REYKJAVIK NIGHTLIFE
Weekends in Reykjavik is party time!
Reykjavik's nightlife focuses on the main street, Laugavegur, and the roads leading off it. The cafés and bars in Reykjavik tend to have a Jekyll and Hyde character - serving beer and coffee throughout the day, before transforming into buzzing drinking and dancing venues in the evening. The runtur (pub crawl) is a great way to find the best bars, with the length of the queues to get in acting as a good indication of their popularity!
Opening times for the majority of café-bars are Sunday to Thursday 10.00 to 01.00 and Friday and Saturday 10.00 to 03.00. Nightclubs close at around 04.00 or 05.00 and the dress code is strictly very smart. Alcohol is available from licensed bars, restaurants and afengisbud (ATVR) shops. The minimum drinking age is 20.
GAUKUR A STÖNG (Tryggvagata 22)
Is 'the Oldest Pub in Reykjavik' and is still one of the most popular, with live music every night. It is advisable to arrive early to avoid the queues and be prepared for some dubious Icelandic heavy rock, which often barges in among the more interesting local talent.
KAFFI REYKJAVIK (Vesturgata 2)
Be it the cuisine or the ambience, Kaffi Reykjavík has a lot to offer. The restaurant has seven different rooms in all, which seat different types and sizes of groups - Kaffi Reykjavik Brasserie, Red Room, Yellow Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Cabaret Room and Cognac Room. Each room offers a unique combination of food, drinks and ambience. The restaurant is popular for providing the best deal for group menus and it also takes orders for special occasions. And don't miss the famous Ice Bar - the interiors are made of ice and the temperature is kept below zero degree celsius. Now that's 'Ice'land, isn't it?
KAFFIBARINN (Bergstadastraeti 1)
Whether British pop star Damon Albarn is still a part-owner or not, this is still a meeting place of the city's media set with a certain appeal, which can be seen by the frequent queues to get in. Reykjavik's celebrities (including Björk) head to Sir Terence Conran's Rex at Austurstraeti 9.
CAFE VICTOR (Hafnarstraeti 1 - 3)
Café Victor is a normal come as you are café/bistro during the week with an interesting fusion of Mexican and Icelandic cuisine in large portions so make sure you show up hungry. At weekends Victor transforms into a lively nightclub where Iceland’s best DJs make sure you dance 'till you drop.
THE DUBLINER (Hafnarstraeti 4)
Reykjavik has jumped on the Irish bar bandwagon with The Dubliner. A decent and dimly lit stab at a traditional Irish bar.
KAFFI BRENNSLAN (Pósthússtraeti 9)
Despite its caffeine-inspired name, Kaffi Brennslan has a breathtakingly large selection of beers and free English-language magazines to leaf through for those in search of a quieter night.
NASA (Austurvöllur Sq)
The impressive NASA, located off Austurvollur, opened in 2001 and still draws the crowds with music from disco to house playing on its three floors, and live bands early in the evening.
CAFE SOLON (Bankastraeti 7)
Café Solon is a bar/bistro during the day but turns into a nightclub at the weekend.
CAFE DE PARIS (corner of Austurstraeti/Posthusstraeti)
As the name suggests, Café de Paris has an international feel. After sipping an espresso and chatting with friends, you forget you’re in Iceland. Then you walk outside.
TORVALDSEN (Austurvöllur 8-10)
Bar, café and dancefloor featuring various kinds of music. Dress smartly if you want to get in! Located in the heart of Reykjavik. 25+ crowd
BAR 11 (Hverfisgata)
At Bar 11, DJs call the tunes every weekend, emphasising old rock`n`roll classics, chart-toppers and sing along hits. Dance on a fully packed dance floor.
