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 Niche Store
Space Odyssey
Bergstaðastræti 4
A haven for lovers of the experimental, Pan Thorarensen’s long-standing dedication to making a store for incredibly rare records makes Space Odyssey our inaugural winner of Best Niche Store. After relocating, the store has grown further into itself with a bigger catalogue, all while continuing to release cassettes of performances hosted there (and pushing a steady stream of electronica and ambient through its speakers). Hurrah for all things niche!
Runner Up:
Nakano
Grensásvegur 16
Named for the neighbourhood the founders lived in for eight years in Japan, Nakano is a stationery and gift store. They emphasise that Nakano’s inventory is not a reflection of all there is in Japanese stationery, but what they found particularly interesting while they lived there. They’re the only place in Iceland to get many of their products, and clearly run the store from a desire to share great Japanese products with Iceland.
Runner Up:
Hyalin
Skólavörðustígur 4a
The French gourmet store Hyalin is a spot for all things decadent. Whether you’re buying for yourself or others, wading through Hyalin’s extensive collection of tinned fish, olive oils, spices, biscuits, and more is always a delightful and mouth-watering experience. Despite a new location and the original owners handing over the reins (when they moved back to France) this year, Hyalin maintains the quality we keep coming back for.
Previous Winners:
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