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

Digression on Program Trading

A Digression on Program Trading and Derivative Instruments

Whenever the stock market moves sharply one can be sure that financial commentators and even many market professionals will attribute the change to computer “program trading” or to related activities in the futures and options markets. These markets, where one can purchase an option not only on a single stock but also on a whole stock index (or where one can buy a basket of stocks for future delivery), are called derivative produc markets because they derive their value from the value of the underlying stocks themselves.

Commentators invariably suggest that the proliferation of futures, options, index arbitrage, and program-trading strategies is responsible for dramatic increases in short-term stock-price fluctuations. Analysts now even question whether a useful economic role exists for these instruments. In 1935, John Maynard Keynes delivered a warning that is often repeated today: “When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done.” In late 1989, several of the major Wall Street houses made public pledges that they would eschew program trading in the future in an attempt to dampen market volatility and the New York Stock Exchange announced strict limits on the practice.

Never rush to accept the conventional wisdom. Photo by Elena

Before we rush to accept the conventional wisdom, it is important to recognize that derivative products can play a useful in security markets. These instruments have flourished as a hedge against a perceived increase in basic economic uncertainty. Stock-index futures and options can provide important risk-reducing benefits.; they can be used as hedging vehicles and as inexpensive means of tracking and adjusting positions in underlying assets. By selling index futures against long positions in relatively few stocks, investors avoid the risk of general market fluctuations while concentrating on the prospects for particular companies.

Futures and options also reduce transactions costs since brokerage costs are lower in the futures market than in the stock market. Institutions engaged in temporarily changing a portfolio's equity mix or in providing some “insurance” against market declines can do so at a lower cost by using futures and options rather than by purchases and sales of the underlying securities themselves.

One of the reasons I am particularly sorry to see program trading get such a bum rap is that the technique results in part from the increasing tendency of institutional portfolio managers to follow the precepts. As a careful reader knows, I have long been an advocate of so-called passive portfolio management. I am very suspicious that portfolio managers can add value by actively managing investment funds and switching from security to security in an attempt to catch good buying and selling opportunities. Two-thirds of active portfolio managers have consistently been outperformed by the unmanaged Standard & Poor's 500-Stock Index. Hence, a strategy of simply buying and holding the index (as is done by many so-called index funds) can be expected to produce not average but actually above-average performance.

Program trading is the technique whereby index funds can add or subtract funds from their invested portfolios. When a pension fund which indexes its investments receives a new inflow of funds, it can invest them by simply putting in a program-trade order through a computer for simultaneous purchase of all the stocks in the S&P 500-Stock Index. Program trades of this type are now common on Wall Street and the obviouosly influence securities prices. In my view, this represents a very healthy development that has improved the effectiveness of portfolio management.

Burton G. Malkiel. A Random Walk Down Wall Street, including a life-cycle guide to personal investing. First edition, 1973, by W.W. Norton and company, Inc.

Performance Investing

Performance Investing

Performance investing took hold of Wall Street in the late 1960s. The commandments for fund managers were simple: Concentrate your holdings in a relatively few stocks and don’t hesitate to switch the portfolio around if a more desirable investment appears. And because near-term performance was especially important (investment services began to publish monthly records of mutual-fund performance) it would be best to buy stocks with an exiting concept and a compelling story. You had to be sure the market would recognize the beauty of your stock now – not far into the future. Hence, the birth of the so-called concept stock.

Xerox was a classic example of a concept stock. The concept was that of a new industry where machines would make dry copies by electrostatic transference. The company, Xerox, with its parent protection and its running head start, could look forward to several years of increased earnings. It was a true story – a believable story, one that would quicken the pulse of any good performance manager.

But even if the story were not totally believable, as long as the investment manager was convinced that the average opinion would think that the average opinion would believe the story, that’s all that was needed. The youthful gunslingers became disenchanted with normal security analysts who could tell you how many railroad ties Penn Central had, but couldn’t tell you when the company was about to go bankrupt. “I don’t want to listen to that kind of security analyst,” one of Wall Street’s gunslingers told the author. “I just want a good story or a good concept.” The author Martin Mayer quoted one fund manager as saying, “Since we hear stories early, we can figure enough people will be hearing it in the next few days to give the stock a bounce, even if the story doesn’t prove out.” Many Wall Streeters looked on this as a radical new investment strategy, but Lord Keynes had it all spotted in 1936.

