Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.04.2019, Blaðsíða 22

BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
Best
Craft Bar
Winner: 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 the crop to thirsty lo-
cals. From lip-curling sours 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 selec-
tion 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.”

Runner Up:
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 indeci-
sive 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 energy, but it’s
perfect for a quiet drink.”
Newcomer: Brewdog
Frakkastígur 8
The Brewdog empire's Iceland
outpost is an instant hit. “Sure,
it’s a chain, but they have a re-
ally good beer selection,” said
the panel. “The menu is great,
and the staff are friendly and ac-
commodating. They have both
Brewdog and Icelandic beers,
and Wings Wednesday.”
22The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 05— 2019Best of Reykjavík
Nu-Skool Fun
Iceland’s new generation of
technology-led museums
Words: John Rogers & Hannah Jane Cohen
Photos: Art Bicnick
There was a time when museums
were carefully arranged collec-
tions of musty taxidermy and dusty
antiquities. Recent years, however,
have seen a revolution in the range
of museum experiences on offer.
Many contemporary museums now
employ interactive displays and
new technology to simultaneously
educate and entertain. Iceland has
its fair share of places to check
out—whether you’re interested in
whales, volcanoes, glaciers, or cul-
ture, there’s something for you.
Wonders of Iceland
Perlan, Reykjavík
If stormy weather blows your glacier
trip off course, visit the Wonders of
Iceland museum. The impressive
displays include a simulated ice
tunnel, complete with frigid air
temperatures and a selfie spot so
realistic it’ll fool your Instagram
followers. In the main hall, projected
glacial vistas let you see the glaciers’
different shapes and sizes, while
stop-motion videos of glacial retreat
reveal how fragile these majestic
phenomena are. There’s also an 8k
aurora planetarium in case the
Northern Lights prove elusive. JR
Whales of Iceland
Fiskislóð 23-25, Reykjavík
Whilst IRL whale watching is fun, it’s
a seasonal activity. In the winter,
there are fewer whales around,
and sailing conditions might not
be ideal. At such times, Whales of
Iceland offers an indoor option with
a huge display of life-sized model
whales. You can meander between
these oceanic giants, getting a dif-
ferent kind of understanding of just
how vast they really are. Kids and
adults alike will have a literal whale
of a time. JR

Tales of Iceland
Snorrabraut 37, Reykjavík
The Tales of Iceland museum
endeavours to showcase Iceland
through both the eyes of locals
and foreigners through documen-
tary shorts. On the first floor, watch
videos detailing everything from
foreign children whingeing about
Icelandic weather to international
artists getting to work deep in the
countryside. Upstairs, a plethora of
news video installations teaches
you about Iceland’s cultural history,
from the roots of Icelandic’s football
fanaticism to the country’s historic
domination in bridge. Expect to
spend a few hours at this under-
rated gem. HJC

Lava Centre
Austurvegur 14, Hvolsvöllur
Iceland’s landscape is both shaped
and ravaged by its volcanic history.
The Hvolsvöllur Lava Centre peels
back the thin mantle of the earth to
reveal the systems that lie beneath.
You’ll see visually appealing displays
that show the different types of vol-
canoes that dot the horizon, impres-
sive simulated eruptions, and a stun-
ning model that shows the vast rift
that lies right beneath the surface,
leaving you with a new understand-
ing of Iceland for your onward drive.
JR
Eldheimar Volcano Museum
Heimaey, Westman Islands
Vestmannaeyjar—The Westman Is-
lands—hit the worldwide news in
1973 when a volcano erupted almost
directly under the sole town on the
archipelago. Eldheimar is a strik-
ing museum built around some of
the houses that were devastated
by the eruption, during which the
islands were completely evacu-
ated. This dramatic passage of his-
tory is brought to life via newsreel
footage, an alarming rumbling pas-
sageway, and an interactive exhibit
showing the spread of lava over the
island. JR
This is what Superman's apartment looks like
“Kids and adults
alike will have a
literal whale of a
time.”