Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2023, Qupperneq 6

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2023
6
The annual Best Of Reykjavík maga-
zine is once again upon us. We waited
patiently while the Icelandic culture
gods debated, argued and fought until
they finally came to a consensus. Now,
they are ready to bless us with their
conclusions.
You might get lucky and see them
throughout the streets of Reykjavík,
plastering their iconic Best Of Reyk-
javík stickers on this year’s crop of
worthy establishments. As their pow-
er grew through the years, so did the
stickers. What started as cute badges
of encouragement have ballooned to
multiple square metre crests that you
shall never dare take down. Business
owners have described a nirvana-like
experience of achieving the ultimate
goal of covering their windows entirely.
They call it “The Blackout.” Some were
not able to handle it and barricaded
themselves inside, refusing to let any-
body in, such was the burden.
Let’s go back in time. The humble
beginnings of the Reykjavík Grapevine’s
nominations were treated lightly, even
with amusement. It was fun. Locals
flipped through the pages. “This is
cute,” they said, with a smirk on their
face. “But who are they to tell me any-
thing?”
Fast forward to Iceland becoming
the must-visit travel destination. Move
over Paris and London, you’re old news.
Screw off Pyramids. We have Geysir
coming through — oh and who is that
cool cat with the sunglasses in the back-
seat? Well it’s just little old Blue Lagoon,
of course.
The streets of Reykjavík flooded
with travellers searching for something
to do. Lost souls looking for something
to eat and drink. Maybe even buy a tra-
ditional Icelandic garment. But where
should they go?
Thus began the rise of Grapevine’s
influence.
Not only were they the sole outlet
recommending how to spend your time
and money in Reykjavík, but they were
telling you what the absolute “best”
was. They took the power nobody else
dared claim. They became the official
judge of Icelandic culture. Why them
and not some food blogger with the
same sense of self confidence?
The answer is twofold. No one chal-
lenged the Grapevine. No one ques-
tioned their evaluation process. Has
there been progress from the early
days? While I imagine the staff and var-
ious local legends once sat down over a
beer and had some fun making a list of
things they like, I assume the process is
much more sophisticated today. With
the weight these awards carry, surely it
is. Right?
But let us not forget the part that
the people receiving the awards play
in this saga. They could have refused
to acknowledge the Grapevine as the
new rulers of Icelandic taste making.
But there is a sinister correlation be-
tween the success of a business and
being mentioned in this magazine, thus
creating a silent agreement between all
parties.
But no more, my friends. The rev-
olution has started. Yes, I will be spat
on by people on the streets. Yes, I will
have to isolate myself from my family
to protect them. Am I a martyr, you ask?
Your words, not mine.
But if I can get you to open your eyes
and read and enjoy this magazine for
what it really is — a lovely and well ex-
ecuted recommendation pamphlet and
nothing more — then I have achieved
my goal.
Pavel Ermolinski
Basketballer, Martyr
@pavelino15
Foreword
From A
Hater
H
ve
rfisgata 12
Happy hour / 4–7pm
Beer / Wine / Cocktails
RÖNTGEN
BEST OF REYKJ AVÍK
REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE
T H E
BEST NEWCOMER BAR
How To Spot The
Winners
Establishments deemed “best” can be identi-
fied by the Grapevine’s iconic (Pavel’s words,
not ours) Best Of Reykjavík stickers, which we
distribute in a very tasteful standard size.
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
2023
REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE
T H E
BEST GROCERY STORE
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
2022
REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE
T H E
BEST NEWCOMER BURGER
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK
2021
REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE
T H E
BEST NEWCOMER LUNCH PLACE
THE GUIDE-GUIDE