Atlantica - 01.01.2004, Page 27

A T L A N T I C A 25
SNÆFELLSNES
There’s no better time to visit the
rugged Snæfellsnes peninsula
(west Iceland) than winter. Driving
the snow-covered, two-lane high-
way that circles the lava-scarred
peninsula is like motoring towards
the beginning of creation. Make
sure to spend the night in one of
the small fishing villages dotting
the peninsula, such as Stykkis-
hólmur, where one can visit the
Franciscan monastery, built in
1933.
11: No minimalist chic here, just rock ’n’
roll. Harley Davidson beer taps and
indie rock blaring from the speakers.
Clientele includes whisky-drinking local
rock stars in shades.
Kaffibarinn: Always a safe bet, this
cramped pub attracts all sorts, from the
wannabe film-makers to those wannabe
stockbrokers working at the investment
bank Kaupthing.
Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar: If you
can stand the clouds of smoke (The
pub’s ventilation system is horrid.),
there’s no better place to talk someone
up, as the music rarely rises above
room-chatter.
Vegamót: Affordable, wonderful food,
and an attractive clientele, there’s no
better way to start off a night than din-
ner at Vegamót. If after dinner you’re
feeling lazy, stay put. By midnight, the
dinner tables are cleared away, and gor-
geous women show up by the truck-
load.
Hverfisbarinn: The place to go if
you’ve just hit twenty or plan to hit on
twenty year olds. It’s got two floors of
sweaty, heaving bodies. Watch out for
the music, though, which can be too ter-
rible for even the most hard-core punter.
REYKJAVÍK NIGHTLIFE
Visit the block between Vegamótastígur and Smidjustígur in downtown Reykjavík, where you
have six very different watering holes crammed within a few hundred square metres.
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