Reykjavík Grapevine - maí 2020, Blaðsíða 25

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Best Sports Bar
American Bar
Austurstræti 8
With screens as far as the eye can see,
a long bar that goes on for days, all
the burgers and snacks of your junk
food dreams, a dedicated big-screen
viewing room in the back, and a “sun”
terrace to smoke on at half time, Amer-
ican Bar is the perfect place to watch
the big game. Whether it’s boxing, NFL
or Premier League, they always have a
wide range of screenings. Grab yourself
a brewski and prepare to shout at
the screen in some kind of vicarious
catharsis of random victory or loss.
Runners-Up
Lebowski Bar
Laugavegur 20a
Honour “The Dude” at this laid-back and
unpretentious locale that is the best
of both worlds during sports games.
Some people will get rowdy; others will
stay chill, so you’re certain to find your
crowd as you munch on some of the
best burgers in Reykjavík. PS: If you’re
feeling fancy, pick up a White Russian.
English Pub
Austurstræti 12
If it’s football you’re hankering for, go
to those that know it best: the English.
This pub serves up a dark wooden
Anglo-kitsch interior, a long bar with
plenty of staff, and loads of comfort-
able seating, and, best of all, a plethora
of screens. Make sure to yell loudly and
berate Gylfi Sigurðsson when he misses
his penalty—you wanted an authentic
pub experience, right?
Previous Winners
2019: American Bar / English Pub
2018: American Bar
2017: Lebowski Bar
2016: American Bar
2013-5: Bjarni Fel
Best Craft Bar
BrewDog
Frakkastígur 8
To call the panel passionate about
BrewDog would be an understatement.
“To be honest, I was prepared to hate
BrewDog because it’s a chain,” one pan-
ellist admits, smiling. “But I was wrong.
I absolutely, absolutely love it.” The
Scottish outpost offers low-lit booths,
sofa seating and a thriving list of beers.
At any given time, there’s a choice of
ten or more of the BrewDog brand and
a rotating selection of Icelandic craft
brews. Note: They’ve also got fantastic
wings and cauliflower wings too!
Runners-Up
Skúli Craft Bar
Aðalstræti 9
For a quiet drink, the real beer nerds
hole up in Skúli. The cosy drinking hole
offers a great selection of local and
guest craft brews, with the option of
a flight of beers for the indecisive or
curious. Make sure to stop by in the
summer, they’ve also got some great
outdoor tables.
Session Bar
First Floor, Bankastræti 14
Session Bar is a minimalist craft-beer-
focused drinking den housed in a
former hair salon in the heart of down-
town. There are sixteen beers on tap,
both Icelandic and international, and
they have a focus on keeping the prices
affordable, in contrast to Reykjavík’s
generally pricey craft bars.
Previous Winners
2018-9: Skúli
2018: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP)
2017: Microbar
2016: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP)
Best Wine Bar
Port 9
Veghúsastígur 9
Cosy and tucked away with a secretive
vibe, Port 9 is a true hidden gem,
hosting a delicious wine list as well as
potentially the most intimate atmo-
sphere in Reykjavík. “It’s a place not a
lot of people know about,” one panel
member raved. “You feel like you’re
going abroad—walking into a bar in
San Francisco or Barcelona.” The panel
also praised its balcony, calling it the
ideal locale for sipping some Pino in the
summer sun. "It's also a great place to
bring a Tinder date."
Runners-Up
Geiri Smart
Hverfisgata 30
Geiri Smart’s wine menu focuses entire-
ly on cold climate wines. Organised by
latitude, it’s a list that’s unlike anything
else you’ll find in the city. For reference,
cool climate wines are subtler in taste,
with lower alcohol and higher acidity,
which showcases spicy, floral and
herbaceous tones. Since Geiri Smart
has a sommelier in residence, the wine
pairings also perfectly compliment
what’s coming out of the kitchen.
Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar
Laugavegur 27
“When Vínstúkan Tíú Sopar opened,
I went in there and my immediate
thought was, ‘Wow, this place is great,’”
one panel member exclaimed. The
charming basement bar focuses on
natural wines as well as wines from
smaller producers and lesser-known
regions. They have twelve bottles open
at any one time, and the selection
changes daily, so you truly never know
what you’re going to get.
Previous Winners
2018-9: Port 9
2017: Microbar
2016: Mikkeller & Friends (RIP)
Best Place For Cocktails
Miami Bar
Hverfisgata 33
With a sharp aesthetic that’s miles
ahead of any other joint in town, Miami
serves up pure vice with a splash of
cosmopolitanism and a dedicated
basement ping-pong room. Their
cocktail menu—designed by master
mixologist Martin Cabejšek—takes your
favourite classics and mixes them up
into complex 21st century drinks. If
that’s not enough, they also offer Cuba
Libre on draft. So sit back, drink, and
you’ll feel just like you’re in ‘Scarface’—
minus the mountains of cocaine.
Runner-Up
Apótek
Austurstræti 16
Apótek is a spacious, upscale restaurant
whose cocktail creations have picked up
a bundle of local awards. The building’s
pharmacological past lives on in its
name—Apótek means pharmacy—and
the cocktail list, which is divided up into
categories like “painkillers” or “stimu-
lants,” exemplifies this. We’d recommend
the Black Death Negroni and the Stranger
Tides.
Newcomer
Jungle Cocktail Bar
Austurstræti 9
“They’ve got a cocktail titled, ‘To Kale A
Mockingbird,’” one panel member laughs.
“It’s a tequila and kale cocktail. How can
you beat that?” Jungle, though very new
to the scene, has already made a large
impact—with more than their punny
names. Helmed by vets of the Reykjavík
mixology scene, it’s truly one to watch
in 2020.
Previous Winners
2019: Slippbarinn
2018: Hverfisgata 12 (RIP)
2015-6: Apótek
2014: Slippbarinn