Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.07.2011, Page 3

120 g Lamburger (lamb), garlic grilled mushrooms, cheese,
lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, sauce Béarnaise and french fries.
Those who taste The Lamburger will hardly be able to believe their taste buds.
THE LAMBURGER
Turninn Höfðatorgi
105 Reykjavik
Tel: 575 7575
Opening hours:
Sun-Wed. 11.00–22.00
Thu-Sat. 11.00–24.00
fabrikkan@fabrikkan.is
www.fabrikkan.is
Gullfoss and Geysir are surely a must-see in
Iceland, but neither is something you eat.
That’s why we have 13 brilliant and creative
hamburgers at Hamborgarafabrikkan
(The Icelandic Hamburger Factory).
Hamborgarafabrikkan would eat Hard Rock
Café for breakfast, but since there is no Hard
Rock Café in Iceland we eat our original
Lamburger with the wonderful Icelandic lamb.
The Reykjavík Grapevine awarded
Hamborgarafabrikkan the “Best Specialty
Burger 2010”. It made us happy. Because we
aim to please. That’s why we only use 100%
fresh high-quality ingredients, directly from the
Icelandic nature.
Attention: Our hamburger buns are not round.
They are square. Does it taste better? You tell us.
Be square and be there.
BE SQUARE AND BE THERE
2
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 9 — 2011
Editorial | Haukur S. Magnússon
The Reykjavík GRapevine
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
Published by Fröken ehf.
www.froken.is
Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association
www.saf.is
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies.
Editor:
Haukur S Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Journalist:
Anna Andersen / anna@grapevine.is
Editorial:
+354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is
advErtising:
+354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is
PublishEr:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is
+354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is
Contributing WritErs:
Steinunn Jakobsdóttir
Hildur Lilliendahl
Madeleine T.
Marc Vincenz
Neil Holdsworth
Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson
Irina Domurath
Egill Helgason
Bob Cluness
Valur Gunnarsson
Bogi Bjarnason
Paul Fontaine
Jón Gnarr
Magnús Sveinn Helgason
Valur Gunnarsson
Egill Helgason
Editorial intErns:
Felix Jimenez Gonzalez / felix@grapevine.is
Marta Bardón Moreno / marta@grapevine.is
José Angel Hernández García / jose@grapevine.is
S. Alessio Tummolillo / alessio@grapevine.is

