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A Year In Food: 2026 May Be Cagey, But Pivotal
When a wine-loving couple opened Apéro, Reykjavík discovered that it indeed nursed a penchant for a grown-up space serving effervescent cremants, champagnes and creative nibbles that far exceeded the ‘bar menu’ description. Indulgent grilled cheese sandwiches piled high with further adornments of…
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Recapping A Year Of Food Highs And Lows
2024 set the stage for what could be a defining 2025 for Iceland’s food and beverage industry One of the things that is perhaps not talked about enough in this job is just how privileged and rewarding being a food writer is.…
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Three Cheers For Skál! Reykjavík’s Upstart Eatery Is All Grown Up
Skál! was an early trailblazer in Reykjavík’s food hall boom. An outlier and prodigy from the start, it brought fine dining flair and seasonal flavours to the confines of the country’s first ever food hall in the converted Hlemmur bus station. Under…
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The Advent Of Skál 2.0: New Digs For The Beloved Eatery
Change is afoot as Reykjavik’s beloved casual eatery moves out of Hlemmur Mathöll It is no secret now that Skál is moving. A Reykjavik pioneer, Skál set the tone for ambitious dining in an approachable, affordable, casual setting with dishes that bridge…
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Sup, Sip and Skál!
From foraged craft cocktails to shrimp heads, this Icelandic gastro-pub exemplifies joy in brevity When I first wrote about Hlemmur Mathöll’s opening, I simply called it Mathöll, ending the article wondering if the concept would be a paradigm shift in the local…
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Best Of Reykjavík 2023: Best Goddamn Restaurant
Best Goddamn Restaurant Joint Winner Austur-Indíafélagið Hverfisgata 56 It doesn’t matter if you are new to Indian cuisine or a seasoned consumer of curries, this place welcomes you with its warm embrace of Indian teak coffered ceilings, antique bronze and vermillion hued…
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A Covid Christmas to Remember: A Pandemic Is No Dampener On Festive Spirits
In stark contrast to the decadent jólahlaðborð extravaganza of the pre-Covid years (think 10-course menus spanning quail to langoustine, wines and spirits to match and languorous evenings stretching late into the night), this year’s pandemic-tinged festivities are a tad sober in spirit.…
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Solfinn Danielsen: The Shaman Sommelier Demystifies Natural Wine
“This is the best piña colada you’ll ever have,’’ says Solfinn Danielsen as he pours a pale lemonade-like 2016 Vulcanica Pet-Nat from Slovakia. I’m sitting at the bar at Skál on a bustling Friday evening, and the popular gastropub is filling up…
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Holy Spirits: 6 Unforgettable Cocktails In Reykjavík
Dusty old bottles on obscure top shelves, pungent smoked bitters from god knows where, dried, crushed, colourful flower petal garnishes scattered over frothy white egg foam: these are a few of our favourite things. If you’re partial to an interesting cocktail or…
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Best Of Reykjavik 2019: Must-Try Dining Experience
Watching Iceland come into its own as a dining destination over the past five years has been a joy. The Icelandic restaurant scene is diversifying, and the definition of what may be deemed “Icelandic cuisine” is broadening and taking on new shapes.…
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Popular Reykjavík Restaurant Receives Michelin Guide “Bib Gourmand” Award
The popular dining spot SKÁL! in Hlemmur Mathöll today received a “Bib Gourmand” award from the Michelin Guide UK. The award was announced on Twitter. A #BibGourmand is awarded to Skál! in Reykjavik. At this fun counter restaurant, in Iceland’s first food…
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Let’s Say Cheers For Skál! A Gourmet Feast At Hlemmur Mathöll
There are some privileges in writing about food. One of them is getting assignments that you cannot wait to complete, or at least taste the food in question. One such job was visiting Skál! at Hlemmur Mathöll. A standout place for foodies…
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Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Best Vegan Meal
There has never been a more exciting time for the restaurant scene in Reykjavik. Thanks to burgeoning tourism, exposure, and a genuine curiosity for foods from far and wide, diners now have a plethora of choices on offer. Whether it’s high-end fine…
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Best Of Reykjavík: Best Newcomer Bar
There is one thing abundantly clear from our very scientific drinking research, Hverfisgata is one hot little street right now. After getting massive internal road surgery a couple of years ago, it has come out thriving with a great bunch of watering…
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‘Tis The Season: Ten Christmas Menus Worth Writing Home About
As Christmas approaches, it seems like every restaurant in Reykjavík is posting appetising Instagram pictures of their special seasonal menus. The most common approach is to compile updated versions of reassuring Icelandic Christmas food staples like smoked lamb, pickled herring, cabbage, rye…
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Welcome To Iceland Airwaves, Guys!
Guys—great to meet you all! You have travelled all to way from Breiðholt and Australia and everywhere in between to enjoy this festival and spend some time with the rest of us. That’s pretty cool! Thank you! Over 240 bands and artists…