Best Of Reykjavík Shopping 2020: Best Bookstore

Consumerism might be destroying the planet, but hey, you can’t walk around naked. While Iceland may not be a worldwide shopping destination due to high prices and its relative isolation, there’s still a plethora of unique products that are worth spending your hard-earned dough on. From handmade lopapeysur created by dotings Grandmas to obscure Björk b-b-b-sides, here’s your essential guide to shopping in Reykjavík.

Best Bookstore

Eymundsson

Austurstræti 18 & Skólavörðustígur 11

Eymundsson is a classic bookstore, offering up the newest in Icelandic writing and international titles. It has the rare characteristic of being perfectly curated for both locals and tourists, so if you’re a traveller looking to get an illustrated edition of the Sagas, or a Reykjavík kid hoping to pick up the definitely-going-to-be-released upcoming Game Of Thrones book, this would be the place to find it. Bonus: The cafes at the Skólavörðustígur and Austurstræti locations also make for great people-watching spots.

Runner-Up:

Bókin

Klapparstígur 25-27

If you’re looking to buy the newest Dan Brown, Bókin may not be your thing. But if you’re looking for a collectors-edition copy of an Icelandic book long out of print, there’s only one option, and that’s Bókin. “It has charisma, which makes it a winner,” one panel member said. “If there’s a store in Reykjavík with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, it’s Bókin.”

Runner-Up:

Bóksala Stúdenta

Sæmundargata 4

Located within the main building of Háskóli Íslands, the university bookstore runs the gamut from speciality academic texts to classics, new fiction, notebooks and much more. Another plus? The on-site coffee shop serves up what are potentially the fairest priced coffees in town, as does the Háskóli Íslands cafeteria next door.

Previous Winners

2019: Bóksala Stúdenta

2018: Bókin

2017: Mál og Menning

You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2020 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide.