Reykjavík Grapevine - sep. 2020, Blaðsíða 22

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2020
22
“Your first and last stop”
Flæði
Vesturgata 17
Flæði is back! The art ven-
ue—whose name translates to
‘Flow’—has finally re-opened in
a new central Vesturgata spot
and we could not be more jazzed.
Since their humble beginnings
last year on Gréttisgata, the team
behind the space has sought to
showcase marginalised artists
and counter the bourgeois elite
gallery culture found in other
spaces here and abroad. Along-
side exhibitions, they host con-
certs, events, and basically any-
thing else under the sun. Here’s
to flowing and growing, friends.
Long live! HJC
Mama
Laugavegur 2
Nothing tastes better than eth-
ics, which is why we can’t wait
to try the rainbow salad and
“nicecream” bowls at Mama, a
plant-based restaurant with big
dreams. The company is proudly
environmentalist—they hope to
use their profits to invest into
land so that the kitchen can be-
come self-sufficient. The restau-
rant also doubles as a wellness
space offering a whole host of
yoga sessions and breathing
workshops. Have your plant-
based prayers been answered? PA
Gaeta Gelato
Aðalstræti 6
Ice cream is a longstanding cu-
linary staple for Icelanders. But
for a long time, Reykjavík has
lacked one of the dessert’s most
well-known, and perhaps most
delicious, varieties: gelato. En-
ter Gaeta Gelato. Newly opened
on Ingólfstorg, it is owned by
newly-arrived Italian trans-
plants with nearly 25 years of
experience as gelatai. Their ar-
tisanal and authentic flavours,
from blueberry to Piedmontese
hazelnut, are made with fresh
and well-sourced Icelandic in-
gredients. Though only recently
opened, Gaeta has already won
over a crowd of committed reg-
ulars. NB
Taj Mahal
Tryggvagata 26
A nice compliment to fancier
establishments like Shalimar or
Austur-Indíafjelagið, Taj Mahal
fills a previously unoccupied
niche in Reykjavík’s South Asian
culinary scene: a simple, clas-
sic, relatively affordable Indian
restaurant with staple curry,
tikka masala, and tandoori dish-
es served alongside portions of
fresh rice or naan, to be washed
down with a Kingfisher beer, one
of India’s best-known brews. Eat
in or take advantage of Taj Ma-
hal’s quick and affordable deliv-
ery in the capital area if you’re
feeling lazy. NB
Freddi
Bankastræti 12
It’s the Return Of The Freddi:
2 Freddi 2 Furious. The Freddi
Strikes Back. Yes, rejoice thirsty
gamer boys, the iconic Freddi
arcade has returned—after a
jump around various downtown
locales—taking up residence in
the newly renovated upstairs
patio/shed of Prikið. Decked out
with Pacman, pinball, old school
gaming signs and a new brightly
coloured mural, it’s a revelation
for those who are tired of this
newfangled PUBG nonsense. We
bow down, Freddi. Please don’t
leave us again. HJC
Duck & Rose
Austurstræti 14
Duck & Rose is the hip and hap-
pening place that opened across
the street from Apótek in May.
The new cafe serves light fare in-
fluenced by French and Italian
cuisine. With neon signs and
roses on the walls, the chíc cafe
is certainly inspired by romance.
Try the duck pizza. SPO
NEW IN TOWN
2020 Arrivals
The newest and freshest spots in the capital city
Words: Hannah Jane Cohen, Poppy Askham, Nico Borbely
and Sam O’Donnell Photos: Art Bicnick
Nothing stops Reykjavík, and the past few months have exempli-
fied that, with a host of new businesses opening up even amidst
the gathering bans and general worry. From restaurants to gal-
leries to the return of the city’s favourite arcade, here’s what 2020
has given our beloved capital.