Some Reykjavik recommendations
Essentials
A minimarket just around the corner with most necessities and conveniently open until 23:30 every day. If you need to do more extensive grocery shopping however you should aim for Krónan, also on my recommendations map.
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Krambúð
42 SkólavörðustígurA minimarket just around the corner with most necessities and conveniently open until 23:30 every day. If you need to do more extensive grocery shopping however you should aim for Krónan, also on my recommendations map.
Convenience store, walking distance from my house (less than 10 minutes). They have a decent selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, plus all necessities. Open 9-20 every day.
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Krónan
50 ReykjavikurvegurConvenience store, walking distance from my house (less than 10 minutes). They have a decent selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, plus all necessities. Open 9-20 every day.
Food Scene
Neighborhood bistro (French/Icelandic) with a good ambiance. Fish of the day comes at a decent price. Tends to get very busy at night so can be hard to get a table.
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Snaps Bistro
1 ÞórsgataNeighborhood bistro (French/Icelandic) with a good ambiance. Fish of the day comes at a decent price. Tends to get very busy at night so can be hard to get a table.
This is a pub more than a restaurant, and a very local one at that. Nothing fancy here, just a plain old (slightly seedy even) pub with beer and burgers, and plenty of regulars. Try the "Gleym-mér-ei" (Forget-me-not) burger with blue cheese.
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Vitabar
21 BergþórugataThis is a pub more than a restaurant, and a very local one at that. Nothing fancy here, just a plain old (slightly seedy even) pub with beer and burgers, and plenty of regulars. Try the "Gleym-mér-ei" (Forget-me-not) burger with blue cheese.
Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurBest coffee in town (hipster-alert)
This is by far my favorite bakery, with a simple but delicious selection of sour-dough breads and pastries to die for. Try their blueberry+liquorice cinnamon buns!
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Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurThis is by far my favorite bakery, with a simple but delicious selection of sour-dough breads and pastries to die for. Try their blueberry+liquorice cinnamon buns!
This is a classic restaurant and one of the city´s oldest, run by the same family in the same place since 1989, just down the street from my house. Serving mainly seafood he cuisine is traditionally Icelandic meets French and the fish as fresh as possible.
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Þrír frakkar
14 BaldursgataThis is a classic restaurant and one of the city´s oldest, run by the same family in the same place since 1989, just down the street from my house. Serving mainly seafood he cuisine is traditionally Icelandic meets French and the fish as fresh as possible.
Iceland's first (and so far only) Michelin star restaurant, recently moved from the University area to downtown Reykjavik. This is all about the New Nordic cuisine - classic Icelandic ingredients served in an innovative way.
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Dill Restaurant
Iceland's first (and so far only) Michelin star restaurant, recently moved from the University area to downtown Reykjavik. This is all about the New Nordic cuisine - classic Icelandic ingredients served in an innovative way.
Sjávargrillið
14 SkólavörðustígurGreat seafood grill.
This is pub grub with a flare. Small tapas-sized fusion dishes and bottomless brunch every day.
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Public House Gastropub
24 LaugavegurThis is pub grub with a flare. Small tapas-sized fusion dishes and bottomless brunch every day.
Should you find yourself down by the Reykjavik harbour (and I do recommend you take a walk there!) this is a lovely seafood restaurant with great views over the harbour.
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The Harbor Restaurant
7 GeirsgataShould you find yourself down by the Reykjavik harbour (and I do recommend you take a walk there!) this is a lovely seafood restaurant with great views over the harbour.
Tapas-style restaurant, with nice decor and reasonable prices. Food is Icelandic/Italian fusion.
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MAT BAR
26 HverfisgataTapas-style restaurant, with nice decor and reasonable prices. Food is Icelandic/Italian fusion.
Until very recently Hlemmur used to be a seedy bus terminal with a bad reputation. In 2017 it reopened as a food market, with great little casual restaurants and bars.
