Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2018, Side 9

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Best Bakery
Brauð & Co, Sandholt
Joint winners
Sandholt
Laugavegur 36
This local institution continues to draw
lines of curious tourists and the spa-
cious bakery/eatery has plenty of room
for them. The sourdough is deservedly
well-known, and if a whole loaf is too
much, they oblige by slicing just what
you need. If you’re staying or straying
close by, grab one of their delicious
loaves or a bag of pastries for snacks.
Brauð & Co.
Frakkastígur 16
Brauð & Co. have won the hearts of the
carb-butter loving nation in their pur-
suit of the best baked goods. Regulars
swear by their “snúður”—cinnamon
rolls that are taken a step further
here and stuffed with blueberries
and liquorice, granola crumble or
poppy seed and vanilla—eliciting
inappropriate satisfied moans from our
panel. The latest lemon cruffins have
us hyperventilating, but the cinnamon
sugar croissant roll will always have
our heart. Don’t forget to try the dense
seeded Danish rye bread, which they
conveniently have mini loaf versions of,
no bigger than your palm, studded with
chocolate chips—perfect for snacking
or taking on board your next flight.
Runner Up

Passion
Álfheimum 6
Slightly out of the city centre is the
Passion bakery, a little tucked away
suburban joint that offers excellent
sourdough bread, pastries, and
all kinds of sweet treats. Loyalists
describe it as a hidden diamond: it’s
certainly worth checking out should
you be in the area.
Previous Winners
2013-7: Sandholt
Best Coffee
Kaffifélagið
Skólavörðustígur 10
Probably the smallest coffee bar in
Iceland, Kaffifélagið continues to churn
out cupful after strong cupful of Italian
coffee, brewed to perfection. As one
regular on our panel quipped: “There’s
no bullshit and no frills—just excellent
coffee.” Take-away may be the most
popular, but we recommend sitting
down in the window area, and taking in
the charms of the espresso machine
lined walls, and watching folk walk
by—mostly oblivious to this tiny gem’s
existence.
Runners Up
Reykjavík Roasters
Brautarholt 2 & Kárastígur 1
This is the place for those who obsess
over their Aeropress and V60s. Roasters
has your geeky caffeine addiction
covered—gadgets included. They have
a variety of milk types, conjuring up
images of hand-milked individual soy
beans—but in all seriousness, they are
all great.
Café Haiti
Geirsgata 7B
Elda Thorisson-Faurelien at Café
Haiti uses Haitian coffee beans, freshly
roasted and ground every day. Besides
classic Italian coffee, the café also
offers Arabic and Turkish varieties.
The beautiful location by the harbour
makes for a pleasant walk, and the café
is a welcome respite from the 'rassgat'
winds of Reykjavik.
Previous Winners
None: new category!
Best Coffeehouse
Kaffihús
Vesturbæjar
Melhagi 20-22
Kaffi Vest has the staunchest loyalists.
An all-purpose neighbourhood
café-coffeehouse-bar-restaurant
establishment, they serve good coffee,
excellent Sarah Bernhardt cookies,
and huge slices of chocolate or carrot
cake. Located close to Vesturbæjarlaug
pool, the café itself is cosy, with a vibe
that lends itself equally to a post-swim
lunch, working on your thesis, flirting
on a first date, or haggling fees with
a client. The lack of sound dampeners
makes it pretty noisy in the evening, but
if you can get over that, you’re golden.
Runners Up
Reykjavík Roasters
Brautarholt 2 & Kárastígur 1
With some of the best coffee in Iceland,
Roasters offers the full Scandi coffee
house experience, but they're best
known for their specialty coffee and
their in-house roasted beans. The
crowded Kárastígur branch is best for
takeouts and dropping in; Brautarholt
for working away from your desk.

Bismút
Hverfisgata 82
Newcomer: The coolest kid on the
block, Bismút has a shiny bar, windows
overlooking Hverfisgata, and exhi-
bitions by local artists. In a different
league from chain cafés, Bismút is
perfect for those of us who don't care
for medium-roast coffees, and their
precisely brewed coffees come in
signature yellow cups.
Previous Winners
2017: Reykjavík Roasters
2016: Stofan
2015: Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
2014: Reykjavík Roasters
2013: Kaffismiðjan