The Norse god Óðinn obtained the mead of the poetry from the giants and shared it with those seeking divine connection. Sounds familiar, right? We’ve all had those kinds of nights here in Reykjavík. Now, you can too. Whether it’s cocktails, a wine bar, a date spot, or a happy hour beer, we have filtered the seemingly unlimited options here to give you the best chances of building that time-honoured experience that fermentation allows.
Our extremely mortal panel of drinkers has inspected the local bars and watering holes and given their honest, exuberant opinions on the best bars in Reykjavik. All factors were considered, from atmosphere and interior design to bathroom availability and customer satisfaction.
If you’re seeking wisdom, camaraderie, or just want to get your drink on, these are the establishments our panel recommends.
Best Outdoor Drinking
Bodega
Týsgata 8
With much exuberance, we declare Bodega the “top top top outdoor area.” This ideally located pub trends toward the epicurean, with sparkling wine Thursdays. In the past, we described the sunniest outdoor drinking spot in Reykjavík as almost feeling like Copenhagen, but we’ve moved on and have decided to just settle on extremely pleasant.
Runner Up:
12 Tónar
Skólavörðustígur 15
Also cited elsewhere as the best place to start a night out, 12 Tónar, the record store with bar and cafe, hosts an outstanding backyard patio in the heart of the shopping district. Curiously, our panel swears the sun lasts longer here than elsewhere, stating, “The sun stays long in the summer there, longer than you’d think.” Truly an ideal place to worship the sun, when it shows its face.
Runner Up:
Loft Hostel
Bankastræti 7
Punching far above its weight, our panel loved Loft Hostel. For best outdoor drinking, the stunner of a view, a central location that might allow some sunshine drinking to move onto other social affairs, and a nice blend of happy hour features, combined to push this sometimes overlooked spot into our best-of list in yet another category. “Simply fantastic view,” our panel said.
Previous Winners:
2025: Bodega
2024: Bodega
2023: Bodega
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