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By this point, it feels like everyone has been to Iceland. I finally made it there for a few days, and in between going on tours of the gorgeous natural wonders, I stopped in at some of Reykjavik‘s craft beer bars. Beer only became legal in 1989, but despite that, the city has several good beer bars & breweries. Reykjavik is an expensive city in the first place, and drinking there is even worse. Craft beer is sold in smaller pours to make the prices reasonable, but still, Iceland is not a place you want to go to get drunk if you want your wallet to not be instantly drained. That said, here’s where you can find the best craft beer in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The Best Craft Beer in Reykjavik, Iceland
Skúli Craft Bar
Skúli Craft Bar has 14 taps, most of which are Icelandic. There are some bottles too, as well as several from Borg, the highest-rated brewery in Iceland.
Additionally, you can get food from a truck outside. The menu was mostly Korean/Asian, and food prices were pretty reasonably priced compared to what I saw at other bars.
Overall, Skúli Craft Bar is a cool place with one of the more fun vibes of Reykjavik’s craft beer bars.
Address: Aðalstræti 9 101, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (map)
Website
Micro Bar
Micro Bar is a small basement bar with a chill atmosphere.
They’ve got 14 taps, plus a selection of a few dozen bottles, as well as snacks. It has one of the best selections of craft beer in Reykjavik, with welcoming staff members.
The owner also owns Gæðingur Brewery, which was Icelands first craft brewery.
Address: Laugavegur 86, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (map)
Website
Ölstofa
So much of what I saw in Reykjavik was fairly new concrete buildings, so it was nice to see an older bar like Ölstofa. From the outside, it looks like a dive, but inside it’s rather welcoming.
They have 10 taps, with plenty of Borg.
It’s a cool place, and since it’s a bit off the main streets in the area, it’s a bit more laid back than the more crowded spots.
Address: 43W9+6HG, Vegamótastígur, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (map)
Bryggjan Brugghús
Bryggjan Brugghús is a craft brewery located in the old harbor area of Reykjavik.
There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars around this area of the waterfront.
Address: Grandagarður 8, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (map)
Bastarður Brew Pub (Bastard Brew & Food)
Bastarður Brew Pub is a cool, busy place, located right next to Ölstofa.
It’s one of the bigger beer bars in Reykjavik & has a full food menu, so it can get quite crowded. They’ve got about a dozen taps, plus cans & bottles.
Frederiksen Ale House
Frederiksen Ale House has 12 taps, all of which are from Einstok or Viking. There’s a small selection of bottles as well.
Address: Vegamótastígur 4, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland (map)
Website
Other craft beer bars & breweries in Reykjavik
In addition to local mainstays Borg, there are several other local craft breweries to look for, including & RVK Brewing, & Malbygg. Other beer bars include Session Craft Bar and the Kex Hostel.
Despite having only started brewing any beer at all in 1989, Reykjavik is seeing rapid growth when it comes to craft beer. While drinking in the city isn’t cheap, save money by going for cheaper meals instead, then some of the local beer bars. For cheap food, in addition to Icelandic Street Food, which I mentioned above, no visit to Reykjavik is complete without getting hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur.
Some Reykjavik beer bars, such as Icelandic Craft Bar, are no longer in operation.
Have any other craft beer recommendations for Reykjavik? Let me know in the comments!
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These look like some great spots! I’ve not been to Reykjavik but would certainly be keeping this list handy when I do!