Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.03.2017, Qupperneq 30

Best Of Reykjavík
For your mind, your body and your wallet
SELECTION
FROM BEST OF
REYKJAVÍK
2017
Best Coffeehouse
Reykjavík
Roasters
Brautarholt 2
Roasters have made some
changes that didn’t sit too well
with regulars at their original
location, but they’ve won over
patrons old and new at this
second location. Their coffee is
the best in Iceland—no small
feat in such a coffee-crazed
country. Roasters come out
tops in creating the quintes-
sential coffeehouse experience
that goes beyond good coffee.
The speciality teas are brewed
just right, and the croissants
and the chia pudding on offer
will keep the vegans, gluten-
free types and toddlers equally
happy.
Best Cocktails
Apótek
Austurstræti 16
Apótek takes the cocktail
crown for its third consecutive
year of mixed and shaken glory.
The lounge and restaurant of
the hotel by the same name is a
large, bright room with opulent
décor—exactly the kind of set-
ting that lends itself to sitting
back with a perfect blend of li-
queurs and mixers. Their head
mixologist recently took home
a prize at the Reykjavík Bar
Summit, so they are tens across
the board. Plus their cocktail-
and-dessert happy hour deal is
a steal!
Best Shop To Pick
Up Local Design
Kraum
Laugavegur 18b
Downtown Reykjavík has seen
a boom in shops offering fancy
design products in recent years,
perhaps jointly due to a surge in
tourism, and the resultant pad-
ded billfolds in the pockets of
Icelanders. After lots of debate,
and despite moving into an un-
flattering location that’s also a
noodle place and booking of-
fice, Kraum was re-selected as
the best in show for their exclu-
sively Icelandic range of home-
wares, decorations, clothing,
jewellery and knick-knacks.
Kraum “has a clear respect
for Icelandic design,” said the
Best Of Reykjavík panel, “and
there’s a smaller branch at the
Museum of Design & Applied
Art, should you find yourself in
Garðabær.”
30The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 03 — 2017
I Scream,
You Scream
A guide to all the ice cream
parlours in downtown Reykjavík
Words: Joanna Smith Photos: Art Bicnick
MOST PEOPLE associate ice
cream with hot summer days at
the beach, or strolling through
an Italian city, rather than the
sub-arctic chill of Iceland. But,
as it happens, the world’s north-
ernmost capital is obsessed with
the frozen dessert, whatever the
weather. Naturally, I wanted to see
what all the fuss is about, so in the
name of journalism I embarked on
the arduous task of testing all the
ice cream parlours in downtown
Reykjavík. You’re welcome.
Eldur og ís, Skólavörðustígur 2

Variety: 4.5/5 Taste: 4/5
Vegan friendly? Not for ice cream,
but vegan crêpes are available
Best for: Eating in house
This ice cream parlour/café/crê-
perie is a super cute place to get
your sugar fix. Sit alongside a pi-
ano and rocking horse as you tuck
into one of their many flavours. If
you don’t fancy your ice cream in
regular cone form, have it blend-
ed into a milkshake or as a crêpe
topping, accompanied by a coffee
or hot chocolate. The best thing
about Eldur og ís is the cosy atmo-
sphere—you can chill here with a
cuppa and a cone and watch the
world go by.
Ísbúð Vesturbæjar, Hagamelur 67

Variety: 3/5 Taste: 3/5
Vegan friendly? No
Best For: Milkshakes
If you like the movie ‘Grease’, head
to Vesturbæjar. Their 1950s diner
style makes you feel like you’re sat
in a jukebox. They only have soft
serve, but the real magic happens
when you get a milkshake. Choose
a size, from tiny to a pint, and
fill your cup with syrups and ice
cream for a real sugar rush. And
then jive all the way home.
Joylato, Njálsgata 1

Variety: 2/5 Taste: 5/5
Vegan friendly? Very
Best for: Vegans who aren’t in a
rush
If you’re a vegan, head to Joylato.
They may only serve six flavours,
but each flavour can be ordered as
a coconut milk version. After order-
ing, you suddenly feel like you’re
in a chemistry lab: out comes the
liquid nitrogen and a mixing bowl.
Yes, that’s right, they make the ice
cream to order right in front of your
eyes. It takes a little longer than
scooping it from a tub, but they
claim the liquid nitrogen prevents
ice crystals from forming, making
it creamier and more flavoursome.
I have to agree. Each spoonful was
creamy perfection.
Yoyo, Egilsgata 3

Variety: 4/5 Taste: 3/5
Vegan friendly? No
Best for: Indecisive control freaks
“I actually prefer frozen yogurt to
ice cream,” said no one, ever. Al-
though fro-yo will never taste as
good as ice cream, I have to admit
that Yoyo served some of the best
frozen yogurt I’ve ever had. The
great thing about this place is that
it’s self-service, and the price is
worked out by weight rather than
by scoop, so you can fill your pot
with as many different flavours
as you want, in any order, with as
many toppings—just the way you
like it. There’s plenty of seating,
but it’s not really the sort of place
where you can chill with a cup of
coffee. And not just because they
don’t serve coffee—it’s completely
silent, and overlooks a car park.
It’s not the cosy, welcoming atmo-
sphere of Eldur og ís, that’s for sure.
Ísbúðin Valdís, Grandagarður 21

Variety: 5/5 Taste: 5/5
Vegan friendly? If you like sorbet
Best for: Classic homemade ice
cream
Valdis is perhaps Reykjavik’s most
beloved ice cream parlour. All
their ice cream is made in-house
every morning, and you can tell:
the ice cream tastes amazing and
the flavours are to die for. If you like
liquorice, try their Turkish Pepper
flavour. It looks like liquid cement,
but it’s one of their most popular
offerings. Valdis doesn’t have much
seating, so get your ice cream to go,
zip up your coat and take a stroll
along the harbour—or enjoy it in a
parked car, Icelandic-style.
The main thing I learnt on this
task is that there is no such thing
as bad ice cream. So take your
pick, you won’t be disappointed.
SHARE: gpv.is/ice3
B Æ N D A M A R K A Ð U R
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L AU G A L Æ K U R 6
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