Reykjavík Grapevine - feb. 2021, Síða 16

!
!!
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
Get the bigger, more detailed version of The Reykjavík Grapevine
City Map at your nearest hotel or guesthouse, with selections from our
Best-Of awards, vital info, downtown bus stops and a wider view of the city.
"
!#
Downtown &
Harbour District
Dining
1. Plútó Pizza
Hagamelur 67, 107 Reykjavík
Love pizzas, but don’t think they’re
quite big enough? Why not dive into
an 18 inch pie from Plútó Pizza? Or, if
that sounds a bit much, opt for their
slice and drink deal; and when we
say “slice”, we’re still talking about
a quarter of a pizza here—you won’t
go hungry.
2. Duck & Rose
Austurstræti 14
Duck & Rose is the hip and happening
place that opened across the street
from Apótek last May. The new
cafe serves light fare influenced
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. Their
vegan rigatoni is also orgasmic.
3. Fjallkonan
Hafnarstræti 1-3
N a m e d a f t e r t h e f e m a l e
personification of Iceland, Fjallkonan
is located smack-bang in the middle
of downtown, and caters to locals
and tourists alike. For the Icelandic-
cuisine-curious, there is a platter of
whale, lamb and puffin. For those who
are just looking for a great selection
of fresh meat, fish and vegetarian
options, Fjallkonan does these well,
also. The veggie burger, double-
cooked fries, and beetroot and feta
dish come highly recommended.
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. Deig
Vegamótastígur 4
It ’s hard to make any promises
about availability at Deig due to
the bakery’s love of innovation and
surprising flavours. The good news
is that you’ll rarely see a misstep
there as all of their stuff is amazing.
Stop by, and Deig’ll fix you up with
a chocolate cake cruller, crème
brûlée doughnut or some other
fried delight. But if you get a chance
to taste their glazed, almost cakey,
lemon poppy seed doughnut—leap
on it like a werewolf..
6. Osushi
Tryggvagata 13
Also called “The Train”, O Sushi's most
intriguing feature is a conveyor
belt that runs around the entire
restaurant delivering a buffet of
authentic Sushi straight to your
table. It's the perfect place to try
new dishes on appearance alone and
see if they strike your fancy.
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 fried 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. Yuzu
Hverfisgata 44
Headed up by the owners of beloved
clothing store Húrra Reykjavík, Yuzu
is an artisanal burger shop with
an Eastern twist. Stop by for their
lunch deal, which features a choice
of burgers, with fries and spiced
mayonnaise for 1,990 ISK. They’ve also
got a kimchi chicken burger—not
part of the lunch deal—which sounds
deliciously intriguing. Real-talk:
Yuzu’s condiments converted two
previously mayo-averse Grapevine
staffers.
10. Hotdog House
Ingólfstorg
Situated in one of two huts on
Ingólfstorg, Hotdog House provides
one of Iceland’s culinary staples at
an affordable price, and in many
different forms. Whether you’re
looking for bratwurst , bacon-
wrapped, or just a hot dog with
everything on it, Hotdog House is a
safe bet.
11. The Coocoo's Nest
Grandagar!ur 23
Nestled in a refurbished fishing hut
in Grandi, The Coocoo’s Nest is a cosy
and airy cafe, offering California-
casual brunch, lunch, and dinner,
with an Italian twist. With large
windows and light wood throughout,
this is perfect for a lazy Saturday get-
together or an afternoon ‘aperitivo’
after work. If you are in that part of
town, head over for a warm-up.
Drinking
12. Vínstúkan Tíú Sopar
Laugavegur 27
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.
13. Aldamót Bar
Kirkjutorg 4
Taking over the famed Klaustur place,
this cosy spot is the perfect mix of
classy and relaxed. It's become a
favourite of our Culture Editor in the
past months with socially distance-
safe tables and table service. This
place has got a bright and boozy
future.
14. Bravó
Laugavegur 22
IT'S OPEN! Yup, Bravó is your regular
run-of-the-mill bar that serves
decent drinks and doesn't try to be
anything that it's not. The bar plays
good music at a comfortable volume
that allows for conversation, and
provides good seating options even
during late nights, when most bars
have removed their tables to make
room for a dancefloor. No, people
at Bravó don't dance. They compare
Berghain club experiences.
15. Apótek
Austurstræti 16
Apótek is a spacious , upscale
r e s t a u r a n t w h o s e c o c k t a i l
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
“stimulants,” exemplifies this. We’d
recommend the Black Death Negroni
and the Stranger Tides.
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
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. Go for an after work
drink. That's when this place thrives.
18. Kaldi Bar
Laugavegur 20b
IT'S OPEN! Yup, a small, stylish drinking
hole popular with the after-work
business crowd, Kaldi is a great place
The Map
Strætó
The o!cial Icelandic
public transport app
WAY
THE
to plan your journey
VÍNSTÚKAN
Wine bar

& food
VESTURGATARÁNARGATA
BÁRUGATA
ÖLDUGATA
TÚNGATA
TÚNGATA
MARARG.
SÓLVALLAGATA
SÓLVALLAGATA
H
O
LTSG
ATA
HÁVALLAGATA
HOLTSG.
ÁSVALLAGATA
REYNIM
ELUR
VÍ!IM
ELUR
AR
AG
AT
A
ODDAG
AT
A
ARSTÍG
UR
BRÆ
!RABORG
FRAMNESVEGURSELJAVEGUR
ÁNANAUST
GRANDAGAR!URFISKISLÓ!
SU
!
UR
GA
TA
LJ
ÓSV
AL
LA
GAT
A
HÓLA
VA
LL
AG
.
SÆ
M
UNDAR
GAT
A
BIR
KIM
EL
UR
FU
RUM
ELU
R
ESPIM
ELUR
Æ
GI
SG
AT
A
ST
"R
IM
AN
N
AS
TÍ
GU
R
SU
!URG
AT
A
HRINGBRAUT
FÁLKAGATA
STURLUAGATA
GATA
M"RARGATA
N"LENDUGATA
Nordic House
Culture Center
University
of Iceland
National
museum
National
library
Hólavalla-
gar!ur
Cemetary
Maritime
Museum
Saga
Museum
Aurora
Reykjavik
1 2Laugavegur 60A, 101 Reykjavík
himalayanspiceiceland.com
C
E L E G A N T P R E M I S E S
I N T H E H E A R T O F
R E Y K J A V I K
B R E A K F A S T a n d B R U N C H
L U N C H a n d D I N N E R M E N U
L O C A L a n d F O R E I G N D I S H E S
H A P P Y H O U R D A I LY 1 5 - 1 8 : 0 0
B A N K A S T R Æ T I 7 A - 1 0 1 R E Y K J AV Í K - T E L . 5 6 2 3 2 3 2
A
E
B