Reykjavík Hot Destinations

Reykjavík Hot Destinations

Reykjavík is famous for its lovely cafés, bars and clubs. It has gained a reputation for being one of the hottest nightlife cities in Europe. We leave it to you to judge whether this statement is true or not and encourage you to try as many venues as possible. Choose your mood and pick the venue accordingly – there is something for everyone! Much of the nightlife is concentrated on four streets within 1 km radius of each other, so pubcrawling takes on a circular bent which Icelanders call Rúntur (the round). We have compiled a list of popular hangouts according to energy levels to help you decide on your place of revelry.

So if you are 20 + and energetic or 35+ and looking for something sophisticated, then this list will help you decide.

Of course, as the night wears on, these categories might just blend into each other as inhibitions disappear. A piece of advice to “first-timers”: Do not expect to see too many people downtown early in the evening on weekends.

Nightlife doesn’t really start until around midnight, because most people are at private parties until then or making use of Happy Hour which is offered by most places. In this way, Icelanders don‘t allow the expense of a night out to prohibit their joy of clubbing. A lot of the cafés are also bars and take on a different feel in the evenings. Enjoy a pre-club meal at Geysir Bistro, or enjoy a pub quiz at Lebowski Bar before moving on to serious nightclubbing. For those who wish to try national authenticity, try the Icelandic Bar (Íslenski barinn) for an Icelandic culinary session washed down with a good Icelandic beer, or stop off at Den Danske Kro for a taste of Denmark. If you are an English football fan, make your way to the English Pub and check out the score with a cold beer, stay on longer and enjoy some live music form Icelandic troubadors. Meet the locals at Kaldi Bar in Laugarvegur which sells beer from their own micro brewery. Prices vary between places, but on average the range is between 1,500 – 2,500 kr for a meal and 1,000 – 1,500 kr for a large beer. Many bars have happy hour between 17:00 and 19:00 where selected beers or cocktails are offered at reasonable prices.

Most bars and cafés stop serving food at 22:00 or 23:00, but some are still open well into the night on weekends.

Closing time is at 1:00 am on weekdays and on weekends it can be as late as 5:00 in the morning. Most places have no entrance fee unless there is live music offered at the venue. Before heading back to your hotel, join one of the long queues of Icelanders getting some grub or a juicy sub before bedtime.

An Icelandic Valley. Photo by Olga

Pubs and Clubs

American Bar 20+

Austurstræti 8, tel: 571 9999

The place to go for American culture and entertainment. It is a diner-style bar, serving American greats such as buffalo wings and burgers. American whiskey and beers. Happy Hour: 17-19.

Boston 20+

Laugavegur 28b, tel: 517 7816

A cosy, friendly bar with more than a feeling, it’s got ambience and style. A favourite hang out for many Icelandic stars. DJ‘s entertain and patrons dance. Happy Hour: 16 – 20.

Den Danske Kro ( The Danish Pub) 20+

Ingólfsstæti 3, tel: 552 0070

The first pub in Iceland to start happy hour from 16:00-19:00. If you want to meet the locals then this is the place. Live music every night. Happy Hour: 16 -19.

The English Pub 20+

Austurstræti 12, tel: 578 0400

The only English pub in Reykjavík. Open daily from 12:00 and live music every night. Check out the first Wheel of Fortune in Iceland. Spin it to win it.

Græna herbergið (The Green Room) 20+

Lækjargata 6a, tel: 571 3555

Piano cocktail club where musicians are known to gather. Excellent cocktails and live music. Happy Hour: 16 -19.

There is usually so much going on at night in Reykjavík that it is easy to lose your head, not really knowing where to go or what to look for. Browsing through this list of pubs and clubs while sipping a cold beer from Egils or Kaldi, might give you a clearer idea of where you want to end up. We have tried to make it easier for you by categorizing the pubs with icons that show age suitability, dance floor, live music, food service and happy hour for each establishment. Smoking is prohibited by law in all cafés, bars and clubs in Iceland, so some places offer airy outdoor spaces for smokers. Free Wi-fi is also offered by most establishments.

Take advantage of the relative safety of Reykjavík and join the crowd as you stroll between places for a good night out.

Íslenski Barinn – The Icelandic Bar 20+

Ingólfsstræti 1a, tel: 517 6767

This bar has the best selection of Icelandic beers in the WORLD. It serves up to 60 types of all available local beers. If beer isn’t your drink of choice, all liqueurs and spirits produced in Iceland are also available. Happy Hour: 16 -18.

