Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.03.2008, Qupperneq 33

Vintage clothing shop Glamúr stocks ev-
erything from second-hand boots, capes,
Japanese kimonos and fur coats to 60’s
style party-dresses and big leather belts.
A selection of glamorous necklaces and
accessories will help sharpen the look.
They just love vintage!
Laugavegur 41
Loosely translated as ‘Happy Smiling
Headwear’, the shop’s owners have
designed whacky hats and headwear
since 1994 and stock a good selection
of warm handmade products for women
and children at the downtown store.
Check out the elf hats if you want to
look different.
Skólavörðustígur 18
The large tourist shop The Viking sells all
sorts of souvenirs and smart gift items to
bring back home. The selection includes
postcards, outdoor clothing, teddy bears,
maps, books, woollen sweaters and plas-
tic Viking helmets as well as Viking stat-
ues and shot glasses.
Hafnarstræti 3
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is a
world famous healing spot as the water
is rich with silica, minerals and algae,
which are extremely good for the skin.
The natural skin care products made
from the geothermal seawaters active
ingredients are sold at the downtown
Blue Lagoon shop.
Laugavegur 15
Kisan sells goods that you’re unlikely to
find elsewhere in Reykjavík. The selection
is a mix of interesting items from around
the world, such as high-street brands,
children’s clothing, household items, sta-
tionary, toys, DVDs and even books on
Japanese street fashion.
Laugavegur 7
Cintamani stocks quality Icelandic out-
door-gear and travel equipment, guaran-
teed to keep the whole family nice and
warm in any type of weather. Here you’ll
find almost everything needed for your
trip across the country and beyond, and
you can book an adventure excursion on
the spot.
Laugavegur 11
The downtown outlet store for the
Álafoss factory – the famous makers
of traditional Icelandic wool sweaters.
Here one can also find woollen mittens,
gloves, caps, scarves and blankets as well
as other woollen goods.
Laugavegur 1
Walk into 12 Tónar on any day of the
week and the friendly folk inside will sit
you down, fix you a nice cup of coffee,
and tear open jewel cases just to show
you the latest in Icelandic music. A re-
cord label as a well a record store, this
place features all the best local music
and hosts concerts almost every Friday
at 5 pm.
Skólavörðustígur 15
Who knows why this hip second-hand
clothing shop is named after the first
Russian spaceship? Spúútnik is the one
of the best second-hand stores in the
country, with great recycled designer
clothes at a range of prices. Expect to see
the cream of the bohemian crop shop-
ping here.
Laugavegur 32
Dogma offers street clothing with in-
teresting prints. Hooded sweaters and
shirts made by both Icelandic and for-
eign designers can be found, including
the “How do you like Iceland?” shirt
and band shirts from groups such as The
Beatles and The Rolling Stones. You’ll
also find a Dogma stall in the Kringlan
shopping mall.
Laugavegur 32
Four separate stores under one roof, sec-
ond-hand clothing and accessories store
Elvis, Rokk og Rósir and the Smekkleysa
record store. In addition, the new store,
Pop, supplies smart stuff for the home.
The collective offers all kinds of unique
clothing and ornaments.
Laugavegur 28
This small boutique is a treasure trove
overflowing with antique furniture and
items to perk up your apartment. In ev-
ery corner of the shop, you’ll find some
unique items, including lamps, pillows,
gorgeous 60’s sofas, tables, and a selec-
tion of vintage jewellery.
Vesturgata 3
If you like trendy party-types who dance
like crazy to a lively mix of music where
glamour is all that counts on the spa-
cious dance floor, stylish Óliver is the
nightclub for you. For all the others who
hate that kind of a party, the good air-
conditioning, fine food and excellent
brunch served during the day make
Óliver a recommended choice for mid-
priced meals.
Laugavegur 20a
Glaumbar follows in the American sports
bar tradition as it boasts a humun-
gous satellite television that broadcasts
matches from across the globe. This
is the place to be on the night of any
big game. Glaumbar is also notorious in
town for its late closing hours and loud
music.
Tryggvagata 12
With its basement location, Kofi Tómasar
Frænda (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) has the feel
of a tucked-away alley café in London.
During the day, the café has a relaxed
feel with easy access to Laugavegur and
Skólavörðustigur. At night, it becomes a
happening and diverse bar.
Laugavegur 2
Nothing really beats the impressive menu
at Vegamót with its tasty, not too pricey
dishes served until 10 pm. Whether it’s
the fish of the day, sandwiches or pasta
dishes that attract, its two floors are
usually packed during lunch and dinner
hours every day of the week. When the
kitchen closes, Vegamót becomes a pop-
ular hangout for trendy regulars, turning
into a lively nightclub on weekends.
