Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2023, Side 43

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Best Record Store
Lucky Records
Rauðarárstígur 10
You don’t have to have particularly good fortune to make a great find at Lucky
Records. This Reykjavík staple is huge and packed with records new and old.
Whether you’re looking for the latest release from an Icelandic musician or
international superstar, the soundtrack to Jesus Christ Superstar, or the
release of some one hit wonders who you firmly believe should have been
superstars, you’ll find it among the crates at Lucky. Can’t find what you’re
looking for or not entirely sure what you’re looking for? Just ask the incredibly
knowledgeable staff on hand. They’ll steer you right.
Runners-up
Space Odyssey
Skólavörðustígur 22b
We’re way past 2001, but we can
still experience a Space Odyssey on
Skólavörðustígur. Run by the creative
minds behind the long-runing
Extreme Chill festival, Space Odyssey
is where you can expect to find some
rare gems from the electronic and
ambient scene. You might even catch
a live performance, we they have
a running lineup of soundsmiths
appearing in house.
Smekkleysa
Hverfisgata 32
Icelandophiles and audiophiles
will both find their happy place at
the Smekkleysa record store on
Hjartatorg. The shop iteration of
the record label and art collective
founded by Icelandic icons,
including Einar Örn Benediktsson,
Sigtryggur Baldursson and Björk
Guðmundsdóttir. It’s a great place to
browse a carefully-curated collection
of Icelandic and international indie
albums
Previous Winners
2022: Lucky Records
2021: Lucky Records
2020: Lucky Records
Best Bookstore
Joint Winners
Bóksala Stúdenta
Sæmundargata 4
After years of little movement in
the bookstore category, we were
surprised by the vim with which
the panel backed this shop at the
University of Iceland. “Bóksala
Stúdenta is of course the best one,"
one panellist exclaimed. "It has good
coffee and the best variety. Óttarr
Proppé from the band HAM is in
charge of the buying and he’s pretty
on point." Even if your student days
are behind you, Bóksala Stúdenta is
the best place to peruse Icelandic
and international titles and buy a few
more to add to that "to read" stack.
Eymundsson
Austurstræti
Austurstræti 18
There’s something special about
visiting the Austurstræti location
of Eymundsson. Tourists will find a
wide selection of photo books and
illustrated guides to the sagas, while
readers of all ages and interests
will find the latest Icelandic and
international releases, and a wall
of magazines for taking home and
flipping through. One panellist
drew particular attention to
Eymundssons’s third floor cafe. “Just
get there before 16:00 on a summer
day if you want to catch the sun on
the terrace.”
Hús máls og
menningar
Laugavegur 18
The smell of this place will really win
you over. That classic aroma of used
bookstore that just feels cosy and
inviting. Elevating Mál of Menning
from run of the mill used bookstore
to “best” status is its efforts to
position itself at an intersection of
bookstore and bar, with regular live
readings and musical performances
to boot. So order a Pastis, pick a
book of the shelf and settle in for a
magical time.
BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2023
Shopping
Fill that void in your soul and that space on your
shelves
You can find
various books,
stationery, and
giware in the
University
bookstore.
You can also enjoy
high-quality coffee at our
Bookstore Café while
browsing books and
magazines.
Open Monday-Friday,
9-17, and around the
clock in our online store,
boksala.is
Easy
to order at
boksala.is