Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.08.2008, Page 10

10 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 10—2008
DESIGN By oddur SturluSon — pHoto By gaSFASHION By reykjavik lookS
In our constant quest to help you, the average
consumer, we sometimes have to dive deep into
the denizens’ of Reykjavík’s underbelly. This ar-
ticle is the chronicle of one of those dangerous
journeys. What started as a rather mediocre
joke about visiting every bar
in Reykjavík and writing an ar-
ticle about it somehow became
a mission. The editor warned
me that there was a distinct
possibility that I may not have
enough brain cells left to write
a cohesive article after my “re-
search” but I had a duty to fulfil.
Although drinking at every bar
in Reykjavík may sound like
fun, it’s actually... well actually
it’s the most fun you could pos-
sibly have short of meeting your
soul mate in a jacuzzi filled with
gold. That is, until you wake up
the next morning and realise
that your soul mate was actually
a rather unattractive senior citi-
zen, the jacuzzi was the gutter
and the gold, well let’s just let it
suffice to say that it wasn’t gold
after all. But this article is not to frighten you away
from visiting Reykjavík’s hallowed downtown
area after midnight, but rather to steer you in the
right direction. Whether it is affordable drinks,
masterfully made cocktails or just great fun that
you’re looking for, this guide will help you decide
where you want to go.
MOST AFFORDAbLE DRINKS
With the recession in full swing and the govern-
ment taxing alcoholic beverages to the hilt, it
sometimes becomes necessary for those of us
with a little less in our wallets to put the pride
on the shelf and visit the “cheap places”. It’s con-
sidered a given that if a place is cheap, it’s more
likely to be seedy and if a place is seedy it’s more
likely to draw shady customers. While I would
not have the guts to frequent this type of place all
alone on a Saturday night if I was a scantily clad
school girl, it turns out that drunk and/or high
poor people are no more dangerous than drunk
and/or high rich people. Go figure. Cheap places
(or “affordable” places in the interest of political
correctness) are places like Belly’s, Uncle Tom’s
Cabin as well as places which aren’t necessarily
cheap on a day-to-day basis but offer two-for-one
offers and things like that on drinks, such as Vic-
tor or Bar 11. The honourable title of Affordable
Drinking Hole goes to Belly’s who not only serve
the cheapest pint in town (450 ISK) but also what
might be the cheapest single-spirit-in-soda drinks
in town (750 ISK), as well as offering great offers
on shots (350 ISK for a shot of Jaegermeister if
bought with beer). If you’re looking for a place to
warm up your livers and wallets for a long night of
drinking, this is the place to go.
bEST COCKTAILS
If you’re looking for great tast-
ing drinks, you’ll have to ac-
cept the fact that they’re going
to cost a little bit more. Finding
a good cocktail at rush-hour
on weekends might also take
some work on your end, due
to the lack of time and materi-
als needed for the bartender to
do his or her thing. There are
a handful of bars with really
good mixed drinks such as Q-
Bar and Vegamót, but there is
one bar which stands out as the
best. B5, a classy (stuck-up) bar
on Laugavegur complete with
whiskey room and nouveau
riche comin’ out the woodwork.
Be warned, however, a beer on
tap might cost as much as 850 ISK and cocktails
can cost more than 1.500 ISK. You get what you
pay for, but boy do you have to pay.
bEST PARTY
It is of course a matter of opinion and taste as to
what makes a good party a good party. Drunken-
ness, high spirits, lots of sweat and dancing are
all pretty agreeable though. Since the destruction
of Sirkus, which was pretty much accepted as the
hippest, most enjoyable party in Reykjavík, peo-
ple have been looking for the next big thing. They
haven’t had to look far however, just a few metres
down Laugavegur and left on Bergstaðastræti to
Kaffibarinn. Always full to the brink of bursting
and always the last to close, Kaffibarinn is a place
where locals, regulars, hipsters, rappers, metal-
heads, punk rockers, models and posers can all
co-mingle in a boiling pot of sweat, beer and hu-
man flesh. Now that’s a good party.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
On one of my field trips I set my sights on Thor-
valdsens bar (for the sake of science) but was told
by a pudgy doorman that there was a dress code
and that I was not fancy enough. Thoroughly out-
raged that all of a sudden a 60.000 ISK Raf Simons
Jacket is not considered fancy enough and that I
was being told so by a man wearing what looked
like a 5.000 ISK suit, I gave the place a one finger
salute and left with my pride in shambles. Thor-
valdsen therefore gets a dishonorary mention for
being a bunch of squares. The Dubliner, however,
receives an A+ for authentic atmosphere. If you
want to pretend you’re one of the characters in
Boondock Saints, go to the Dubliner.

In closing, I want to remind you, dear reader, that
alcohol is not a toy and can kill you. More impor-
tantly even if it doesn’t kill you it might make the
morning after a living hell so act responsibly and
drink with care.
aFter sirkus closed its doors, the beer-lovin' Party-PeoPle have desPerately searched For the next big thing. will they ever Find it?
Fear and Loathing in Reykjavík
The low-down on pubbing in the cove of smoke
NAME
Rebekka Rafnsdóttir
OCCUPATION
Philosophy student and Spúutnik shop-manager
MOST FREqUENTED SHOPS
Spúútnik and Einvera. Einvera is a shop me and
my sister recently opened on Ægisíða 101. It’s
open all Thursdays from 15-21. Pay us a visit.
NAME
Rakel Jónsdóttir
OCCUPATION
Currently looking for a fun job.
FAvOURITE DESIGNER
Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and
Guðrún Helga Kristjánsdóttir.
NAME
Unnur LIlja Hermannsdóttir
OCCUPATION
Law student
ON ICELANDIC FASHION
It’s characterised by diversity and a mix of differ-
ent influences, which makes it all the more fun.
Visiting every pub in Reykjavík
over the course of three weeks is
both grossly unhealthy as well as
downright stupid. Drinking heavily
can result in vomiting, bankruptcy
and the danger of doing things
and/or people you’ll regret. Of
course that didn’t stop this in-
trepid reporter from going where
many, many people have gone
before.
DRESS CODE
Places like Apótekið, Rex and Thorvaldsen
have a dress code. Places like Apótekið
and Rex can afford to have a dress code,
however, whereas Thorvaldsen cannot.
PEACE & qUIET
Næsti Bar is not your typical pub and not
the place to go if you’re in the mood for
vocalizing or joy. Singing and rowdiness are
forbidden.
IRISH HERITAGE
Although The Celtic Cross has been
described as arguably the most authentic
Irish pub in Reykjavík, this reporter would
say that The Dubliner takes the cake.
GAYS
Q-Bar, the straight friendly gay bar next to
Prikið, is exactly that. Straight friendly. Drop
your twisted preconceptions about what gay
bars are like and visit this great bar.
WARNING
Bar 11 can be loads of fun, but be prepared
to be drenched in other people’s drinks and
bodily fluids from head to toe. It’s the price
you pay.
bEST PRICES
belly’s:
Beer: 450-700 ISK
Shots: 350-500 ISK
Mixed Drink (Single): 750
ISK
bEST DRINKS
b5
Beer: 750-850 ISK
Shots: 600-700 ISK
Mixed Drink: 1.400-1.800 ISK
bEST PARTY
Kaffibarinn
Beer: 700 ISK
Shots: 600-650 ISK
Mixed Drink: 900 ISK
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