Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.06.2016, Síða 18

Vesturbæjarlaug
Pool of the issue
Words MAGNÚS SVEINN HALLDÓRSSON
Photo ANNA DOMNICK
This pool has been voted “Iceland’s
best pool,” and you’ll definitely en-
counter a number of locals who will
offer their highest praise, proclaim-
ing it a must-visit. This makes ab-
solutely no sense. That’s not to say
it’s all bad. Far from it. Vesturbæjar-
laug has a number of things going
for it. But it is also safe to say that it
is Iceland’s most overrated pool.
When Vesturbæjarlaug was
opened in 1961, it was described as
“the pearl of Western Reykjavík.”
Since then, the pool has occupied a
certain place in the hearts of Reyk-
javík natives. It has good character,
and some significant renovations
in recent years have modernized
and improved it considerably.
The hot tubs are certainly the
best place for the traditional Icelan-
dic hot tub debates on politics and
current affairs. The dressing rooms
and showers are still largely origi-
nal. It still lacks a water slide, and
hopefully one will never be added
(not every pool has to pretend it
would rather be by a hotel in Ma-
jorca).
Vesturbæjarlaug was Iceland’s
first pool to offer a sauna. It was
gender-segregated in the begin-
ning, since Reykjavík’s pool author-
ities then adhered to the Finnish
tradition of sweating in the nude.
The current sauna is ok. Howev-
er, it isn’t hot enough, and you can’t
control the humidity, which almost
takes all the fun out of the experi-
ence. It is also rather small, seating
five to seven comfortably. What the
sauna lacks in comfort, it makes up
in historical significance, as it plays
a small but important role in Ice-
landic queer history. Before being
gay was accepted by Icelandic so-
ciety, closeted homosexuals would
frequent the sauna, which became
a notorious cruising location. Al-
though cruising culture is largely
a thing of the past, a number of gay
men of a certain generation retain
loyalty to the place.
Vesturbæjarlaug also has a
unique steam bath, a large circular
room, resembling a yurt, with glass
walls and a concrete floor. While it
has a pleasant feel to it, you get the
sense that the contractor never re-
ally finished the job. It runs quite
Starts with a shot of the Icelandic
national spirit “Brennivín“
Puffin
Smoked puffin with blueberries,
croutons, goats cheese, beetroot
Minke whale
Date purée, wakame, teriaky
“Torched“ Arctic charr
Cucumber, truffle ponzu vinaigrette
and yuzu mayo
Icelandic roll – 4 pcs
Gravlax roll with Brennivín (Icelandic
traditional Snaps) and dill. Avokado, mango,
cucumber, dill mayo, rye bread crumble
Reindeer
Reindeer slider with blue cheese,
portobello, steamed bun
Rack of icelandic lamb
Onion purée, slow cooked leeks,
chimichurri, baked carrot
And to end on a high note ...
Icelandic Skyr
Skyr infused with birch,
berries, white chocolate
crumble, and sorrel granite
7.990 kr.

Sushi Samba
Þingholtsstræti 5 • 101 Reykjavík
Tel 568 6600 • sushisamba.is
Laugavegur
HverfisgataL
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S
kó
lavö
rð
ust.
Amtmannsstígur
In
g
ó
lf
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ti
Lækjar-
torg
Our kitchen is open
17.00–23.00 sun.–thu.
17.00–24.00 fri.–sat.
Amazing
7 course menu
A unique
Icelandic
Feast
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 7 — 2016
18
SECRET REYKJAVÍK
QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
Address
Hofsvallagata, 107 Reykjavík
Opening hours
Monday-Thursday: 06:30-22:00
Friday 06:30 - 20:00
Saturday-Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
Hot dog stand
Yes.
Family destination
Yes, particularly since the pool was
renovated.
Crowds of foreigners
Surprisingly little. The pool is a
Who’s Who of locals, hipsters and
politicians alike.
What's special
The historical sauna
“I’m running away from real
danger. I’ve lived in Iceland
for four years. It’s my home.
Everything about my life is in
Iceland. I’ve never had a problem
with anyone there. All my friends
and family are there. I don’t know
anybody in Sweden.”
- Eze Okafor, a Nigerian asylum seeker deported from Iceland under
questionable circumstances, when asked what he would say directly
to the Icelandic people if given the chance.
hot, which is nice (but beware the
scorching concrete floor!).
What really gives Vesturbæjar-
laug its edge is the location, close to
the city centre. The café that recently
opened right across the street is the
perfect place to observe young up-
and-coming Icelanders attempt to
balance a bourgeoisie lifestyle with
hipster cool. There is also a really
good hot dog stand right next door—
a definitive plus.
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