Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.07.2018, Side 50

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2018
50
Best Place To Take The Kids
Whales Of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25
This vast, hangar-like display is popu-
lated by life-sized plastic whales, with
information plaques and flat-screen
devices containing information about
the different species. Kids absolutely
adore the place, and there’s plenty of
room for them to run around between
the replica behemoths. “Once you’ve
seen this place, you’ve seen it,” said the
panel, from the grown-up perspective:
“But still, our kids keep demanding we
go back.”
Runners Up
Hraðastaðir
Mosfellsdalur
For real-life animals, kids can’t get
enough of the Hraðastaðir petting zoo
in Mosfellsdalur. “It’s a hidden gem,”
said the panel. “It’s a small petting zoo
where the guests can hang out with
bunnies and kittens. There are also
horses, pigs and even a fox.” It's just
600 ISK to enter, and free for kids under
two.
Laugardalslaug
Sundlaugarvegur 30
For families, Laugardalslaug is the swim-
ming pool of dreams. There are hot pots
for the adults to lounge in while their
kids run around between the various
play pools, features and slides. If they’re
still not tired out, the Laugardalur park
is nearby.
Previous winners
2014-6: Húsdýragarðurinn
2013: Fjölskyldugarðurinn
2012: Lynghagaróló Playground
Best People-Watching
Spot
Hlemmur Mathöll
Laugavegur 107
Reykjavík’s brand new food hall, located
in the old Hlemmur bus station, is the
perfect spot to grab a bite to eat and
watch the world go by. The various
food stands have a lively and bustling
seating area where people park up
for lunches, dinners, dates and drinks.
“It has a fast-moving pop-in-pop-out
nature,” said the panel. “There are
hotels close by, so there are tourists,
but Icelanders go there too, and it’s
also a bus interchange. And it’s still not
completely gentrified. You can get a
drink, and see an absolutely diverse
mixture of people passing by.”
Runners Up
Lækjartorg
This city-centre square is busy by day,
and crazy by night. “If you want to see
the real Iceland, come from 5am-6am
any Saturday to see a stumbling guy
trying to chat up girls whilst hailing a
cab back to Kópavogur and inhaling a
lobster roll. It’s a vortex of Icelandic life
any time of the day or night.”
Kolaportið
Tryggvagata 19
Iceland’s largest flea market is the
perfect place to pick up a bargain—or
just to watch the world go by. “You’ll
see old fishermen selling their catch,
Icelanders, students, celebrities, locals
and tourists all shopping there,” said
the panel. “You get a cross-section of
Iceland that you don’t find anywhere
else.”
Previous winners
2016: Grandi
2015: Austurvöllur
2014: Eymundsson Austurstræti Café
2013: Booths at Hressó
Best Hike
Esja
Mógilsá, Mosfellsbær
The mountain that overlooks Reykjavík
has a hiking path, with varying levels
of difficulty. You can stop at the base
camp, which still affords views over the
metropolis below, or you can progress
to the top. Until the peak of summer, ice
cleats and hiking poles are advised—it
can get pretty slippery up there with
late snow. You can get to the start of
the trail by public transport. “It’s the
only proper hike you can do in Reykjavík
without a car,” said the panel. “It’s the
last stop of the Reykjavík bus system.
And the view from the top is fantastic.”
Runners Up
Heiðmörk
You might have seen the cratered
red rocks of Rauðhólar on a southern
drive—but Heiðmörk is actually a huge
nature reserve with forests and lakes.
“It’s the only wild area of Reykjavík
where you feel like you could get lost.
There are barbecues, and you can
jog, picnic, hike, or go horse-riding or
fishing.”
Elliðaárdalur
This city park is in Reykjavík 110, near
the Ártún bus stop. “It’s not so much
a hike as a nice walk,” said the panel.
“There’s a little network of dirt trails
and forest paths around the river. It’s
very chill—you can see people horse
riding, meander the paths, or take a run
in the forest.”
Previous winner
2016: Móskarðshnjúkar
Best Cinema
Bíó Paradís
Hverfisgata 54
When it comes to seeing movies in
downtown Reykjavík, there’s really only
one winner. Our panel voted quickly
and unanimously for Bíó Paradís, the
quirky and lively independent cinema
on Hverfisgata. “They have red velvet
curtains, so it feels David Lynch-y,”
they said. The diverse programme of
independent movies met with praise,
also. “It isn’t just Hollywood stuff—they
screen Icelandic films with English
subtitles, indie films, and old horror
and sci-fi movies. There’s a bar you’d
actually want to hang out in, with sofas,
DJs, and art exhibitions. It’s the only
cinema in the city centre—but it’s the
clear winner.”
Runners Up
Háskólabíó
Brynjólfsgata
This walkable-from-downtown cinema
is part of the University of Iceland
complex and shows new blockbusters
alongside European indie flicks. “They
have popcorn movies, and they also
take part in film festivals and have
more cultural programming. And you
can get nachos with melted cheese. If
you’re American.”
Egilshöll
Fossaleynir 1
It’s on the outskirts of town, but Egill-
shöll boasts huge screens that make it
worth the trip. “You can get the number
six bus there—and there’s disco-bowl-
ing and a pizza place to make it worth
your while,” said the panel. “It’s the
place to see the latest blockbusters if
you wanna see something trashy.”
Previous winners
2016-7: Bíó Paradís
2015: VIP Theater
2014: Bíó Paradís
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2018
Activities
"People watching" or "creeping"?
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