Reykjavík Grapevine


Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Blaðsíða 34

Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.08.2018, Blaðsíða 34
The Reykjavík Grapevine Best of Iceland 2018 34 BEST OF ICELAND 2018 Westfjords Breathe in, breathe out Best Accommodation Hotel Djúpavík Djúpavík This was an easy one for the panel. Hotel Djúpavík may be as isolated as possible in the smallest town in Iceland, but its charm is inversely proportional to its population, with the famous herring factory and the remains of a wrecked ship. The hotel has a wrap- around balcony, haunting landscape views and, as one panellist pointed out, its very own waterfall coming down nearby. The interiors, food, and staff are all equally inviting. Utterly silent save for the birds and the rippling water, it’s the ultimate retreat—like a place frozen perfectly in time. Map square: F7 Runner Up Heydalur, Mjóifjörður In a beautiful valley near Ísafjörður, Heydalur is much more than just ac- commodation. A guesthouse, campsite, restaurant, swimming pool, greenhouse, farm, and recreation centre all run by a lovable matriarch with seemingly infinite energy. In addition to being a base for hiking, kayaking, hot-potting and other outdoor activities, they also offer horses for riding, their own dogs for petting, and even a fox who hangs around with guests on occasion. C6 Easy Option Campsites For thrifty readers, we’re gonna shout out to the many beautiful campsites around the Westfjords. You have to pay, but they’ll be cheaper and probably much nicer than many campsites abroad. Most have showers, and some have a kitchenette so you can cook all the pasta you can eat in order to save up to gorge yourself at Tjöruhúsið. We rec- ommend Reykjanes for its beautiful pool, Þingeyraroddi for its cute little gazebo, and Melanes for its private waterfall. Best Meal Tjöruhúsið Neðstikaupstaður, Ísafjörður Housed in an 18th-century fishing house, it features communal tables, low wooden ceilings, and best damn fish in the country. Every few minutes, a new, different, giant searing pan of fish appears at the buffet for everyone to try. The fish is fresh, and they have clas- sic or internationally-inspired dishes like creamy haddock with grapes and peanut satay. It’s pricey, but think of it as three meals. You’ll eat that much anyway. C6 Runners Up Vegamót Tjarnarbraut 2, Bíldudalur Bíldudalur doesn’t have any single shop or restaurant, just a building that combines every essential service into one place. Vegamót is one such place, only with a proper chef. As well as a convenience store, there are rustic tables with a fjord view; they serve fish and burgers (one with a pineapple topping—one panellist warned not to let the president know about this.) B8 Kaupfélagið Steingrímsfjarðar Höfðatún 4, Hólmavík Every seasoned Westfjords traveller knows this place. It’s a long way between Hólmavík and Súðavík and there is one single gas stop along the way, so anybody with a practical bone in their body has probably stopped here. Kaupfélagið is Icelandic for “the everything store,” and this place is exactly that: gas station, grocery store, and diner. Some panellists prefer the classic burgers, while others like the shockingly good sandwiches.. F8 Must-See Spot Dynjandi Just off Route 60 Although the Westfjords are literally dripping with waterfalls, Dynjandi is the undisputed champion. As it cascades down over multiple levels, it fans out to create a giant pyramid (or wedding cake) of water. It can be seen from far off, but its immensity can only be understood when you stand right at the foot of it and look up. Check the road on road.is ahead of time—it goes over a mountain, and can be hairy all year round. C8 Runners Up Látrabjarg, Route 612 The westernmost point of Iceland (and possibly Europe), Látrabjarg is also the puffinmost point of Iceland (and possibly Europe). The scenic cliffs are more packed than the liquor store at 17:59. But the puffins couldn’t care less about the crowds (or the paparazzi, as one panellist pointed out). They just nonchalantly puffin’ around their little avian metropolis for all to see. A9 Djúpavík Factory This towering, crumbling herring factory was the largest concrete building in Iceland when it was built in 1935. It was abandoned by 1954 when the herring vanished; it has since been partially refurbished, and is now used as a museum and art gallery during summer. Many of Iceland’s best artists, both visual and musical, have graced its halls, including Sigur Rós on their Heima tour. You can hike the mountains for an aerial view. F7
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Reykjavík Grapevine

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