Reykjavík Grapevine - May 2019, Page 25

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Best Sports Bar
American Bar
& English Pub
Joint Winners
American Bar, Austurstræti 8-10
With screens as far as the eye can see,
a long bar that goes on for days, all
the burgers and snacks of your junk
food dreams, a dedicated big-screen
viewing room in the back, and a “sun”
terrace to smoke on at half time, Amer-
ican Bar is the perfect place to watch
the big game. Whether it’s boxing, NFL
or Premier League, they always have a
wide range of screenings. Grab yourself
a brewski and prepare to shout at
the screen in some kind of vicarious
catharsis of random victory or loss.
English Pub, Austurstræti 18
Iceland’s main spectator sport of choice
is the English Premier League, and
there’s nowhere better to settle down
for a day of matches than the English
Pub. With a dark wooden Anglo-kitsch
interior, a long bar with plenty of staff,
and loads of comfortable seating, it’s
hard to glance anywhere without your
eye alighting on a screen. Football-lov-
ing tourists gather here to shout at the
screen and berate Gylfi Sigurðsson’s lat-
est penalty miss, so it’s the closest you’ll
get a true football pub atmosphere, too.
Runner Up
Lebowski Bar
Laugavegur 20a
Another big huge place with lots of
screens showing lots of games, this
fully carpeted bar honouring The Dude
is another nice laid-back place to just
zone out with some good sports. Unpre-
tentious and even graced with its own
mascot, Púki the cat, who drinks virgin
White Russians in the window.
Previous Winners
2018: American Bar
2017: Lebowski Bar
2016: American Bar
2013-5: Bjarni Fel
Best Craft Bar
Mikkeller & Friends
Hverfisgata 12
The craft beer explosion finally reached
Iceland in recent years, and Mikkeller
& Friends has done a stellar job of
bringing the cream of crop to thirsty
locals. From lip-curling sour ales to
black-as-midnight stouts, solid house
lagers and oddball passion fruit
quintuple IPAs, Mikkeller is a haven for
drinkers with a sense of adventure.
“The selection is always changing,” said
the panel. “You can sample what you
want—the bartenders don’t judge you
and give interesting tips. It’s a good
place to learn about beer, and you can
go there with friends, on a date, or for
a solo drink.”
Runners Up
Skúli Craft Bar
Fógetagarður
This cosy drinking hole has a great se-
lection of local and guest craft brews,
with the option of a flight of beers for
the indecisive or curious. “The staff are
real beer nerds,” said the panel. “There
are board games, good snacks and
food vans out back. It has that dude en-
ergy, but it’s perfect for a quiet drink.”
Brewdog
Frakkastígur 8
NEWCOMER The Brewdog empire's
Iceland outpost is an instant hit. “Sure,
it’s a chain, but they have a really good
beer selection,” said the panel. “The
menu is great, and the staff are friendly
and accommodating. They have both
Brewdog and Icelandic beers, and
Wings Wednesday.”
Previous Winners
2018: Mikkeller & Friends
2017: Microbar
2016: Mikkeller & Friends
Best Wine Bar
Port 9
Veghúsastígur 9
Cosy and tucked away with a secretive
vibe, Port 9 is a hidden gem with an
extensive wine list. From the house
selections, to the by-the-bottle list, to
the endless handwritten book of rare
and fine wines, there can be only one
winner here. “You can barely find it,”
said the panel. “It’s intimate, and the
customers have gone out of their way
to end up there.” It’s not too stuffy or
formal though: “I’ve been there in my
pyjamas and nobody said anything,”
said one panellist. “It’s also the only
place in Reykjavík for that special
Tinder date.”
Runners Up
Klaustur
Kirkjutorg
Since the “KlausturFökk” scandal, when
drunk MPs were recorded having a
horribly sexist conversation, this cosy
establishment has seen an unexpected
bounce in popularity. “For wine and
secrets go to Klaustur,” laughed the
panel. “Drink your Pinot Noir in silence
at Iceland’s current most infamous bar.”
Kröst
Hlemmur Mathöll
Located in the pleasant bustle of
Iceland’s first foodhall, Kröst has a
carefully curated and ever-evolving
selection of wines, selected by expert
bartenders and available by the glass.
Whether you’re on a date, with friends,
or perched at the bar waiting for a bus,
Kröst is a keeper.
Previous Winners
2018: Port 9
2017: Microbar
2016: Mikkeller & Friends
2015: Skúli Craft Bar
Best Place For Cocktails
Systir
Hverfisgata 12
Despite a recent change of name from
Hverfisgata 12 to Systir, the bar staff at
this homely and hip drinking den has
remained stable, and at the absolute
top of their game. From classics with a
twist to genuinely brilliant new concoc-
tions, this bar is our cocktail heaven.
“I don’t think I’ve tasted a better
cocktail,” said the panel. “They’re always
experimenting, and often change the
menu. You don’t go there for traditional
cocktails: it’s signature and detailed,
with special novelty cocktails. Take a
chance and try something you haven’t
had before.”
Runners Up
Artson
Laugavegur 59
Taking craft cocktails to a new level is
the Nostra restaurant bar, Artson, which
goes to great lengths to prepare every
ingredient. “It’s crazy intricate,” said
the panel. “They have so many herbs,
preparations and potions: it’s alchemy.
They’re a real star in this category. Just
make sure to bring your sugar daddy.”
VEÐUR
Klapparstígur 33
If you don’t want bitters made out of
Californian dandelions or rose-petal
sprayed ice in your espresso martini,
this much-loved relative newcomer does
the classics just how you like them. “The
barmen here are great,” said the panel.
“It’s the classics done to perfection.”
Previous Winners
2018: Hverfisgata 12
2015-6: Apotek
2014: Slippbarinn
2013: Borg, Hotel Borg