Guidebook for Reykjavík
Food Scene
CURRENTLY CLOSED due to Covid - You will find Geiri Smart Restaurant inside the new and beautifully designed HIlton Canopy Hotel.
Fine dining, family friendly, great for date nights, exceptional wine list and best cocktails in town. Also a great lunch/brunch option.
22 locals recommend
Geiri Smart
30 HverfisgataCURRENTLY CLOSED due to Covid - You will find Geiri Smart Restaurant inside the new and beautifully designed HIlton Canopy Hotel.
Fine dining, family friendly, great for date nights, exceptional wine list and best cocktails in town. Also a great lunch/brunch option.
CURRENTLY CLOSED due to Covid - Slippbarinn is a bistro and Cocktail Lounge inside the Hotel Marina, down by the harbour. They offer a great selection of light dishes, including Fish of the day, a Charcuterie platter and very nice unorthodox pizzas (the one with sweet pears, goat cheese and chilli is absolutely delicious).
At around 22:00 the vibe shifts and the cocktail lounge becomes buzzing with life as this is a popular spot for excellent cocktails, an after work get-to-gether or to start off a great night out on weekends. (Age range 30+)
136 locals recommend
Slippbarinn
2 MýrargataCURRENTLY CLOSED due to Covid - Slippbarinn is a bistro and Cocktail Lounge inside the Hotel Marina, down by the harbour. They offer a great selection of light dishes, including Fish of the day, a Charcuterie platter and very nice unorthodox pizzas (the one with sweet pears, goat cheese and chilli is absolutely delicious).
At around 22:00 the vibe shifts and the cocktail lounge becomes buzzing with life as this is a popular spot for excellent cocktails, an after work get-to-gether or to start off a great night out on weekends. (Age range 30+)
Their baked goods are out of this world. I suspect them to take normal bakery recipes and double the amount of butter and cream and all that is good in this world.
If you don´t try their cinnamon buns, you´ll regret it forever.
316 locals recommend
Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurTheir baked goods are out of this world. I suspect them to take normal bakery recipes and double the amount of butter and cream and all that is good in this world.
If you don´t try their cinnamon buns, you´ll regret it forever.
Hlemmur Food Hall offfers all kinds of everything for everybody :)
I would definitely recommend Skál (their open faced sandwich with sourdough bread and smoked & pickled carrot is awesome), Rabbarbarinn (the langustine sandwich is a great take away lunch option), Te og kaffi has the best coffee (to go or to stay) and the tacos at La poblana are also great.
Enjoy!
136 locals recommend
Hlemmur Square
Hlemmur Food Hall offfers all kinds of everything for everybody :)
I would definitely recommend Skál (their open faced sandwich with sourdough bread and smoked & pickled carrot is awesome), Rabbarbarinn (the langustine sandwich is a great take away lunch option), Te og kaffi has the best coffee (to go or to stay) and the tacos at La poblana are also great.
Enjoy!
Grandi Food Hall is a new addition to the city´s restaurant scene. Wonderful atmosphere out by the harbour and excellent choices of stalls serve f. ex. salmon and bubbly, beautiful lamb crowns and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Definitely worth a stop, possibly after visiting the Maritime museum or the Whales of Iceland museum, and before getting a dessert at Valdís Ice cream shop, just around the corner.
135 locals recommend
Grandi Mathöll
16 GrandagarðurGrandi Food Hall is a new addition to the city´s restaurant scene. Wonderful atmosphere out by the harbour and excellent choices of stalls serve f. ex. salmon and bubbly, beautiful lamb crowns and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Definitely worth a stop, possibly after visiting the Maritime museum or the Whales of Iceland museum, and before getting a dessert at Valdís Ice cream shop, just around the corner.
Artisan coffee Shop. Roasted on spot by real coffee nerds. Very capable baristas. No syrup or whipped cream or any type of commercial coffee drinks available here.
Also a great place to sit down with your laptop if you need to get a little work done. Not touristy at all.
245 locals recommend
Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurArtisan coffee Shop. Roasted on spot by real coffee nerds. Very capable baristas. No syrup or whipped cream or any type of commercial coffee drinks available here.
Also a great place to sit down with your laptop if you need to get a little work done. Not touristy at all.
Family friendly, homemade pasta, great pizzas. If you are travelling with kids, you can´t go wrong with Italian.
Although service has been known to be a little slow at times, the pasta is worth it :)
7 locals recommend
Jamie’s Italian Hotel Borg
11 PósthússtrætiFamily friendly, homemade pasta, great pizzas. If you are travelling with kids, you can´t go wrong with Italian.
