Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.12.2006, Blaðsíða 13

Partly a sports bar, Glaumbar is also a
popular venue for live bands and DJs, but
mostly it’s just a good place to get drunk
and party. They can host private gath-
erings before midnight on weekdays,
and you would be hard pressed to get
a better deal on a keg party than here.
Glaumbar
Tryggvagata 20
Legendary Icelandic rockers have been
known to DJ at this place from time to
time, and Þröstur from Mínus has even
tended the bar. You can pretty much guar-
antee this place will be rocking any time
you walk in on a Friday or Saturday night.
Dillon
Laugavegur 30
Café, bistro, restaurant, bar – whatever
you want to call it, Kaffibrennslan is a
consistently pleasant place to go for
snacks and refreshments of whatever
variety you happen to crave. They also
have the largest selection of beers in
Reykjavík. We recommend the Cobra
and Staroprammen.
Kaffibrennslan
Pósthusstræti 9
Located right by the harbour, Tveir Fis-
kar boasts some of the freshest fish in
town – they prefer it to still be mov-
ing when they buy it. Their menu also
dares to be different, and this just
might be your only chance to sample
the debatable delights of raw dolphin.
32 Tveir Fiskar
Geirsgata 9
Means “the corner” and the place lives
up to its name by… well, being on a
corner. This is actually the oldest Italian
restaurant in town, celebrating its 27th
year, and it always seems to be consis-
tently popular. Excellent quality pizza,
pasta and salads – all priced affordably.
33 Hornið
Hafnarstræti 15
This authentic Thai restaurant is one of
the better bargains in town. We chal-
lenge you to find a better meal for the
same price anywhere else. They have
their menu outside with numbered co-
lour images. Just say the number and eat
the food.
31
Krua Thai
Tryggvagata 14
If you like fresh seafood and are in the
mood for something a little different,
this cosy but ambitious restaurant just
might fit the bill. Shellfish, salmon,
squid, lobster and other creatures of the
deep predominate the menu here. There
is no smoking in the restaurant, but if
you want to have a go at sitting out-
side there are fleece blankets provided.
35 Vín og Skel
Laugavegur 55
Tjarnarbakkinn is right above the Iðnó
theatre, so it’s an ideal place to go be-
fore shows, or during if you prefer a
more quiet atmosphere. If you sit by
the window you get nice view of the
pond, and in the summers you can
enjoy your meal outside. The lamb
comes especially recommended; it’s
one of those rare traditional Icelandic
dishes that aren’t an acquired taste.
36 Tjarnarbakkinn
Vonarstræti 3
Perennial favourite, Argentína is a fine
dining steak house. For whale-etarians,
you can also sample the local Minke, or
excellent fish. This restaurant has main-
tained its reputation with three things:
perfect cuts of meat, excellent service,
and an excellent wine list.
34 Argentína
Barónsstígur 11a
Places recommended for their local touch
tend to instantly loses any element of the
exotic, but Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron) is
an exception. It’s a combination of a fish
store and a... well, not exactly a restau-
rant but a place that serves prepared
food, located in a harbour warehouse.
Smell of fish, the view over the harbour,
an old man that looks exactly like an Ice-
landic fisherman should. What’s not to
love?
38 Sægreifinn
Geirsgata
Prides itself on being the northernmost
Indian/Pakistani restaurant in the world.
Their cooks know exactly what they are
doing with the spices and as a result we
have given them two glowing reviews
and a ‘Bezt í Heimi’ recommendation in
the past. You can still see the latter ar-
ticle hanging in their window – and we
stand by it.
39 Shalimar
Austurstræti 4
Famous for their burgers and fries,
American Style actually serves a variety
of American-influenced dishes with a
strong local flavour. You get the feeling
that you are expected to eat a great deal,
so loosen your belt a bit before you dig
in.
41
American Style
Tryggvagata 26
Most people get to know Pizza King af-
ter a late-night drinking session leaves
them tired and hungry downtown, and it
truly is a lifesaver in those situations. The
difference between Pizza King and some
less savoury fast food options downtown
is that you would be happy to go back to
eat there while sober, and their special
lunch offers make that a very attractive
option.
