If you want to go out and have a few beers, it can pay off to look for happy hour or go to places that always have beer available for less. KEX Hostel and Le KocK both have their house lager beers for 1000 ISK, which is less than some other bars charge on happy hour. But it is also possible to find beer for less than that in various places during happy hour.
Happy Hour Bars in Reykjavík
This is not the full list of happy hours in town, there are surely some that we don’t know of and a few that we intentionally skipped as these are primarily restaurants.
The Lowest Price
Prikið has the lowest price on beer on happy hour, 700 ISK, with Stúdentakjallarinn only marginally more expensive at 710 ISK. Joint third are Bravó, Den Danske Kro and Uppsalir Bar. For a glass of wine during happy hour, the lowest price is at Den Danske Kro (750 ISK), meaning it’s the cheapest place if you are looking for both beer and wine. Veður is second for wine (800 ISK) with Stúdentakjallarinn, Bíó Paradís and The Irishman joint third and only marginally more expensive at 850 ISK. Let’s take a bit closer look at these bars.
Prikið – from 16 to 20 daily – Beer: 700 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
One of the oldest bars in Reykjavík, they rarely stay in place for so long, opened in 1951. They regularly have DJs, live music, stand ups and other events.
Stúdentakjallarinn – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 710 ISK; Wine: 850 ISK
A restaurant, café and a bar at the University of Iceland, popular among students and others.
Bravó – from 12 to 20 daily – Beer: 750 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
A small bar on the corner of Laugavegur and Klapparstígur, offering local beers on draft for happy hour.
Den Danske Kro – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 750 ISK; Wine: 750 ISK
A great selection of beers on tap and cocktail offers on Thursdays. Live music daily from 10 PM.
Uppsalir Bar – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 750 ISK; Wine: 950 ISK
The bar of Hotel Reykjavík Centrum, offering light snacks and a variety of drinks, including a selection of local beer.
Veður – from 12 to 19:35 daily – Beer: 800 ISK; Wine: 800 ISK
A small wine & cocktail bar on Klapparstígur, with Kaldi bar on the opposite side of the street.
Bíó Paradís – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 850 ISK; Wine: 850 ISK
An art cinema, airing new films and classics as well as hosting film festivals and regular events.
The Irishman – from 12 to 19 daily – Beer: 850 ISK; Wine: 850 ISK
An Irish bar with a private karaoke room that guests can book. Live music in the evening from Thursday to Saturday.
Also take a look at this map of happy hour in Reykjavík.
The Best Atmosphere
What is a good atmosphere? That will always be debatable but the following spots have been praised for their atmosphere, for example related to their design or regular live music.
Röntgen – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
Opened in 2019 and quickly became among the most popular bars in the city. Variety of wine (including natural wines), beers and cocktails. DJs playing regularly, concerts, pub quizzes, karaoke and various events.
Forréttabarinn – from 16 to 18 daily: Beer: 800 ISK; Wine: 900 ISK
The name means “The Appetisers Bar” and it is one of the best restaurants in Reykjavík, with a menu consisting of bigger and smaller appetisers.
Kaldi Bar – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 950 ISK; Wine: 950 ISK
Named after Iceland’s first microbrew, Kaldi from 2006, this small spot with a laid back vibe offers great local beers on draft. Kaldi is probably the best Icelandic beer.
KEX Hostel – 11 to 23 daily – Beer: 1000 ISK
A hostel in an old biscuit factory with a retro vibe. The bar & restaurant is called Flatus and so is the house beer. A pizza menu and a strong variety of beers.
Kaffibarinn – from 15 to 19 daily – Beer: 800 ISK; Wine: 900 ISK
Kaffibarinn has been among the most popular bars in Reykjavík since it opened in 1993.
Gaukurinn – from 16 to 21 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 1100 ISK
A bar and live music venue, where many of Iceland’s biggest artists started out and sold the first legal draft beer in Iceland. Established in 1983.
In Between
American Bar – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
The most popular sports bar downtown has a good variety of beer (50 different kinds) and a simple menu of burgers, ribs and chicken wings. Apart from showing sports games live, it also has live music regularly.
Apéro – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 950 ISK; Wine: 1100 ISK
A wine bar on Laugavegur 20b, 2nd floor, which opened in 2022. They have a good variety of French wines and champagne as well as appetisers fitting with the wine.