Eventually, it reached a point where any concept would do. Enters Cortess W. Randell. His concept was a youth company for the youth market. He became founder, president, and major stockholder of National Student Marketing. Randell’s motto, if he had one, appears to have been borrowed fro Shakespeare: “Nothing can seem foul to those that win.” First, he sold an image – one of affluence and success. He owned a personal white Learjet named Snoopy, an apartment in New York’s Waldorf Towers, a castle with a mock dungeon in Virginia, and a yacht that slept twelve. Adding to his image was an expensive set of golf clubs propped up by his office door. Apparently the only time the clubs were used was at night when the office cleanup crew drove wads of paper along the carpet.

He spent most of his time visiting the financial community or calling the on the sky phone from his Lear, and sold the concept of NSM in the tradition of a South Sea Bubble promoter. Randell’s real métier was evangelism. When he told meetings of security analysts that NSM was well on its way toward becoming a $700 million marketing organization, they listened with faith, respect and awe.

Performance Investing. Apartments on Manhaten. Photo by Elena

The concept that Wall Street bought from Randell was that a single company could specialize in servicing the needs of young people. NSM built its early growth via the merger route, just as the ordinary conglomerates of the 1960s had done. The difference was that each of the constituent companies had something to do with the college-age youth market. Subsidiary companies sold magazine subscriptions, books and records, posters, paper dresses, guidebooks for summer jobs, student directories, a computer dating service, youth air fare cards, sweatshirts, live entertainment programs, and a variety of consumer staples. What could be more appealing to a youthful gunslinger than a youth-oriented concept stock – a full-service company to exploit the youth subculture? Youth was in – this one couldn’t miss.

Randell kept up his whirlwind promotional pace, making new converts as he went along. Glowing press releases issued forth from company headquarters and Randell’s earnings projections for the company became increasingly optimistic.

While there were some thistles among such roses (the earnings growth was produced by the old conglomerate gambit with the generous support of some creative accounting), “concept” investors bought heavily in the company and blithely ignored all questions. When Gerry Thai’s Manhattan Fund bought 120,000 shares for $5 million, it became clear that Randell had obtained the imprimatur of Wall Street’s performance investors. Even some of the most august and conservative firms, including Bankers Trust, Morgan Guaranty, and Boston’s venerable State Street Fund, bought stock. Pension funds, including General Mills, bought heavily; and United States Trust Company (the country’s largest trust company) bought the stock for many of its accounts. University endowment-fund in the mad scramble for performance. Blocks of NSM were bought by Harvard, Cornell, and the University of Chicago. Bundy himself practiced what he preached, and the previously conservatively managed Ford Foundation Fund also bought a large block.

The follwing table shows the high prices and and enormous price-earnings multiples for National Student Marketing and for a small group of other concept stocks. The number of institutional holders (probably understated) for each security is also shown. Clearly, institutional investors are at least as adept as the general public at building castles in the air.

There were other concepts. Health care, fr example, attracted quite a few adherents. Given the increasing numbers of older people and the spread of federal and private health insurance plans, someone was bound to make lots of money. Four Seasons Nursing Centers of America looked just like that someone. The biggest and most aggressive mutual funds bought in. At one point in 1969, institutions owned close to 50 percent of the company’s stock.

Security, High Price (1968-69), Price Earnings Multiple at High, Number of Institutional Holders Year-end 1969, Low price 1970, Percentage Decline.

Four Seasons Nursing Centers of America – 90 3/4; 113,4; 24; 0,20; 99.

National Student Marketing – 35 3/4; 111.7; 21; 7/8; 98.

Performance Systems 23; – ; 13; 1/4; 99.

The company expanded at a feverish pace, financing itself largely through the issuance of debt. These borrowings were sweetened, however, with so-called equity kickers. This meant that attached to each bond were warrants to buy common stock of Four Seasons at fixed prices. Thus, if the stock price continued to go up, the bondholders could exercise their warrants and make additional profits.

The institutional buyers who flocked in were not only Americans – even the « shrewd » European bankers bought heavily. European purchasers included such illustriuos names as Banque Rotchild, Kreditbank Luxembourgeoise, Crédit Commercial de France, and the European operations of such U.S. Firms as American Express Securities, S.A.; Bache & Co.; Burnah, & Co.; and Merrill Lynch, Ltd. Four Seasons president Jack L. Clark boasted, “without the institutions, we couldn’t have grown nearly this fast.”

