Reykjavik Bar Guide
25+ bars across Reykjavik. Curated by editors who know the late nights.
Reykjavik drinks late. Icelanders generally do not start drinking until 10pm or 11pm, the bars run until 4am or 5am, and the scene compresses into a small downtown that you can walk in twenty minutes. There is no metro. The whole drinking city is a fifteen minute radius.
The bars cluster on three streets. Laugavegur is the main drag, where most of the late night bars and the cocktail rooms are. Bankastraeti at the upper end has the heritage spots. The harbour area, including Granda and Hverfisgata, has the newer microbrewery wave and a handful of design forward bars.
Iceland is famously expensive. A cocktail costs 2,500 to 3,000 ISK, which is 16 to 20 euros. Beer is around 1,500 ISK for a pint. Happy hour is mandatory if you want to drink for more than two hours. Most bars run one from 4pm or 5pm to 8pm with halved prices.
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Pubs in Reykjavik
Traditional public houses
Tiki Bars in Reykjavik
Tropical cocktail rooms
Whiskey Bars in Reykjavik
Single-malt selections
Wine Bars in Reykjavik
Curated bottle lists
Cocktail Bars in Reykjavik
World-class cocktail rooms
Rooftop Bars in Reykjavik
Skyline drinks
Sports Bars in Reykjavik
Watch parties
Date Night in Reykjavik
Romantic spots
After Work in Reykjavik
Borrel hours
Live Music in Reykjavik
Bands and DJs
Craft Beer in Reykjavik
Microbreweries and taprooms
Hidden Gems in Reykjavik
Unmarked doors
Top Picks This Week
Apotek
The senior Reykjavik cocktail bar in a converted apothecary. Marble counter, formal service, and a serious classical program. Best for a single immaculate drink rather than a session.
Slippbarinn
Hotel bar at the Reykjavik Marina with a serious cocktail menu. The seasonal Icelandic ingredient drinks — angelica, birch, sea buckthorn — are the move. Reserve.
Dillon
Whiskey bar with a 130 bottle back bar and a long happy hour. The room is small, dim, and committed. The crowd is mid thirties and serious. Open daily.
Kaldi Bar
Brewery taproom for one of Icelands most respected craft breweries. Six house taps and a happy hour from 4pm to 7pm. Cosy, busy, conversational.
Petersen Suite
Speakeasy on the upper floor of a building near the centre. Black painted walls, low light, and a serious cocktail program. Reserve. Open Wednesday to Saturday.
Skuli Craft Bar
Microbrewery focused bar with twenty rotating taps, mostly Icelandic and Nordic. The bartenders are knowledgeable. Best for a beer-led evening.
Neighbourhood Guide
Laugavegur
The main drag and the centre of bar density. Late night bars, dive bars, and the cocktail rooms cluster here. Walk-friendly and noisy after 11pm.
Bankastraeti
Upper end of the main drag. Heritage spots like Apotek, plus a few of the newer cocktail rooms. The crowd is older and quieter.
Marina and Granda
Harbour area with the microbrewery taprooms and a few design forward bars. Slower pace, easier seating.
Hverfisgata
Side street parallel to Laugavegur with the indie bars and a few unmarked doors. Less crowded, more interesting.
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