Hello chaps
We're off to Iceland's capital next Wednesday as part of my best friend's Bucket List. My missus has booked the usual tours, Northern Lights, Blue Lagoon etc, but we've 3-4 nights of freedom. Can anyone recommend any good restaurants/bars etc? My mate & my missus are a bit, how can I put this, a bit careful with their money, already the thought of shelling out a tenner a pint is putting them off!
So any good tips/places etc would be gratefully appreciated.
Cheers
Adam
Try the outdoor swimming pools in the town - just as relaxing as the Blue Lagoon but without the factory next door.Originally Posted by adam164
If you are of a certain age you may remember this house from the news. You can't go in, but it's free to walk past.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUs...al_Region.html
Golden Circle tour is well worth doing, plus the Ice caves
Or maybe stay away from this Whale murdering country?
Three places in Reykjavic that I would recommend are:
Hlemmur Matholl (http://www.hlemmurmatholl.is/english/)
Icelandic Street Food (https://www.icelandicstreetfood.com/)
Icelandic Craft Bar (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...al_Region.html)
Hlemmer has good food and drink, really nice place to have a meal and a great atmosphere.
Icelandic Street Food does things like soup served in a loaf of bread, really tasty and I think you can take the food next door to the Icelandic Craft Bar.
Your friends will love the hot dog stand near the harbour. Cheap and filling, order the Clinton and you’ll be set.
What I always tell folk is not todo the tours. It’s so easy to hire a car , grab a map and follow the circle . Everything is well signposted, parking is a breeze and all the attractions are free.
It isn’t cheap there but lots of hotels and bars do happy hours .
The food is stunning, don’t skimp on this even if it just means you and your wife.
The tasting menus at both Fishmarkt and Grillmarkt still rank as some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.
Great suggestion. I'll bear you in mind when I book my Summer holidays...
With that knowledge to hand, how the hell did you end up with these proles on your trip, they'll do your head right in.
A friend of mine went for 4 days just after Christmas with tales of fish 'n chips for 4 people = £ 130
Easy to spend over £100 on a meal for two. I’m not sure it was the best idea to take your friends- We just didn’t think about the money as it would just ruin your break.
If you like a drink get the Appy Hour app- Reykjavík Appy Hour by Grapevine or call at the duty free by the baggage pick up at the airport.
The Golden Circle tour we went in was excellent- Five of us in a big wheel jeep thing with a brilliant guide. Picked up at hotel at 8am and dropped off at 9pm.
Laugavegar is one of the best streets for shops and bars. Try Public House Gastropub.
Last edited by craig1912; 16th January 2019 at 16:19.
Yes, go with your mate’s missus.
My son went with few mates last year. Hired a car, stayed in Airbnb and bought food in equivalent of Lidl/Poundland.
Going next month with his girlfriend, maybe he’ll spend a bit more!
Hi Adam
The wife and I went last year, we'd booked it and then my wife got made redundant so we too were watching the cash a bit as it can be fiercely expensive.
We ate twice at the Chuck Norris Grill, a typical American Diner, it was central and offered very good vfm and some very tasty burgers and fries: -
https://www.facebook.com/chucknorris...30980030439062
Another winner was the Lofts Hostel which had a great central location and 4th floor bar/café with roof top terrace with a great outlook of the City. It had an extended happy hour so beers were great value, well worth finding: -
http://www.lofthostel.is/
Other than the above we found some other reasonable places, we refused to eat anywhere selling the delicacies of Minky Whale, Puffin or Greenland Shark on ethical grounds; albeit I understand the hypocrisies' of being an avid meat eater and caring less about where my Steak etc comes from, but hey.
We did the Golden Circle; very good, Blue Lagoon, very good and also the free walking tour; brilliant and free (but a tip is expected and very fair).
Enjoy, it's a great place to visit.
BR
Darren
What's unethical about eating puffin?
Tastes like chicken ??
The wife and I have been twice now and had a fantastic time, it remains our favourite holiday and we will go again. Yes its VERY expensive, but the best way to tackle that was to save up plenty and write the money off! it helps that the currency has a few extra zeros on so its easier to hand your money over without realising how much £uk it was.
Anyway, the good stuff...
Guyser & Gulfoss waterfall which is a must
Blue Lagoon another must and the attached restaurant was great
Lava tube caving where you do need to be a bit nimble
Whale watching
The whale centre/museum
Icelandic horse show where you go to the stables afterwards to meet them and hear how and why they are so different to other horses and the countries strict regulations surrounding them (the wife rides horses I dont, but still enjoyed this one)
Food...
