600 1200
Inaudible beneath the hubbub, there’s some comfortable 60s sounding stuff.
Young (20s – 30s)
Hipsters, grizzly bar dudes, men with vast beards, musicians, gourmands, pro drinkers, fashionistas, tourists, barflies.
The bar’s 20 (count ’em) taps have behind them an array of Mikkellerbrewed alcoholic nectars, from super-sour lambic ales to enlightening chocolatey stouts. The bar snacks are more like fancy starters, prepared in the Hverfisgata 12 kitchen.

The beers justify the eye-watering prices through sheer quality. This place rules. – JR

Mónakó

Laugavegur 78

Mónakó is one of the few original bars left in Reykjavík. It is kind of a rat hole but definitely proud to be one. There aren’t many bars like it left in the downtown area—most have now been relegated to the suburbs. It has a strong local crowd but is probably the last bar on Laugavegur a wandering tourist family of four wants to visit. A lonely old poet would perhaps find this bar the perfect place for pondering a sullen mood. It has true character.

900 1200 1200

They had classic rock and blues.
Older (40+)
People that tend to like slot machines, older poets, unlucky and world-weary folk, people who accept their paycheck from some kind of welfare system.
Slot machines.

Mónakó is the eyes of a man that slides his last 100 ISK inside the slot machine and fires away. – RJH

Nora Magasin

Pósthússtræti 9

It’s crowded and loud for a pre-drink joint, but with exposed brick and artfully flaky paint, a nice, hip metropolitan milleu. It also has a lunch and dinner menu..

790  1350  900

There was a multitutde of sounds: disco, Top 40 rock, hip-hop oldies, background noise, and people chatting.
Young (20s – 30s)
Moderately touristy. Young and relatively hip semi-professionals, middle to upper-middle-class folks from Garðabær striving for suave. Surprisingly drunk.
Darts (not pool, pinball, shuffleboard, or a mechanical bull, but *darts*). Live Premier League football. You can order Icelando-American messy/upscale food from next door’s Dirty Burger and Ribs.A full menu and a fairly shaded patio, located by Austurvollur where downtown rats go to pray for sunlight and sip beer.

Nora Magasin is a decent and hip place for a wet mid-evening pre-drink or tie-off. – RE

Obladi Oblada

Laugavegur 45a

Well, to put it simply, this is a place for older men who enjoy the company of other older men.

900 1300 1000

Often live, come here for the golden oldies.
Older (40+)
Old men, young men who are into old men, really ironic hipsters.
The smoking section is covered.

If you like hearing about the good old days, and you’re male, this is the bar for you.– JB

Ölsmiðjan

Lækjargata 10

Across the street from Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, and serving the cheapest non-Happy Hour beer in the 101, Ölsmiðjan is surely the first “local” for rising generations of Icelandic drinkers. “People-watchers” (read: creepers) can enjoy witnessing fraught, barely postadolescent social interactions—droopy- eyed boys repeatedly going in for a kiss and getting a hug; girls rehashing the entire history of their friendship in a single bathroom trip—from the safe distance of adulthood.

590  1250  950

Last call was signaled by Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò,” a song even sober people can’t resist singing made- up lyrics along with very, very loudly.
Too young (under 20), Older (40+)
The entire MR student body. One old guy.
Come on a winter weekday for a cosy farmhouse vibe and a glass of glögg.

It’s like high school, but with alcohol. Wait… – MA

Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar

Vegamótastígur 4

If you’re looking to have a serious conversation, go here.

950  1300  1000

There’s either no music, or music too quiet to be audible.
Older (40+)
Journos, 101 rats, actors, politicians, serious drinkers.
A covered smoking patio.

This is somewhere you go to talk about the capital T Truth—a good place for big ideas. – JB

Palóma

Naustin

Upstairs, where practically the whole room is one big dancefloor, the party and pick-up mood dominate. People writhe, bump all over each other and literally hang from the rafters. But down in the depths of the dark red basement, people try to maintain their cool despite being slobbering drunk. Basically it’s two distinct levels of messy goodness.

900 1100 1000

Upstairs dance to high-energy EDM, and downstairs dance to indie-electro and semi-ironic retro hits.
Young (20s – 30s)
Musicians, artists, all-around cool kids, yuppies, journalists, legendary DJs, comedians, expats, 101 rats, tourists, chain-smokers.
The upstairs bar is a bisected replica of a Viking longboat, leftover from when the establishment was a Viking-themed novelty restaurant.

It’s the best time you’ll never remember having had. – RX

Prikið

Bankastræti 12

Prikið will throw a little sexual bravado into your evening ’cause everyone knows the best way to make people feel a bit sexier is hip-hop and R&B. Come in and start bouncing. If you can reach up and swing a light, go ahead. If you want to pretend to have a conversation, head upstairs. If you want to smoke in a Fernet Branca-branded basketball court/smoking section, this is the place. Let the hip-hop transform you. It ain’t got no type.

