Reykjavík Grapevine - Nov 2020, Page 16

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Downtown &
Harbour District
Dining
1. Austur-Indíafjélagi!
Hverfisgata 56
Still going strong 20 years on, Austur-
Indiafjélagi! is an institution. Make
a meal out of the delicate salmon
pollichathu, kozhi mappas and
kulchas and share it family style.
Keep your eyes peeled for the
vegetarian and vegan dishes as well.
2. Gaeta Gelato
A!alstræti 6 + Hlemmur Mathöll
Gaeta Gelato is owned by recently-
arrived Italian transplants with nearly
25 years of experience as gelatai.
Their artisanal and authentic flavours,
from blueberry to Piedmontese
hazelnut, are made with fresh and
well-sourced Icelandic ingredients.
Though only recently opened, Gaeta
Gelato has already won over a crowd
of committed regulars.
3. Sæta Svini!
Hafnarstræti 1-3
With big portions and a tasty menu,
this hip restaurant offers everything
you might desire, from crispy
broccoli and big bowls of mussels
to a great leg of lamb and a taste of
lobster Try and get a seat upstairs:
it’ll be like dining under a starry sky
in the most romantic, dim-lit set-up.
4. Valdís
Grandagar!ur 21 & Frakkastígur 10
This beloved ice cream parlour—
which has a Grandi and downtown
location—makes everything in-
house each morning, and you can
tell. If you like liquorice, try Tyrkisk
Peber. While it looks like liquid
cement, it tastes heavenly. The spot
doesn’t have a large seating area, so
take your cone on a stroll along the
harbourside or enjoy it in a parked
car, Icelandic style.
5. Bastard Brew & Food
Vegamótastígur 4
This downtown drinking hole is
something of a beer and bar-food
palace. It ’s an English pub style
environment, without the sense of
history, but with eleven beers on
tap, a great happy hour, and the
phenomenally good ‘Fat Bastard’
burger on offer, it’s a firm Grapevine
favourite. Their tacos are pretty
notable, too.
6. Noodle Station
Laugavegur 103
Billowing clouds of coriander scent
are a mouth-watering introduction
to Noodle Station. Choose beef,
vegetable or chicken, and add an
extra spice or flaky chilli sauce until
your nose runs, your tongue throbs
and your gums howl. It’s bar-style
stool seating and cheaper prices
(for Reykjavík) attract prudent solo
travellers.
7. Grandi Mathöll
Grandagar!ur 16
Grandi Mathöll has an immediately
comfortable feel, with various stools,
benches and couches scattered
through the space. There are nine
concessions and a bustling, social
feel as people meander between the
vendors, who shout out names as
their orders are ready. Our tip: Vegan
food from Spes and friend chicken
from KORE. Everyone's happy!
8. Vitabar
Berg"órugata 21
This old-school burger ‘n’ beer joint is
right downtown—near Sundhöllin—
but feels like a real neighbourhood
bar. Its unassuming exterior hides
a cosy, no-frills dining room, where
you’ ll mostly be surrounded by
locals. For once.
9. Salka Valka
Skólavör!ustígur 23
For a piece of good ol’ Icelandic
fish, there’s no better spot than
Salka Valka. The restaurant serves
up a steamed fillet in their Fish Of
The Day meal, with the fish options
depending on what is the freshest
available. They also have potentially
the best plokkfiskur in the city, some
stellar soups, and—quite recently—a
pizza menu.
10. Bæjarins Beztu
Tryggvagata 1
Icelanders have a weird obsession
with hot dogs—trust us, you won’t
understand until you’ve been here.
It’s universally agreed though that
the tiny stand Bæjarins Beztu serves
the best one. Pro-Tip: When they ask
what toppings you want, say “All.” This
is the only way to eat it.
11. Mama
Laugavegur 2
Nothing tastes better than ethics,
which is why we love 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 become
self-sufficient. The restaurant also
doubles as a wellness space offering
a whole host of yoga sessions and
breathing workshops. Have your
plant-based prayers been answered?
Drinking
12. Röntgen
Hverfisgata 12
Röntgen is a party bar in the purest
sense, with a rowdy dance floor,
delicious cocktails and a fanbase
that’s just growing and growing. Run
by the legends behind Húrra (RIP),
Röntgen unexpectedly grabbed the
runner-up for the Best Goddamn
Bar category at the 2020 Best Of
Reykjavík awards. We stan.
13. Lebowski Bar
Laugavegur 20a
This fully carpeted bar honouring the
“Lebowski” Lebowski (not The Dude,
man), is a nice place that offers two
vibes: start the night nice and cosy
with an artisinal White Russian, and
end it on one of the rowdiest and
most underrated dance floors in the
city. Yup, Lebowski is a great place to
hang at, but that could just be, like,
our opinion man.
14. Jungle Cocktail Bar
Austurstræti 9
The verdant Jungle Cocktail Bar
came in like a tropical storm last
winter. Devoted to the elevation of
all things cocktail culture, some of
Jungle’s stranger offerings over the
past months have included a kale
cocktail, but there’s no shortage of
level-headed concoctions like the
signature “The Bombshell” (tequila,
rhubarb & vermouth) along with any
classic you can name.
15. 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
atmosphere in Reykjavík. It also has
a nice balcony—the ideal locale for
sipping some Pino in the summer
sun.
16. Mengi
Ó!insgata 2
Mengi’s concert room is more white
cube than dive bar. The programme
encourages new collaborations and
experimental performances, so even
if you know and love the work of the
musicians you’re seeing, you might
be treated to something brand new
on any given night.
17. Luna Flórens
Grandagar!ur 25
Luna Flórens is Iceland’s only “gypsy
bar.” Part flower-child, part spiritual
and with a whole lot of whimsy thrown
into the mix, this cosy and hand-
crafted bar is so intimate it makes
you wanna spend the day musing
about geodes, lunar cycles and tarot
card readings. You can do all this and
more while sipping on their excellent
house cocktails and an excellent slice
of vegan cake.
18. RVK Brewing Company
Skipholt 31
Yes, there is a bar on Skipholt, and yes,
it is one that you need to check out.
The RVK Brewing Company has slid
The Map
Strætó
The o!cial Icelandic
public transport app
WAY
THE
to plan your journey
VÍNSTÚKAN
Wine bar

& food
Laugavegur 60A, 101 Reykjavík
himalayanspiceiceland.com
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