Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Best Record Store

While high prices mean Reykjavík isn’t really thought of as a shopper’s paradise, there are still plenty of great local products you can only get here. Whether you’re hunting for a piece of Icelandic design, searching for hard-to-find vinyl by an Icelandic artist, stocking the fridge of your Airbnb, or hunting down the perfect hand-knitted lopapeysa, this guide will get you on the right track. Most of the winners are located in downtown Reykjavík, but a few are scattered throughout the Greater Reykjavík area, giving you a good excuse to get out of the city centre hubbub and do some exploring. Happy shopping!

Best Record Store

Reykjavík Record Shop

Klapparstígur 35

This tiny record store might offer a more streamlined selection than other places, but it has a good selection of old and new records from both Icelandic and international artists. The true pleasure of shopping here, however, lies in chatting to the personnel, usually comprised of DJs, musicians or simply music know-it-alls. As one panelist put it: “There are only music nerds working here, so they can help you with anything.”

Runner-Up:

Lucky Records

Rauðarárstígur 10

Famous far and wide for its endless selection of music, Lucky Records is a library of sound. Organised by genre and alphabetical order, one doesn’t exactly go to Lucky Records for the taxonomy: it has a punky, underground character that makes all the difference. Peruse away for an entire afternoon and go home with an unexpected gem.

Runner-Up:

Smekkleysa Plötubúð

Laugavegur 35

The bright green “bad taste” shop on Laugavegur is a long-running staple of Icelandic record stores. Also a record label, they stock the best new and classic records, alongside a carefully curated wall of new vinyls from indie labels around the world. A must-see store for indie nerds and audiophiles.

Previous Winners

2017: Lucky Records

2015-6: Reykjavík Record Shop

2013-14: Lucky Records

Other Shopping Categories

Best Shop To Pick Up Local Design

Best Shop To Pick Up Local Fashion

Best Grocery Store

Best Clothing Store

Best Secondhand Shop

Best Place To Buy A Wool Sweater

Best Jewellery Shop

Best Goddamn Store

Best Homeware Shop

Best Record Store

Best Bookshop

Hidden Gem

You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2018 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide. We also have a Special Offer double-pack that also includes our Best Of Iceland magazine, about places to eat, see, swim, shop and stay, all around the country, here.