Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.05.2018, Qupperneq 22

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Iceland 2018
22 BEST OF ICELAND 2018
South
Over volcano and under glacier
Best Museum/Gallery
LAVA Centre
Hvolsvöllur
Deceptively light and cheery on the outside, this interactive mu-
seum is a brilliantly constructed immersive volcanic experience.
Combining rich scientific research, bold industrial design and
incredible artistry, its informative and interactive displays provide
some truly unique insights into the volcanic history of Iceland. “I
walked in and I felt like I was in a Doctor Who episode,” said one
panellist. The centre also features a film portion, a nice gift shop,
and a bright and spacious café with great cakes and light meals.
It’s a genuinely unique and unexpected attraction. Map square: H4
Runner Up
Eldheimar
Gerðisbraut 10,
Vestmannaeyjabær
Located on Heimaey, it's built around
some partially excavated houses
that were destroyed in the volcanic
eruption of 1973. With the videos of
news footage from the event itself and
loudspeakers with the rumbling sound
of the eruption, you feel like you were
there. H5
Runner Up
Listasafn Árnesinga
Austurmörk 21, Hveragerði
This small fine arts gallery has a rather
remarkable collection of permanent
pieces as well as hosting rotating
exhibits of primarily Icelandic artists.
Open almost all year and always with
free admittance, the space is immac-
ulate, lovely, and fabulously curated,
making it one of the finest art galleries
outside of the capital. F2
Best Café
Kaffi Krús
Austurvegur 7, Selfoss
A staple for the past 25 years, this is a
super cosy place that's a great stop for
a nice meal after a long day on the road.
Located in a beautifully maintained
historic house, the décor mixes antique
and modern elements seamlessly and
with clean design. The nice little menu
has a great selection of meals, while
the in-house bakers make sure to have
16 incredible varieties of cake every
day. They look as good as they taste and
the service is absolutely lovely, too. F2
Runners Up
Græna Kannan
Sólheimar Ecovillage
Set inside a spacious greenhouse, this
charming café in the ecovillage serves
organic coffee, cakes and baked goods.
Having recently undergone some
renovations, it is a great place to stop
by to meet the friendly residents and
experience the unique atmosphere. G2
Bókakaffið
Austurvegur 22, Selfoss
The perfect spot for the total book-
worm, this cosy and quiet bookstore
serves up a nice basic menu of coffees
and pastries to keep the avid reader
alert. Both a great hangout spot for
locals and place to have a little caffeine
boost along the drive, the calm, homey
atmosphere is perfect. And they keep
their piano in tune. F2
Best Bar
Ölverk
Breiðamörk 2, Hveragerði
This local brewery and pizzeria is an
unexpected craft beer mecca. With a
rotating selection of six microbrews,
head brewer Elvar is constantly chang-
ing up his concoctions. The family-style
restaurant also has a nice list of pizzas
and bar snacks that incorporate
elements of beer, like the Bavarian
style pretzel made with beer yeast and
served with warm beer and cheese dip.
It’s not exactly a bar, but it’s got damn
good beer. F2
Runners Up
The Brothers Brewery
Vestmannaeyjabær
Started by a couple of friends and their
brothers in 2012, this small brewery
has started pumping out a selection of
great small-batch beers and recently
expanded into bottling. It's a friendly,
genial experience and they offer a tour-
and-tasting for a great price. H5
Pakkhús
Höfn
Overlooking the beautiful harbour of
this small langoustine-trapping town,
this bar and restaurant is housed in a
former warehouse made out of scrap
wood giving it ample charm to enjoy a
few drinks in. Huddle indoors and enjoy
a nice hot meal in the cold weather, or
hit the patio if you catch a gloriously
sunny day. S1