Atlantica - 01.09.2007, Page 80

78 A T L A N T I C A
DRINK
b5 One of the latest additions to Reykjavík’s crowded
café scene is b5, a swanky bistro located in the belly of
101. By day, the café is the perfect place to while away
the time with an espresso and a hop onto their wire-
less Internet connection. Come nightfall, integrate
yourself into Reykjavík’s most sophisticated popula-
tion while sipping on cocktails and the venerable
martini. Bankastraeti 5. b5.is
Boston If you’re into the distressed New England
atmosphere, Boston is for you. Also feels a bit like a
dive bar you might  nd in Brooklyn,  lled with hip-
sters clad in skinny jeans and limited edition sneakers.
Laugavegur 28, above Spútnik.
Ka ibarinn Packed with beautiful, young, drunk Ice-
landers who fancy themselves as writers,  lmmakers,
artists and bohemians. Dress down because the beer
spills. Wear sunglasses if you prefer. Just show up
before 2 am, when the line to enter  oods down the
street. Bergstadastraeti 2.
Sirkus Go before the line starts out the door around
midnight, install yourself at a corner table or on a
barstool, and watch the evening unfold. You’ll  nd it,
no address needed.

SOAK
You haven’t seen Reykjavík if you
haven’t been to the pools; there are 16
in the capital area alone. Bring a towel
and a suit and you are in business. (Or
not. You can rent them at any pool
before you take a dip.)
LAUGARDALSLAUG The largest
of Reykjavík’s pools. It has both in-
door and outdoor 50-meter pools,
hot pots, a steam room, sun lamps,
and a waterslide to boot.
553 4039
SUNDHÖLLIN If there is ice on
the deck at Laugardalslaug, you may
want to check out the oldest indoor
pool in Iceland, dating back to the
1930s. You can still get your outdoor
Arctic Jacuzzi  ll if you take a dip
in Sundhöllin’s art-decoish hot tubs.
551 4059
VESTURBAEJARLAUG The pool
for you if you are looking for the
neighborhood experience in Reyk-
javík. In addition to the 25-meter
pool, there are hot pots, a steam
room, and the only Finnish sauna
found among Reykjavík’s public
pools. You have to pay a little extra
to sweat it out like a Finn, but it is
worth it. 551 5004
Sleep, Drink & Soak
78 A T L A N T I C A
SLEEP
101 Hotel The glossiest boutique digs in 101
Reykjavík, the international glitterati tend to  ock
to this hotel decked out in all shades of black,
white and stainless steel. With 38 rooms, a very
cozy hotel bar with a  replace, and design maga-
zines galore, there’s enough to keep you busy for
weeks. 580 0101. 101hotel.is
Hotel Frón A modest 63-room Scandinavian
hotel, Frón is comfortable, low key, and surpris-
ingly quiet for being smack in the middle of Reyk-
javík’s shopping street. 511 4666. hotelfron.is
Room with a View Stay for a night or two weeks
in your own pied-à-terre in downtown Reykjavík.
Not your typical apartment hotel, these sleek
apartments range from stylish to vampish. Stain-
less steel, black leather and Jacuzzis abound.
552 7262. roomwithaview.is
Nordica Hotel If it’s good enough for Quentin
Tarantino, it’s probably good enough for you.
Overlooking Reykjavík’s Laugardalur valley and
Mt. Esja, Hotel Nordica is one of the most estab-
lished and well-regarded hotels in the city, and its
restaurant, Vox, chefs up some of the  nest food in
town. 444 5000. nordicahotelreykjavik.com
Hotel Thingholt Housed in an old printing fac-
tory in 101, Thingholt is the latest addition to
Reykjavík’s boutique hotels. Its rooms feature
traditionally minimalist Nordic design with rich
natural woods, handpicked Italian  xtures and
furnishings and locally hand-woven, chamois-soft
sheets. 595 8500. centerhotels.is
ICELANDa