Although service has been known to be a little slow at times, the pasta is worth it :)
Just a stones throw from Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool you´ll find the best Ice Cream parlor in town.
All ice cream made on site in small batches.
Do try their Salted Caramel or if they happen to have the "Hjónabandssæla"-flavor. (It means "Wedding bliss" !) And of course they bake their own cones, which are excellent.
Open until 23:00
29 locals recommend
SKÚBB Ice Cream
1 LaugarásvegurJust a stones throw from Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool you´ll find the best Ice Cream parlor in town.
All ice cream made on site in small batches.
Do try their Salted Caramel or if they happen to have the "Hjónabandssæla"-flavor. (It means "Wedding bliss" !) And of course they bake their own cones, which are excellent.
Open until 23:00
Drinks & Nightlife
CURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Known for old school Rock n' Roll served up by Andrea, one of the best DJs in town.
Inclusive atmosphere, 20+, 30+, 40+, frequented by rockers, drag queens, librarians, rockabilly, hipsters and bears alike.
Sometimes they offer live music on the upper floor, f.ex. small glam-rock bands, troubadours, rockabilly, grunge or heavy metal.
48 locals recommend
Dillon Whiskey Bar
30 LaugavegurCURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Known for old school Rock n' Roll served up by Andrea, one of the best DJs in town.
Inclusive atmosphere, 20+, 30+, 40+, frequented by rockers, drag queens, librarians, rockabilly, hipsters and bears alike.
Sometimes they offer live music on the upper floor, f.ex. small glam-rock bands, troubadours, rockabilly, grunge or heavy metal.
CURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Aside from being a straight friendly queer nightclub on weekends, Kiki also hosts drag shows and karaoke nights during weekdays.
45 locals recommend
Kíkí Queer Bar
CURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Aside from being a straight friendly queer nightclub on weekends, Kiki also hosts drag shows and karaoke nights during weekdays.
CURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Small cosy cocktail bar which caters to the locals. Get there early, as they only seat about 60 people and they fill up pretty early in the afternoon.
41 locals recommend
Vedur
33, 101 KlapparstígurCURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - Small cosy cocktail bar which caters to the locals. Get there early, as they only seat about 60 people and they fill up pretty early in the afternoon.
CURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - A tiny micro bar with excellent selection of beer.
262 locals recommend
Kaldi Bar
20a LaugavegurCURRENTLY CLOSES AT 23:00 due to Covid rel. restrictions - A tiny micro bar with excellent selection of beer.
Sightseeing
Visit the top of Hallgrímskirkja Church Tower for stunning views of the colourful rooftops of down town Reykjavík. On clear days you can see the whole city.
743 locals recommend
Hallgrimskirkja
Visit the top of Hallgrímskirkja Church Tower for stunning views of the colourful rooftops of down town Reykjavík. On clear days you can see the whole city.
The view from the glass dome is spectacular. And by all means, don´t miss out on the real ice cave inside!
455 locals recommend
Perlan
The view from the glass dome is spectacular. And by all means, don´t miss out on the real ice cave inside!
Parks & Nature
Great running trails and green plains. Historical monuments of Reykjavík´s washing pools, where women used to wash laundry in hot spring water right up until the 1930´s. You will also find the city´s petting zoo in one end of the park, an inside skating rink, Laugar fitness centre and spa in another end (just beside Laugardalslaug Swimming pool), Flóra café & bistro and Reykjavík botanical garden.
154 locals recommend
Laugardalur
Great running trails and green plains. Historical monuments of Reykjavík´s washing pools, where women used to wash laundry in hot spring water right up until the 1930´s. You will also find the city´s petting zoo in one end of the park, an inside skating rink, Laugar fitness centre and spa in another end (just beside Laugardalslaug Swimming pool), Flóra café & bistro and Reykjavík botanical garden.
A great place for short family hikes and/or a picnic. Historical WWII ruins can also be found in the hillside.
From Perlan/The Pearl (on top of Öskjuhlíð-hill) you can walk/bicycle/roller blade all the way to Nauthólsvík Beach, without being near car traffic.
65 locals recommend
Öskjuhlíð
A great place for short family hikes and/or a picnic. Historical WWII ruins can also be found in the hillside.
From Perlan/The Pearl (on top of Öskjuhlíð-hill) you can walk/bicycle/roller blade all the way to Nauthólsvík Beach, without being near car traffic.
Our tiny (partially heated), local beach. Pack a lunch and get your toes wet. A heated shallow sitting-pool is great for kids of all ages and grown ups alike.
You can even bring your own hot dogs or hamburgers and make use of the available BBQ´s on site.