Tapas Barinn was our favourite (most of the food in Iceland is incredible)
Fish and Chips was expensive yes, but they did a fish in breadcrumb instead of batter which was simply the best fish’n’chips I have ever had, and it was caught earlier that day.
Northern Lights tour is obviously a no-brainer and if they are a no show you go back every night (free) until you do see them.
There are two main tour operators Greyline and Reykjavic Excursions, both great, same busses (with free wifi) and same locations so take your pick!
Have a great time!
Last edited by trainspanner; 16th January 2019 at 19:51.
One of my favourite places. I’ll try and give a more off-beat view.
If your friends are tight and like a drink, I recommend they buy booze before leaving the airport, because they don’t sell alcohol from supermarkets or anything - there’s only one Government-run off-licence in central Reykjavik, which is a pain to get to if you’re not near it.
The bars & people are amazing fun. They have an iPhone App to check whether they’re related in case they end-up kissing their cousin whilst out (given there’s only about 300,000-odd of them).
’Tapas Barinn’ if you want a tasting menu of whale, puffin, horse, shark etc. The restaurant at the main bus stop sells a half sheep’s-head. Due to the nature of the island, Icelanders have historically eaten pretty much anything, and that remains in part, though perhaps more so for tourism. The rotten shark ‘Hakarl’ tastes exactly as you’d imagine. ‘Caruso’ is a nice Italian, and the much-vaunted harbour hot dog is actually really tasty (part lamb, both fried & raw onion). ‘Laundromat’ is a cool cafe, and a functioning laundry. ‘Kaffibarinn’ used to be owned by Damon Albarn of Blur. ‘Prikid’ is the oldest cafe/bar in the island, and a nice little spot. The ‘Chuck Norris’ cafe is amusing.
The Penis Museum is an eye-opener, to say the least.
In the Blue Lagoon, get your clay from the pots around the edges - don’t pick-up the stuff on the bottom unless you want more than clay on your face. For the girls, don’t put the silicate in their hair, it’s quite harsh stuff to get out. You’re expected to shower beforehand in the buff, for cleanliness reasons, but they have some cubicles too. They sell alcohol from a pool-bar too.
The Blue Lagoon is on the way to the airport, and the airport bus stops there, so it makes sense to do it either just after arrival or before departure. But the local heated pools are worth doing too.
Presuming you like watches (!) so don’t miss JS Watch Co’s tiny little shop on the Main Street - Gilbert and his son, Sigurdur (two of the four owners/founders/employees) are lovely, as are the watches of course, and they can show you their watchmaking studio & photos of past customers like Tom Cruise, the Dalai Lama, Yoko Ono etc.
If you buy anything of value, leave extra time to claim 15% Tax back at the airport in cash (and you will of course declare & pay the VAT upon return to UK, won’t you...).
Due to the geoheated sulphur water, and unless you have posh hotel, the shower water smells of rotten eggs, but don’t worry, it doesn’t cling.
Check beforehand as to seasonal & operator success-rates if you’re going whale watching - and bear in mind they count a porpoise as a success (part of wider family), so I saw nothing whatsoever (not even a porpoise).
Budget for a lot, then double it and you won't be disappointed!
Take your Halifax Clarity card instead of cash, even the hot dog stall and fish and chip wagon take cards.
Another recommendation for Laundromat cafe - breakfasts there are excellent.
Been to Fishmarket restaurant a couple of times for the tasting menu - second time with our daughter. I phoned ahead to ask them to substitute whale for something else as we didn’t want to eat it and they were more than happy to oblige. My daughter said recently it’s her most memorable meal. Quite memorable for me too, as the bill was over £400. Excellent food, mind..
Mikkeller and Friends has a nice vibe and hundreds of craft beers, but is very expensive.
I’d thoroughly recommend the Kex Hostel for drinks. I’ve stayed there once and the rooms are pretty basic, but the large bar has a great vibe in the evenings and often live music.
Enjoy your trip!
Being careful with your money and Reykjavik don't really go together. We ate in an Italians on the main street one night, I thought the price of a pizza would bring tears to my eyes until the Mrs ordered Rosé wine.
It’s closed permanently.
Another good restaurant/bistro bar is Snaps which is attached to really nice hotel Odinsve
Last edited by craig1912; 17th January 2019 at 08:57.
Aw, that’s a shame. Wonder why? It was always busy.
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