Reykjavík Grapevine - nóv. 2019, Blaðsíða 25

Reykjavík Grapevine - nóv. 2019, Blaðsíða 25
25 Th e R ey kj av ík G ra pe vi ne Be st o f R ey kj av ík 20 19 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 Skúli Craft Bar Fógetagarður This cosy drinking hole has a great selection of local and guest craft brews, with the option of a flight of beers for the indecisive or curious. Set on a ground floor with giant windows around most of the bar, one may prefer the open feeling or feel a bit exposed, but it’s a lovely place. “The staff are real beer nerds,” said the panel. “There are board games, good snacks and food vans out back. It has that dude energy, but it’s perfect for a quiet drink.” Runners Up Brewdog Frakkastígur 8 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 accommo- dating. They have both Brewdog and Icelandic beers, and Wings Wednesday.” Session Bar First Floor, Bankastræti 14 Session Bar is a minimalist craft-beer- focused drinking den housed in a former hair salon in the heart of down- town. There are sixteen beers on tap, both Icelandic and international, and they have a focus on keeping the prices affordable, in contrast to Reykjavík’s generally pricey craft bars. Previous Winners 2018: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP) 2017: Microbar 2016: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP) 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.” Newcomer Vínstúkan Tíu sopar Laugavegur 27 Aiming to fill the market for wine bars in Reykjavík, Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar features natural wines from small producers at affordable prices. While “Vínstúkan” is an old Icelandic term for wine bar, “Tíu Sopar” is a play-on-words for ten sips, riffing on the bar’s location in the spot that was once the Tíu Dropar café. Previous Winners 2018: Port 9 2017: Microbar 2016: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP) 2015: Skúli Craft Bar Best Place For Cocktails Apótek Austurstræti 16 Apótek is a beautifully decorated restaurant in the heart of downtown. It’s actually styled as a pharmacy, hence the name Apótek. They refer to their bartenders as pharmacists and offer a great selection of cocktails, or as they call them 'painkillers', 'stimulants' and 'tranquillizers'. The restaurant is famous for its exquisite menu, wide selection of wine and beautifully crafted desserts. However, their cocktails are also otherworldly. Try the Stranger Tides, a blended malt with amaro and lime served with a bouquet of mint, for a singular experience. Runners Up 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.” Miami Hverfisgata 33 Miami’s cocktail menu takes your fa- vourite classics and mixes them up into complex 21st century drinks. With a focus on sustainability and a strict adherence to the bar’s gorgeous 1980s Miami Vice aesthetic, their selection is a standout in the thriving Reykjavík cocktail scene. They've also, and we're not joking, got cuba libres on draft. Previous Winners 2018: Hverfisgata 12 (RIP) 2015-6: Apótek 2014: Slippbarinn 2013: Borg, Hotel Borg

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