Reykjavík Grapevine - okt. 2019, Blaðsíða 26

Crack Open
A Cold One
The best places for some brews with the boys
Words: Hannah Jane Cohen & Josie Gaitens Photos: Art Bicnick
Legend has it that a new era of lager
has dawned on the city. Here’s where
to celebrate.

BrewDog
Frakkastígur 8
A Scottish import, BrewDog have
become one of the larger play-
ers in the craft beer world. While
they can’t quite hold claim to their
moralistic credentials of their
early days, they still make decent
beer, decent food and really decent
bars. Serving up an ever-changing
range of both their own and oth-
ers’ indie brews, BrewDog is a
great place to hang out and get a
taste of what is up-and-coming.
They also do great wings.
Skúli Craft Bar
Aðalstræti 9
If it’s sunny and you’re looking for
some brews, grab a table outside at
Skúli and people-watch while you
explore an intricate, eclectic IPA.
Their happy hour is notoriously
steller, with beers at 900 ISK from
12:00 to 19:00. The bar is, admit-
tedly, a bit ritzier than other op-
tions on the list, but hey, who said
beer couldn’t be fancy?
Session Craft Bar
Bankastræti 14
Session serves up what is probably
the best view for a beer-bar in the
city—one that looks out directly
onto the bustle of Bankastræti.
On draft, they’ve got 16 brews to
try, from tried and tested faves
like Mikkeller & Friends to eclec-
tic Icelandic micro-brews, exotic
oddities like a piña colada beer,
and their signature Session range.

Bryggjan Brugghús
Grandagarður 8
Bryggan Brugghús was one of the
first independent microbrewer-
ies in Iceland and still brews on
site at their Grandi HQ. Located
next to the old harbour, the bar is
dimly-lit in a cosy, enticing way,
allowing customers to cosy up
into a corner with a delicious pint.
Bryggjan is also notable for their
brewery tours and live events, in-
cluding regular jazz performances
on Sundays.
MicroBar
Vesturgata 2
For those who want to remain in-
cognito as they appreciate their
hops, MicroBar is the go-to. The
cosy, hidden cellar—full of mis-
matched chairs and rickety ta-
bles—is off the beaten path, which
is sometimes exactly what you
need when you want to drink ex-
pensive beers that you know you
shouldn’t be drinking in the first
place. But don’t worry—their bar-
tenders always look like they can
keep a secret.
Beljandi Bar
Mathöll Höfða
The arrival of this lauded East
Iceland craft brewery to Reykjavík
was a cause for celebration among
grog-lovers everywhere, herald-
ing a new age of ale in the city.
The bar is located in 110, which
is, admittedly, a trek away from
the downtown scene, but with a
spread of the entire range of Bel-
jandi’s sought-after beers, it’s a
trek worth taking.
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
Best Places
To Date
Winner:
Hlemmur Mathöll
Laugavegur 107
Iceland’s first food hall is great
for dates. There are plenty of
people buzzing around, giv-
ing it a relaxed, social feeling,
and there are plenty of options
— you can get some wine at
Kröst, pick up some spicy ta-
cos if you’re unafraid of salsa
mishaps, or have a cocktail
or a natural wine from SKÁL.
“You’re in public without feel-
ing like you’re being watched by
everyone,” said the panel. “And
if you do see people you know,
it’s informal enough that they
won’t start texting everyone
gossip in five minutes flat.”

Runners up:
Port 9
Veghúsastígur 9
Our drinking panel sang the
praises of tucked away wine bar
Port 9, which also wins the Best
Wine Bar award. It can be a bit
loud and crowded at peak hours,
but if you’re there on a weeknight
it’s “a cosy, intimate, secret-feel-
ing place to have a glass of wine
and a conversation, hidden away
from everyone.”
Spánski
Ingólfsstræti 8
“I like to go somewhere I don’t go
usually,” was a common refrain
among our panellists. “You don’t
wanna run into everyone you
know when you’re trying to have
a date.” With this as a date place
key criteria, basement wine bar
Spánski is perfect. “There’s no
chance you’ll see anyone you
know there, you can always get
a seat, and they have tapas and
nice Spanish wine.”
26The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 15— 2019Best of Reykjavík
Get tilted, friends