Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.12.2016, Qupperneq 36

The R
eykjavík G
rapevine
B
est of R
eykjavík 20
16
36
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IN
AKUREY
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Reykjavík is full of fami-
ly-friendly activities if you
know where to look. So you
can avoid asking random par-
ents pushing their vintage
strollers for advice, here’s a list
to guide you through the day.
Swimming pools
You can start your day by go-
ing to one of our wonderful
pools. It’s not only a great way
to have fun with your kids, it
also cleans them really well.
Most pools open at 6:30 in the
morning on weekdays, so it’s a
perfect post-breakfast activity
for early-birds. Insider’s note:
Icelandic parents sometimes
take their kids to the pool right
after dinner and dress them in
their pajamas after swimming.
Then they drive home and
put the kids straight to bed.
Where to take kids for lunch
Any Icelander will tell you that
you are never as hungry as
you will be after a trip to the
swimming pool. This is why
almost every pool in Reyk-
javík has a hot dog stand near-
by. But parents usually opt for
a more healthy meal for the
kids—often while enjoying some
coffee for themselves. Where
you go depends on your kid’s age.
Babies and Toddlers:
Bergsson Mathús
The calm atmosphere at
Bergsson Mathús is extreme-
ly child-friendly and their
weekend brunch is one of the
best in town. It’s not uncom-
mon to see toddlers playing
on the floor at the restau-
rant and the sheer volume of
prams parked outside should
be recommendation enough.
Preschoolers:
Laundromat Café
In the basement at the Laundro-
mat is a large room filled with
toys, books, and pillows. It’s
great fun for the kids to hang
out and play down there, while
parents have a real conversa-
tion upstairs. The Laundromat
is reasonably priced and is also
well stocked with board games
for older children and adults.
Schoolkids:
Café Babalú
Café Babalú is a charming estab-
lishment on Skólavörðustígur,
filled with gorgeous artifacts
that look like they were found
in a grandparent’s attic. In ad-
dition to serving many great
small dishes, they have—speak-
ing from experience—the best
Nutella cheesecake in town.
Tjörnin
After a nice lunch, and perhaps
a stroll around downtown, it’s
perfect to walk down toTjörnin
(which means the Pond) and
enjoy the birdlife. Remember
that even though some people
still feed the birds, the city of
Reykjavík has asked that peo-
ple don’t, because bread is not
good for the birds and it attracts
massive numbers of seagulls.
Hljómskálagarður
If you cross the bridge that cuts
Tjörnin in half, you enter one
of Reykjavík’s most fun parks,
Hljómskálagarðurinn. Tucked
away in the southeast corner
of the park there are all kinds
of different outdoor toys for
kids—everything from swing
sets for toddlers to huge rope
structures for bigger kids (and
adults!) to climb on. The park
also boasts a huge barbecue and
a great seating area.
Reykjavík Zoo &
Botanical Gardens
The Reykjavík Zoo isn’t your
regular zoo with lions and ti-
gers, but a domestic animal zoo
with sheep, chicks, and ducks.
There is a small aquarium,
and connected to the Zoo is a
small park with rides. While
the rides are not pricey, many
of them bear signs of corpo-
rate sponsorship, which might
bother some people. The coffee
isn’t all that great either, and
many opt to skip the Zoo alto-
gether and go to the Botanical
Gardens,where they do have
great coffee, at Café Flora, and a
wonderful outdoor picnic area.
Reykjavík City Library
If the weather isn’t in your fa-
vour, a great way to spend an
afternoon is to hang out in the
children’s department at the
Reykjavík City Library. Take the
elevator to the second floor and
immerse yourself in books and
educational toys. or the tod-
dlers, there is a huge playpen
with all kinds of toys, so chil-
dren of all ages can find some-
thing to enjoy.
The Parent's
Guide
A DAY IN REYKJAVÍK -
Words by JÓHANNA
PÉTURSDÓTTIR
Main photo by ART BICNICK