Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.07.2011, Blaðsíða 53

Barbara
At Laugavegur 22, above Trúnó, Barbara
serves up a lively atmosphere for Reykjavík’s
gay community and anybody else who just
wants to dance and have a good time. The
first level is made for dancing and is often
packed with sweaty bodies, while the second
level of the bar offers a place to sit, drink and
chat with another and in which to smoke.
Laugavegur 22
10
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The OldHarbour
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Coach
Terminal
Nordic House
Culture Center
University
of Iceland
National
museum
National
library
Austur-
völlur
Icelandic
Parliament
Reykjavík
Domestic
Airport
Hlemmur
Bus Terminal
Sundhöllin
Swimming
Pool
Laugardals
Swimming
Pool
Sigurjón
Art
Museum
Viðey
ferry
Cruise
harbour
Zoo and
family park
Camping
site
Kringlan
Shopping
Mall
Laugardalshöll
Sports hall
The
Tower
City
Hall
The Einar
Jónsson
Museum
Hallgríms
kirkja
Church
National
Theatre
Culture
House
Central
Bank
Main
Tourist
Info
Reykjavík
Art
Museum
Maritime
Museum
Old
Harbour
Area
Harpa
Concert
Hall
Tjörnin
Klambratún
Park
Öskjuhlíð
Laugardalur
Nauthólsvík
Perlan
University of Reykjavík
Kjarvalsstaðir
National
Museum
Hótel Loftleiðir
Hljómskáli
Park
Vesturbæjar
Swimming
Pool
National
Gallery
of Iceland
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
Taxi
6 7 8 9 10
7
5
9
6
For a map of outside downtown Reykjavík
visit www.grapevine.is or the Icelandic
phonebook website www.ja.is
If you have an iPhone, check out the cool
Locatify app in the AppStore. It´s got a FREE
guided audio tour of the downtown area,
courtesy of your pals at Grapevine.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir
What’s up, Silja?
I’m working on what will hopefully become
Iceland’s next constitution—and the first
one written from scratch by Icelanders,
although we’re getting a lot of pointers
from abroad after our interactive method
of work garnered the attention of the
global media. This is a 9–5 job, with a
lot of work at night and on weekends,
as we’re only given four months to do
it. So my spring and summer are taken
up entirely by this process, although I’m
trying to finish up a couple of articles for
publication.

On a weekday morning I’ll normally grab
yoghurt and some fruit to go and get my
coffee at work after riding my bike from
Vesturbær to Kringlan, where our offices
are. If I get up early, a stop at Café Haiti
by the port, Kaffitár on Bankastræti, or
Kaffismiðjan on Kárastígur are a welcome
variety. Café Haiti and Kaffismiðjan
probably do the best coffee, but the
odds of running into someone I know are
greater at Kaffitár.

Working right by Kringlan, Portið has
become my go-to spot for off-site lunch.
But during my regular work-week (at
the University of Iceland) the fantastic
restaurant Dill at the Nordic House is my
absolute favourite. Limited options (one
salad, one soup, one main course, pick
one, two or three) but they’re all good and
the slow food approach really appeals
to me (they’re as far as I know the only
restaurant in Iceland to grow some of their
own ingredients right out back).

If I’m at home I’ll take a walk along
Ægisíða; on a good day you can sit on
a sheltered bench and look out at the
sea. Keep walking around the airport to
Nauthólsvík and dip your toes in the sea,
and then come back around Öskjuhlíð and
you’ll have gotten a taste of the Reykjavík
outdoors.

After work I enjoy getting a coffee or a
drink and doing some people watching
at Austurvöllur. My favourite is Íslenski
barinn—if you get a seat out front in
nice weather that’s where you can get
the most sunlight. Inside there are a
plethora of Icelandic historical and literary
mementos and handicrafts, and of course
the nostalgic nationalist décor makes it
obvious that the place took on its present
character after the crash. Look around
and you’ll see men everywhere—the
pictures, the books, but all the handicrafts
are women’s work. I always think
somebody needs to do a gender analysis
of the place.

Uno is my present favourite place to eat.
Reasonable prices and quick service.
I also just tried Grillmarkaðurinn and
I am in love. Chef Hrefna Rósa does
amazing stuff at Fiskmarkaðurinn, but
her latest restaurant is a real experience.
Great ingredients, crispy vegetables
and wonderfully fresh fish. The molten
chocolate ball dessert is to die for! The
location is a newly rebuilt house in the
middle of downtown, so it’s great to
start your evening there or come by after
hanging around Austurvöllur earlier in
the day.
Ölstofan is my nighttime hangout. I keep
trying to go to other places, but that’s
always where I end up. Not the place for
those looking for music or dancing, but on
the rare occasions I feel like dancing I’ll go
to Boston.
EARLY MORNING >
LUNCH >
MID-DAY >
AFTERNOON >
HEAT OF THE NIGHT >
Ask for a Tax free form and
save up to 15%
LAUGAVEGUR 56
101 REYKJAVÍK
WWW.NIKITACLOTHING.COM
Kaffifélagið
Kaffifélagið has been a Grapevine favourite
since they opened on Skólavörðustígur a
couple of years back. The small coffeehouse
always delivers an excellent cup of Italian-
style coffee, and downtown regulars can
spring for a clip-off coffee card to save on
each purchase.
Skólavörðustíg 10
12OSUSHI
Great place to satisfy your craving for raw
fish and vinegar rice. The selection on ‘the
train’ is wide and varied and the atmosphere
is relaxed. Also, the colour-coded plates
make it easy to keep tabs on your budget
while scarfing down your maki and nigiri.
Lækjargata 2a
11
Public phones
There aren’t many public payphones in the
city centre. The tourist information centre
at Aðalstræti 2, City Hall, Kolaportið, en-
trance at Landsbankinn and in Lækjargata.
Prepaid international phone cards are
recommended for int’l callers.
Internet Access
Most cafés offer free wireless internet ac-
cess. Computers with internet connections
are available to use at:
Ráðhúskaffi City Hall, Tjarnargata 11
Ground Zero, Frakkastígur 8, near
Laugavegur 45
The Reykjavík City Library, Tryggvagata 15
The National and University Library, Arn-
grímsgata 3
Tourist Information Centre, Aðalstræti 2
Icelandic Travel Market, Bankastræti 2
Reykjavík Backpackers, Laugavegur 28
Swimming Pools
There are several swimming pools in Reyk-
javík. The one in 101 Reykjavík, Sundhöll
Reykjavíkur, is an indoor one, located at
Barónsstígur. That pool features a nice
sunbathing area and some outdoor hot
tubs. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday
from 06:30–22:00, Friday from 06:30–20:00,
Saturday from 08:00–16:00, and Sunday
from 10:00–18:00.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green poster covered towers
located, for example, at Hlemmur, Ingólfs-
tortorg, by Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art
Museum, Lækjargata and by Eymundsson
on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can also be
found inside the Reykjavík City Hall and the
Reykjavík Library.
The Grill Market, Lækjargata 2a
New in Reykjavík, Grillmarkaðurinn (The Grill
Market) is renowned chef Hrefna Rósa Sætran’s
latest culinary venture. With a specially crafted
grill made to withstand extreme heat, Hrefna and
team are serving up juicy Icelandic dishes to the
carnivore’s delight. You can also be sure that they
use seasonal ingredients straight from the farm. If
her restaurant The Fish Market is any indication of
what to expect, this newbie promises to enhance
to the quality of life for the foodie in Reykjavík.
And already since opening one month ago, it is
dazzling restaurant goers.
NEW IN TOWN
PUNJABI LUNCH & PUNJABI DINNER every day