Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.09.2023, Page 44

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2023
44 BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2023
Shopping
Inflation can't get you if you've spent all
your dough
Best Place To Buy A Wool Sweater
Handprjóna-
samband Íslands
Skólavörðustígur 19
Let’s be honest, the only real competition in this category is between the
runners up. There’s simply no better place in Reykjavík to buy a wool sweater
than Handprjónasamband Íslands, or the Handknitting Association. Walking
into their store on Skólavörðustígur is like walking into a warm hug. The shelves
are piled high with plush Icelandic lopapeysa in a seemingly infinite number of
colour and pattern combinations, and the walls are adorned with displays of
woollen mittens and hats to keep you cosy and warm. Plus, as the association’s
name implies, it’s all knitted by hand right here in Iceland.
Runners-up
KIOSK
Grandagarður 35
Among the Icelandic designers that
KIOSK stocks, you just know at least
one of them works in wool — it is
Iceland, afterall. Our go-to choices
for a wool sweater that is warm,
cosy and stylistically on point has to
be BAHNS. By now, the coded raised
pattern on BAHNS’ signature knitwear
— interpretations of the symbols
flashed by bouys for north, east, west
and south — are as iconic among
Reykjavík’s fashionable residents as
the yoke of a lopapeysa.
Farmer's Market
Laugavegi 37 and Hólmaslóð 2
If you want the look of a lopapeysa,
but with a more modern cut and
less bulk, then the wool sweaters
at Farmer’s Market will tick all your
boxes. They Farmers & Friends
storefronts stock sweaters with
updated interpretations of classic
lopapeysa yokes, as well as chunky
cable knits to keep you in style all
winter (and autumn and spring … and
sometimes summer) long.
Previous Winners
2022: Handprjónasambandið
2021: Handprjónasambandið
2020: Handprjónasambandið
Best Grocery Store
Krónan
Skeifan 19, Fiskislóð 15-21 and
Hallveigarstigur 1
So here’s the thing. The panel could
not decide between three locations
of the same store to crown “Best”,
so we’re just going to go ahead and
give it to the Skeifan, Grandi and
downtown outposts of beloved
grocery chain Krónan. That yellow
winking coin makes us happy. What
also makes us happy is Krónan’s app
that allows us to scan and bag our
items as we walk around the store,
pay right on our phone and then book
it without waiting in line or wrestling
with the self check-out machines.
Grandi’s the biggest of the three
and therefore has its wealth of
options tipping the scales in its
favour. The downtown location is,
well, downtown, so it’s perfect for
popping in on the walk home for
those last bits and pieces to make
your dinner sing. As for the perks of
the Skeifan location, one panellist
explained: “Do your usual shopping,
grab lunch at Tokyo Sushi in the back
of the store and then realise that
you’re in Skeifan, so you can go get
all the other shit done you’ve been
meaning to do.”
Previous Winners
2022: Krónan Hallveigarstigur
2021: Krónan Hallveigarstigur
2020: Krónan Grandi
Best Jewellery Store
Aurum
Bankastræti 4
Aurum has consistently been crafting
unique and inventive jewellery
collections for decades and we are
fans. Inspired by Icelandic nature,
Aurum’s creations have such range
that you can find pieces to suit the
exact mood you’re trying to evoke.
“The blend of subtle goth and raw
nature is all one needs to get that
boost of edginess for a night out,”
one panellist said. The breadth of
each collection manages to capture
the very essence of the animal
or natural setting after which it’s
named. The cherry on top is that
Aurum uses only recycled metals
and ethical lab-grown diamonds,
and their truly stunning packaging is
crafted from sustainable mulberry
paper.
Runners-up
Orrifinn
Skólavördustígur 43
Orrifinn has earned a loyal following
for its raw and delicate jewellery.
From their classic anchor design
to their braided metal creations,
Orrifinn sets its wearer apart as
someone with on point accessories
that transcend occasion. We also love
that all Orrifinn jewellery is marketed
as unisex, so everyone can mix and
match and swap and look fabulous
.
Hildur Hafstein
Klapparstígur 40
Hildur’s Klapparstígur storefront is
a vibe we want to envelop ourselves
in. Luckily it’s very much the same
bohemian and eclectic feeling of her
jewellery, so we can adorn ourselves
with her earrings, necklaces and
bracelets instead. Working with
natural semi-precious stones and
bronze, silver and gold, Hildur makes
pieces that are eye-catching and
fun. They’re also great for layering to
create a unique statement look.
Previous Winners
2022: Orrifinn
2021: Orrifinn
2020: Orrifinn
Klappið is the official app for public
buses in the Reykjavik capital area.
Buy bus tickets
and plan your trips
Search for "Klappid" in
the App Store or Google Play.