In this year’s Best of Shopping, a lot of us had the recent uptick in quickly made and cheaper products on our minds — not to mention that it seems like barely anyone has the dough to afford their entire wishlist.
Nevertheless, we have the chance here to celebrate those who operate their shops with intentionality; we cheer on institutions that don’t drop everything for momentary trends, that champion designers and makers in Iceland, that put care into the items they ask you to spend your money on. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece, a gift, or a souvenir, you can find what we’ve chosen as the best of the best.
Best Design Store
Mikado
Kolagata (Hafnartorg)
One panellist stated, “I have only one winner for this: Mikado.” He elaborated, “Not only their ability to merge Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics, but they are the most up-to-date, least pretentious power couple in the Icelandic design world.” There’s no way to put it better — sleek, minimalist, and well-curated, Mikado helps you create a home that is cosy, calming, and jealousy-inducing.
Runner Up:
Rammagerðin
Multiple locations
“Hands down,” one panellist said of the design store that’s been in our top three for years. But don’t get us wrong — things don’t just maintain their Best of Reykjavík automatically; Rammagerðin continues, steadfastly, to offer a wide-ranging collection from Icelandic designers. From home decor to unique souvenirs, wool clothing to ceramics, Rammagerðin is a one-stop shop for all your design needs.
Runner Up:
Officina
Hverfisgata 18
A home and lifestyle design store, Officina’s throughline is found in the quality of their products. They offer a lot — chairs and sofas, dishes and silverware, pyjamas and bathrobes — and mainly import international brands that aren’t found elsewhere in Iceland. Officina’s dedication to detail is remarkable; they had creative studio Geimgellur embroider their opening hours into fabric this December as opposed to just typing them out on social media.
Previous Winners:
2025: Fischersund
2024: Rammagerðin & Mikado
2023: Rammagerðin
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