42 Pizza King
Hafnarstræti 18
The oldest bakery in Reykjavík, founded
in 1834. If you are particular about your
bread this is about the best place in
central Reykjavík to stock up on a vari-
ety of freshly baked loaves – they also
do a particularly moist and juicy version
of the ever popular vínarbrauð pastries.
You can even call ahead and have your
favourite items reserved, if you’re afraid
someone else might beat you to that last
snúður or kleina.
43 Bernhöftsbakarí
Bergstaðastræti 13
Those with a bit of money and time on
their hands would do well to spend an
evening or two at Tapas, having course
after course of wonderful miniature
dishes served to them. Oddly, it’s also a
great place to get tasty and affordable
lobster. If you don’t feel like getting up
right away afterwards, there’s also a
lounge.
37 Tapas
Vesturgata 3b
40
If you’re looking for high-quality food in
a unique but cosy setting it doesn’t get
much better than Við Tjörnina (literally,
By the Pond). They’re known for their
traditional living room décor and innova-
tive fish dishes made from a variety of
fresh catches. The ambiance is some-
thing you have to experience to truly
appreciate.
Við tjörnina
Templarasund 3
FAST FOOD
You know exactly what you get when
you walk into a Subway restaurant, and
their sub sandwiches are always made
from fresh ingredients – right in front
of your eyes. Reasonably priced and far
healthier than most alternatives – pro-
vided you show some restraint when you
order.
45 Subway
Austurstræti
Almost certainly the best junk food in the
Greater Reykjavík area, and extremely
popular with drunken youths on week-
ends. This place has none of that Sub-
way commitment to healthy living, and
they probably contribute significantly to
the ever-increasing “size” of the nation.
They also serve burgers and sandwiches,
and have lunchtime offers.
46 Nonnabiti
Hafnarstræti 11
Tómas originally popularised the ham-
burger in Iceland when he opened his
famous Tommaborgarar shop. A couple
of decades and business ventures later
he has gone back to the basics and now
has one of the most popular fast food
restaurants downtown – affectionately
known as Búllan (the joint).
48
Hamborgarabúlla
Tómasar (Búllan)
Geirsgata 1
Some of the best fish and chips in town
can be found at Kebabhúsið, and they
obviously have a selection of kebabs as
well. The falafel comes recommended,
despite being a relatively unappreciated
menu item in Iceland, and the beef and
lamb pitas are quite good as well.
49 Kebabhúsið
Lækjargata 2
Actually a bar, but best known for its
hamburgers. A burger with fries for 500
is one of the best meal deals in town, but
special mention must go to the Forget-
Me-Not blue cheese and garlic extrava-
ganza.
50 Vitabar
Bergþórugata 21
A veritable institution in central Reykja-
vík, and probably the most consistently
successful business the city has seen,
Bæjarins Bestu is actually just a simple
hot dog stand. Their menu consists of
hot dogs and Coke – and nothing else.
You don’t have to be a Buddhist to ask
them to make you one with everything.
44 Bæjarins Bestu
Tryggvagata
47
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6
DOWNTOWN REYKJAVIK
One of the first places in Reykjavík to
specialise in vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Despite having changed owners a couple
of years back, the quality has remained
consistent and you almost get the feel-
ing that the place is being run on sheer
principle as much as anything else.
First Vegetarian
(Á næstu grösum)
Laugavegur 20b
RESTAURANTS
Roma, at the far end of the main street
Laugavegur, is a deli-type coffee house
offering a variety of breads, soup and
tempting cookies, cakes and other sweet
things. Their specials around lunch time
are always a bargain.
1
Café Roma
Laugavegur
Ráðhúskaffi, situated inside the Reykja-
vík City Hall, is a comfortable choice for
the view over Tjörnin (the pond). It’s es-
pecially convenient on Iceland’s so-called
‘window weather’ days – the days that
are only beautiful if you stay indoors.
Coffee, light snacks, art exhibitions, In-
ternet access, a topographic model of
Iceland and municipal politics: all conve-
niently under the same roof.
