Reykjavík Grapevine - jún. 2023, Síða 20

The Reykjavík Grapevine 6 / 23 20Map
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FORNHAGI
MELHAGI
NESHAGI
KAPLASKJÓLSVEGUR
MEISTARAVELLIR
ÁLAGRANDI
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Nordic House
Culture Center
University
of Iceland
National
Museum
National
Library
Hólavallagarður
Cemetary
Austur-
völlur
Icelandic
Parliament
Reykjavík
Domestic
Airport
Terminal
Eagle Air
Terminal
Hlemmur
Food Hall
Sundhöllin
Swimming
Pool
Landsspítali
Hospital
Laugardalslaug
Swimming Pool
Laugardalur
Park
Sigurjón
Art
Museum
Viðey
ferry
Domestic Zoo
& Family Park
Botannical
Gardens
Reykjavík
Campsite
Kringlan
Shopping
Mall
Laugar-
dalshöll
Sports
Arena
Ásmundarsafn
Indoor
Skating
Rink
City
Hall
Hallgrímskirkja
ChurchListasafn
Einars
Jónssonar
Ásmundasalur
National
Theatre
The
Culture
House
Bíó
Paradís
Reykjavík
Art Museum
Maritime
Museum
Marshall
House
Grandi
Mathöll
FlyOver
Iceland
Saga
Museum
Harpa
Concert
Hall
Nauthólsvík
Beach
Perlan
Reykjavík
University
Kjarvalsstaðir
Museum
Hljómskála-
garður Park
National
Gallery
Aurora
Reykjavik
Vesturbæjarlaug
Swimming Pool
Centre Map
We're here to fill you in on our per-
sonal favourite places around town
– and a few to consider avoiding.
Dining
1 NAPOLI
Tryggvagata 24
We love places that do one thing
and do them damn well. This take-
away place is a case in point. Napoli
offers sourdough Neapolitan-style
pizzas with a menu to match – think
margherita, quattro formaggi,
parma, calzone – plus vegan options
and magnificent sandwiches. Look
out for their lunch offer, every day
from 11:30 to 15:00. JT
2 GAETA GELATO
Aðalstræti 6
& Hlemmur Mathöll
Gaeta Gelato is at the centre of
a heated ongoing debate at the
Grapevine office about who makes
the best ice cream in the country.
For those keen on the deep tasti-
ness of Italian gelato, this place is
IT. They are also located right smack
downtown, so you can take that
icecream for a stroll – we suggest
a stroll to their other location for
another scoop. JT
3 PLANTAN
Njálsgata 64
This cute little neighborhood cafe is
100% vegan and does a few things
right: their soup of the day menu up-
dates every week and uses seasonal
produce, they mastered the plant-
based cheese bun recipe to per-
fection, and this might be the most
hearty vegan brunches in town. Look
out for the daily bun and coffee deal,
it truly is like a warm hug. IZ
4 BRAUÐ & CO.
Frakkastígur 16 (and other
locations)
If you’re dying to have some of the
finest pastry, look no further than
Brauð & Co. Although the bakery
has several locations around town,
our hearts are devoted to the
Frakka stígur one. You have to try
their pretzel croissants, vegan
cinnamon rolls, and weekend
specials. There’s nothing quite like
sitting on a bench at the inter section
of Njálsgata, Frakkastígur, and
Kárastígur, sipping coffee and enjoy-
ing the sun. A true weekend essen-
tial! (Beware of windy weather, as
some of our team members may or
may not have had their pastry stolen
by the wind at that exact spot.) IZ
5 CAFÉ BABALÚ
Skólavörðustígur 22
This quirky café hangout is a great
choice when you’re looking for a
cozy, chill experience. Decked with
kitschy decor and plush chairs, the
café is perfect for a refuge from
an instant shower of rain. If you’re
looking to snuggle up with a book
and a good cup of coffee, look no
further. JB
6 BAN THAI
Laugavegur 130
The absolute GOAT – as they say
– in Thai cuisine in Reykjavík. Ban
Thai’s menu is dotted with little
symbols of chili, denoting the spice
level of each course. You’re wel-
come to order a level-5 chili course,
but do so at your own risk. JB
7 GRÁI KÖTTURINN
Hverfisgata 16a
This no-nonsense downtown staple
has been serving Reykjavík dwellers
quality breakfast food since 1997.
