Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.12.2016, Side 30

The R
eykjavík G
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By the time you've started reading this you've passed your eighth
Puffin store, right? You've purchased your Viking helmet, your polar
bear t-shirt and your whalebone necklace? First off, we can't make
fun of the Viking helmet—we wear them at football matches—and,
secondly, it's illegal to carry whale bones to most countries. Here we
give you a guide of where to go shopping for things you won't throw
out as soon as you get home. These are some of the best places Ice-
land has to offer. Also, we tell you where to get groceries.
Best grocery store
Bónus
Hallveigarstígur 1 and other locations
Bónus wins for a number of reasons: location, price and logo. If it
were up to some of our writers, it would also win for “best lunch”
and “cheapest meal.” You can grab enough food to fill your Airb-
nb fridge, which you’ll be living out of eventually, when you final-
ly comprehend the exchange rate on day three of your visit. Bónus
also gets a few bonus points for managing to have the least rotten
avocados and a healthy supply of celery root. What can you do with
celery root? There must be something.
Runners Up:
Krónan
Skarfagarðar 2 and other locations
Krónan might be indistinguishable
from Bónus to the untrained eye, but
after careful inspection you will realize
they have different logos. With a name
like Krónan, you would also assume it
would be like a “dollar store” in North
America. It’s not.
Víðir
Sólvallagata 79
Víðir has a green logo. This might have
meant it had more healthy food inside,
but that’s not necessarily true. It some-
times has more luxurious vegetables
like daikon or still-firm cucumber. But
sometimes it doesn’t have either.
Best shop to pick
up local design
Kraum
Bankastræti 7a
Kraum is a perennial favourite of tour-
ists and locals alike. Opened in 2007
as a collaboration between two dozen
local designers, Kraum has always
defined the cutting edge of trends in
Icelandic design. Now, the shop sells
work by over 100 local artists and
designers. You’ll find everything here
from unique souvenirs to an Icelandic
take on everyday items like stationery,
handbags, raincoats and jewellery.

Runners Up
Aurum
Bankastræti 4
Aurum has two faces: it’s a colourful
concept store on one side, and sells
gorgeous jewellery on the other. Join
the class of fashionable Reykvíkingar
after picking up some clothing and
nature-inspired jewellery by Guðbjörg
Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, and some gifts and
souvenirs for back home.
Hrím
Laugavegur 25
It’s amazing what a difference a little
piece of design can make for your
apartment. Starting from blank walls
and a tatty sofa, you can add one soft,
striped throw rug, an Anglepoise lamp,
a strange poster, a fancy little cushion,
suddenly you have “tasteful minimalism.”
You feel great about your place, and, by
extension, your life. Wow! It’s like magic!
Previous Winners:
2015: Spark Design Space
2014: Kraum
2013: Kraum
2012: Kraum
2011: Kraum
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2016
Shopping
It's all about product.
Best shop to pick
up local fashion
Kiosk
Laugavegur 65
Kiosk has a filtered selection of clothing
by the best local designers. The cash
register is manned by a rotation of the
designers themselves. They’ll not only
know where the inspiration for the
clothing originated—chances are, they
designed some of it. Kisok is the rite-of-
passage boutique for 101 fashionistas.
If you’re a person who likes to take
home something unique when you trav-
el, this is the place. You’ll get a garment,
a story and probably a Facebook friend.
Runners Up
Jör
Laugavegur 89
Jör is one of the most popular design
stores in Iceland. Their clothing can
be seen on the streets of Reykjavík or
the red carpets of Hollywood. It’s a
must-visit for fashionistas and fans of
fine clothing. You’ll get compliments on
anything you buy.
Steinunn
Grandagarður 17
STEiNUNN boutique is tucked away on
Grandi, next door to Valdís ice cream
store. It’s owner, Steinunn Sigurðardót-
tir, is a renowned designer who takes
inspiration for her line of unique and
stylish womenswear from nature. Here
you’re sure to find a one-of-a-kind piece
of distinctively Icelandic fashion.
Previous Winners:
2015: Kiosk
2014: Kiosk
2013: Kiosk
2012: Kiosk
2011: Kiosk