2 Ráðhúskaffi
City Hall
Grái Kötturinn (the grey cat) is a cosy
place that’s especially popular during
the morning hours. Their breakfast is
legendary, but they tend not to be open
later in the day. A great place to nurse a
hangover, or just to start the workday.
3 Grái Kötturinn
Hverfisgata 16a
Despite hosting the occasional rock con-
cert, Kaffi Hljómalind is a peaceful café
with perfect windows for people watch-
ing and a lot of daylight. It’s run by a
non-profit organisation and only serves
organic & fair-trade products. It’s strictly
a non-smoking establishment.
4 Kaffi Hljómalind
Laugavegur 21
Kaffi Mokka is one of the oldest cafés in
Reykjavík, dating back to the 1950s. Fa-
mous for their dark, smoky atmosphere,
loyal clientele and some of the best waf-
fles in town.
5 Mokka
Skólavörðustígur 3a
The name literally means “grandma’s
coffee shop,” but here you can find
people of all ages and all nationalities. It
has a very friendly, down-to-earth feel to
it. Affordable prices on coffee, cakes and
the lunch menu. Try their speciality, the
South African latte.
6 Ömmukaffi
Austurstræti
One of the youngest coffeehouses in
Reykjavík is also the homiest. Almost like
a living room away from home, Babalú
keeps it simple, quiet and cosy with cof-
fee and the occasional crêpe.
7 Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22a
CAFÉS
This is the downtown store of one of the
country’s finest coffee importers, and the
quality of the product is as excellent as
you would expect. While anything here
is good, the speciality coffee drinks are
truly remarkable: our favourite, the Az-
teca, an espresso drink with lime and
Tabasco.
9 Kaffitár
Bankastræti 8
Italian coffee chain Segafredo seems to
be doing brisk business by Lækjartorg,
with locals and tourists alike flocking to
sip their espressos at the conveniently
placed tables outside. The staff are ex-
pert baristi, and, even though Iceland is
proud of its coffee, nobody quite tops
the Segafredo latte.
10 Segafredo
By Lækjartorg
Sólon is a nightclub on Friday and Satur-
day nights, but during the daytime it’s a
café/bistro. On weeknights they’re a res-
taurant with a decent menu as well, and
an art exhibition on the walls to finish
the package.
Known for its all you can eat fish buffet,
this restaurant/guesthouse is also a fine
place to sit down and relax with a latté
or some beer when suffering from a case
of severe hipster-burn.
12 Litli Ljóti
Andarunginn
Lækjargata 6b
Kaffibarinn has a reputation as a hang-
out for artists and others who think they
are hip. Friday and Saturday nights serve
as the weekly peaks of claustrophobia,
while weekdays and afternoons can be
comfortable, if banal.
13 Kaffibarinn
Bergstaðastræti 1
Of absolutely no relation to the trashy
culture guide, or trashy TV station that
stole its name, Sirkus is worshipped like
few other locales in Iceland. Elements of
the odd and alternative cultural institu-
tion include an upstairs that looks and
smells like a bus, a garden, a flea market
and a queue on weekend nights that
looks never-ending.
14 Sirkus
Klapparstígur 30
A very nice, old-fashioned café. It’s sub-
terranean, as all traditional coffee shops
should be, and this place makes you feel
warm, both with its atmosphere and the
generosity of the coffee refills.
8 Tíu Dropar
Laugavegur 27
11
Sólon
Bankastræti 7a
BARS 'N' BISTROS
Vegamót (crossroads) has an appealing
lunch menu, they serve brunch during
the weekends, and the kitchen is open
until 22:00 daily. After that the beat goes
on, and you can check the end results in
photos published the day after on their
website www.vegamot.is. If you like Oli-
ver, try Vegamót and vice versa.
16 Vegamót
Vegamótastígur 4
B5 is a bistro with a Scandinavian focus
on the menu. Don’t be fooled by the im-
pressive collection of design classics that
you see in the window when passing by
– it’s neither cold nor overly expensive,
but rather a cosy place with friendly ser-
vice.
17 B5
Bankastræti 5
As the Viking-style garden and logo
accurately signal, this hardcore chess
hangout is no place for the weak. Yes,
chess bars are that tough in Iceland.
