Reykjavík Grapevine - aug. 2019, Side 28

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2019
28
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Best Newcomer Bar
Luna
Flórens
Grandagarður 27
This unusual drinking spot in the
Grandi neighbourhood certainly has
a lot of character. Referred to as a
"gypsy bar"—or, vastly preferably,
a "witch bar"—it's a cosy room that
feels like a wooden shack hidden
deep in the forest. It's full of crystals,
intriguing decor and—most impor-
tantly—absolutely kick-ass cocktails.
It's not yet firmly on the map in the
minds of many, so you can drink
there in peace, far from the packed
out bars downtown. It's a secret
betwen us. Don't go telling everyone
about it, y'hear?
Runners Up
Eiriksson Brasserie
Laugavegur 77
The fancy new restaurant on the block
also has a beautiful seating area at the
front of the house where you can order
an expertly made cocktail and watch
Laugavegur life go by through the giant
windows. There's a happy hour with a
range of beers and a cocktail of the
week for a good price. These guys know
what they're doing.

Beljandi Bar
Mathöll Höfða, Bíldshöfði
East Iceland's best craft brewery
comes all the way from Breiðdalsvík
to Mathöll Höfða. Although they have
brews on a few taps around town,
now you can try a wider range of their
delectable drinks. It's a little far out of
town—but dine at Hipstur while you're
there to make it worth your while.
Previous Winners
2019 (Spring): Brewdog
2018: Veður
2017: Pablo Discobar
Loft Hostel
Bankastræti 7
Loft Hostel is known for its fab-
ulous balcony, which is no doubt
the best place to sip a brew or
glass of Pinot Grigio on a sunny
Reykjavík afternoon. Their hap-
py hour, from 16:00 to 20:00, of-
fers beer and wine from 750 ISK.
It’s the perfect pick-me-up to set
you up for one of Loft’s concerts,
yoga classes, lectures, art and
clothing markets, or notorious-
ly crazy pub quizzes. Recently,
they’ve been upping their event
calendar significantly, so check
their Facebook out to see what’s
going on. HJC
Café Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22
Full of knick-knacks, mis-
matched chairs, board games,
and cushions your grandmother
would probably love, Café Babalú
is a charming establishment
that serves up great coffee, awe-
some cakes, and a hidden gem
of a happy hour. From 19:00 to
21:00, a small beer is 690 ISK and
a large 890 ISK, with wine for
795 ISK. To seal the deal, drink
on the gorgeous balcony, lit up
by sunlight. Pro-tip: Don’t miss
their vegan carrot cake—it’s tru-
ly delectable. HJC
Sky Bar
Ingólfsstræti 1
Located at the top of a Center
Hotel, this place is a little tour-
isty by nature, but don’t let that
put you off—it has the best view
of any bar in Reykjavík. With
huge windows and wrap-around
balconies, it always gets the sun;
the view stretches from Esja to
Harpa to the Old Harbour and
all the way out to Snæfellsjökull,
which you can sometimes see
silhouetted against the glowing
pink sunset. Their happy hour
is from 16.00-18:00 daily. Check
skyrestaurant.is for details. JR
Petersen Svítan
Ingólfsstræti 2
For those that want to get a lit-
tle fancy, the grand rooftop bar
of Petersen Svítan—perched on
top of the Gamla Bíó theatre—
can stand alongside the best
of New York or London. With
a fantastic view and plenty of
cushy couches, go there for your
next girl’s night or Tinder date.
Happy hour runs from 16:00 to
20:00; beer 700 ISK, wine 900
ISK, and you can get the cock-
tail of the day for 1,500 ISK. On
Thursdays, there’s live music
and special deals on bubbly from
17:00 until closing. Carrie Brad-
shaw would approve. HJC
Kaffi Brennslan
Laugavegur 21
A sunny spot on the main Lau-
gavegur strip, the old wood-
en house of Kaffi Brennslan is
bright and pleasant—and made
even better by their kick-ass
happy hour. From 16:00-20:00
daily, you can get a pint of Gull
for 550 ISK, or upgrade to Bríó—
probably the best “basic beer”
in town—for a kingly 650 ISK.
Wine is 750 ISK, and they also
serve snacks and waffles. If it’s
sunny, sit in the yard; if not,
watch all the suckers struggling
through the weather from a first
floor window seat. JR
“The view stretches from Esja to Harpa
and all the way out to Snæfellsjökull.”
HAPPY HOURS
Summer In
The City
The top five happy hours for a sunny drink
Words: John Rogers & Hannah Jane Cohen
Photos: Art Bicnick
Who doesn’t like sitting in the warm sun with a cold drink? Agora-
phobes, you say? Well, yes, maybe. But for everyone else, here are
a few of the sunniest summer happy hours in town.