Reykjavík Grapevine - Aug 2023, Page 34

The Reykjavík Grapevine 12 / 23 34Food

SÆTA SVÍNIÐ / Hafnarstræti 1-3 / Tel. 555 2900 / saetasvinid.is
990 1.690
HAPPIEST
HAPPY HOUR
IN REYKJAVÍK
ICELANDIC GASTROPUB
DAY 02
KETIL KAFFI
Kaupvangsstræti 8, 600 Akureyri
Everyday: 7:30 - 18:00
With brown-red brick floors and its
concrete walls, walking into Ketil
Kaffi instantly transports you some-
where far away. There is almost
a sacred air around, the kind one
finds in libraries. The simple menu
here spans eggs multiple ways,
alongside filling smoothies and an
iconoclastic lemon cake that war-
rants a visit just for its pared down
beauty. Tall and bare, it is crowned
by a creamcheese stabilised crown
of fluffy frosting. To sit by the win-
dow and quietly watch the world go
by, slice by your side, is meditative
indeed.
LYSTIGARÐUR - AKUREYRI
BOTANICAL GARDEN
Eyrarlandsstofa, 600 Akureyri
Everyday: 8:00 - 22:00
This is indeed the hidden jewel in
Akureyri’s heart. Established and
nourished almost entirely by wom-
en in the early 1900’s, the botanical
garden is proof of the founder’s
determination that a garden such
as this, lush and bountiful, could not
only survive but thrive this far north.
It is a beautifully laid out pleasure
garden with fragrant flowering trees
lining the many paths, guiding one
to various sections. It’s easy to lose
track of time while here, especially if
you find a park bench all to yourself.
LYST
Lystigarður, Eyrarlandsstofa, 600
Akureyri
Monday to Thursday: 08:00 - 21:00,
Friday 08:00 - 23:00, Saturday
10:00-23:00, Sunday 10:00 - 19:00
Could there be a better spot for a
café? Well recognised for its archi-
tecture, it is only since young chef
Reynir Gretarsson took over LYST
that it has garnered an almost cult
following for its “Fish and Vege-
tables.” Book ahead of time, and
specifically ask for the fish as they
tend to run out, sometimes even
by 13:00! Pair that fish with a glass
of wine or their equally renowned
hot chocolate to round off a near
perfect day.
FOREST LAGOON
Vaðlaskógur 605, 605 Akureyri
Everyday 10:00-23:30
There’s no better way to bid adieu
to Akureyri than to drive out of town
and soak in a world class bathing
facility, nestled within the forest.
Forest Lagoon, designed by Basalt,
is a breathtaking facility that knocks
your socks off from the get go. An
expansive pool that overlooks Eyri
and Akureyri, lots of stone pedestals
that function as bar tables for your
drinks, a pool bar and a drinking
water fountain while you hop from
warm pool to sauna to cold pool –
this lagoon has it all. Hours go by
mysteriously here. This is an A-list
bath that’ll have you reconsider your
citizenship status.
To sit by the window and qui-
etly watch the world go by,
slice by your side, is medita-
tive indeed.