Tucked away in a cute cellar, the
diner boasts retro Icelandic design
charm, while its menu is far from
outdated. Pancakes, bagels, and
frying oil all have their special place
at Grái Kötturinn. As Grái Kötturinn
closes at 14:30 every day, it’s
not a place for nighthawks, but
early-birds. JB
8 CHICKPEA
Hallveigarstígur 1
This Mediterranean-inspired
restaurant is a great place for a
quick bite. Servings are generous
and the food nutritious, meaning
you’ll go full well into the day. They
do wraps, falafels, and all kinds of
salads exceptionally well. Prices
aren’t extremely steep, but nothing
to write home about either. JB
9 KRÓNAN
Hallveigarstígur 1 & more
locations
If you’re ever in a pinch while looking
for something cheap to eat if you’re
downtown just go to Krónan and
pick out some flatkökur. Flatkökur
goes great with everything. Be it the
Mediterranean/Icelandic fusion of
lathering some with hummus, or turn
it into a poor-man’s pizza with pizza
sauce and cheese. Honestly, the
flatkaka is an empty canvas for you
to paint your wildest dreams on. JB
Drinking
10 APERÓ VÍNBAR
Laugavegur 20b
A wine bar that is both opulent and
accessible? Yes please. The small
team at Aperó remember the orders
of regulars and make first-timers
feel like regulars. If you know what
you like, Aperó will tick your boxes;
and if you’re new to wine, the som-
melier will soon unite you with your
ideal glass. CF
11 KEX HOSTEL
Skúlagata 28
The former biscuit factory now
serves as a trendy hostel, with a bar,
restaurant, and a live concert space.
There’s always something going
on, and if not, it’s a great spot to
grab those after-work drinks. With
a rotation of foreign tourists who
stumble onto a heavy metal show
happening in the restaurant, you’re
always bound for an enjoyable
experience. JB
12 KAFFIBARINN
Bergstaðastræti 1
No words are needed for Kaffi-
barinn. The hangout spot for the
who’s who of Reykjavík. Frequented
by Blur members in the 90s, drug
dealers, and middle-managers,
Kaffibarinn is an establishment
in itself. JB
13 VITABAR
Bergþórugata 21, Iceland
If you’re staying in Reykjavík more
than a few days, you ought to find
your own dive bar – this is ours. It
seems like the time froze at Vitabar,
but we love it that way. People come
for their famous blue cheese burger,
but stay for a few pints and delicious
fries. Sometimes I wish Vitabar
discovered craft beer, but I go back
nevertheless – for a late night bite
and Thule on draft. IZ
14 VÍNSTÚKAN TÍU SOPAR
Laugavegur 27
There are a few bars in Reykjavík that
have learned how to do wine right,
and Vínstúkan Tíu sopar, although
located in the middle of the chaos
and tourist buzz of Laugavegur, is
one of them. Craving Pét-nat? In the
mood for orange wine? Ready to ex-
plore small Slovenian wineries? You
name it – the bar’s staff will be ready
to come up with suggestions that will
suit any pocket. Don’t get me started
on their small bites to pair with wine
– I’m already dreaming about their
grilled peppers and torched broccoli
with salted lemon. IZ
Shopping
& Activities
15 BÍÓ PARADÍS
Hverfisgata 54
Sometimes the smell of popcorn
fills the air of Hverfisgata, as if
beckoning you to come inside.
You succumb and find yourself in
the cutest art house cinema with
colourful posters on the walls and
vintage-looking bar straight outta
Wes Anderson movie. There’s
always a film screening and you
rarely need to book tickets in
advance, so enjoy the old school
walk-in experience and one of the
best Happy Hours in town. IZ
Random Spots
16 EINARSGARÐUR
Laufásvegur 79
This little green space nestled into
the curving juncture of Laufásvegur
and Gamla Hringbraut is an oasis
in the city. Exposed to full sun
seemingly all the time, it’s a peace-
ful spot to stroll through, climb
trees, luxuriate on the grass or toss
the ball for your four-legged friend.
Don’t do that last thing, though. It’s
not allowed. CF
Be Warned
17 101 BISTRO
Austurstræti 3
The bistro on the corner of Ingólfs-
torg and Austurstræti that has a
plaque outside saying, “Come in and
try the worst [insert popular food
item] that one guy on Trip advisor said
we had”, or something like that. It’s
a trap, do not go there. That plaque
has been in the same spot ever since
Hrunið. RG
18 SBARRO
Austurstræti 17 &
Vatnsmýrarvegur 10
“What is this shit?” is how Greil
Marcus famously opened his review
of Bob Dylan’s 1970 album in Rolling
Stone. It is appropriate here. It looks
like pizza, it is sold as pizza, it’s
priced like foie gras, but it tastes
like salted shit. Avoid. RG
19 REYKJAVÍK FISH
RESTAURANT
Tryggvagata 8
Our beef with this place has to do
with their “plokkari” (Traditional
Icelandic Fish Stew). The fish stew
is what you make out of fish left-
overs and potatoes, adding becha-
mel sauce, topped with cheese and
then baked. It’s generally a good
dish, a great way to avoid wasting
food and it costs next to nothing
to make. Taste wise, there is
nothing wrong with how Reykjavík
Fish makes their “plokkari”, the
problem is that the volume you get
for the price is un acceptable; a
tiny cast iron pan of fish stew for
2.690 ISK. An outrage. RG
20 LEBOWSKI BAR
Laugavegur 20a
A joke that’s gone too far. The long-
est lasting theme bar that sprung
up during a theme-bar craze many
years ago. It is the only place in Rey-
kjavík where I’ve witnessed
a grizzly physical assault, pick-
pocketing and generally bad vibes.
The Dude does not abide. RG
A