The vibrant three-floor bar, somewhat confusingly named Barinn (The Bar), located on the corner of Laugavegur and Klapparstígur is one of the city’s ultimate weekend party destinations. With DJs playing five nights of the week, bartenders on every floor and boasting plenty of seats, this place is usually a safe bet for a good time out no matter if it’s a Wednesday evening or a Saturday night.
But the attitude at Barinn isn’t all about drinking and dancing until the crack of dawn. During the day, the place turns into a casual downtown coffeehouse where the relaxed vibe and reasonably priced menu attracts hungry pedestrians who like to sit down for a meal and a drink or two during lunch or dinner hours. Although mostly focused on drinks in the past, Barinn recently started serving food again, now featuring a simple bistro menu where several varieties are available, from tomato-soup and nachos, to pasta, salads, sandwiches and, as always, fine coffee and newspapers to read.
Before my friend and I sat down to grab a quick meal after a long workday, several regulars had recommended the Barinn-style hamburger on the menu. On their advice I decided therefore not to order the more healthy broccoli quiche served with salad and yoghurt sauce but instead opted for the ultimate combo: bacon-burger and a large beer on draught while my friend picked the chicken sandwich.
After only waiting for a few minutes, our waitress arrived with our orders. My burger was very basic yet extremely filling, served with a rich portion of French fries. Fresh bread and perfectly grilled meat topped with salad, cheese, sauce and crunchy bacon made for a juicy burger-meal, which, compared to nearby cafés, was well above average. My friend was equally satisfied with her BBQ chicken sandwich, consisting of a huge baguette topped with chicken, ham, bacon, cheese and salad, also served with lots of French fries.
Needless to say, after barely finishing our food, we didn’t leave hungry, but instead very satisfied with this new dining option in the centre, which is easy to recommend. At Barinn you’ll get large, not too pricy portions, fine service and a nice atmosphere. If in the mood for a quick meal followed by a good party, come in late and stay until the beer-thirsty crowd starts arriving.
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