Vegamótastígur 4
A spacious neutral place with no spe-
cial type of clientele, Hressó is a place
where the menu spans a variety of lunch
dishes during the day and troubadours
and tab-beer are the order of the night.
It becomes a somewhat basic club dur-
ing weekends notable for its size and
amount of seats.
Austurstræti 20
Barinn is quite a popular hangout among
Reykjavík party scenesters. Its three
floors and equally many bars become
quite crowded on weekends where its
mix of dancing downstairs and chatting
upstairs makes for a good night out.
Though mostly a DJ bar, Barinn occasion-
ally hosts live gigs and is always a fun
party place.
Laugavegur 22
At Boston, the casual atmosphere, styl-
ish interiors, low-volume music and
nice crowd create a laid-back vibe on
any given day, ideal for early drinks and
chitchats. The comfy two-floor bar pro-
vides plenty of seats and recently started
serving great traditional Icelandic dishes
to hungry regulars – try the ‘kjötsúpa’
(meat soup) and ‘plokkfiskur’ (fish and
potato dish).
Laugavegur 28b
Also known as Gaukur á stöng, this is the
oldest standing bar in Iceland. Gauku-
rinn is considered to be one of the row-
diest rock clubs in Reykjavik. This is the
place to enjoy live music from upcoming
bands (at a high volume) and some of
the cheapest beer prices in town.
Tryggvagata 22
By day, B5 is a chic little bistro with good
food and a prime location on Laugavegur
for people watching. By night, B5 is one
of the most stylised bars in town, with
a “whiskey room” resembling a bucca-
neer’s jail, and another room reminiscent
of a high-class Manhattan bar.
Bankastræti 5
Mál og Menning book store occupies
three levels on Laugavegur. It sells sta-
tionary, children’s games, foreign news-
papers, Icelandic books, CDs, postcards
and souvenirs. You’ll find the always-
bustling café and the foreign book sec-
tion on the top floor.
Laugavegur 18
The small designer shop Fígúra stocks
a nice selection of fashionable Icelandic
designer wear, from casual street-cloth-
ing to elegant party dresses. Fígúra is
owned and run by six young designers in
their early twenties who needed a place
to sell their designs and promote other
young designers in the meantime. The
selection today features printed T-shirts,
hair accessories, sweaters, leggings and
more.
Skólavörðustígur 22a
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Hafnarstræti
If your stomach is aching for some tra-
ditional Danish smørrebrød with all the
proper toppings, Jómfrúin is the place to
go. Reasonably priced hearty dishes and
a variety of lunch specials, Danish style of
course, should satisfy anyone looking for
a nice meal. Add to that a large Danish
beer and a shot of Akvavit, and you have
a cocktail that can’t fail to impress.
Lækjargata 4
This is not the regular fish’n’chips diner
but a healthy restaurant using only or-
ganic vegetables, quality fish products
and no wheat or white sugar in its kitch-
en. Deep-fried catch of the day served
with oven baked potatoes and Skyronnes
– a sauce made out of the fat-free milk
product Skyr and flavoured with all sorts
of spices – on the side is 1350 ISK.
One of Reykjavík’s classics, with a view
over the pond and a menu dominated
by traditional Icelandic dishes, this res-
taurant is just as popular among tourists
as it is among Reykjavík’s residents. The
reindeer steak with port-wine sauce or
the pickled herring and fermented shark
served with Icelandic schnapps both
come highly recommended.
Templarasund 3
Located on a quiet Laugavegur side
street, Indian Mango has infused the
Reykjavík restaurant scene with incred-
ible delicacies originating in the rich food
traditions of the Goa region in India,
honed to perfection at Four Seasons dur-
ing the owner’s stint there as head chef.
A local favourite, Indian Mango is known
both for the quality of the food as well
as the service.
Frakkarstígur 12
Vor’s refreshing take on café-style dining
is distinctive for its use of fresh ingredi-
ents and a health-conscious menu that
emphasises French and Mediterranean
cuisine. Fresh spring salad and carrot-
ginger soup are excellent pick-me-ups
on rainy days, and the coffee served is of
the highest quality.
Laugavegur 24
Tryggvagata 8
In an elegant setting, the Seafood Cellar
chefs serve gourmet fusion-style dishes,
where the emphasis is not only on the
ocean’s delights, but all sorts of tempt-
ing Asian-inspired dishes. The most fun
is to order the exotic menu – an array of
courses carefully selected by the chef –
to share with your dining companions.
Aðalstræti 2
Frequently lauded by Iceland’s hamburg-
er aficionados as the best place to get
a real hamburger in Reykjavík, ‘Búllan’
does indeed serve up some extra-tasty
burgers that are sure to take the edge
off any hangover. What makes it so good
is hard to say, but liberal helpings of rare
beef and the old-school basket you eat
from contribute a lot to the experience.
