Whisky, Wine and Live Music: a Night Out in Reykjavík

Reykjavík’s nights are long in winter and light in summer, and the bars of 101 keep going either way, to 3am at weekends. Here is how we would spend one: a glass of wine, Icelandic bites, whiskies and a band.

Reykjavík’s nights are long in winter and light in summer, and the bars of 101 keep going either way, many until 3am at weekends. They are small and close together, so a night out is a walk between them. Here is how we would spend one.

Start with a glass

Begin quietly at Port 9, a small wine bar tucked away on Veghúsastígur since 2016, with new wines by the glass and new small plates every week.

Icelandic bites

Then walk to Ingólfsstræti, where Íslenski barinn, the Icelandic Bar, pours Icelandic drinks and serves taster-sized Icelandic dishes to share. A few doors along, Den Danske Kro keeps Danish customs; on J-Dag, in early November, it opens the year’s Christmas beer at 8.59pm sharp.

Music on Laugavegur

Laugavegur is where the music is. Hús Máls og Menningar, the Old Bookshop at number 18, has live music every night and stand-up comedy too. Dillon, at number 30, has been a whiskey bar since 1999, with more than 170 whiskies and live rock and blues.

In between, Lebowski Bar, at number 20a, pours White Russians in honour of the film, with live music midweek and DJs at weekends.

In 101, the bars are a few steps apart, and the night is long.

Late

For the last round, Prikið on Bankastræti has been a café since 1951 and turns into a bar after dark, with the city’s young music on the decks. Kaffibarinn, a few steps away on Bergstaðastræti, is a 101 classic.

Did you know? Prikið calls itself the oldest café in Reykjavík, open every day since 1951.

Our advice

Our advice: the legal drinking age in Iceland is 20, and some bars check after 10pm. Drinks cost more than at home, so use the happy hours, which run into the early evening. Buy wine to take back to your room at Vínbúðin, the state shop.