Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.01.2007, Page 25

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
12
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1828
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
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