Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2023, Page 30
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2023
30
Best Pool
Lágafellslaug
Lækjarhlíð 1a (Mosfellsbær)
The panel this year skewed towards the over-30 bracket, so the criteria for
selecting the best municipal swimming pools had to take into account the
needs of kids and their world-weary handlers. Lágafellslaug might not be the
best spot for actual swimming but instead you get a triple-whammy water
slide (one that ends in warm water, not the usual polar bear challenge) and a
sauna with a glass window, which means you can watch the kids while you try
to unclench that sciatica and buy yourself 10 minutes of uninterrupted adult-
time.
Runners-up
Árbæjarlaug
Fylkisvegur 9
Here’s another one that’s a fair bit
outside of downtown Reykjavík
but well worth a visit. Árbæjarlaug
combines a lived-in 90s charm with
facilities that seem better suited to
Icelandic weather than most pools.
First of all, you have a sauna in the
changing room, which means you
could forego pee-walking on frozen
cement in your tankini and just hang
out there. If you choose to brave
the cold, then the first hot tub is
strategically located right by the
changing room exit. This is very much
a family-friendly pool, though, so
beware if you are looking for a quiet
place to sweat out a hangover.
Sundhöll Reykjavíkur
Barónsstígur 45a
Finally, one for the childfree people!
The original hot tubs (on the 2nd
floor) are a classic of the genre:
large, aquamarine, hot, outside and
without sharp angles. It’s not one of
the biggest pools, however, and the
sauna is best described as ‘good for
two people who don’t mind touching
knees or for three people who don’t
mind human Tetris in the buff. Bonus
points go to Sundhöll for regularly
hosting cultural activities, like swim-
in movie screenings.
Previous Winners
2022: Sky Lagoon
2021: Vesturbæjarlaug
2020: Vesturbæjarlaug
Best Spa
Hvammsvík
Kjósarhreppur (Mosfellsbær)
As many of the best spas are located
outside of Reykjavík, we decided to
include some that fell within a one-
hour radius of Reykjavík City proper.
A quick 45 minute drive delivers you
to this picturesque spa in Hvalfjörður.
The area served as a thoroughfare
between the capital and Akureyri but
after the opening of the Hvalfjörður
tunnel, you can drive along this
scenic route without seeing a soul
(except for the occasional seal).
The spa itself has an open design,
which beautifully integrates into
the surroundings. The hot tubs on
the beach will even “disappear” to
water level during high tide. It’s the
selection of hot tubs and saunas to
fit every taste that makes Hvammsvík
a great all-rounder!
Runners-up
Blue Lagoon
Norðurljósavegur 9 (Grindavík)
What can you say about the Blue
Lagoon that hasn’t already been said.
It’s blue, it’s a lagoon, it’s technically
run-off from a geothermal power
plant, and it’s a pioneer in the
modern Icelandic spa culture. If you
don’t want to rub noses (and other
body parts) with the hoi polloi in the
main pool, then the recently added
ultra-fancy (and pricy) Retreat at
Blue Lagoon offers a more exclusive
lagooning experience, with tiered
wellness rituals and celebrity-
sightings.
Sky Lagoon
Vesturvör 44-48 (Kópavogur)
The verdict here was pretty
unanimous for a panel of infrequent
spa-goers: “I thought I would hate
it, but was surprised at how much I
loved it”. A beautiful spa, nestled in an
industrial part of Kópavogur, which
offers killer views of the Reykjanes
peninsula and any volcanoes that
might be erupting there.
Previous Winners
New category
Best Gallery
Gallery Port
Laugavegur 32,
This year we considered how the
art scene has sought out new ways
of promoting and introducing art
to potential buyers. Gone are the
days of clear divides between the
“sell-outs” and the heroically broke
“real artists”. As recently as 10 years
ago, this wouldn’t have been the
case, but most of today’s artists and
gallerists are able to deftly maneuver
the balance of creative focus and
making a livelihood.. There were
many worthy contenders but the
artist-run downtown gallery Gallery
Port, captained by local dynamo Árni
Már Erlingsson, has constantly made
brave choices that represent the
local scene and have helped shape
the refreshingly straight-forward
approach to communicating the
artist’s vision and finding that art a
new home.
Runners-up
Listval
Austurbakki 2
Selling art in Harpan and in Grandi,
as well as through their online
shop, they have been, as one of our
panelists phrased it “Unafraid to try
new things and run a gallery more
like an art shop.” But it’s not just their
approachability that sets them apart
but a keen eye for highlighting up-
and-coming local artists.
Þula Gallery
Hjartatorg
Þula is a tiny gallery that has
brightened the much-maligned
Hjartatorg (a hotel courtyard, built on
the remains of a local, grassroots art
and activity space). 2022 saw them
presenting a string of fascinating
exhibits, including Auður Lóa, Rakel
McMahon, Melanie Ubaldo and Lilja
Birgisdóttir. Watch this space.
Previous Winners
2022: Gallery Port
2021: Gallery Port
2020: Kling og Bang
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2023
Activities
Stop doom-scrolling and go hill-strolling!
Get out of the city and into the sunshine! Or stay inside, we’re not
the boss of you. Whatever you’re in the mood for, here are some of
our suggested favourite places to catch the latest movies, have a soak
or break an ankle hiking up a hill in a level 5 storm. It’s really up to
you! (But seriously, don’t go hiking in a storm.)