Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.07.2016, Qupperneq 18

Breiðholtslaug
Words MAGNÚS SVEINN HELGASON
Photo ANNA DOMNICK
Apart from Vesturbæjarlaug, this is
the only swimming pool in Reykja-
vík proper that sports a sauna. In
line with Vesturbæjarlaug, the sau-
na is gender-segregated—however,
Breiðholtslaug’s sauna is actually
very good. It runs hot, you can con-
trol the humidity and it comfort-
ably seats at least ten people. Sure,
the resting area could be nicer, but
the sauna itself gets two thumbs up.
Breiðholtslaug’s steam bath is
also very good: large and spacious,
with a glass wall facing the pool
area. The pool itself is an old-school
Icelandic swimming pool: a no-
frills place to bathe, swim and re-
lax in the hot tubs. Since the pool is
located in a residential suburb, far
from any tourist attractions, you
will only meet locals, making this
a great place to observe salt-of-the-
earth Icelanders.
It is also a great place to expe-
rience the changing face of the
Icelandic nation, since the sur-
rounding neighbourhood’s large
immigrant population means you
are just as likely to hear snippets of
conversations in Polish as Icelandic.
SHARE: gpv.is/pool10
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
æ
kj
ar
ga
ta
Sk
ó
la
st
ræ
ti
Þ
in
g
h
o
lt
ss
tr
æ
ti
S
kó
lavö
rð
ust.
Amtmannsstígur
In
g
ó
lf
ss
tr
æ
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 10 — 2016
18
POOL OF THE ISSUE
QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
Address
Austurberg 3
Opening hours
Monday-Thursday: 6:30-22:00
Friday: 6:30-20:00
Saturday-Sunday: 9:00-18:00
Crowds of tourists
Not at all.
Average Icelanders?
Yes!
What's special
Breiðholtslaug has the best sauna
out of any pool in Reykjavík.
“Based on our experience,
we don’t see how this will
change anything regarding
how Icelanders are inclined.
Our experience is that
when you make rules,
no one follows them.”
City bus drivers’ representative Jónas Jakobsson, on why
establishing rules for letting pets on the bus won’t make any difference.