Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2019, Blaðsíða 26

BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
Best Of
Queer Bars
Winner:
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22
Known as one of the most stead-
fast bars in downtown, Gau-
kurinn has gone through a few
transformations and reinven-
tions – much like Madonna or
Cher – and is currently the place
for edgy, cruelty-free queers and
allies. They host the majority of
the drag shows in town, book a
wide array of underground art-
ists of all genders, and hold a
staunch “No Xenophobia” warn-
ing on entry. It’s a place where
one can truly be anyone they are
or want to be.
Runners up:
Kiki Queer Bar
Laugavegur 22

This go-to gay dance club is the
rainbow splashed spot to slam
shots, scream for fun and go wild
to Katy Perry remixes. Weekends
here are crazy and fun parties for
the pop minded dancing queens,
and the crowd is quite diverse.
It is rather tame by most gay
club standards and you won’t
find glory holes or a den of iniq-
uity, but you might just find your
new crush and make out on the
dancefloor.
Loft Hostel
Bankastræti 7

While not exactly a dedicated
queer space of its own, this cool
downtown hostel and bar is
definitely a fun LGBTQ+ friend-
ly place with all kinds of great
events. Located right on the
main drag, it’s an ideal accom-
modation for the party-minded
traveller. One can often start
their day with a clothing swap,
a speed dating or friending ses-
sion, or watercolour workshop,
then heat up their evening with
one of the funnest karaoke par-
ties in town or screenings of Ru-
Paul’s Drag Race hosted by Ice-
land’s reigning mother queen,
Gógó Starr. Go have a ball!”
26The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 14— 2019Best of Reykjavík
The Gospel Of
Drunk Food
Alcohol doth giveth, and alcohol
doth taketh away
Words: The Grapevine Drunks
Photo: Johanna Eriksson
In the beginning was the word and
the word was alcohol. All things were
made by alcohol; and without alco-
hol was not anything made that was
made. In alcohol was life; and the life
was the light of (wo)men. But if too
much alcohol was consumeth, carb-
heavy food was needeth. And drunk
food was made, and dwelt among us,
and we beheld its glory.
Chuck Norris
Laugavegur 30
There is an age old philosophical
question: What food is better with
beer, wings or burgers? At Chuck
Norris, the answer is “brethren,
let us come together in humble
unity and speak as one resound-
ing voice: both.” Here, you can or-
der beer, wings and a burger all at
once and decide for yourself what
your personal preference is, but
for us at the Grapevine, it’s a tough
call. They definitely have some
of the best burgers in town, but
the wings are also spectacularly
juicy, and the flavour of the buf-
falo sauce is some of the best we
have had in Iceland. For now, we
are going with “all of the above”.
Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata 1
The Americans at the Grapevine
thought they had already had the
best hot dogs in the world before
coming to Iceland, but then they
had Bærjarins Beztu, and
repented for their initial sin of
pride. The joint may seem like a
mere hot dog stand, but to the
initiated, it is a mecca of late
night sustenance. All you have to
do to join the club is approach the
counter and say “Ein með öllu”, or
“one with everything.” You could
even ask in English, or just ask for
ketchup, or mustard, or onions, or
cronions, or remoulade, or
whatever you want. The impor-
tant thing is to get one of these
hot dogs.
Mandi
Veltusund 3b
Were there an official food of
drunk people, it would be the
shawarma, and in Reykjavík,
that word is synonymous with
Mandi. Located conveniently in
Ingólfstorg square, the dive is the
cheapest, quickest, and juiciest
option to soak up all those Opal
shots. The lamb and chicken sha-
warma are particular standouts,
but their vegan falafel is also
pretty delicious. For extra piz-
zazz, get a side of their addictive,
spicy-sauce-splattered fries. Yum.
Hlöllabátar
Ingólfstorg Square
If you can’t decide between chick-
en, beef, shrimp, teriyaki or veg-
gies for your drunk munch, stop
by Hlöllabátar, where they serve
up literally anything you can
imagine on a hero sub. While most
famous for their sauce—which
is, admittedly, fantastic—wait
in line at their window at 4:30
AM and you might meet a crying
drunk girl, or see a one-night-
stand happen in front of your very
eyes. Grapevine’s recc? Pick up
the Sýslumannsbátur with extra
cucumber. If you intend to gorge
on your Hlölli in the comfort of
your bed before falling asleep on
a sauce-covered pillow, carry that
beautiful sub like a newborn child
in your arms. That way you are
sure not to run the sauce down to
one end, at the same time as you
shelter it from winds and weather.
Devitos Pizza
Laugavegur 126
Who hasn’t been at that weird
point where you’ve had like 16
shots too many and ended up
speaking Icelandic with an Italian
accent and thinking: Bonasera…
Bonasera…What have I ever done
to make you treat me so disre-
spectfully? Well, when it happens,
you’re not possessed, you need to
feed that Paulie inside you. Devitos
Pizza by Hlemmur is the answer.
There you can get pretty decent
and strictly Italian pizza all night.
Just remember, we don’t discuss
business at the table.
All hail carbs