As the debt mounted up no one seemed to worry much about the old ideas of prudent debt rations, for this was a new concept and the rules of the game had changed. On June 26, 1970, the company filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act.

Minnie Pearl’s concept is our last example of the period. Minnie Pear was a fast-food franchising firm that was as accommodating as all get-out. To please the financial community, Minnie Pearl’s chickens became Performance Systems. After all, what better name could be chosen for performance-oriented investors? On Wall Street a rose by any other nae does not smell as sweet. The “-” shown in the table under “price-earnings multiple” indicates that the multiple was infinity. Performance System had no earnings at all to divide into the stock’s price at the time it reached its high in 1968. As the table indicates, Minnie Pearl laid an egg – and a bad one at that. The subsequent performance for this and the other stocks listed was indeed truly remarkable. Although not quite what their buyers had anticipated.

Why did the stocks actually perform so badly? One general answer was that their price-earnings multiple were inflated beyond reason. If a multiple of 100 drops to the more normal multiple of 15 for the market as a whole, you have lost 85 percent of your investment right their their. But in addition most of the concept companies of the time ran into severe operation difficulties. The reasons were varied: too rapid expansion, too much debt, loss of management control, etc. These companies were run by men who were primarily promoters, not sharp-penciled operating managers. In addition, fraudulent practices were common. For example, Performance Systems reported profits of $3.2 million in 1969. The SEC claimed that this report was “false and misleading.” In 1972 Performance Systems issued a revision of the 1969 report. Apparently a loss of $1.3 million more accurately reflected 1969 operations. Similarly, the management of National Student Marketing was accused of fraud. NSM’s Cortess Randell eventually pleaded guilty to stock fraud; he served eight months in prison and was fined.

And so when the 1969-71 bear market came, these concept stocks went down just as fast as they went up. In the end it was the pros who were conned most of all. While there is nothing wrong with seeking good performance, the mad rush to outgun the competition week by week had disastrous consequences. The cult of performance and the concept of “concept” stocks were henceforth greeted with disdain when mentioned in Wall Street.

In Panic Town, on the Backward Moon

In Panic Town, on the Backward Moon

By Michael F. Flynn (excerpt)

Port Rosario sits in Arabia, a densely cratered, heavily eroded upland in the Northern Territories. Despite its name, it sits over some of the richest ice-bearing strata on Mars. Old-water canyons wind through the terrain and onto the lowlands, an ancient ocean bed. The dome is set in a deep crater and protected by hobartium loops that deflect incoming cosmic radiation. Mars is a hardscrabble world and attracts hardscrabble folk. No one would go there, weren’t for the archeology and the asteroid-capture program.

Everybody needs a hobby, and the Visitors’ hobby had been throwing rocks at Earth. They had booby-trapped a mess of Main Belt asteroids to drop earthward if we ever got too nosy. If it was some kind of sociopathic IQ test, like some folks thought, we had passed. We had bridled scores of ‘stroids with magnetic sails and tacked them into CEO for mining and smelting. And if you’re going to bridle asteroids, Mars is go-to place. You need less delta-cww going up and down from Mars than hopping rock to rock. That’s why the Visitors come to Mars back when Man was squatting in the forest primeval; and that’s why we’re there now.

Port Rosario always looked down-at-the-heels. There was dust everywhere. I don’t care how good the precipitators are. They say you can never see Venus because clouds hide the surface. The same is true of Mars, except everything is covered with dust. You need a broom to see the true surface. The Martian wind is not very fierce – the air’s too thin – bit it’s persistent. A dust storm can develop in hours, cover the planet in days and last for weeks. Some of it gets inside the domes in spite of all, and gives everything a rough, gritty look.

In Panic Town. Photo by Elena

Rosarians were also rough and gritty, miners and teamsters being far from genteel, so it was well to walk careful. I tried to look dangerous whenever I strolled around town and carried enough mass to make it convincing and a set of brass knuckles in case it wasn’t.

The town is laid out on a simple spoke-and-wheel street-plan. I arrived toward local sunset and took a room in Coughlin House in the northern quadrant with a nice view of the lowlands. Nothing but the best for the Authority. I tossed my gear in the room and headed for Centre Square, which was located exactly where you’d expect.

