Reykjavík Grapevine - 16.03.2018, Side 27

Bára Gísladóttir
Bára Gísladóttir is a contrabass player
and composer who recently won the
Léonie Sonning Talent Prize in Den-
mark, as well as a “Shout Out” at the
last Grapevine Music Awards. “I haven’t
lived in Iceland for some years,” she
says, “but when I come back, I’ve often
been lucky enough to stay at friends’
places in downtown Reykjavík where I
used to live.”
First thing
I can’t stand staying still, so after a
night of just LYING THERE, I head out
ASAP (I often prepare for this action to
take the minimum possible amount of
time by having my clothes and gear
strictly ready in the spirit of a stuck-up
fascist). My usual choice is Reykjavík
Roasters at Kárastígur, which I still
call Kaffismiðjan, causing general
confusion amongst my co-humans.
There, I order a black coffee and drink
refills on an empty stomach, because,
as everyone knows, that’s how coffee
functions best and your body makes
the most out of it. I answer my emails
and get working on the piece I’m
composing at that time.
In the morning
After a few hours, when the coffee fog
hits me, I walk up to Hallgrímskirkja
and maybe say hello to my friends
in the sculpture garden at the Einar
Jónsson Museum. From there I head
down my old street Þórsgata, and
make a right on the corner, driving
the rumbling stomach even crazier.
It’s time for the first meal of the day—
lunch!
For lunch
My absolutely favourite restaurant in
town is Snaps. They have a beautifully
tasty menu, and offer some good deals
during lunch time. I recommend the
catch of the day or the moules frites.
When I treat myself to Snaps (which
may possibly happen a tiny touch too
often), I often do so with some friends,
but I also enjoy eating alone while star-
ing out of the window in zombie mode.
In the afternoon
By now I’m most definitely feeling the
guilt of not working enough creeping
up on me like a slimy green monster,
so I go wherever I’m keeping my
double bass and practice for a few
hours, and then continue writing
that goddamn piece. Consequently,
I’m sweaty and smelly, and hurry to
Vesturbæjarlaug, where I swim some
laps and visit all the hot tubs (a bit
manically, some so-called “friends”
have pointed out), making sure I don’t
skip my beloved steam bath. After
the pool, it is VERY important to have
coffee immediately. The closest café
is Kaffi Vest, where I drink some cups,
preferably with a sweet dreamy “sara”,
while I get more work done.
For dinner
I love to go to one of the city’s (still hid-
den?) gems, Ban Thai. Reading through
the endless menu will give you a
headache of choice overload. I never
remember what I have, so I always end
up with a surprise—always terrifically
delicious.
In the heat of the night
OHHHHHHH, THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT! Time
for a drink maybe? I don’t really like
going out much because I find all the
places to be too loud. I’ll probably see
what’s on in Mengi instead, and it will
probably be something great.
Perfect Day
A face of the downtown scene tells us how to spend a perfect day in Reykjavík
Reykjavík Map
Vital Info
Best Of ReykjavíkPlaces We Like
Mar 16th - Apr 06th
In Your
Pocket
Venues
The numbers on the right (i.e. E4) tell you
position on the map on the next page
Austur
Austurstræti 7 D3
B5
Bankastræti 5 E4
Bar 11
Hverfisgata 18 E5
Bar Ananas
Klappastígur 28 E5
Bíó Paradís
Hverfisgata 54 E5
Bjarni Fel
Austurstræti 20 E4
Bravó
Laugavegur 22 E5
Boston
Laugavegur 28b E5
Café Rósenberg
Klapparstígur 25 E5
Den Danske Kro
Ingólfsstræti 3 E4
Dillon
Laugavegur 30 E5
Dubliner
Naustin 1-3 D3
Dúfnhólar 10
Hafnarstræti 18 D3
English Pub
Austurstræti 12 D3
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22 D3

Green Room
Lækjargata 6a E4
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 D3
Húrra
Naustin D3
Kex Hostel
Skúlagata 28 E7
Kaffibarinn
Bergstaðastræti 1 E4
Kaffi Vínyl
Hverfisgatur 76 E6
Kaldi Bar
Laugavegur 20b E5
Kiki Queer Bar
Laugavegur 22 E5
Loft
Bankastræti 7 E4
Paloma
Naustin D3
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 E4
Reykjavík Roasters
Kárastígur 1 F5
Stofan Café
Vesturgata 3 D3
Ölsmiðjan
Lækjargata 10 E3
Ölstofan
Vegamótastígur 4 E5
Tivoli bar
Hafnarstræti 4 D3
Museums & Galleries
ART67
Laugavegur 67 F7
Open 09-21
ASÍ Art Gallery
Freyjugata 41 G6
Open Tue-Sun 13-17
Aurora Reykjavík
Grandagarður 2 B1
Open 09-21
Ásgrimur Jónsson
Museum
Bergstaðastræti 74 G4
Mon-Fri through Sep 1
Berg Contemporary
Klapparstígur 16 E5
Tue-F 11-17, Sat 13-17
Better Weather
Window Gallery
Laugavegur 41 E6
The Culture House
Hverfisgata 15
Open daily 10–17 E5
The Einar Jónsson
Museum
Eiriksgata G5
Tue–Sun 14–17
Ekkisens
Bergstaðast. 25b F4
Gallerí List
Skipholt 50A H10
M-F 11-18, Sat 11-16
Hafnarborg
Strandgata 34,
Hafnarfjörður
Hannesarholt
Grundarstígur 10 F4
Hitt Húsið
Pósthússtræti 3-5 D4
Hverfisgallerí
Hverfisgata 4 D4
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16 D3
Tue–Fri 11–17,
Sat 13–17 and by
appointment.