Geirsgata 1
This newly opened addition to the Reyk-
javík Chinese palate offers great service
and a staggering 100-plus traditional
Canton, Szechuan and Peking dishes, as
well as a weekday lunch buffet. Speci-
alities include the duck and the “magic
hot plate.”
Vesturgata 6-8
Ecstasy’s Heart Garden, as Garðurinn
is called in English, is a small, simple,
friendly, family-operated vegetarian res-
taurant on Klapparstígur. The menu is
no-nonsense, and consists of the ever-
changing soup de jour and other daily
specials. Open until 17:00, closed on
Sundays.
Klapparstígur 37
Many locals claim this to be the best
vegetarian restaurant in town offering a
menu with plenty of vegan and vegetar-
ian options. Ask for the day’s special or
simply try the selection of three different
courses. The Indian theme on Fridays is
usually a hit and the sugar free banana
cake is just one of the highly tempting
desserts.
Laugavegur 20B
This casual family-friendly Italian-style
corner restaurant has been operating at
the same location since 1979 and has
become a steadfast part of the Icelan-
dic dining-out tradition. Most famous
for its pizzas and the generously stuffed
calzone, the wholesome menu boasts all
sorts of high-quality pasta dishes, as well
as vegetarian and meat dishes, all easily
affordable.
Hafnarstræti 15
The Sushi Bar on Laugavegur has fast be-
come the talk of the town among Reyk-
javík sushi-lovers, and for good reason as
their rolls are among the best in the city.
The whole atmosphere inside the small
bar is a good blend of oriental tradition
with the somewhat more familiar set-
tings of the West.
Laugavegur 2
Located right next to the Reykjavík har-
bour, fish shop and restaurant Sægreifinn
is truly like no other you’ll experience in
the country. The menu offers various fish
dishes and a rich portion of the best lob-
ster soup we’ve ever tasted. The good
food and welcoming service make this
place a must-try.
Verbúð 8, Geirsgata
Kaffibarinn is a popular coffee place on
weekdays, especially among students
and downtown workers who like to en-
joy a beer after a busy day. On weekends,
it becomes a very lively destination as its
two floors fill up with late-night souls.
With DJs playing live sets from Wednes-
day to Saturday the party doesn’t start
winding down until early morning.
Bergstaðastræti 1
Kaffi Amsterdam is a 101 tavern which
seems to have been in business forever,
as some of their decorations bear wit-
ness to. Recently reinvented as a live
venue, weekends see some of Reykjavík’s
most rockin’ bands strap on their gui-
tars for some… rockin’. The beer’s also
cheap and you will get exposed to some
‘colourful’ characters.
Hafnarstræti 5
A spacious pub, yet the complete op-
posite of bright and airy, Belly’s deserves
praise for having the cheapest bar-price
around, selling a large beer for only 390
ISK. Attracting a mixture of students,
sailors and anyone who doesn’t want to
drain the wallet, there are enough tables
for everyone and TVs on every wall for all
you sports enthusiasts out there.
Hafnarstræti
This stylish two-floor bar and concert ven-
ue presents a diverse range of concerts
by local and international acts at least
four times a week. The venue features
established bands and young and emerg-
ing musicians. It can accommodate 300
people and has enough seats for weary
concertgoers to rest between sets. Open
until way past late on weekends.
Hafnarstræti 1-3
Located inside the Intercultural Cen-
tre, Cultura is a restaurant/bar with a
cosmopolitan feel, hosting an array of
events and various theme nights such
as Salsa lessons, tango nights and fusion
parties. The menu features all sorts of
international dishes like Thai soup, Span-
ish tapas, fahjitas and falafel as well as
bistro regulars such as sandwiches and
salads.
Hverfisgata 18
On a sunny day, Café París is one of the
busiest outside cafés in the city centre,
featuring fine food and attentive ser-
vice. The stylish interiors, relaxing music
and friendly evening atmosphere make
it a cosy inside bar as well. DJs play soul
and funk on weekends.
Austurstræti 14
This stylish two-floor bar and concert venue
presents a diverse range of concerts by local
and international acts at least four times a
week. The venue features established bands
and young and emerging musicians. It can
accommodate 300 people and has enough
seats for weary concertgoers to rest between
sets. Open until way past late on weekends.
Hafnarstræti 1-3, 101 Reykjavík
True to its name, Argentina Steakhouse
restaurant specialises in Argentinean
steaks and has been cooking up juicy
char-grilled steaks since 1989. The ten-
der meat, excellent wines, generous por-
tions and a selection of quality cognac,
whiskey, liqueurs and cigars all add to its
reputation as a place for fine dining in
Reykjavík.
Barónstígur 11