Even if the downstairs atmosphere can
feel a bit ominous at times, it’s one of
the best venues for live music in town.
If you speak Icelandic you can also take
part in the pub quiz on Fridays at 17:30.
Participation is free and the winner walks
away with a case of beer!
19 Grand Rokk
Smiðjustígur 6
While the place is only open on the
weekends, Bar 11 is a popular rock bar
on Laugavegur and one of the main late-
night party venues in town. You’ll feel
the floor jumping every Friday and Sat-
urday, and it’s neither you nor an earth-
quake. Live concerts and a nice foosball
table upstairs.
20 Bar 11
Laugavegur 11
The celebrated site of one of the more
famous coffeehouses in Iceland, this bar/
café/bistro brings a European flair to the
city. That is until about 11, when things
get to rockin’, and you can see the true
character of Reykjavík.
21 Hressó
Austurstræti 20
Spelled with a C rather than the Icelan-
dic K, presumably in an effort to seem
more cosmopolitan. This ploy seems to
be working, as the bar has become a
hangout for older foreigners. The Viking
ship sitting on top of the building might
also add to the appeal. The crowd is very
mixed, both in origin and age, and so is
the music.
15 Café Victor
Hafnarstræti 1-3
18
Perhaps the closest thing to a jazz club
in town, here old instruments line the
walls. People go there for conversation
and to listen to music rather than dance.
The place tends to have jazz- or blues-
type music, and is developing a blue-
grass scene.
Rósenberg
Lækjargata 2
The trendy Café Cultura is located in the
same building as the Intercultural Centre,
and has a distinct international flavour. A
good-value menu, friendly service and
settings that allow you to either sit down
and carry on discussions, or dance the
night away.
23 Café Cultura
Hverfisgata 18
Prikið has changed noticeably in charac-
ter in recent years, as it used to be an
old-fashioned and traditional downtown
coffeehouse. Somehow the younger
crowd caught on and transformed the
place to its present form: a diner during
the day and a rowdy nightclub on week-
ends. You can also borrow board games
there, such as backgammon or chess,
and it is a popular breakfast spot early
in the morning.
24 Prikið
Bankastræti 12
Pravda is one of the biggest clubs/bars in
downtown Reykjavík, situated in one of
the more ideal locations for such an in-
stitution in the city. It’s divided between
two floors, although the distinction
between the ambiance on the top and
bottom floors has faded away in recent
times.
22 Pravda
Austurstræti 22
This place is fancy, and it knows it. Civil-
ian attire is looked down upon, so don’t
expect to get in wearing hiking boots.
DJs play on Thursdays, Fridays and Sat-
urdays. Arrive before 12 if you want to
avoid the queue.
26 Thorvaldsen
Austurstræti 8
Kaffi Amsterdam is a cosy tavern lo-
cated in the centre of Reykjavik. Known
mostly for its rambling late-hour drinking
crowd, Amsterdam recently established
itself as a fresh new venue for the city’s
music talent.
27 Kaffi Amsterdam
Hafnarstræti 5
Ölstofan is an unpretentious, comfort-
able and straightforward place to relax.
It’s also known as a hangout for the ‘in-
tellectual’ circles of Reykjavík, as well as
some media types, the opposite of ‘intel-
lectual’ in this country. Music is almost
never played at Ölstofan – so you can
actually have a conversation.
25 Ölstofan
Vegamótastígur
29
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Iceland’s House of Christmas is the Christ-
mas fanatic’s Disneyworld. This true gate-
way to the colourful world of Christmas
offers hand painted Icelandic handicrafts
as well as ornaments from around the
world. Guaranteed to get you in the holi-
day spirit.
SPOT THIS: Jólahúsið
Skólavörðustígur 21a, 101 Reykjavík, Tel: 568 8181
Open Dec 24th and 31st.
Reservations Only
RESERVATIONS 867-4448 or galbi@galbi.is
Vegan and Vegetarian Options available
Icelandic food with an Asian flare
Baronstígur 2-4, 101 Reykjavik
Restaurant open 6-10pm daily.
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