Words by

The Reykjavík Grapevine

Photo by

Art Bicnick

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 Place For Live Music

Iðnó

Vonarstræti 3

A two-floor wooden building by Reykjavík’s pond, Iðnó started out in the late 19th century as a stage and movie theatre and Reykjavík’s main community hall and kept going as one until 1989. This century it became a live music venue, making frequent use of euphonious and beautiful wooden hall to serve as one of the most reliable and best live music venues in Reykjavík for medium-sized events.