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Hlemmur Mathöll
107 LaugavegurUntil very recently Hlemmur used to be a seedy bus terminal with a bad reputation. In 2017 it reopened as a food market, with great little casual restaurants and bars.
Want to try typical, old-fashioned Icelandic home food? Unless you get an invite to the home of a local grandmother, Café Loki will come as close second. It's a friendly and bright café, directly opposite Hallgrímskirkja with a nice view to the church. Kjötsúpa (meat soup), plokkfiskur (gratinated mashed fish), rúgbrauð (rye bread) and flat bread, dried fish, smoked lamb and smoked salmon: Café Loki has all those flavours. You could even brave the hákarl and brennivín (fermented shark and liquor)!
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Café Loki
28 LokastígurWant to try typical, old-fashioned Icelandic home food? Unless you get an invite to the home of a local grandmother, Café Loki will come as close second. It's a friendly and bright café, directly opposite Hallgrímskirkja with a nice view to the church. Kjötsúpa (meat soup), plokkfiskur (gratinated mashed fish), rúgbrauð (rye bread) and flat bread, dried fish, smoked lamb and smoked salmon: Café Loki has all those flavours. You could even brave the hákarl and brennivín (fermented shark and liquor)!
Small and cozy wine bar, with good food and a great selection of natural wines.
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Vínstúkan Tíu sopar / Wine Bar
27 LaugavegurSmall and cozy wine bar, with good food and a great selection of natural wines.
Excellent wood-fired pizzas directly across the street from my house (1 minutes walk!).
Reykjavik Pizzeria
Excellent wood-fired pizzas directly across the street from my house (1 minutes walk!).
The lates branch of Reykjavik Roasters is at the Asmundarsalur art museum, at the end of my street, Freyjugata. There are rotating exhibitions upstairs, free entry.
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Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurThe lates branch of Reykjavik Roasters is at the Asmundarsalur art museum, at the end of my street, Freyjugata. There are rotating exhibitions upstairs, free entry.
One of the best restaurants in town. Fresh, innovative sea food and a great wine selection. Highly recommend.
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BRÚT Restaurant
2 PósthússtrætiOne of the best restaurants in town. Fresh, innovative sea food and a great wine selection. Highly recommend.
Another restaurant with small tapas-style dishes, just around the corner from my house. They have a nice outdoor area, and if you're lucky enough to get a table on the balconies you'll enjoy the perfect view of Hallgrimskirkja in the afternoon sun.
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ROK
26a FrakkastígurAnother restaurant with small tapas-style dishes, just around the corner from my house. They have a nice outdoor area, and if you're lucky enough to get a table on the balconies you'll enjoy the perfect view of Hallgrimskirkja in the afternoon sun.
Sightseeing
Reykjavík's most famous landmark is the most obvious reference point for finding your way back home to the house ;) Entry into the church itself is free but there's a fee for going up the tower. On a clear day it's worth it for the city's best views!
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Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavík's most famous landmark is the most obvious reference point for finding your way back home to the house ;) Entry into the church itself is free but there's a fee for going up the tower. On a clear day it's worth it for the city's best views!
A sculpture by the sea, next the Harpa Concert Hall. The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) resembles an old viking ship. There are fabulous views to Mt. Esja and the other mountains north of Reykjavik, especially around sunset.
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Sólfarið
A sculpture by the sea, next the Harpa Concert Hall. The Sun Voyager (Sólfarið) resembles an old viking ship. There are fabulous views to Mt. Esja and the other mountains north of Reykjavik, especially around sunset.
Drinks & Nightlife
This bar/nightclub is an institution in the Reykjavik nightlife. If you've seen the movie 101 Reykjavik, this is the venue where it took place. The fun doesn't really start until after midnight, when it gradually fills up until it's completely packed.
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Kaffibarinn
This bar/nightclub is an institution in the Reykjavik nightlife. If you've seen the movie 101 Reykjavik, this is the venue where it took place. The fun doesn't really start until after midnight, when it gradually fills up until it's completely packed.
