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 Second-Hand Store
Verzlanahöllin
Laugavegur 26
Verzlanahöllin is huge — they’ve got 180 booths! — which pretty much guarantees that they’ll be able to cater to any taste at any time. It seems as though whenever one visits their store, it’s jam-packed, which is just a testament to how many people are excited by the store and excited to shop sustainably. If that’s not enough, the store is right on Laugavegur, so there’s no need to go far.
Runner Up:
Barnaloppan
New Location: Köllunarklettsvegur 1
One panellist gushed about her love for Barnaloppan, both as a spot for kids’ clothes on the cheap and as a community space. Although the “rent-a-booth” concept has made such a mark on the adult clothing market (especially here — goddamn, is it expensive to shop in Reykjavík!), the panel all agreed that it makes even more sense as a business model for children’s clothes. Oh, do kids grow up so fast!
Runner Up:
Hringekjan
Þórunnartún 2
Hringekjan has thrived as the smaller, less hectic rendition of the booth-based secondhand shops. Since opening in 2021, Hringekjan has remained dedicated to promoting sustainable — but still stylish — shopping. One panellist cheered on their business model: renting a booth at Hringekjan may cost a little more, but they tend to the booth for you, making for fewer people bustling around the store and a calmer shopping experience.
Previous Winners:
2025: Hertex
2024: Verzlanahöllin
2023: Hringekjan
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