Best Of Reykjavík 2026: Best Place For Live Music

The Norse god Óðinn obtained the mead of the poetry from the giants and shared it with those seeking divine connection. Sounds familiar, right? We’ve all had those kinds of nights here in Reykjavík. Now, you can too. Whether it’s cocktails, a wine bar, a date spot, or a happy hour beer, we have filtered the seemingly unlimited options here to give you the best chances of building that time-honoured experience that fermentation allows.

Our extremely mortal panel of drinkers has inspected the local bars and watering holes and given their honest, exuberant opinions on the best bars in Reykjavik. All factors were considered, from atmosphere and interior design to bathroom availability and customer satisfaction.

If you’re seeking wisdom, camaraderie, or just want to get your drink on, these are the establishments our panel recommends.

Best Place For Live Music

Iðnó

Vonarstræti 3

A two-floor wooden building by Reykjavík’s pond, Iðnó started out in the late 19th century as a stage and movie theatre and Reykjavík’s main community hall and kept going as one until 1989. This century it became a live music venue, making frequent use of euphonious and beautiful wooden hall to serve as one of the most reliable and best live music venues in Reykjavík for medium-sized events.

Runner Up:

Austurbæjarbíó

Snorrabraut 37

Since the 1940s, Austurbæjarbíó served as a music venue, hosting The Kinks in 1965. After a stint as a movie theatre, it became a live venue again early this century, and under new management it has gone more into live music, making it the best larger venue in Reykjavík. “It’s new, exciting, and great for larger events,” the panel rightfully observed. Also, you can play darts there, and eat delicious pizza.

Runner Up:

Mengi

Óðinsgata 2

Opened in 2013 by tech guru Bjarni Gaukur, Mengi is a modest and small venue, which through Bjarni’s patronage, has managed to not only maintain an incredible line-up of live shows for more than a decade, but also kept going while most other venues of that size in Reykjavík, have disappeared, thanks to tourism boom-induced gentrification with soaring rent prices.

Previous Winners:

2025: Lemmy

2024: Gaukurinn

2023: Kex Hostel (RIP)