Reykjavík Grapevine - 26.04.2019, Side 23

Anna Margrét Björnsson
Anna Margrét is a journalist and
publicist about town and author of
an award winning children’s book.

First thing
On my perfect day in Reykjavík I
wake up in the arms of my love and
we are soon joined for a cuddlefest
by my seven-year-old daughter and
our Abyssinian kitten, Amon Dúll,
whilst the sun shines through our
bedroom window. I love to sip a cup
of Earl Grey in bed to get my head
together for the day ahead. This
morning’s soundtrack would be En-
nio Morricone’s Italian film scores to
brighten my mood.

Mid morning
Given that it’s a day off work, I would
head to the swimming pool with
the family, my favourite pools being
either Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug.
The former is good if you just want
to soak in a hot tub and the latter is
great for doing laps—plus it has a
great slide for children.

Lunch
A pool trip makes you hungry, so I’d
head to one of my favourite hang-
outs, Hlemmur Mathöll, for lunch,
either for something amazing at the
Michelin-mentioned Skál or for a
delicious hot-sauce doused taco at
Fuego Taqueria.
Afternoon
A trip to my great-great uncle’s
monument of a museum, the Einar
Jónsson Museum, is next on the
agenda. This place is a firm favou-
rite, the sculptures are so inspiring
and the building is surrounded in a
veil of mystery. The sculpture gar-
den there is a lovely spot to relax in
peace and quiet. A visit to Kattakaf-
fihúsið, the cat café on Bergstaðas-
træti, would be a must. It’s a won-
derful pink haven, where you can
relax with a cup of coffee and there
are five resident cats curled up on
bookshelves or customers’ laps. The
café serves wonderful cupcakes,
vegan sandwiches and pastel hued
macarons.
In the evening
In the early evening, my boyfriend
Jón and I would meet our friends for
happy hour at Hlemmur Square ho-
tel. It’s my home away from home in
Reykjavik and it’s very dear to me.
It’s a combination of a hotel and a
hostel and they have a super cosy
lounge and library where you can
chill out with friends or have dinner.
I would order a First Lady on tap or
really anything by Lady Brewery, the
best beer in Iceland.
In the evening
I’d cross the road from Hlemmur
Square for a cheap and delicious
curry at Mai Thai Bistro and then
head out for a cocktail at Systir at
Hverfisgata 12, a super hip and at-
mospheric restaurant and bar with
a David Lynch-ian feel to it.
Afternoon
In the late hours I would go to catch
a good band playing somewhere,
preferably containing one or
more of my many talented friends,
downtown or in a warehouse at
Grandi harbour. It’s a real pleasure
that beneath the somewhat vapid,
bubblegum surface of Iceland’s
mainstream music there’s a lot
going on in the underground scene,
plenty of electronica and dark-wave.
Even rock and roll is still alive.
Perfect Day
A face of the downtown scene tells us how to spend a perfect day in Reykjavík
Vital Info
Reykjavík Map Best Of ReykjavíkPlaces We Like
April 26th—May 9th
In Your
Pocket
Venues
The numbers on the right (i.e. E4) tell you
position on the map on the next page
Austur
Austurstræti 7 D3
American Bar
Austurstræti 8 D3
Andrými
Bergþórugata 20 G6
B5
Bankastræti 5 E4
Bar Ananas
Klapparstígur 28 E5
Bíó Paradís
Hverfisgata 54 E5
Bjarni Fel
Austurstræti 20 E4
Bravó
Laugavegur 22 E5
Boston
Laugavegur 28b E5
Dillon
Laugavegur 30 E5
Dubliner
Naustin 1-3 D3
English Pub
Austurstræti 12 D3
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22 D3
Hard Rock Café
Lækjargata 2a D3
Hressó
Austurstræti 20 D3
Húrra
Naustin D3
Iðnó
Vonarstræti 3 E3
Kex Hostel
Skúlagata 28 E7
Kaffibarinn
Bergstaðastræti 1 E4