on-linE nEWs Editor
Paul Fontaine / paul@grapevine.is
art dirECtor:
Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hoddi@grapevine.is
dEsign:
Páll Hilmarsson / pallih@kaninka.net
PhotograPhEr:
Hörður Sveinsson / hordursveinsson.com
salEs dirECtor:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Guðmundur Rúnar Svansson / grs@grapevine.is
Helgi Þór Harðarson / helgi@grapevine.is
distribution managEr:
Þórður Guðmundur Hermannsson
distribution@grapevine.is
ProofrEadEr:
Jim Rice
PrEss rElEasEs:
listings@grapevine.is
submissions inquiriEs:
editor@grapevine.is
subsCriPtion inquiriEs:
+354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is
gEnEral inquiriEs:
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foundErs:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by
Fröken ltd. Monthly from November through April, and
fortnightly from May til October. Nothing in this magazine
may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written
permission of the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine is
distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Seyðis-
fjörður, Borgarnes, Kef lavík, Ísafjörður and at key locations
along road #1, and all major tourist attractions and tourist
information centres in the country.
You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no
articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles.
The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not the
advertisers’).
YOUR FREE COPY
www.grapevine.is
YOUR FREE COPY
www.grapevine.is
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE
TO THE VERY BEST
REYKJAVÍK HAS TO OFFER BEST OF
THE
REYKJAVÍK
2011
Issue N
o 9 – Ju
ly 1 - J
uly 14
– 2011
YOUR FREE COPY
www.grapevine.is
YOUR FREE COPY
www.grapevine.is
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE
TO THE VERY BEST
REYKJAVÍK HAS TO OFFER BEST OF
THE
REYKJAVÍK
2011
Issue N
o 9 – Ju
ly 1 - J
uly 14
– 2011
So this is our third annual BEST OF REYKJAVÍK issue.
Making it has been really hard (like always), but it’s also
been a lot of fun (like always). Sitting around with friends
and associates, swapping tips, tricks and opinions; solic-
iting emails and Facebook comments, making up polls...
trying to get a feel for what people like these days, y’know,
aligning oneself with the zeitgeist... it is a gruelling and
sensitive and FUN process.
We always leave our BEST OF issue with a bunch of
new knowledge in our heads. Word on new places, restau-
rants, jogging paths or bakeries that we simply must try as
soon as we finish writing the damn thing. It’s fun.
As soon as this thing is off to the printers’ (and I’ve had
a nice nap), I intend to soak in Neslaug, dine at Dill, jog
around Laugardalur, rent ‘TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH
ME’ at Aðalavídeóleigan, borrow someone’s kid and take it
for beers at Laundromat, buying a doublescoop of beer ice
cream at Ísland. YUM!
Like I said last year and like I’ll continue saying until
I either die or give up, it’s not about the commerce or ex-
change of money or BLIND CONSUMPTION. The best loaf
of bread from Reykjavík’s best bakery doesn’t amount to
much if there’s no one fun to share it with.
Again: “All of the best, most life affirming moments I’ve
experienced in Reykjavík have come for free, or at least I
didn’t need to pay for them with any officially recognised
form of currency. They have come through interacting with
the people, paying visits to friends and family, chance en-
counters on the streets, heavy debates, smiling faces and
lost arguments.”
So love to you, friend.
Summer has finally threatened to show itself, some-
what, and if you like reggae, Ojba Rasta’s new single
Jolly Good is the perfect track to put on for a nice
garden BBQ party. Climbing the charts in Iceland,
this feel good song has even reportedly received
some plays in reggae homestead Jamaica.
The ten-piece band formed in 2009 boasts an im-
pressive roster of musicians who also play in a hand-
ful of other great bands. They plan to play a bunch of
shows this summer, and they are currently working
on their debut album, slated for release out this fall.
Until then you can enjoy ‘Jolly Good’ on repeat, it’s
kind of that kind of song.
In case you were wondering about the band name,
Ojba Rasta, not only does sound like a reggae band,
but it’s also a play on the word “ojbarasta”, which is
Icelandic for something like, ‘eww gross’.
wwww.soundcloud.com/ojbarasta
Ojba Rasta
Jolly Good
TRACK OF THE ISSUE
Download at www.grapevine.is
TRACK
OF THE ISSUE
Download at
grapevine.is
Haukur’s 43rd Editorial
Illustrations: Þorbjörn Ingason - www.tingason.com
WELL THIS IS JUST LOVELY!
When compiling last year’s best of list, we got to thinking
that some of these places are so firmly established as
local favourites that naming them “best of” anything is
sort of redundant.
It’s also kinda unfair to all the places that are trying to
make their name today. For instance, there will only ever
be one Ísbúð Vesturbæjar, and they will probably firmly
remain Reykjavík’s favourite ice cream joint for as long
as they don’t mess up horribly. That shouldn’t mean we
can’t get excited and dish out props to other ice cream
vendors.
So we came up with a solution that we figure gives us
the chance to honour some of the perennial local favou-
rites while still giving props to new and exciting places
around town. We simply made a category that we call
REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTIONS.
What makes a ‘REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTION’? By our
makeshift definition, a ‘REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTION’ is a
place or entity that’s time and time again proven itself
as one of the best of its kind, and has remained a must-
visit throughout the years. When achieving INSTITUTION
status, one is automatically disqualified from winning any
‘best of’ categories, because you’re beyond being ‘best’,
having been all consistently awesome for a long, long
time.
A REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTION is a must-visit for tour-
ists to Reykjavík.
A REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTION will retain its status as
such until it starts sucking, in which case we will ceremo-
niously remove them from our list next year.
Without further ado, here are our REYKJAVÍK INSTI-
TUTIONS, along with some choice reader and specialist
quotes that argue their status:
Kaffibarinn
“Despite some ups and downs, Kaffibarinn has remained
the undisputed reigning champion of Reykjavík nightlife
and drinking for well over a decade. They are a true night-
life institution.”
Bæjarins bestu
“Everyone goes there. All the time. For over 70 years now.
Not exactly gourmet dining, but a really freaking great
snack nonetheless.”
Ísbúð vesturbæjar
“It’s hard to explain the charm to outsiders, just tell them
to go there. The ever-present queue speaks for itself.”
Hornið
“For a restaurant to remain so consistently on top of its
game for over thirty years is one huge achievement. They
are cosy, dependable and ever-tasty.”
Mokka
“They brought ‘coffee’ to Iceland, pretty much”.
Tíu dropar
“Quintessentially Icelandic in every way. The coffee, the
cake, the vibe. If I were to point a visiting friend to ‘the
essence of Iceland,’ this is where I would send him.”
Kolaportið
“If Kolaportið weren’t around, we’d need to establish it
immediately, lest we vanish back to the dark ages of com-
merce.”
REYKJAVÍK INSTITUTIONS
Bókin - Bókabúð Braga
“It’s hard to imagine Reykjavík without it. So let’s not.”
Brynja
“This neighbourhood hardware store almost predates
Laugavegur, and they always serve you with a smile (and
don’t mind throwing in some good advice when needed.”
Austur-Indía félagið
“Probably your safest bet for fine dining in Iceland, pe-
riod.”
2011 ADDITIONS:
Jómfrúin
“This Danish ‘smørrebrød’ house provides a unique at-
mosphere and taste you won’t find elsewhere in town...
or in the world for that matter.”
Prikið
“Serving old men their morning coffee since way back,
and somehow combining that with serving beer and hip
hop to young folks since the late ‘90s. And burgers. And
milkshakes. They ain’t for everyone, but they are a one-
of-a-kind place with spirit and soul.”

Feel like we missed one? Drop us a line at bestof@grape-
vine.is explaining why a given place should be merited
INSTITUTION status, and we shall consider it for our 2012
edition!
Special | Best Of Reykjavík