Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.05.2019, Page 22
22The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 08— 2019Best of Reykjavík
Summer In The City
Our top five happy hours for
a drink in the sun
Words: John Rogers & Hannah Jane Cohen Photos: Art Bicnick
Who doesn’t like sitting in the warm
sun with a cold drink? Agorapho-
bics, you say? Well, yes, maybe. But
for everyone else, here are a few of
the cheapest summer happy hours
in town.
Loft Hostel
Bankastræti 7
Loft Hostel is known for its fabulous
balcony, which is no doubt the best
place to sip a brew or glass of Pinot
Grigio on a sunny Reykjavík afternoon.
Their happy hour, from 16:00 to 20:00,
offers beer and wine from 750 ISK. It’s
the perfect pick-me-up to set you
up for one of Loft’s concerts, yoga
classes, lectures, art and clothing
markets, or notoriously crazy pub
quizzes. Recently, they’ve been upping
their event calendar significantly,
so check out their Facebook to see
what’s going on. HJC
Café Babalú
Skólavörðustígur 22
Full of knick-knacks, mismatched
chairs, board games, and cushions
your grandmother would probably
love, Café Babalú is a charming
establishment that serves up great
coffee, awesome cakes, and a hidden
gem of a happy hour. From 19:00 to
21:00, a small beer is 690 ISK and a
large 890 ISK, with wine for 795 ISK. To
seal the deal, drink on the gorgeous
balcony, lit up by sunlight. Pro-tip:
Don’t miss their vegan carrot cake—
it’s truly delectable. HJC
Sky Bar
Ingólfsstræti 1
Located at the top of a Center Hotel,
this place is a little touristy by nature,
but don’t let that put you off—it has
the best view of any bar in Reykjavík.
With huge windows and wrap-around
balconies, it always gets the sun; the
view stretches from Esja to Harpa to
the Old Harbour and all the way out to
Snæfellsjökull, which you can
sometimes see silhouetted against
the glowing pink sunset. Their happy
hour is from 16.00-18:00 daily. Check
skyrestaurant.is for details. JR
Petersen Svítan
Ingólfsstræti 2
For those who want to get a little
fancy, the grand rooftop bar of
Petersen Svítan—perched on top of
the Gamla Bíó theatre—can stand
alongside the best of New York or
London. With a fantastic view and
plenty of cushy couches, go there for
your next girl’s night or Tinder date.
Happy hour runs from 16:00 to 20:00;
beer 700 ISK, wine 900 ISK, and you can
get the cocktail of the day for 1,500
ISK. On Thursdays, there’s live music
and special deals on bubbly from
17:00 until closing. Carrie Bradshaw
would approve. HJC
Kaffibrennslan
Laugavegur 21
A sunny spot on the main Laugavegur
strip, the old wooden house of
Kaffibrennslan is bright and pleas-
ant—and made even better by their
kick-ass happy hour. From 16:00-20:00
daily, you can get a pint of Gull for 550
ISK, or upgrade to Bríó—probably the
best “basic beer” in town—for a kingly
650 ISK. Wine is 750 ISK, and they also
serve snacks and waffles. If it’s sunny,
sit in the yard; if not, watch all the
suckers struggling through the
weather from a first-floor window
seat. JR
Grab the sun while you can
Opening hours:
Thursdays ................15:00 - 18:00
Fridays .....................15:00 - 18:00
Want to visit our factory?
Send us an email varma@varma.is
and we will find time for it!
Varma Factory Store
Ármúla 31, Reykjavík