434 locals recommend
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
Our tiny (partially heated), local beach. Pack a lunch and get your toes wet. A heated shallow sitting-pool is great for kids of all ages and grown ups alike.
You can even bring your own hot dogs or hamburgers and make use of the available BBQ´s on site.
Small park, just across the street from the apartment. You´ll find a lovely children´s playground, a Frisbee Golf course, Basketball courses, Beach Volleyball course, Picnic areas and greens.
Kjarvalsstaðir Museum, located on the edge of this tiny park is also worth visiting and has both a lovely café and an excellent souvenir shop.
150 locals recommend
Klambratún
4 AusturstrætiSmall park, just across the street from the apartment. You´ll find a lovely children´s playground, a Frisbee Golf course, Basketball courses, Beach Volleyball course, Picnic areas and greens.
Kjarvalsstaðir Museum, located on the edge of this tiny park is also worth visiting and has both a lovely café and an excellent souvenir shop.
Entertainment & Activities
Húsdýragarðurinn Park & Zoo
A great place to take the kids on a sunny afternoon.
Adjacent to the local zoo, the park offers all sorts of activities for kids of all ages. Pack your own picnic or utilise the barbecue are and get ready to spend the whole day there.
181 locals recommend
Húsdýragarðurinn Park & Zoo
Adjacent to the local zoo, the park offers all sorts of activities for kids of all ages. Pack your own picnic or utilise the barbecue are and get ready to spend the whole day there.
The perfect place for a swim.
Large indoor and outdoor pool, steambath and many different hot tubs, including a salt water tub and a cold one.
Great option if you have children with you, as there are small water slides, shallow kiddie pools and plenty of other activities.
After the dip, it is customary to stop by the hot dog stand right outside the pool and if you are so inclined, the best Ice cream parlour in town, SKÚBB, is just a 3 min walk from there.
511 locals recommend
Laugardalslaug
105 SundlaugavegurThe perfect place for a swim.
Large indoor and outdoor pool, steambath and many different hot tubs, including a salt water tub and a cold one.
Great option if you have children with you, as there are small water slides, shallow kiddie pools and plenty of other activities.
After the dip, it is customary to stop by the hot dog stand right outside the pool and if you are so inclined, the best Ice cream parlour in town, SKÚBB, is just a 3 min walk from there.
Freddi Arcade & Toys
For the Pinball Wizards.
And their kids. Or not :)
One of the many outdoor swimming pools in the city. Great for a swim in the morning or for a relaxing lounge in the hot tubs in the afternoon.
458 locals recommend
Vesturbæjarlaug
HofsvallagataOne of the many outdoor swimming pools in the city. Great for a swim in the morning or for a relaxing lounge in the hot tubs in the afternoon.
The oldest swimming pool in Reykjavík. Until recently it was only an indoor pool, but since December 2017 a new outdoor area with swimming pool, hot tubs and a kiddie pool have opened.
484 locals recommend
Sundhöllin
45a BarónsstígurThe oldest swimming pool in Reykjavík. Until recently it was only an indoor pool, but since December 2017 a new outdoor area with swimming pool, hot tubs and a kiddie pool have opened.
Shopping
The local mall is a 10 minute walk away, offering everything from HM and Zara to higher end clothing stores such as Kúltúr and Mathilda. Also includes Movie theater, Restaurants etc.
16 locals recommend
Kringlan
KringlanThe local mall is a 10 minute walk away, offering everything from HM and Zara to higher end clothing stores such as Kúltúr and Mathilda. Also includes Movie theater, Restaurants etc.
Laugavegur Street packs loads of different shops, restaurants, café´s and more. You´ll find local designers such as Spaksmannsspjarir, Kron Kron and Kiosk, Outdoor clothing stores such as 66 North, Geysir and Icewear, Concept stores, Shoe stores, jewellery stores and much more.
328 locals recommend
Laugavegur
LaugavegurLaugavegur Street packs loads of different shops, restaurants, café´s and more. You´ll find local designers such as Spaksmannsspjarir, Kron Kron and Kiosk, Outdoor clothing stores such as 66 North, Geysir and Icewear, Concept stores, Shoe stores, jewellery stores and much more.
Essentials
The best place to stock up with essentials for the week is a 10 minute walk away.
135 locals recommend
Bónus
11-13 SkipholtThe best place to stock up with essentials for the week is a 10 minute walk away.
Our neighbourhood convenience store.
Open 09:00 - 23:30 every day of the week.
149 locals recommend
Krambúð
42 SkólavörðustígurOur neighbourhood convenience store.
Open 09:00 - 23:30 every day of the week.