Reykjavík Grapevine - May 2019, Page 38

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2019
38
THE LOCAL BEER
Best Grocery Store
Krónan Grandi
Fiskislóð 15-21
For the third year in a row, Krónan has
proven that it is the best grocery store
in town. “If you’re looking for fruits,
vegetables, or fish, Krónan at Grandi
is unequivocally the best,” the panel
determined. They also praised its se-
lection of vegan and international prod-
ucts, which, all emphasised, you just
can’t find anywhere else. “Other places
might have vegan and vegetarian
products, but nowhere is it as cheap as
at Krónan,” one panel member—a veg-
etarian—emphasised. For downtown
rats without cars, Krónan might seem
like a bit of a trek, but the panel urged
that the prices and selection are so
far beyond that of downtown grocery
spots, it is absolutely worth it.
Runners Up
Melabúðin
Hagamel 39, 107
Foodies need look no further than
Vesturbær’s Melabúðin, where the
shelves are packed with artisanal deli
meats, fresh figs, rare cheeses and
all sorts of unexpected, hard-to-find
treats (bloody mary fans: get your
celery salt here). “When I have an event,
I go to Melabúðin,” one panellist said.
“Everything there feels special.”
Frú Lauga
Laugalækur 6, 105
Just outside of the 101 bubble in
nearby Laugardalur, Frú Lauga is the
only exclusively local and organic shop
in Reykjavík. With a greenhouse on the
premises, it’s also the only place you
can buy fruits and herbs that might
have been picked earlier that day from
a plant right beside you.
Previous Winners
2017-2018: Krónan
2016: Bónus
Hidden Gem
Nexus
Nóatún 17
Size-wise, Nexus is more flagship
than hidden gem, but it’s still off the
beaten path for downtown rats and
those visiting Iceland. A local hub for
the culture surrounding comics, sci-fi,
role-playing games, table-top games,
and everything related, the panel cred-
its Nexus with encouraging geekdom to
flourish in Iceland. “Nexus has built an
empire and created a culture,” said the
panel. “And it all started with a small,
nerdy specialist shop.” Nowadays, they
have Warhammer, Manga, D&D, movie
screenings, and much more. “To be hon-
est,” one panellist said. “I’ve read many
Grapevine Best of Reykjavík awards, and
always wondered: where is Nexus?”
Runners Up
S/K/E/K/K
Hofsvallagata 16
S/K/E/K/K’s offbeat selection features
a mixture of unusual, eclectic home
decor and collectible high end design
products. Tucked away in an unas-
suming spot in downtown Reykjavík,
you could walk past and never know it
was there. “Everything they have is so
well-chosen,” said the panel.
Geisladiskabúð Valda
Laugavegur 64
Valda is by far the most obscure shop
in the city. “They’ve been around
forever and have never changed,” one
panel member said. From old gameboy
games to bootleg metal cassettes to
DVD seasons of shows long cancelled,
this packed-to-the-brim gem is full of
curiosities.
Previous Winners
2018: Hyalin Reykjavík
Urta Islandica
Herbal tea
Iceland might look pretty bleak and barren
from the window of the Flybus, but when
you take a walk you’ll quickly notice all
kinds of flowers and berries nes-
tled amongst the lava rubble and
moss. Urta Islandica is a Haf-
narfjörður-based company
that decided to m
ake
Iceland’s humble, wild
ingredients into all
sorts of products,
be it teas m
ade
from
birch or an-
gelica, or jams made
from plants most con-
sider weeds. Medicinal
benefits m
ight be spuri-
ous, but the clean, natural
tastes are undisputed. JR
RE101 Eau de Perfume
Love the sweet smell of Ice-
land? Well now you can
take it home. Fish skin
accessory com
pa-
ny RE101 have
released a per-
fume that cap-
tures Iceland in
a bottle. You’ll be
pleased to hear that
it doesn’t sm
ell like
fish. ‘ICELAND – the Eau
de Perfume’ is made from
signature botanicals found
in nature, like arctic thyme and
moss, blended together with na-
tive berries. If you forget to pick up a
bottle in the city, you can get it duty free
at the airport. AC
TARAM
AR Purifying
Treatment
Dr. Guðrún Marteinsdóttir, a professor at
the University of Iceland, started Taramar
to create high quality skincare products
with natural Icelandic ingredients. Spent
a little too m
uch tim
e indulging last
weekend? This purifying treatment
is the best way to detox. Made with
Icelandic kelp, seaweed and Vi-
tam
in E, the oily blend will
firm your skin and replen-
ish it back to its bright
and radiant self.
Trust us: this stuff
is incredible. HJC
Buy
Shit: