Reykjavík Grapevine - 10.05.2019, Qupperneq 22

BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
Best Fashion
Boutique
Winner: Yeoman
Skólavörðustígur 22
Having dressed everyone from
up-and-coming artist JFDR to
grand dame Björk, Hildur Yeo-
man is a star of the local fashion
scene. Her trademarks are busy
prints on fine fabrics, cut into
flowing shapes; she also dabbles
in extravagant evening wear,
such as her striking mirror-ball
effect gown. The store also spot-
lights interesting stuff Hildur
has encountered on her travels,
from jewellery to exotic tea. “You
can’t see an awards show with-
out someone wearing Yeoman,”
said the panel. “Her pieces are
uplifting.” Influenced equally
by nature and the occult, inside
her patterns you’ll find icons and
imagery in endlessly fascinating
combinations.

Runners Up:
Akkúrat
Aðalstræti 2
Alongside all the intriguing
magazines, ornaments and
homewares, Akkúrat also car-
ries a strong line of streetwear,
including their signature Döðlur
sweatshirt range. Cosy, over-
sized, and bearing a unique spin
on the Icelandic “Ð,” nobody else
back home will have one of these.
Aftur
Laugavegur 39
Aftur created that distinctive
101 Reykjavík look of flowing
black dresses and oversized
sweaters. While it has, in recent
years, kept that aesthetic up, it
has since added a focus on eco-
friendliness and sustainability.
“It would be wrong to talk about
Icelandic fashion without talk-
ing about Aftur,” one panellist
said.
22The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 07— 2019Best of Reykjavík
I’M WALKIN’
HERE
Where to wander on a summer
day in Reykjavík
Words: John Rogers Photos: Art Bicnick
Summer is a theoretical and oc-
casionally occurring phenomenon
here in Iceland. Even if you see blue
skies through the window in the
morning, you’d be wise to pack a
hat for later. And maybe something
waterproof. But before that rain
shower, here are some places you
could head to while the sun shines.
Laugardalur
This leafy leisure area is a family
favourite. It contains the Laugar-
dalslaug pool, a large park, the
botanical gardens, a petting zoo, and
various play areas. The Ásmundarsafn
sculpture museum is a beautiful
building with contemporary displays
and a sculpture garden; end up at
Kaffi Lækur for lunch or coffee. In the
summer, you can take a ferry to Viðey
island, in the midst of the Faxaflói bay.
Öskjuhlíð
Overlooking 101 Reykjavík is Öskjuhlíð,
the forested hill crowned by the
Perlan visitor’s centre. The hill itself has
a network of trails—from gravel roads
to barely-visible tracks—that wind
past ruined WWII bunkers and
pillboxes. The area is frequented by
Reykjavík’s LARPers, so you might also
encounter some wizards crouched in
weird Blair Witch-style dens. At the
foot of the hill, there’s a rabbit-infest-
ed graveyard, and you can finish your
stroll with a dip and some lunch at the
Nauthólsvík beach and café.
Vesturbær
The Vesturbær neighbourhood lies
over the hill from 101, past the
University of Iceland campus. Visit the
relaxed Vesturbæjarlaug swimming
pool, then head to Kaffihús Vesturbæ-
jar for a sit-down lunch (or drop by the
Melabuðin grocery store and deli for
some picnic supplies and head down
to the sun-kissed park area at
Ægisíða). Pop into the Nordic House on
the way home for an exhibition, or
dinner at Aalto Bistro.
Downtown
If you’re feeling truly lazy—well, who
can blame you. It’s summer. Live your
life! The Tjörnin pond is surrounded by
parks, or if you’re feeling social, buy
some tinnies, and bask in the sun at
Austurvöllur. Café Paris has a drinking
terrace if you’re phobic of grass, or go
to Sundhöllin for a refreshing outdoor
soak; the Einar Jónsson Museum’s
walled garden is also a quiet haven.
Watch the sunset from Sky Bar.
Grandi
This ex-industrial neighbourhood
might still be mostly concrete and
metal, but it can make for a chilled
summer day out. Get brunch at
Coocoo’s Nest, then meander over to
the Marshall House for some
contemporary art; climb the Þúfa
hill-sculpture for a view over to Esja
and Harpa, then head to Grandi
Matthöll for dinner; Bryggjan Brúgghús
has a sun deck for a relaxed drink.
Grótta
At the end of the Seltjarnarnes
peninsula lies Grótta, a picturesque
seaside spot with a black sand beach
and a lighthouse that’s reachable by
causeway at low tide. There’s also a
nature reserve with some walking
paths and birdwatching information, a
tiny hotpot to dip your feet, and the
promise of a swim at Seltjar-
narneslaug to round things off. It’s
5km from downtown; take the bus, or
do a bike ride along the coastal
pathway, returning via Vesturbæjar.

Esja & Úlfarsfell
Two more ambitious hikes in the
Greater Reykjavík area include
conquering the mountains Úlfarsfell
and Esja. Úlfarsfell is just 211 metres
high, and there are steeper or more
circuitous trail options leading to the
summit; the Lágafellslaug pool is
nearby, offering a view of the
mountain you just climbed. Esja is the
last stop on the city bus system, and
has paths of varying difficult to the
914m summit.
Grótta going green in the summer
“You might
encounter
some wizards
crouched in
weird Blair
Witch-style
dens.”