The Truth About Reykjavik’s Bar Scene

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). Opinions are always my own and I’ll never promote something I don’t use or believe in.

Did Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, make the cut when it comes to having an awesome bar scene? The answer, it turns out, is more complex than we expected.

I’ll admit it: living in New York City can inflate your food and drink standards so high that you think nothing else can compare. Sometimes, this is warranted (see: Death & Co and Eleven Madison Park). But about half of the time, our friends want us to pull our heads out of our asses and give other cities a fighting chance. Building on our recent successes finding top notch drinks in London and Israel, then, we went into our Reykjavik bar explorations in October with high hopes.

So did Iceland’s capital make the cut when it comes to having an awesome bar scene? The answer, it turns out, is more complex than we expected.

Let’s set the stage: it wasn’t legal to drink full-strength beer in Iceland until 1989.

Stop and think about that for a second. That’s only 27 years ago. As in, the age of my younger brother, Sir Campsalot. So how did this happen in a country that’s progressive in many other areas, from gender equality to renewable energy?

In the early 1900s, Iceland was engaged in a struggle for independence from Denmark. Because the Danes drank a lot of beer, Icelanders associated this drink with their occupiers and frowned upon alcohol in general. Between the temperance and independence movements, it wasn’t surprising that Icelanders voted in favor of outlawing alcohol in a 1908 referendum.

Prohibition in Iceland officially went into effect in 1915. Interestingly, it was Spain that started to swing the pendulum in the opposite direction: they threatened to stop buying fish, Iceland’s main export, if Iceland did not buy Spanish wines. In 1921, this pressure led Iceland to legalize red and rose wines from Spain and Portugal. Eventually, the ban on spirits was lifted in 1935.

But beer containing more than 2.25% alcohol was still illegal in Iceland after 1935. The reasoning behind this was that beer was cheaper than spirits. If beer was so cheap, they thought, it would lead to alcohol abuse and moral corruption. (Contemporary chaotic frat parties come to mind, eh?)

As Icelanders began to travel more internationally, however, they kept encountering beer, and attitudes started to change. Finally, Iceland’s parliament voted to legalize beer, and in 1989, prohibition officially ended. March 1, 1989 is now celebrated as “Beer Day” in Iceland.

Knowing this, we originally assumed that Iceland’s beer would be watery and terrible, and its cocktails would be mediocre. But that’s not actually what we found. From the first bar we stepped into to the last, we found that Reykjavik is making great strides in the libations department.

Kaldi Bar

Laugavegur 20b, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website
+354 858 0104

Caption

Georg, owner of Kaldi Bar, getting some samples ready for us to taste.

After a full five hours of wandering around Reykjavik waiting for our hotel room to be ready, we accidentally passed by Kaldi Bar as we shivered in the street. Lured by the prospect of beer and a warm place to sit, we ventured inside.

It turns out we couldn’t have picked a better place to begin our journey into Reykjavik’s bar scene. We received the best hospitality here of any of the bars we visited in Reykjavik; Georg took the time to listen to our preferences and found us some beer that we loved. Plus, he got us to try some brews outside of our comfort zone (sunflower flavors, anyone?). The clientele in the bar were like-minded beer aficionados, adding to the sense of camaraderie as we chatted about what we all were tasting.

Kaldi Bar, which opened in 2012, features several Kaldi beers, along with liquor and other brews. Bruggsmidjan Kaldi, where Kaldi beer is made using Czech brewing methods, traces its origins to 2003, when a fisherman living in northern Iceland suffered a knee injury which rendered him unable to continue fishing. His wife saw a report about a Danish microbrewery on the evening news one night, and voila! Their dream of opening their own Icelandic microbrewery became a reality when Bruggsmidjan Kaldi opened its doors in 2006.

(Note: the entrance to this bar is on Klapparstígur.)

Kaldi Bar 3

Kaldi Bar 2

Lebowski Bar

Laugavegur 20a, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website 
+354 552 2300

OMG it's a page and a half of White Russians!!!

