Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2022, Qupperneq 26

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2022
26
Best Place For Live Music
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22
Cue the confetti and throw your horns up, for once again, Gaukurinn
reigns supreme. With dim lights, leather sofas, gender-neutral bath-
rooms and free tampons, this bar/venue is the preferred hangout for
the unorthodox Reykvíkingar. So if you’re looking for like-minded
peeps in the alt and queer scene, there you go. “They have been so
ambitious with their events this year. Have you been watching their
schedule?” one panellist asked incredulously. From heavy metal fests
to quieter indie shows, this second floor haunt does it all, and many
of our favourite Icelandic acts—from Hatari to Power Paladin—
played their early gigs there. “Their karaoke nights are also legendary
because people take it so seriously,” one panel member laughed. “It’s
not just drunk women singing Britney. People really perform.”
Runners-Up
KEX
Skúlagata 28
Whoever does KEX’s bookings deserves
a raise—seriously! While they don’t
have many shows, every one of them
is extremely well curated, seeming to
have whichever band or group is most
talked about at the moment. “Even
though it’s a small stage, it always ends
up being such a nice party,” our panel
determined. “They really know what
they are doing.”
Skuggabaldur
Pósthússtræti 9
What gave Skuggabaldur this runner
up award? All that jazz, baby! (Editor’s
Note: We apologise for that terrible,
terrible joke.) Anyway, Reykjavík finally
has a dedicated jazz venue and the
cosy locale serves up the kind of funky,
sensual, foot-tapping vibe you need
when listening to someone solo on a
bass. Their food is pretty good too.
Previous Winners
2021: Gaukurinn
2020: Gaukurinn
2019: Iðnó
Best Happy Hour
Bravó
Laugavegur 22
Bravó: a dark room with amber-toned
light, simple furniture, and cosy bohemi-
an pillows. Their happy hour—perhaps
the most prolific in the city—starts at
12:00 everyday and lasts until 20:00 “I
feel like it’s always happy hour at Bravó,
right?” one panel member laughed.
Located in the heart of Laugavegur, it’s
also a prime people-watching spot.
Anyway, their dedication to the art of the
happy hour must be applauded. Thank
you for your service, Bravo.
Runners-Up
Kaldi
Laugavegur 20b
If you’re looking to drink in a classy,
beautiful environment with the crème
de la crème of Reykjavík, come to Kaldi.
While the later evening crowd can get
surprisingly rowdy, coming early means
you get to enjoy their fine selection of
Kaldi beers—at happy hour prices. They
also have a great, heated beer garden
/ smoking area, which, as we all know,
are where the best moments happen.
Skuggabaldur
Pósthússtræti 9
Happy hour is about more than just
a good price, it’s about the right vibe
for that special, early evening drink.
Thankfully, Skuggabaldur nails that, and
adds a complicated chord progression,
just for style. On lazy, sunny afternoons
you can’t find better, and while Skug-
gabaldur’s happy hour is normally from
17:00-18:00, when the weather is good,
they open it up early at 15:00.
Previous Winners
2021: Bravó
2020: Kaffibrennslan
2019: Kaffibrennslan
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2022
Drinking
Why have just one happy hour
when you can have nine?
Best Outdoor Drinking
Joint Winners
Óðinstorg
Óðinstorg
“Can we use a whole square as an out-
door drinking spot? Because Óðinstorg
is really it,” said one panel member. “You
have good sun, good seating, Snaps,
and Bodega. Something about it feels
like you’re in mainland Europe. It’s what
the city needed.” And so it was decided:
Óðinstorg is the best outdoor drinking
spot in Reykjavík. The new square, was
previously a parking area, but is now an
open, airy, designed-for-those-lazy-sum-
mer-days paradise.
Fjallkonan
Hafnarstræti 1-3
Day-drinking is an art form, and if you’re
looking for some classy hair of the
dog—and to “see and be seen”— look
no further than Fjallkonan. Their cocktail
list is extensive, their location unbeat-
able, and you’re guaranteed to catch
some rays (and some hot gossip). Even
when it’s cloudy, or one of those terrible
4°C “spring days”, you’ll still see people
sitting and sipping outside at Fjallkonan.
Runner-Up
Loft
Bankastræti 7
Loft’s slice of sunny terrace overlooking
Bankastræti is heads and shoulders
above most of the al fresco drinking
spots in Reykjavík, not least because
it’s on the roof. “You feel like you’ve won
the lottery when you’re able to get a
seat there,” one panel member laughed.
“When it’s nice outside, it’s just the most
relaxing place to talk with friends.”
Previous Winners
2021: Fjallkonan
2020: Petersen Svítan
2019: Loft Hostel
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