Five Summertime Drinking Holes In Reykjavík

Who doesn’t like sitting in the warm sun with a cold drink? Agoraphobics, you say? Well, yes, maybe. But for everyone else, here are a few of our favourite summertime drinking holes in Reykjavík.

Loft Hostel
Bankastræti 7
Loft Hostel is known for its fabulous balcony, which is no doubt the best place to sip a brew or glass of Pinot Grigio on a sunny Reykjavík afternoon. Their happy hour, from 16:00 to 20:00, offers beer and wine from 750 ISK. It’s the perfect pick-me-up to set you up for one of Loft’s concerts, yoga classes, lectures, art and clothing markets, or notoriously crazy pub quizzes. Recently, they’ve been upping their event calendar significantly, so check their Facebook out to see what’s going on. HJC

Café Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22
Full of knick-knacks, mismatched chairs, board games, and cushions your grandmother would probably love, Café Babalú is a charming establishment that serves up great coffee, awesome cakes, and a hidden gem of a happy hour. From 19:00 to 21:00, a small beer is 690 ISK and a large 890 ISK, with wine for 795 ISK. To seal the deal, drink on the gorgeous balcony, lit up by sunlight. Pro-tip: Don’t miss their vegan carrot cake—it’s truly delectable. HJC–

Sky Bar
Ingólfsstræti 1
Located at the top of a Center Hotel, this place is a little touristy by nature, but don’t let that put you off—it has the best view of any bar in Reykjavík. With huge windows and wrap-around balconies, it always gets the sun; the view stretches from Esja to Harpa to the Old Harbour and all the way out to Snæfellsjökull, which you can sometimes see silhouetted against the glowing pink sunset. Their happy hour is from 16.00-18:00 daily. Check skyrestaurant.is for details. JR

Petersen Svítan
Ingólfsstræti 2
For those that want to get a little fancy, the grand rooftop bar of Petersen Svítan—perched on top of the Gamla Bíó theatre—can stand alongside the best of New York or London. With a fantastic view and plenty of cushy couches, go there for your next girl’s night or Tinder date. Happy hour runs from 16:00 to 20:00; beer 700 ISK, wine 900 ISK, and you can get the cocktail of the day for 1,500 ISK. On Thursdays, there’s live music and special deals on bubbly from 17:00 until closing. Carrie Bradshaw would approve. HJC

Kaffi Brennslan
Laugavegur 21
A sunny spot on the main Laugavegur strip, the old wooden house of Kaffi Brennslan is bright and pleasant—and made even better by their kick-ass happy hour. From 16:00-20:00 daily, you can get a pint of Gull for 550 ISK, or upgrade to Bríó—probably the best “basic beer” in town—for a kingly 650 ISK. Wine is 750 ISK, and they also serve snacks and waffles. If it’s sunny, sit in the yard; if not, watch all the suckers struggling through the weather from a first floor window seat and enjoy your summertime drinking from on high. JR

See more guides to Reykjavík here.