Kaffi Vínyl
Hverfisgatur 76 E6
Kiki Queer Bar
Laugavegur 22 E5
Loft
Bankastræti 7 E4
Mengi
Óðinsgata 2 F5
Nordic House
Sturlagata 5 H2
Paloma
Naustin D3
Prikið
Bankastræti 12 E4
R6013
Ingólfsstræti 20 E4
Reykjavík Roasters
Kárastígur 1 F5
Stofan Café
Vesturgata 3 D3
Ölsmiðjan
Lækjargata 10 E3
Tivoli bar
Hafnarstræti 4 D3
Tjarnarbíó
Tjarnargata 12 E3
Museums & Galleries
ART67
Laugavegur 67 F7
Open daily 9-21
ASÍ Art Gallery
Freyjugata 41 G6
Open Tue-Sun 13-17
Aurora Reykjavík
Grandagarður 2 B1
Open 09-21
Ásgrimur Jónsson
Museum
Bergstaðastr. 74 G4
July 8-Sep 1, Mon-Fri
Berg Contemporary
Klapparstígur 16 E5
Tu-F 11-17, Sat 13-17
The Culture House
Hverfisgata 15 E5
Open daily 10–17
The Einar Jónsson
Museum
Eiriksgata G5
Open Tue–Sun 10–17
Ekkisens
Bergstaðast. 25b F4
Gallerí List
Skipholt 50A H10
M-F 11-18, Sat 11-16
Hafnarborg
Strandgata 34, 220
Open Wed-Mon 12-17
Hitt Húsið
Pósthússtræti 3-5 D4
Hverfisgallerí
Hverfisgata 4 D4
Tu-Fri 13-17, Sat 14-17
i8 Gallery
Tryggvagata 16 D3
Tu-Fri 11-18, Sat
13-17
The Penis Museum
Laugavegur 116 F8
Open daily 10-18
Kirsuberjatréð
Vesturgata 4 D3
M-F 10-18, Sat-Sun
10-17
Kling & Bang
Grandagarður 20 A4
W-Sun 14-18, Th 12-21
Listastofan
Hringbraut 119
Open Wed-Sat 13-17
Living Art Museum
Granadarður 20 A4
T-Sun 12-18, Th 12-21
Mokka Kaffi
Skólavörðustíg. 3A E5
Open daily 9-18:30
Museum of Design and
Applied Art
Garðatorg 1
Open Tu-Sun 12-17
The National
Gallery of Iceland
Fríkirkjuvegur 7 F3
Open daily 10–17
The National Museum
Suðurgata 41 G2
Open daily 10–17
The Nordic House
Sturlugata 5 H2
Thu-Tu 11-17, W 11-20
Hafnarhús
Tryggvagata 17 D3
Open 10-17, Thu 10-22
Kjarvalsstaðir
Flókagata 24 H8
Open daily 10-17
Ásmundarsafn
Sigtún
Open daily 10-17
Reykjavík City Library
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Mon-Thu 10-19, Fri
11-18, Sat-Sun 13-17
Árbæjarsafn
Kistuhylur 4
Open daily 13-17
The Settlement
Exhibition
Aðalstræti 16 D3
Open daily 9-18
Reykjavík Museum
of Photography
Tryggvagata 15 D3
Mon-Thu 10-18, Fri
11-18, Sat-Sun 13-18
Saga Museum
Grandagarður 2 B2
Open daily 10-18
Sigurjón Ólafsson
Museum
Laugarnestangi 70
Open Tu-Sun 14-17
SÍM
Hafnarstræti 16 D3
Open Mon-Fri 10-16
Tveir Hrafnar
Baldursgata 12 G4
Open Fri-Sat 13-16
Wind & Weather
Window Gallery
Hverfisgata 37 E5
Venue Finder
Useful Numbers
Emergency: 112
On-call doctors: 1770
Dental emergency: 575 0505
Taxi: Hreyfill: 588 5522 - BSR: 561 0000
Post Offices
The downtown post office has moved to
Hagatorgi 1, open Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00.
Pharmacies
Lyf og heilsa, Egilsgata 3, tel: 563 1020
Lyfja, Laugavegur 16, tel: 552 4045
and Lágmúli 5, tel: 533 2300
Opening Hours - Bars & Clubs
Bars can stay open until 01:00 on
weekdays and 04:30 on weekends.
Opening Hours - Shops & Banks
Most shops: Mon–Fri 10–18, Sat 10–16,
Sun closed. Banks: Mon-Fri 09-16
Swimming Pools
Sundhöllin, the downtown pool at
Barónsstígur, is an indoor swimming
pool with hot tubs and a diving board.
More pools: gpv.is/swim
Open: Mon-Thu from 06:30–22. Fri from
06:30–20. Sat from 08–16. Sun from 10–18.
Public Toilets
Public toilets in the centre can be found
inside the green-poster covered tow-
ers located at Hlemmur, Ingólfstorg,
by Hallgrímskirkja, by Reykjavík Art
Museum, Lækjargata and by Eymunds-
son on Skólavörðustígur. Toilets can
also be found inside the Reykjavík City
Hall and the Reykjavík Library. Public
Transport
Most buses run every 20–30 min
Fare: 460 ISK adults, 220 ISK children.
Buses run from 07–24:00, and 10–04:30
on weekends. More info: www.bus.is.
t
Words:
Anna Margrét
Björnsson
Photo:
Ásta
Kristjánsdóttir
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