Reykjavík is famous for its lively nightlife, regardless of the season. Visitors from warmer countries may find it surprising to see people standing in a line and freezing outside a bar in mid-January. Why bother? Why not just stay at home and be warm? There must be something inside these bars that makes people want to shiver through the bone just to get in there. Atmosphere? Dancing? The crowd? There are probably various reasons but they better be good, right?
Below, we cover four possible scenarios for a pub crawl in Reykjavík. The first one assumes that the variety of beer is your main thing. The second one assumes that you are looking for atmosphere first and foremost, a place for dancing more than a place for sitting down over a pint to chat. The third one is a mix of both, atmosphere and variety of beer. The fourth one is if you prefer to be led through it all by a local guide. If you want to take budget into account, going for happy hour times would be ideal.
Pub Crawl in Reykjavík: Variety of Beer
1. Tónabíó – RVK Bruggfélag
Located at the outskirts of downtown Reykjavík in a former cinema and famous bingo venue, Tónabíó opened once again last year, but now as a taproom and concert venue for Reykjavik Brewing Company. They offer a selection of 22 beers on tap. In the coming months, they are planning to open up the old cinema (and bingo) hall to host concerts, standups, beer bingo, films and more.
2. The Beer Garden (Bjórgarðurinn)
The Beer Garden has multiple quality beers on tap as well as bottled beers from around the world. They cooperate with local breweries to offer local and seasonal beers year round. They specialize in pairing meals with beers to elevate it, with a wide selection of sauces and side dishes including french fries, sweet potato fries, pickles and more.
3. Microbar Reykjavík
Microbar was one of the first craft beer bars in Reykjavík and offers a good selection of beers on tap. They offer five and ten beer tasting flights (currently priced 4000 and 6000 ISK respectively). Relaxed music and Microbar is renowned for great service, as evident from their recent Tripadvisor reviews.
4. Kaldi Bar
One of the most popular bars in Reykjavík, this small venue is usually packed on weekends and offers a selection of local beers from Kaldi in North Iceland, the first micro-brewery in the country (opened in 2006). The bar opened in 2011 and has been a hit ever since. In addition to various beers from their own brewery, they also serve other local brews as well as a great selection of gin and tonic.
5. Session Craft Bar
Located on the second floor of Bankastræti 14, right in the heart of downtown, Session Craft Bar has 15 beers on tap and a cooled keg room. Besides the variety of local and foreign beers, they also serve premium wines, cocktails and coffee. From the window, you can enjoy the view of the busiest pedestrian street corner in the city.
6. Skúli Craft Bar
130 types of bottled quality craft beer in a relaxed location in downtown, Skúli Craft Bar also has a rotating selection of beers on 14 taps. IPAs, dark malt beers and classic lagers in addition to ciders, cocktails and mocktails. On sunny days, there is outside seating by the square which was back in the day the first cemetery in Reykjavík but now as you may have guessed: a square, with some trees around it.
Pub Crawl in Reykjavík: Atmosphere
1. Röntgen
The best bar in Reykjavík every year since it opened in 2019, according to Reykjavík Grapevine. A warm atmosphere, friendly service and pleasant music. Beer on draft, curated wine selection, cocktails and alcohol free options. Around midnight on the weekends is when the dancing usually starts. Pub quizzes, concerts and other events are also hosted from time to time.
2. The Irishman Pub
The Irishman is located on Klapparstígur, one of the side streets from Laugavegur downtown. They have happy hour daily from 12 PM to 7 PM and their opening hours are from 12 PM to 1 AM. Guests can enjoy a game of darts, listen to live music from Thursday to Saturday evenings, spin the wheel of fortune for prizes or book the private karaoke room.
3. Lebowski Bar
Named after the 1998 cult film, The Big Lebowski, Lebowski bar is a bar for everyone: Icelanders, tourists and everyone in between in the age range 20 to 85. Beers on tap are one of the most popular local lagers, Boli, in addition to Tuborg Classic, Icelandic IPA, Gull lager, Bríó (German style pilsner) and Guinness.
On sunny days in Reykjavík when temperatures rise above 5°C, the outdoor terrace opens up, with a perfect shelter meaning that it always gets warmer than the surroundings outside on these days, a bit like a warm air jacuzzi (is that a thing?) sometimes. The burgers tend to be great too, I can recommend The Walter with bacon and mustard mayo.
4. Kaffibarinn
A classic bar in Reykjavík and a staple of the city’s nightlife since opening in 1993, symbolized by the queues outside after midnight. They are open for coffee and beer during the day as well and serve cocktails, gin, vodka and whiskey. DJs every night with various music, mostly house or electronic on the weekends.
5. Prikið
Prikið is Reykjavík’s oldest coffee house, open daily since 1951. In the evening, this cozy little café with interiors of dark wood transforms into a club, embodying old Reykjavík while also supporting youth underground music scenes.
6. The English Pub
The English Pub is popular for live music, several beers on draft and their wheel of fortune behind the bar, which you can spin to win drinks, e.g. one meter of beer. The atmosphere is laid back for the most part, except for when there are big football matches on the screens. The live music is mostly played by troubadours.
Pub Crawl in Reykjavík: Atmosphere & Variety
1. Röntgen
See above.
2. Petersen svítan
A rooftop bar that gets most popular on sunny summer days when the midnight sun is around. They serve food in the summer but in winter they have the drinks and bar snacks. 360° view over the city.
3. Prikið
See above.
4. Kaldi Bar
See above.
5. Kiki Queer Bar
Kiki Queer Bar is among the most popular venues to go dancing. Dance friendly pop music, good atmosphere and karaoke. Located on the second and third floors of Laugavegur 22, entrance from the side street Klapparstígur.
Book a Pub Crawl in Reykjavík
You can also go for an organized pub crawl with a guide, who will lead you through the ins and outs of Reykjavík nightlife.