Bjórgarðurinn – from 15 to 19 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 900 ISK
Located just outside downtown but just a 5 minutes walk away from Hlemmur, at the ground floor of Fosshótel. One of the best varieties of beer on tap in Reykjavík as well as bottled beer from around the world.
Bodega – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 900 ISK
Another wine bar, located by Óðinstorg square, which has become among the most popular spots downtown on sunny days.
Brewdog – from 14 to 17 Wed to Sun – Beer: 1290 ISK; Wine: 1290 ISK
A craft beer bar and restaurant on the corner of Frakkastígur and Hverfisgata. On Wednesdays, they have all you can eat buffalo chicken wings or buffalo cauliflower for the price of a large portion.
Fjallkonan – from 15 to 17 daily – Beer: 1190 ISK; Wine: 1390 ISK; Cocktails: 1890 ISK
A popular restaurant by Ingólfstorg with outdoor seating when weather permits.
Fröken Reykjavík – from 16 to 18 daily – Beer: 990 ISK;
Located just above Reykjavík pond (Tjörnin) in Lækjargata, an art deco styled restaurant with a bar, wine room and winter garden. An open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare meals.
Hotel Holt Bar – from 16 to 18 Wed to Sat – Beer: 1000 ISK; Wine: 1350 ISK
Hotel Holt is a boutique hotel in the city centre, built in 1965. The bar is behind the reception area, with plush leather armchairs, Persian rugs and portrait sketches from Kjarval, Iceland’s most famous painter, on the wall.
Jörgensen Kitchen & Bar – from 16 to 18 daily: Beer: 890 ISK; Wine: 1100 ISK
Located by Hlemmur, with wine, beer and liquor from around the world. Live music regularly on Thursdays.
Kaffi Lækur – from 16 to 18 daily – Beer: 1000 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
A cosy neighbourhood café, close to the biggest swimming pool in town (Laugardalslaug). The café is on the ground floor with a hostel upstairs. Outside seating when weather permits. They have tasty pies, e.g. with vegetables or with bacon and sausages.
Le KocK – 11:30 to 23 daily – Beer: 1000 ISK
Le KocK is best known for their burgers, which have been chosen the best in town numerous times, e.g. by Reykjavik Grapevine Magazine. Their version of french fries is also great, try Greek potatoes or chipotle potatoes. The house beer is called Flying Kock and costs 1000 ISK.
Kaffibrennslan – from 16 to 20 daily – Beer: 850 ISK; Wine: 900 ISK
A café with sandwiches, croissants and cakes and a variety of coffee and tea.
Loft Hostel – from 16 to 20 daily – Beer: 860 ISK; Wine: 950 ISK
Rooftop terrace overlooking the city centre. Regular concerts and other events.
Lóla Flórens – from 16 to 20 daily – Beer: 1200 ISK; Wine: 1200 ISK
A café with a vintage clothing shop in its basement, located in Garðastræti 6, on the border of downtown and Vesturbær.
Ölstofan – from 15 to 20 daily – Beer: 1000 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
A simple bar with a great selection of beers from around the world. The music is kept at a low level, so that people can easily talk.
Petersen svítan – from 16 to 19 daily – Beer: 900 ISK; Wine: 1200 ISK
A rooftop bar with a view and outdoor seating area.
Sæta svínið – from 15 to 18 daily – Beer: 990 ISK; Wine: 1190 ISK
A gastropub by Ingólfstorg square.
Skúli Craft Bar – from 12 to 19 daily – Beer: 900; Wine: 900
Craft beer bar with 130 types of craft beer, located across the corner from Ingólfstorg square. 14 beers on tap, frequently rotated.
Slippbarinn – from 15 to 18 daily – Beer: 1000 ISK; Wine: 1000 ISK
The first cocktail bar in Reykjavík, located by the harbour.
Vínstúkan Tíu Sopar – from 17 to 19 daily – Beer: 1300 ISK; Wine: 1600 ISK
A wine bar with various kinds of wine from small producers and family businesses. 200 types of wines and the selection is regularly changing.
Reference for prices and times: Reykjavik Grapevine, volume 20, issue 12 2023.