The Penis Museum
Laugavegur 116 F8
Kirsuberjatréð
Vesturgata 4 D3
Mengi
Óðinsgata 2 F5
Mokka Kaffi
Skólavörðustígur 3A E5
The National
Gallery of Iceland
Fríkirkjuvegur 7 F3
Tue–Sun 11–17
The National Museum
Suðurgata 41
Open daily 10–17 G2
The Nordic House
Sturlugata 5 H2
Mon–Sun 11–17
Reykjavík Art Gallery
Skúlagata 30 E7
Tue-Sun 14–18
Reykjavík Art Museum
- Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17 D3
Open 10-17, Thu 10-20
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata 24 H8
Open 10-17
Ásmundarsafn
Sigtún
Open 10-17
Reykjavík City Library
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Reykjavík City
Museum -
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
Daily tours at 13
The Settlement
Exhibition
Aðalstræti 17 D3
Open daily 9–20
Reykjavík Maritime
Museum
Grandagarður 8 B2
Open daily 10-17
Reykjavík Museum
of Photography
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Mon-Thu 12–19, Fri
12-18, Sat–Sun 13–17
Saga Museum
Grandagarður 2 B2
Sigurjón Ólafsson
Museum
Laugarnestangi 70
SÍM
Hafnarstræti 16 D3
Mon-Fri 10-16
Sólon Bistro
Bankastræti 7a E4
Mon-Thu 11-23:30
Fri-Sat 11-01, Sun
11-23
Tveir Hrafnar
Baldursgata 12 G4
Thu-Fri 12-17, Sat
13-16
Wind & Weather
Gallery
Hverfisgata 37 E5
Venue Finder
Useful Numbers
Emergency: 112
On-call doctors: 1770
Dental emergency: 575 0505
Taxi: Hreyfill: 588 5522 - BSR: 561 0000
Post Offices
The downtown post office is at
Pósthússtræti 3–5, open Mon–Fri
09:00–18:00.
Pharmacies
Lyf og heilsa, Egilsgata 3, tel: 563 1020
Lyfja, Laugavegur 16, tel: 552 4045
and Lágmúli 5, tel: 533 2300
Opening Hours - Bars & Clubs
Bars can stay open until 01:00 on week-
days and 04:30 on weekends.
Opening Hours - Shops & Banks
Most shops: Mon–Fri 10–18, Sat 10–16,
Sun closed. Banks: Mon-Fri 09-16
Swimming Pools
Sundhöllin, the downtown pool at
Barónsstígur, is an indoor swimming
pool with hot tubs and a diving board.
More pools: gpv.is/swim
Open: Mon-Thu from 06:30–22. Fri from
06:30–20. Sat from 08–16. Sun from 10–18.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green-poster covered towers
located at Hlemmur, Ingólfstortorg, by
Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art Mu-
seum, Lækjargata and by Eymundsson
on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can also be
found inside the Reykjavík City Hall and
the Reykjavík Library.
Public Transport
Most buses run every 20–30 min,
Fare:440 ISK adults, 210 ISK children.
Buses run from 07–24:00, and 10–24:00
on weekends. More info at: www.bus.is.
t
gpv.is/perf
For more perfect days
Photo: Art Bicnick
Words: Bára Gísladóttir
with John Rogers
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