Hey, careful, man, there’s a beverage here!

After a long day of exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle via tour bus, we arrived back at our hotel too late for most restaurants to serve dinner. (As a side note, be sure to make dinner reservations ahead of time, especially if you’ll be in Reykjavik during the weekend.) Sheer desperation led us to crave succulent, juicy burgers, so we followed our noses around the block and ran smack into Lebowski Bar.

And oh, what a burger. But even more, what a freakin’ cool bar. You’ve got to love a theme bar that goes all in, and Lebowski Bar truly delivers on this front. We felt like we went through a time warp and somehow wound up on the set of the Coen brothers’ 1998 cult film during an acid trip. A page and a half of various White Russians on their menu? A jukebox and retro kitsch decor?

Yeah, well. The Dude abides.

Lebowski Bar napkins

Lebowski Bar Hey Man

Matarkjallarinn (Food Cellar)

Aðalstræti 2, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website
+354 558 0000

Matarkjallarinn - Reykjavik

As its English name implies, this spot is actually a restaurant–one that’s serving up food on par with New York City. Think slow-cooked cod with green asparagus, smoked lamb, and langoustine hollandaise; crispy pork belly with red cabbage, wild mushrooms, and celeriac; or a scrumptious chocolate dessert with raspberries and hot salted caramel sauce (pictured above).

Ironically, the only reason we happened upon this place is that, yet again, we couldn’t find another restaurant that would take diners this late without a reservation on a Sunday night. (Notice a theme here? Seriously, people, make your dinner reservations in Reykjavik BEFORE your plane takes off.) Our hotel staff suggested Food Cellar for dinner; normally, I take these recs with a grain of salt, but this one turned out to be spot on.

Not only was the meal memorable for us, but surprisingly, so were the cocktails.

Angelica's Tradition and The Black Frog

We ordered two cocktails from the “Competition Cocktails” section on their drinks list, based on the assumption that these would be the best.

Angelica’s Tradition, pictured below, proved to be one of our favorite cocktails of the trip. It included bourbon, angelica syrup, and Bittermens El Tiki.

Angelica's Tradition

Angelica’s Tradition

I’d heard tales of a mysterious spirit known by the name of “Black Death”–or, more accurately, brennivín–while watching one of Zane Lamprey’s TV shows. This spirit is actually a clear, unsweetened schnapps which is flavored with caraway (i.e., similar to anise).

Once we saw the Black Frog cocktail on the menu, we knew we had to order it. The drink–which featured brennivín, limoncello, and cumin syrup–wasn’t as terrible as we thought it would be. The licorice taste of the brennivín came through aplenty, but didn’t completely overpower the drink, making it quite palatable. Extra points for the frog design, though!

The Black Frog

The Black Frog features a frog design (at least, that’s what that green shape is supposed to be)

Slippbarinn

Mýrargata 2, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website
+354 560 8080

Slippbarinn

We had pretty high expectations for Slippbarinn, meaning “Shipyard Bar.” That’s because Slippbarinn holds the distinction of being Reykjavik’s first cocktail bar. But does “first” equal “the best”?

Maybe it was because it was a Sunday. Maybe it was because it was an odd time of day went we went. Or maybe it was because the staff seemed preoccupied with the patrons at the bar instead of the tables, where we sat. But whatever the reason, we were underwhelmed with Slippbarinn on this visit.

The drinks we had weren’t bad; they were definitely tasty. But the trouble began when we attempted to order our drinks. Slippbarinn’s menu (pictured below) is one of the most creative I’ve seen yet. When I saw the ingredients for one drink listed as “bourbon, lemon, ginger, honey, and mint,” I excitedly ordered it. “I’ll have the 2200 drink, please,” I said.

Slippbarinn menu

The server stared at me blankly. “What are you talking about?” she asked, cocking her head.

I pointed to the drink I was trying to order. “This one, the 2200. That’s the word that’s listed above the ingredients.”

She scoffed. “You mean the Ginger Gets Honeys,” she said. “2200 is the price.”