Kaldi Bar 20+

Laugavegur 20b, tel: 581 2200

Small, cosy and very busy. Only Icelandic beers for sale. Be early, because it is Iceland’s most popular bar. Happy Hour: 16 -19.

Lebowski Bar 20+

Laugavegur 20a, tel: 552 2300

Themed after the Coen brothers movie The Big Lebowski, great interior, fantastic burgers and the best White Russians. Happy Hour: 16 – 20.

Petersen Svítan

Ingólfsstræti 2a, tel: 563 4000

A beautiful rooftop bar in one of Iceland’s most famous buildings, Gamla Bíó. Its amazing terrace and 360° view over the city is one of a kind. Jazzy and cool, with lots of history. Happy Hour: 19 – 21.

101 Bar 30+

Hverfisgata 10

Trendy lounge bar at Hotel 101. Cocktails and ambient music.

B5 20+

Bankastræti 5

A modern bar with sleek and stylish architecture. Nice lounge room downstairs. Popular with the younger crowd in Reykjavík.

Bjarni Fel Sportbar 20+

Austurstræti 20

A sportsbar in the centre of town.

Gaukurinn 20+

Tryggvagata 22

A venue for live music and new bands.

Hressó 20+

Austurstræti 20

Café, Bar and Bistro that turns into a nightclub in the evenings at weekends. Reasonable prices.

Hverfisbarinn 20+

Hverfisgata 20

Very popular trendy bar for the young and restless. Live music.

Kaffibarinn

Bergstaðastræti 1

Famous bar. Jet set people, artists and students.

Kaffi Rosenberg

Klapparstígur 25

Live music venue. Mostly jazz, blues and folk music.

Kaffi Sólon

Bankastræti 7a

Café, bistro, bar and a club, all depending on when you drop by.

Kex Hostel 20+

Skúlagata 28

Mixed crowd, good for early evening, affordable meals.

Laundromat Café

Austurstræti 9

Transforms into a trendy bar in the evenings.

Prikið 20+

Bankastræti 12

One of Reykjavík’s oldest bars/cafés. Live music most Fridays.

Slippbarinn

Mýrargata 2

Situated at Icelandair Hotel, Reykjavík Marina. Specializes in cocktails and local brews.

Snaps Bistro Bar 20+

Þórsgata 1

Snaps manages to be a fine restaurant, cozy cafe and a fun bar, all at once.

Uppsalir Bar

Aðalstræti 16

Sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere. Light courses and Icelandic pastries.

Vegamót 20+

Vegamótastígur 4

A popular bar and bistro with a relaxed atmosphere. Diverse menu.

Vínbarinn

Kirkjutorg 3

Wine bar with a sophisticated ambience.

Ölstofa Kormáks & Skjaldar 30+

Vegamótastigur 4

For those who want to sit down, drink beer and meet people.

Icelandic volcanic stones. Photo by Olga

Happy Hours

Happy hour is traditionally a period between 16:00 – 19:00, when pubs and clubs have special offers on beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks. In Reykjavík, many pubs are now offering daily happy hours and an early evening pub-crawl is increasingly popular amongst Icelanders. Listed below are some of the places that offer happy hour in Reykjavík.

    American Bar 16:00 – 19:00

    Boston 16:00 – 20:00

    Den Danske Kro 16:00 – 19:00

    English Pub 16:00 – 19:00

    Græna Herbergið 16:00 – 19:00

    Íslenskibarinn 16:00 – 18:00

    Kaldi Bar 16:00 – 19:00

    Lebowski Bar 16:00 – 19:00

    Petersen Svítan 16:00 – 1:00

    Austur 21:00 – 23:00

    101 Bar 16:00 -18:30

    1919 Lounge Bar 16:00 – 19:00

    B5 17:00 – 19:00

    Bjarni Fel Sportbar 21:00 – 23:00

    Gaukurinn 14:00 – 21:00

    Hressó 16:00 – 19:00

    Hverfisbarinn 15:00 – 20:00

    Prikið 16:00 – 20:00

    Slippbarinn 15:00 – 20:00

    Uppsalir Bar 17:00 – 19:00

    Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar 15:00 – 20:00

    Ölsmiðjan Bar 16:00 – 20:00

    Hverfisbarinn 17:00 – 19:00

    Húrra 18:00 – 21:00

Pro Tip: If you want a list of Happy Hours at your fingertips, we recommend the Appy Hour App.

English Pub: Whether it’s a soccer, rugby or golf, there are always special offers when live events are being broadcasted. There’s live music every night with local musicians and for someone feeling lucky, there is the wheel of fortune