(Entrance at Klapparstígur). This is a nice little microbrewerey bar on a side street just off Laugavegur.
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Kaldi Bar
20a Laugavegur(Entrance at Klapparstígur). This is a nice little microbrewerey bar on a side street just off Laugavegur.
This is a rooftop bar, with decent drinks and views over the city from the outside deck. Nice if the weather is good. The crowd tends to be people in their thirties and forties.
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Petersen svítan
This is a rooftop bar, with decent drinks and views over the city from the outside deck. Nice if the weather is good. The crowd tends to be people in their thirties and forties.
One of my favorite bars for catching up with friends and colleagues over a drink. It's an older crowd. Bright with big windows and a cozy decor. The cocktails are excellent.
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Vedur
33, 101 KlapparstígurOne of my favorite bars for catching up with friends and colleagues over a drink. It's an older crowd. Bright with big windows and a cozy decor. The cocktails are excellent.
Great, funky cocktails and dancing. Start the night on the floor below with awesome mexican/Icelandic tapas, then go up for cocktails. Not cheap! But good.
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Pablo Discobar
Great, funky cocktails and dancing. Start the night on the floor below with awesome mexican/Icelandic tapas, then go up for cocktails. Not cheap! But good.
Kex Hostel is a lively venue, bar+restaurant, often with live music (during Iceland Airways they always have some off-venue events, for example).
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Kex Hostel Reykjavik
28 SkúlagataKex Hostel is a lively venue, bar+restaurant, often with live music (during Iceland Airways they always have some off-venue events, for example).
Very hipstery place to go dancing in the after-hours. They also sometimes how crazy karaoke nights, quirky pub quizzes and live concerts.
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Húrra
Very hipstery place to go dancing in the after-hours. They also sometimes how crazy karaoke nights, quirky pub quizzes and live concerts.
My favorite bar. Sophisticated enough during the evening, often wild in the wee hours.
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Röntgen Bar
My favorite bar. Sophisticated enough during the evening, often wild in the wee hours.
Vedur
33, 101 KlapparstígurNice bar, good cocktails and big windows.
Port 9
Nice wine bar, tucked down a small alley.
Arts & Culture
The house is one of the oldest on the hill and was built by the artist himself, Einar Jonsson. The museum inside is spectacular if you enjoy sculpture art, and it includes the artist's apartment as he left it. The garden outside it is lovely, open 24/7 with free entry.
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Einar Jónsson Museum
51 NjarðargataThe house is one of the oldest on the hill and was built by the artist himself, Einar Jonsson. The museum inside is spectacular if you enjoy sculpture art, and it includes the artist's apartment as he left it. The garden outside it is lovely, open 24/7 with free entry.
Harpa, the conference hall, stood half-finished for years during Iceland's financial crisis, as a symbol of our hubris. However, once finished it is a much beloved building, housing both the opera and the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as Iceland Airwaves music festival, international conferences etc. Its glass exterior was beautifully designed by artist Olafur Elíasson. Entrance is free to the building itself, to admire both the architecture but not least the beautiful views over Reykjavik harbour. Also, my personal favorite: Behind the building there's a small marina, and if you go there at sunset, the reflection of the sun on the glass exterior of the building is absolutely amazing!
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Harpa station
KalkofnsvegurHarpa, the conference hall, stood half-finished for years during Iceland's financial crisis, as a symbol of our hubris. However, once finished it is a much beloved building, housing both the opera and the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as Iceland Airwaves music festival, international conferences etc. Its glass exterior was beautifully designed by artist Olafur Elíasson. Entrance is free to the building itself, to admire both the architecture but not least the beautiful views over Reykjavik harbour. Also, my personal favorite: Behind the building there's a small marina, and if you go there at sunset, the reflection of the sun on the glass exterior of the building is absolutely amazing!