800  1290  1000

They bump hip-hop, rap, and things that make you go UHHHN.
Too young (under 20), Young (20s – 30s)
Rappers, bad bitches, and ironically normcore hip-hop enthusiasts. The breakfast crowd is anyone and everyone.
The worst urinal downtown, with a slanted roof that makes you feel like you’re growing as you approach the stainless steel trough. The swinging lights are pretty fucking great.

It’s the “I’m dressed up for dinner, but now I’m just out being fresh as fuck” bar. – YOU

Rio Sportbar

Hverfisgata 46

It’s basically a sports bar with pool tables, darts and slot machines.

900  1200 1000

The music can be quite perplexing as it seems like the bartenders play whatever they are in the mood for off YouTube, but DJs play on the weekends and on salsa nights.
Older (40+)
Bikers, fishermen, professional drinkers, expats, pool sharks, salsa dancers?
The only place to play pool in 101. They provide a great indoor smoking area, and the Salsa nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays are recommended if you like sweaty dancing.

Ríó is a great place to start your night out with a group of friends. – HH

Skúli Craft Bar

Aðalstræti 9

This new craft beer bar has quickly attracted a loyal following, even though it has a very mercurial vibe. Some nights it’s all but empty, but not a week later it’s full to the brim with patrons waiting patiently in line to be served. The bar is set up to be both friendly to beer nuts and accessible to the rest of the populace. The close proximity of the tables to one another makes hobnobbing all but inevitable, which definitely adds to the experience. The bar is all brick walls, wooden furniture and tiled wooden floors, with dim lighting and thick curtains.

900 1400 1400

At this time, we had indiscernible music drowned out by loud conversations.
Older (40+)
Groups of friends, people in their 30s and 40s, mostly male, loud people that have Canadian mannerisms, beerbros, metalheads.
There is a menu describing all 130 of the bottled beers on offer in great detail. There are fourteen beers on tap, including numerous Borg, BrewDog, Mikkeller, and To Øl products. A lot of the beers are more expensive and served in smaller glasses than Reykjavík locals are used to, but that’s the price of such flavourful beverages.

Skúli is relaxed, comfortable, clean, and crafty. – GB

Stofan

Vesturgata 3

No matter what time you arrive, Stofan is a welcoming place. The interior decoration feels very homely, with its vintage furniture and chandeliers, and the exposed wooden beams and mismatched tiled floors somehow add to the experience. The place is split up into an upstairs restaurant/café, and a downstairs bar that’s open a full hour longer. The atmosphere isn’t really one that encourages heavy drinking, but is rather the place you go to before you go out on the town.

950  1200 1300

Well-picked playlist that facilitate a relaxed environment.
Young (20s – 30s)
Hipsters, musicians, creative folk, art students, aspiring artists, actual artists, locals, foreigners.
Comfortable sofas, excellent coffee and a very tempting selection of cakes. Most of the staff members are also in bands.

Feels like an Irish living room bar transported to 101 Reykjavík— comfortable, inviting and perfect to sit down with your mates for a chat. – GB

Stúdentakjallarinn

Sæmundargata 4

This is a large lounge bar with entertainment, events, and it’s even got food too! It’s home to the best foosball table in town—definitely a place to meet friends, chat, and enjoy some pints. Honestly, you could even go there and study while drinking a beer.

750  950  790

The music varies night by night, but it’s never too loud or overpowering.
Young (20s – 30s)
Students, professors, and foreign performers.
It’s got hanging gardens and a great foosball table, not to mention a small bookshelf to keep you looking bookish and smart—even if you forget your satchel.

The energy of this place is up to you: loud, if you want; calm, if you need; and quiet, if you please. – YOU

Tíu Dropar

Laugavegur 27

This is not the bar to go to if you’re looking to get smashed, dance, or hook up. With a calm cosy feel, it’s quiet enough that you can still talk but not so quiet that it’s awkward. They have an extensive wine list so it’s definitely a place to bring that one sommelier friend of yours. There is very little interaction between groups—so don’t go here if you’re looking to meet someone.

1000 1400 1000

Two non-troubadour men played atmospheric guitar music in the background.
Young (20s – 30s)
Artsy intellectual-looking people, people in suits getting a drink after work, older women tourists, people who “know a lot about wine,” people who “love little hidden-gem bars.”
There are some seats outside and also a piano. The interior is decorated like your grandma’s living room— old photos, tea cosies, mismatched furniture.

This would be a cosy place to grab a drink with a first date or maybe to debate existentialism with that philosopher friend of yours. – HJC

Vínsmakkarinn

Laugavegur 73

The atmosphere is pretty quiet—a good place to end a date.

600  1300  700

There was nothing.
Young (20s – 30s)
Lovers, thinkers.
No

Since it’s kind of far from the main rowdiness at Laugavegur, this is the perfect place to enjoy an easy night out. – JB

See Also:
Other Great Bars
We decided not to cover hostel bars, hotel bars and restaurant bars in this guide, because there are just SO MANY of them and we thought it should be all or nothing. That being said, some of them are actually really great—amongst the nicest places in town, even—so we decided to highlight those for you here.