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City Guide - Reykjavik - Nightlife | ||
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Nightlife Reykjavik is renowned for its nightlife, but visitors are often puzzled when venturing out in the early evening to find the streets virtually empty. The reason for this is the high price of alcohol, which leads many people to spend the early part of the evening warming up at home. It is not until around 2330 that the streets begin to fill with drinkers and clubbers and the real action begins. The cafés and bars in Reykjavik tend to have a Jekyll and Hyde character, serving beer and coffee throughout the day, before being transformed into buzzing drinking and dancing venues in the evening. The bar crawl or runtur is a popular evening pursuit to find the most 'hip' bar, with the length of the queues to get in acting as good indications of their 'hipness'. Opening times for the majority of bars are Sunday to Thursday 1000-0100, Friday and Saturday 1000-0300. Nightclubs close around 0400/0500 and the dress code is strictly dress up. The minimum age limit is 20 years. Alcohol is available from licensed bars, restaurants and Áfengisbúd shops (open Monday to Thursday 1400-1800 and Friday 1000-1800). Where there is live music or dancing, expect to pay a cover charge of around IKr1000 per person. Café-bars: Still one of the trendiest hangouts and a magnet for Reykjavik's media set is Kaffibarinn, Bergstadastraeti 1. Partly owned by Brit pop group Blur's Damon Albarn, there is usually a queue to gain entry. Reykjavik's celebs (including Björk when she is in town) head to Sir Terrence Conran's Rex Bar, Austurstraeti 9, which has a café-bistro-style bar upstairs and the quieter 'Mafia Room' in the basement. Another popular bar is Kaffibrennslan, Posthusstraeti 9, which despite its caffeine-inspired name has a breathtakingly large selection of beers. Sólon Íslandus, Bankastraeti 7A, known as the artist's café, serves food and alcohol and is ideal for those who want to sit and chat. The Dubliners, Hafnarstraeti 4, is Iceland's first and only Irish pub. Clubs: The recently opened Astro, Austurstraeti 22, claims to be 'one of the world's coolest nightclubs'. Its opening night guest list including Claudia Schiffer and John Ford of Gucci. Check out the 'Red Room', which is the VIP lounge. Pjókleikhúskjallarinn, Hverfisgata 19, is a popular club thanks to its lively atmosphere and good music. Klaustrid, Klapparstígur, plays dance, soul and salsa until 0100 weekdays, later at weekends. At the weekend, Restaurant 22, Laugavegur 22, turns into a gay venue after 2300 and reflects Reykjavik's wilder, more off-beat side. Live music: Gaukur á Stöng, Tryggvagata 22, 'the Oldest Pub in Reykjavik', has live music every night, but you should arrive early to avoid queues. Kaffi Reykjavik, Vifturgata 2, hosts a different band every night featuring everything from rock and pop to disco. Jazz and blues can be found alternating with rock and pop at Kringlukráin, in the Kringlan shopping mall, and at Gaukurámtöng, Triggata 22. Reykjavik's largest nightspot, Súlnasalur, at Hótel Saga, offers live entertainment, with weekend cabarets. 'For updates, contact the Tourist Office or see the web (website: www.whatson.is). |