Doh. Lesson learned: the drink names are in bubble letters on this menu. (To be fair, the drink menu does change, so when you visit this bar, dear reader, you will likely encounter a different menu. Just make sure to study it carefully!)

Menu difficulties aside, the drinks themselves were good, but we both agreed that they weren’t as memorable as other places we’ve been to in New York or even Reykjavik. Still, we would visit again on a weekend to see if our visit was just a fluke.

Slippbarinn interior

Kaffibarinn

Bergstaðastræti 1, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website
+354 551 1588

Kaffibarinn

O, Kaffibarinn, we hardly knew ye. We went into thou midst to order a pint, but were banished for taking one measly photo without a flash. While we support bars’ rights to not have pesky photographers afoot and causing mayhem, we do wish that we had sampled more of drinks of thine. Tis a pity.

Apotek

Austurstræti 16, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
Website
+354 551 0011

Apotek

Rodaberg (left) and Hekla (right) at Apotek

In this case, we actually did save the best for last. Apotek served us the best cocktails that we had in Reykjavik, hands down. The staff were friendly and engaging, helping us to find cocktails that fit exactly what we were looking for.

We visited during happy hour, which was a lifesaver for our wallets. All of the cocktails were half price, which allowed us to get two drinks instead of one.

We ordered four drinks:

  • Rodaberg – G-wine gin, elderflower liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, sugar, strawberry puree, egg white, thyme
  • Hekla – Reyka vodka, butterscotch liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, green tea syrup, yuzu
  • Dillagin – Dill-infused gin, mango liqueur, lime juice, sugar, and bitters
  • Black Cherry Bijou – Red Stag bourbon, avocado, passion fruit syrup, vanilla syrup, lime juice, ginger

The Black Cherry Bijou is a bit more of an acquired taste, as the avocado turned the drink into the consistency of a smoothie, making it harder to drink. But all four drinks were beautifully presented, creative, and delicious. We’d return to Apotek in a heartbeat for some of Reykjavik’s best cocktails.

Dillagin cocktail at Apotek

Apotek Dillagin

Dillagin (left) and Black Cherry Bijou (right)

Final Notes on the Bar Scene in Reykjavik

We encountered both hits and misses during our exploration of Reykjavik’s bars. All in all, though, Reykjavik is starting to catch up to the craft cocktail and craft beer scenes from other cities. Apotek and Kaldi Bar are particular standouts here that we highly recommend.

In the meantime, here are some pro tips to help you get the most out of your time at the bars in Reykjavik:

  • Try to hit up happy hour. It’s no secret that everything, from drinks to food and beyond, is expensive in Iceland. Going during happy hour will definitely lessen the impact on your wallet.
  • Use the Reykjavik Appy Hour app to search for deals. You can find it here.
  • Don’t discount the duty-free store at Keflavik airport. We were able to purchase small bottles of brennivín for a pretty good discount at the airport.
  • Bring your own booze. If you’re really ambitious, you can actually take alcohol with you in your checked bag! Check the Keflavik Airport website to see specific regulations.

Apotek Dillagin moody

Did you like this post? Pin it! ↓↓

Did Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, make the cut when it comes to having an awesome bar scene? The answer, it turns out, is more complex than we expected.

25 thoughts on “The Truth About Reykjavik’s Bar Scene

  1. Ashley Smith

    I love this! I didn’t visit any Reykjavik bars while we were there since we stayed out in the country somewhere. And I had no idea about their prohibition issues. 2% beer? What. Is. The. Point?

    1. Julianne

      Thanks, Ashley! And I know, isn’t it crazy? Most people I’ve spoken to didn’t know about prohibition in Iceland either. We’ll have to go back to Reykjavik and explore more bars!

  2. Loreen

    An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been conducting a little research on this.
    And he in fact bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him…
    lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this topic
    here on your web page.