Swimming pools
Every neighborhood in Reykjavik, and every town around the country, has its own swimming pool. There are 3 pools within walking distance of my house (5 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes walk). Attending these pool, either for swimming, relaxing or socializing, is a huge part of Icelandic culture. I'd highly recommend a visit to one (or more for comparison!) of the swimming pools, for an authentic local experience. Just please be aware that every guest is expected to was, thoroughly, without swimsuits on, before entering the pools.
This is my neighborhood pool. One of Reykjavik´s oldest pools, (1937) it's iconic for being designed by the then only architect in Iceland, Guðjón Samúelsson, who also designed the Hallgrímskirkja church, the University of Iceland, the National Hospital and the National Theater.
Until recently it was an indoor pool only, but Icelanders prefer swimming outside in the cold and in November 2017 a much anticipated new outdoor area was opened by Sundhöllin, with a 25 meter pool, hot and cold pots, sauna and steam bath.
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Sundhöllin
45a BarónsstígurThis is my neighborhood pool. One of Reykjavik´s oldest pools, (1937) it's iconic for being designed by the then only architect in Iceland, Guðjón Samúelsson, who also designed the Hallgrímskirkja church, the University of Iceland, the National Hospital and the National Theater.
Until recently it was an indoor pool only, but Icelanders prefer swimming outside in the cold and in November 2017 a much anticipated new outdoor area was opened by Sundhöllin, with a 25 meter pool, hot and cold pots, sauna and steam bath.
A bit further away but easily reachable by bus, is the biggest swimming pool complex in Reykjavik (and Iceland), Laugardalslaug has an olympic-sized pool, several pots of different temperature, a steambath and a large playing area with kids, including a waterslide. There's also a World Class gym adjacent to it, and a fantastic spa, Laugar (but this comes at an additional, much higher price).
Also, the pool is located in Laugardalur valley, a lovely green area where nearby you can find and ice skating rank, the Asmundur Jonsson Art museum and the Reykjavik botanical garden, all clustered in the same area.
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Laugardalslaug
105 SundlaugavegurA bit further away but easily reachable by bus, is the biggest swimming pool complex in Reykjavik (and Iceland), Laugardalslaug has an olympic-sized pool, several pots of different temperature, a steambath and a large playing area with kids, including a waterslide. There's also a World Class gym adjacent to it, and a fantastic spa, Laugar (but this comes at an additional, much higher price).
Also, the pool is located in Laugardalur valley, a lovely green area where nearby you can find and ice skating rank, the Asmundur Jonsson Art museum and the Reykjavik botanical garden, all clustered in the same area.
This is one of my favorite swimming pools in Reykjavik, after it was renovated a few years ago. It's about a 20 minutes walk from the house, in the same direction as the National Museum of Iceland. It's a very local pool, full of regulars from the neighbourhood, Vesturbærinn (Reykjavik West Side). The pool is 25 meters, there's an excellent steam bath, saunas and several hot pots. Across the street you'll find one of the most popular cafés in Reykajvik, Kaffi Vest, where I'd highly recommend you stop by for a bite or a drink after your swim.
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Vesturbæjarlaug
HofsvallagataThis is one of my favorite swimming pools in Reykjavik, after it was renovated a few years ago. It's about a 20 minutes walk from the house, in the same direction as the National Museum of Iceland. It's a very local pool, full of regulars from the neighbourhood, Vesturbærinn (Reykjavik West Side). The pool is 25 meters, there's an excellent steam bath, saunas and several hot pots. Across the street you'll find one of the most popular cafés in Reykajvik, Kaffi Vest, where I'd highly recommend you stop by for a bite or a drink after your swim.
Parks & Nature
The small lake in Reykjavik city center is a beautiful spot all year round, and around 5-10 minutes walk downhill from my house. It's great for a stroll or a run, and in winter it often freezes over and turns into a natural ice-skating rank.
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Tjörnin
The small lake in Reykjavik city center is a beautiful spot all year round, and around 5-10 minutes walk downhill from my house. It's great for a stroll or a run, and in winter it often freezes over and turns into a natural ice-skating rank.