Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.10.2019, Blaðsíða 35

spread out over two menus, mostly
courtesy of Slippbarinn’s head mix-
ologist Alana Hudkins. One of her
stand-out creations is the smoky,
habanero-laced Summon the Dark
One (2800 ISK) but, for the faint of
heart, there’s always an abundance
of basil gimlets to be had.
What gives Slippbarinn a leg-up
in the pregame department is their
daily Cocktail Happy Hour from
15:00 to 18:00 and a solid selection
of bar snacks for sharing.

Fjallkonan
Hafnarstræti 1-3
A brisk 5-minute walk from Slip-
pbarinn, you’ll find the restaurant
Fjallkonan. It’s is the most recent
addition on this list and they seem
intent on throwing their hat into
the cocktail ring. The main distinc-
tion here is their range of sweet
desserts, including a Paris wheel
of miniature cupcakes and other
bite-sized treats. The cocktails
skew a little sweet as well but a
stand-out is the Gucci Collins (2690
ISK) which offsets the sweetness of
the fassionola tiki syrup with the
raw-and-herbal notes of Icelandic
gin Himbrimi—a brand that threw
open the doors for the abundance of
gins now available in Iceland.
Apótek
Austurstræti 16
Straight out the door, hang a left
and head up Austurstræti in the
direction of Laugavegur. If Slipp-
barinn fired the opening salvo,
Apótek may have entrenched it-
self as Reykjavík’s current favorite
cocktail spot. Apótek is a spacious,
upscale restaurant whose cocktail
creations have picked up a bundle
of local awards. With regular guest
bartenders, diverse cocktails, and
head pharmacists Hrafnkell and
Sean fixing to shake up the menu,
this is the place to try something
new. We recommend the spicy
Stranger Tides (2890 ISK) with an
amaro and whisky base.
Session Craft Bar
Bankastræti 14
Time for a cocktail break—a break
from the cocktails, that is. Head to
Bankastræti, and up the hill about
as far as you care to when three
cocktails deep to craft beer pub
Session, overlooking the main drag
from the second floor. It’s a mod-
ern, minimalist, four-walls-and-
some-beer kind of place with soft
music and seats where Icelanders
react to gossip and sinister plots in
ingressive sounds of shock and de-
light. It’s impossible to recommend
a beer as the selection is broad and
ever-changing, but the bartenders
are always quick to make a sugges-
tion.
Mat bar
Hverfisgata 26
If you are honestly doing all this
drinking in one night (we don’t rec-
ommend it) then it’s time for you
to grab a bite. Up Laugavegur and
on your first left, on the corner of
Hverfisgata and Smi!justígur, is
one of Iceland’s best places for a
light meal. Mat Bar really captured
the vibe of an old Mediterranean
wine bar, so we recommend wash-
ing the meal down with some au-
tumnal Italian red like a Ricossa
Barolo 2012 (2490 ISK/glass).

Miami Hverfisgata
Hverfisgata 33
Did Mat Bar feel a little too Euro-
puro for your liking? Good news,
across the street and two houses
up you can wash away the memory
of the wine with the pink cocktails
and rolled-up blazer sleeves of Mi-
ami Hverfisgata. Decorated like the
bastard child of John Waters and
Don Johnson, this isn’t the place for
subtlety. Grab a velvet ottoman and
forget about subtlety, whether it be
the UnFortunate Mistake (2590 ISK)
with Mozart-kügel and coldbrew
coffee or the period-appropriate
Punch Bowl (2590) with rum, te-
quila and Carmen Miranda’s weight
in mixed fruit.
Ve!ur
Klapparstígur 33
Straight up Klapparstígur from
Miami, on your left-hand side, sits
Ve!ur. You will be in safe hands
with any of the resident bartenders
there, but if you catch Tomas on
a shift, he may just make you the
best cocktail of your trip. No food
or frills here, grab a seat by the bar
and ask for a recommendation. If
in doubt, order their take on the
classic Paloma.
Papaku Reykjavík
Klapparstígur 38
It should be getting late now and
time to let your hair down. No
more 8-ingredient cocktails or
craft beer. Midway through a Fri-
day night, there are few better
stops than Papaku (formerly Bar
Ananas), helmed by the living
combo of beard and pompadour
called Jasmin. It has the constant
feel of a European university bar
or budget hostel, and we mean that
in a good way. Foosball, pool, a tiny
dancefloor and Moscow Mules for
the unbeatable price of 1200 ISK.
What you do from this point on is
between you and Reykjavík.
Ó!INSTORG | 101 | REYKJAVÍK | ÍSLAND
SNAPSBISTRO.IS | +354 5116677
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Icelandic Ísbúi cheese, croûtons
2.490 kr.
MOULES MARINIÈRES
steamed mussels from Brei"afjör"ur
2.600 kr.
FISH OF THE DAY
chef´s special
3.990 kr.
Lunch offer from 11:30 - 14:00 1.990 kr.
EST. 2012REYKJAVIK