Local custom says everyone goes there first and shakes hands with the statue of Jacinta Rosario. She’s portrayed without a helmet, which is historically inaccurate but artistically necessary. The statue is surrounded by grass and wildflowers and the only open trickle-fountain on Mars. Periodically, someone worries about “wasting water,” but since Rosario is a closed system, the water doesn’t really get wasted, and the size of the “Fossil Aquifer” underneath the town is good for a great long time. It’s not like Martians are profligate, but like they’ll tell you: “Anything for Jacinta!”

Pilot House is out the end of Mercado Radial by the ATC tower. That’s where zeppelin pilots check in. I stuck my head in the Chief Pilot’s office and asked if Jaroslav Bytchkov was in town and he checked the logs and told me to try Dominick’s Tavern at Mercado and Fourth. That was the heart of the Groin, where the merchant association had chipped in to hire a marshal to patrol the streets and break up fights. The neighborhood was called the Groin because it was a bad place to get your kicks

Icelandic Designers

Icelandic Designers

Fix Up Look Sharp

Icelandic fashion design, and where to find it

In recent years, Icelandic design has burst onto the scene and is making a name for itself with highly-talented designers coming home to deliver their talents after being educated at the best creative centres of the world. Emphasis is usually on modern style with a very distinctive Icelandic twist. Many of these young creators sell internationally and are becoming more and more sought after. Although Reykjavík’s city centre has become their venue with a growing number of small shops, showrooms and galleries, there are also a number of designers who live in the countryside from where they get their inspiration. Look out for local designers in the villages around the country.

Handverk og Hönnun (Crafts and Design) is a non-profit foundation for designers and artists in Iceland and a platform from which many launch their careers in Iceland.

Reykjavík is home to a diverse variety of local fashion brands, many of who have their own downtown stores and boutiques. From Icelandic wool products to sleek couture, streetwear and sharply tailored suits, there's a lot of clothing here that you'll only find in Iceland, Whether you're after a unique piece for a special occasion, or you jut want to stay warm in style, here are some places to check out.

Kiosk: Is a collective of a group independent Icelandic designers. As well as selling their work, the designerrs also take to run the counter, so you'll meet them when you drop by. Ther new location is at Ingolfsstreti 6, right in the heart of downtown.

Kormakur of Skjöldur: This tailor and haerdashery is the king of Reykjavík meanswear. They sell shirts, accessories, and suits in classic cuts, tailored to fit. It's priced accordingly, but it's worth it – their clothing is of the highest quality.

The Sun rises in Iceland. Photo by Olga

Farmers And Friends: If you want to pick up an Icelandic sweater, peruse through Farmers and Friends. Their wares combine Nordic style with a fresh aesthetic, providing you with a modern take on traditional pieces that you could wear everywhere from the farm to Florence. They also sell tailored blazers and coats, stunning shawls and felt hats.

Hildur Yeoman Boutique: Hildur Yeoman is a rising star in Icelandic fashion – you might have seen one of her striking designs on Björk. Her new store sells designs from her womens-wear line, as well as clothing by associated designers, and an array of interesting accessories.

Inklaw: It creates sophisticated streetwear: minimalist and modern, but still undeniably hip-hop. Check them out if you are looking for long-lined oversize pieces, muted colours, and tailored bombers. With the perfect combination of Scandinavian design and urban style, Inklaw's wares are cool, but not in a try-hard way. Every one of their pieces is handmade in their Reykjavík studio, and Justin Bieber is a personal fan.

66 North: If you want to get the Reykjavík look, a good starting point might be a 66 North Workman Beanie and Jökla Para. 66 North is the OG brand in Iceland, donned by everyone from rural farmers to downtown boys. Peruse their wares and it's obvious why – their quality and aesthetic is impeccable. These are pieces that will last not only your lifetime, but probably your grandchildren's.

Steununn Sigurdardottir: She is primarily influenced by Icelandic nature, Her wares are both simple and luxurious, with materials ranging from lambswool to silk, fur and ruffles. This is Icleandic design at its most couture – each piece is guaranteed to garner an envious second glance.

Geysir: The Geysir stores have become a well-known Icelandic brand through their lush imagery, tight branding and sumptuous store interiors. They launched their own clothig line in 2015, with new lookbooks each year since, so if you want that dreamy halcyon look that combines traditional Icelandic elements with a contemporary edge, you know where to go.