    1. Julianne

      Thanks, Loreen! I’m so glad you liked the article. Congratulations on your free meal – good karma for sharing! 🙂

  3. Jen Morrow

    I have read so much about Iceland lately, but I had no idea about the prohibition laws! I prefer cocktails over beers, so I appreciate your tips. I would have been confused by the Ginger Gets Honey drink name, too.

  4. chanelle

    How interesting, I didn’t know that it was illegal to drink beer 27 years ago. Matarkjallarinn sounds awesome, thinking about eating their crispy pork belly makes my mouth water.

    I’ve heard great things about Appy hour app, I will definitely make use of it during my trip to Iceland later on this year, and definitely check out some of the places you mention. Thanks for the tips 🙂

  5. Rhiannon

    How strange that the law stayed in place until so recently?! I didn’t realise that Reykjavik had such a prominent drinking scene. You’d think that with it being relatively small in comparison to its European counterparts that there wouldn’t be so much of a scene. But still, looks incredible!

  6. Diana - MVMT Blog

    I’m going back to Reykjavik in a month and will definitely be going down your list, as I went with my parents (who don’t drink) last time and didn’t get to check out the bar scene really. The Lebowski bar sounds like one of those places that you know might be gimmicky but you still have to try it for yourself anyway. Really looking forward to checking out the bar scene there – thanks for sharing this 🙂

  7. Jenni

    Looks a great way to spend a few hours I love it when they give you samples especially of beer and wine. Not that I have ever had many I don’t like. I want to try the black frog cocktail it looks amazing

  8. Sasha

    I had no idea that alcohol was illegal until recently, so interesting. I think for a city with such a small population they are doing really well in the culinary and bar scene. The Rodaberg drink at Apotek looks delicious!!!

  9. Only By Land

    Perfect post! I’m visiting next month and I was wondering where to drink with my Dad. A great introduction with the history of the alcohol laws, thankfully they changed these! The Kaldi Bar is definitely appealing and I’ll download the app so we’re there at happy hour. Beyond expensive? I’ll go to the bathroom when it’s my round.

  10. Megan

    I had no idea that traditional beer was illegal in Iceland for that long. An interesting approach to treating alcohol as a problem. It’s good to know there are quality spots anyway. I think Apotek looks my speed.

  11. Pingback: 2017 Will Rock (Or: I Finally Wrote a 2016 Recap) - It's Five O'Clock Here

  12. Susan

    I didn’t know there was such a strong drink scene here. I’d love to head to your favorite bar, Apotek, to try some of the cocktails including the DIllagin. Dill infused gin plus mango liqueur? Sounds so interesting!

  13. Juliann

    Oh my gosh. I can’t wait to go to Iceland! We have a new budget airline out of CVG, so it’s in the near-future plans. That’s crazy about the beer and prohibition until 1989! In this day and age? Flabbergasted. But, looks like they’ve made up for it. I will seek out Georg and definitely slip inside Lebowski Bar while I’m there. A sunflower beer, huh? I’ve gotta try it.

  14. Ashley

    Very interesting – I had no idea that it was illegal until 1989! That’s crazy to think about honestly. Also, I love that they now celebrate Beer Day!

  15. Andi

    I’m still on the fence about Iceland. I know the food scene is hit or miss and I guess from your experience the same can be said for the bars. Travel is more than food or drink, but it is important to me.

  16. Cat

    Wooo you’ve found some great places to grab some drinks in Reykjavik! Matarkjallarinn’s chocolate dessert has caught my attention, and their Angelica’s Tradition! This place will certainly be on my list for Iceland! Also, I’d be sure to remember to make dinner reservations 🙂

  17. Jen

    Thanks for this list! Heading to Iceland soon. I hear the drinks are really expensive, so maybe they still subtly deter drinking in that way haha.

  18. Pingback: The Best Two-Day Iceland Stopover Itinerary For First-Time Visitors – My Wanderlusty Life

  19. Pingback: 5 Romantic NYC Bars That Are Perfect for Valentine's Day - It's Five O'Clock Here

  20. Pingback: Drinks in Translation: Visiting New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo - It's Five O'Clock Here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.