Reykjavík Survival Guide

 

 EVE beer

HOW MUCH IS THE BEER!?

Iceland is in the middle of a financial crisis and our currency has crashed. Lucky for you beer lovers. At the moment the cost of beer is around 500- 800 ISK (approx. 4-6 USD / 3-4 EUR). "Iceland is back on the map as a low-cost tourist destination," said reporter Jim Boulden on CNN. The US Dollar has gained 50% in value against the  Icelandic Krona over the last year which puts Iceland in the top 5 bargain destinations according to USA TODAY. The beauty of Iceland is the same as before and so is the hospitality of Icelanders.

 

 


WHAT IS THE ICELANDIC NIGHTLIFE LIKE?

Most locals tend to cut costs by consuming a lot of alcohol at home before going out around midnight or later. Opening times for the majority of cafe-bars are Sunday to Thursday 1000-0100 and Friday and Saturday 1000-0300. Nightclubs close around 0400 - 0600. Alcohol is available from licensed bars, restaurants and The State Alcohol and Tobacco Company of Iceland shops aka Vínbúðin (open Monday to Thursday 1100-1800 and Friday 1100-1900). The minimum drinking age is 20 years.


All of Reykjavik's nightlife centers on the main street, Laugavegur, and the roads leading off it. You can spend the whole night going from one place to another! All within walking distance of each other. The cafes and bars in Reykjavik transform into buzzing drinking and dancing venues in the evening. Bars and clubs usually don't charge an entrance fee unless there is live music.

 

We recommend the following clubs / bars to load up on precious beer and check out Icelandic womenfolk: Vegamót, b5, Kaffibarinn, Jacobsen, Apótek, Prikið, Hressó, Boston / Segurmo, and Café Cultura.

 

 

 

ART / MUSIC / SHOPPING / TRAVEL

Check out The Reykjavík Grapevine: Your essential guide to life, travel and entertainment in Iceland.

 

 

 

WHERE TO EAT FOR AROUND 1000-2000 ISK?

  • HAMBORGARABÚLLAN: aka The Hamburger Joint: Considered by some to be the best real hamburger in Reykjavík, “Búllan” does serve some mysteriously delicious burgers, guaranteed to take the edge off any hangover.
  • PRIKIÐ: Part of the Reykjavík bar scene for decades, this café/bar has a fairly cheap menu and attracts a mix of students and old regulars. R&B and Hip-Hop plays on weekends.
  • SÓLON: Truly a jack-of-all trades establishment. By night a decent restaurant, by day a cafe/bistro and on Friday and Saturday nights a nightclub. Art exhibitions on the walls to top it off.
  • VEGAMÓT: A wildly popular bistro bar a few steps from Laugavegur main shopping street. At 23:30 p.m. the kitchen closes down and Vegamót morphs into a steamy DJ spinning party romp where home-grown foxy felines and loads of Brits canoodle and boogie until the wee hours.
  • B5: By day a chic little bistro with good food and a prime location for Laugavegur people watching - by night a stylish bar with a “whiskey room” and manhattanesque clientele.
  • BOSTON / SEGURMO: Until now, Boston has been known as a staple of Reykjavik nightlife. The bar is kept busy on most nights as people pile in from the cold.  And while the atmosphere is cozy and mellow during the early hours of the evening making it perfect for dinning, this place has been know more as a bar than a restaurant.  But all that is about to change.
  • CAFE CULTURA: Situated in the intercultural center, Cultura is a cafe/bar with a cosmopolitan feel. The menu features all sorts of international dishes, alongside the staple salad and sandwich.
  • HRESSÓ: With a spacious neutral interior, pleasant courtyard and a varied lunch menu, Hressó attracts a specific type of crowd
  • AMERICAN STYLE: With a soft bun and lots of veggies, you can settle into a booth and eat for hours. Big portions for authentic American dining.
  • BÆJARINS BEZTU: The oldest fast-food in Iceland, it is feasibly the best hot dog stand in Europe
  • SUSHIBARINN: Sushibarinn has recently become the talk of the town among Reykjavík sushi lovers, serving, in our opinion, the very best rolls in city.
  • KRUA THAI: We dare you to find a better meal for the same price anywhere else. Every dish is delicious. Just eat what looks best to you on their colorful menu.
  • O-SUSHI RESTAURANT: Also called "The Train", O Sushi's most intriguing feature is a conveyor belt that runs around the entire restaurant delivering a
    buffet of authentic Sushi straight to your table.
  • SANTA MARIA: The real taste of Mexico, the way it’s meant to be.
  • REYKJAVÍK PIZZA COMPANY: Some say this upscale pizzeria has the best slice in town.
  • NONNABITI: “Nonni” is one of the more popular junk-food places in town, renowned for its greasy sandwiches and its unique Nonni-sauce. Open late for a midnight cravings.
For more upscale and expensive restaurants, check out Domo, Við Tjörnina, Fiskmarkaðurinn, La Primavera, 3 Frakkar, Sjávarkjallarinn, VOX, and Austur-Indía Félagið.


 


 





 

 

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