Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2022, Blaðsíða 29

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Lóla Florens
15:00 - 18:00 every day
Beer 1,000
Wine 1,000
Garðastræti 6
Thrift store fans who like the
idea of a glass of wine as they
rummage should check out this
little gem at the corner of Ránar-
gata and Garðastræti. When
the Red Cross shop in that loca-
tion closed after some 20 years,
friends Íris Ann Sigurðardóttir
and Svava Ástudóttir took the
opportunity to start a business
which recognised the heritage of
the charity shop, but with a twist.
Íris Ann describes their creation
as, “a bit of everything we love…
vintage clothing and house de-
cor, good wine, great coffee,
savoury pastries from Coocoo's
Nest and a bit of witchcraft en-
twined in the whole thing.” JP
Loft
16:00 - 20:00 every day
Beer 750
Wine 900
Bankastræti 7
Loft Hostel is a big bright place
that often presents live music,
film screenings and the like to a
mixed crowd of young, hip Ice-
landers and tourists. Loft’s ter-
race is head and shoulders above
most of the al fresco drinking
spots in Reykjavík, not least be-
cause it’s high up on the roof. It’s
a popular after-work choice in
good weather and it might get
crowded, so arrive early. Happy
hour takes place every day from
4pm to 8pm, and every Wednes-
day is Winesday when Loft offers
20% off wine all day long. JP
Iðnó
16:00 - 19:00 every day
Beer 850
Wine 850
Vonarstræti 3
Built in 1897 as the city’s first
theatre, Iðnó has stood the test
of time. When the pandemic hit,
the historic building, housing
a venue, café and restaurant,
had to close down. New owners
have since settled in and trans-
formed the place back to its orig-
inal state. The floors have been
stripped back and the bar placed
where it used to be, providing
those who grew up frequenting
the old theatre with that sweet,
sweet feeling of nostalgia. And
for those looking for new energy,
their terrace overlooking Tjörnin
is the perfect place to soak in
those rare rays of sunshine while
sipping your happy hour drink.
KW
STUDENTAKJAL-
LARINN
1600 to 1900 weekdays,
1600 to 2100 weekends
Sæmundargata,
University of Iceland
You don’t need to be a student to
get into this gem of a booze base-
ment, tucked beneath the big
glass building at Háskóli Íslands.
And the reward for finding it is
one of the cheapest bar drinking
experiences in town, with beer
starting at 650 ISK, and wine at
850 ISK during happy hour. Flash
a student ID from any university
anywhere in the world, and the
price of beer tumbles even fur-
ther. JP
DRINKING GUIDE
Get Happy
Clap along if you feel like drinking on a budget!
Words: John Pearson, Kim Wagenaar Photo: Art Bicnick
In this extortionate city, truly the only way to drink is to be a happy
hour aficionado. Here then are our recent picks of the best happy
hours Reykjavík has to offer. Download our ‘Appy Hour’ app to find
many more!
Best Weekday Bar
Skuggabaldur
Pósthússtræti 9
A weekday bar is all about atmosphere.
You want something lively but cosy,
bustling without being jam packed, and
above all else, full of good vibes. Skug-
gabaldur has perfected this delicate
combo, with the best of Reykjavík’s jazz
scene showing up nightly to entertain
patrons and make even a Wednesday
memorable. Despite only opening last
year, the bar has quickly become a fa-
vourite with everyone from downtown
artists to suburban folk. In the summer,
you simply can’t beat a glass of wine
outside in the sun on their patio.
Runners-Up
Gaukurinn
Tryggvagata 22
When you want to “party-party” on
a weeknight, Gaukurinn—with their
stocked schedule of concerts and
events—will give you what you need.
In fact, their Tuesday karaoke sessions
rival weekend nights in terms of
raucousness. (BTW: On the weeknights
where there aren't any events, the
lowkey haunt becomes an ideal place
to nurse a beer while reading Kafka or
something else appropriately alt.)
Kaffibrennslan
Laugavegur 21
Need to have an after-work meeting
with your new art collective? A quick
catch up beer with your former
roommate visiting from Portugal? Or
simply a neutral locale to meet up
with your beau from last weekend?
Kaffibrennslan works for everyone. Solid
location, good prices, and a welcoming,
friendly atmosphere. A+.
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