Reykjavík Grapevine - nóv. 2019, Blaðsíða 28

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2019
28 Best Newcomer Bars
Brewdog
Frakkastígur 8
With a glut of new bars to choose
from, the attention to detail of
Brewdog pushes them to the top of
the pile. Turns out, being part of
chain played out positively in this
instance, with a professionally put
together bar that maintains a laud-
able consistency. “They have such
strict standards,” said the panel.
“They had protocols about who they
hired, the training, and making sure
the staff are all educated about the
beers. They delayed opening to make
everything perfect—they really took
the time and did the work.” Scottish
and Icelandic beers, great food, and
good vibes... well done, Brewdog!
Luna
Flórens
Grandagarður 25
This unusual drinking spot in the
Grandi neighbourhood certainly
has a lot of character. Referred to
as a "gypsy bar"—or, 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 be-
tween 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
Slippbarinn
Mýrargata 2
Slippbarinn has been a leading
force in injecting cocktail trends
into the Reykjavík pub scene.
Nestled by the marina and based
on the ground floor of the apt-
ly-named Hotel Marina, it’s a
strong contender for the best
place to kick off a Friday night.
The cocktail list is made up of
dozens of drinks spread out over
two menus, mostly courtesy of
Slippbarinn’s head mixologist Al-
ana Hudkins. One of her stand-
out creations is the smoky, ha-
banero-laced Summon the Dark
One (2800 ISK) but, for the faint
of heart, there’s always an abun-
dance of basil gimlets to be had.
What gives Slippbarinn a leg-
up in the pregame department is
their daily Cocktail Happy Hour
from 15:00 to 18:00 and a solid se-
lection of bar snacks for sharing.
Apótek
Austurstræti 16
For your next tipple, head up
Austurstræti in the direction of
Laugavegur. If Slippbarinn fired
the opening salvo, Apótek may
have entrenched itself as Reyk-
javík’s current favourite cocktail
spot. Apótek is a spacious, up-
scale restaurant whose cocktail
creations have picked up a bun-
dle of local awards. With regular
guest bartenders, diverse cock-
tails, and head ‘pharmacists’
Hrafnkell and Sean fixing to
shake up the menu, this is the
place to try something new. We
recommend the spicy Stranger
Tides (2890 ISK) with an amaro
and whisky base.
Miami Hverfisgata
Hverfisgata 33
Take a slight detour off the main
drag to Hverfisgata and you’ll
find yourself transported to a
land of pink cocktails and rolled-
up blazer sleeves. Decorated like
the bastard child of John Waters
and Don Johnson, Miami Hverfis-
gata isn’t the place for subtlety,
so grab a velvet ottoman and for-
get all about it, whether it be the
UnFortunate Mistake (2590 ISK)
with Mozart-kügel and coldbrew
coffee, or the period-appropriate
Punch Bowl (2590 ISK) with rum,
tequila and Carmen Miranda’s
weight in mixed fruit.
Veður
Klapparstígur 33
Straight up Klapparstígur from
Miami, on your left-hand side,
sits Veður. You will be in safe
hands with any of the resident
bartenders there, but if you
catch Tomas on a shift, he may
just make you the best cocktail of
your trip. No food or frills here,
grab a seat by the bar and ask for
a recommendation. If in doubt,
order their take on the classic
Paloma.
“Decorated like the bastard child of John
Waters and Don Johnson”
GUIDE
Reykjavík In 4
Cocktails
A pub crawl for the debonair souse
Words: Ragnar Egilsson
Photos: Art Bicnick, Timothée Labrecq & Alísa Kalyanova
The winter darkness has descended, so I venture into the night in
search of something fancy to wet my whistle and lift my spirits.
Follow in my footsteps with this shambolic cocktail pub crawl that
takes you from the rim of the Grandi area, through the ground
zero of Iceland’s nightlife, sampling some of the best Icelandic
cocktails along the way.