From Iceland — Best Of Reykjavík 2019: Best Sports Bar

Best Of Reykjavík 2019: Best Sports Bar

Published March 11, 2019

Best Of Reykjavík 2019: Best Sports Bar

There is one thing abundantly clear from our very scientific drinking research: craft beers and gastropubs have arrived in force. You can’t throw a stone without hitting someone washing down a dry-aged chilli burger with a local IPA. After a few stable years, Reykjavík’s bar scene seems to be shifting in general, with more wine, cocktails and fancy beers available than ever before. Some facts of life, however, remain the same: alcohol is expensive, but that doesn’t stop us from partying. Bottoms up, babe.

Best Sports Bar

American Bar
Austurstræti 8-10

A picture of the interior of American bar
With screens as far as the eye can see, a long bar that goes on for days, all the burgers and snacks of your junk food dreams, a dedicated big-screen viewing room in the back, and a “sun” terrace to smoke on at half time, American Bar is the perfect place to watch the big game. Whether it’s boxing, NFL or Premier League, they always have a wide range of screenings. Grab yourself a brewski and prepare to shout at the screen in some kind of vicarious catharsis of random victory or loss.

Best Sports Bar

English Pub
Austurstræti 18

An exterior shot of the English Pub
Iceland’s main spectator sport of choice is the English Premier League, and there’s nowhere better to settle down for a day of matches than the English Pub. With a dark wooden Anglo-kitsch interior, a long bar with plenty of staff, and loads of comfortable seating, it’s hard to glance anywhere without your eye alighting on a screen. Football-loving tourists gather here to shout at the screen and berate Gylfi Sigurðsson’s latest penalty miss, so it’s the closest you’ll get a true football pub atmosphere, too.

Runner-Up:

Lebowski Bar
Laugavegur 20a

Interior photograph of the Leboski Bar
Another big huge place with lots of screens showing lots of games, this fully carpeted bar honouring The Dude is another nice laid-back place to just zone out with some good sports. Unpretentious and even graced with its own mascot, Púki the cat, who drinks virgin White Russians in the window.

Previous Winners

2018: American Bar
2017: Lebowski Bar
2016: American Bar
2013-5: Bjarni Fel

Other Drinking Categories


You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2019 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide. We also have a Special Offer double-pack that also includes our Best Of Iceland magazine, about places to eat, see, swim, shop and stay, all around the country, here.

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