Yes,
most everyone knows about Iceland’s natural
beauty, and many also know that the nightlife is highly
acclaimed, with Hollywood stars such as Kiefer Sutherland,
Larry Seinfeld, Jamie Kennedy and many others returning
home with fun stories to
tell.
À la Mediterranean
Icelanders are unlike other Northern Europeans in
that nightlife does not start swinging until late.
People commonly get together at home, and perhaps
have a nice meal and something to drink before going
into town. It is also popular for friends to start
the evening by visiting a few coffeehouses or pubs,
or go out for an evening meal. It is not unusual to
see city restaurants
full of cheerful people at midnight. After midnight,
however, people start moving over to the clubs, which
are open until morning on weekends.
Hverfisbarinn Club
Hverfisbarinn is one of Reykjavík´s
most popular clubs. Expect a queue on weekends. The
typical guest is aged from 20-35, and is an athlete,
musician, artist, media personality or in the genre
of business. Musicians and entertainers put on exciting
performances. This spot is popular among foreign tourists,
so expect a cosmopolitan atmosphere - coupled
with Reykjavík idiosyncrasies.
Cool People
During an evening of Reykjavík entertainment,
an American female journalist commented about how
everyone was stylishly dressed. One reason is the
incredible variety of fashion boutiques in the city.
Icelanders want to look “cool” when they
go clubbing. Women are clearly more style conscious
than guys when it comes to the newest fashions, but
men have been improving, especially the younger ones.
An American in Reykjavík
An American TV personality- in Reyk-javík
to get a personal slant on the renowned nightlife
- was surprised at how easy it was to meet and
talk to people. He dropped in at the Hverfisbarinn
Club during the red-hot Smirnoff Concerts, and ended
up talking to lots of people - almost everyone
in the city speaks English, and many have attended
school abroad, including the USA. Residents enjoy
conversation, and discussing hot topics of the day.
It was the consensus of the TV crew that it was most
certainly good to be an American in Reykjavík.
Thursdays is lots of fun at Hverfisbarinn. The most
popular drinks are Gordons Gin and Tonic, Sminoff
Vodka on ice, and of course plenty of good music.
Reykjavík Nightlife
The reason nightlife in Reykjavík is so special
is its diversity. Clubs are open virtually until morning,
and most are in midtown making it extremely easy to
walk from one to the next. It should also be noted
that diversity characterizes cultural life in the
capital, and that restaurants are surprisingly good:
delicious and creative dishes are made from natural
raw materials that are grown or raised or caught in
a clean, unpolluted environment.
In addition, Reykjavík is a Spa City. There
are seven Thermal Pools and Baths in the city, and
numerous health spas offering fitness training, massages
and many types of bath, spa and beauty treatments.
After a night on the town, an ideal choice would be
to visit one of the city’s Thermal Pools and
Baths for a session of rest and relaxation. Take advantage
of the wide range of leisure activities in Reykjavík
- weekends are over before you know it! For
more information, visit www.whatson.is.
Good Times in Reykjavík
It is easy to meet the people of Reykjavík
at clubs and pubs and coffeehouses. However, it can
be a difficult task to describe Reykjavík’s
colorful nightlife - you really have to experience
it on your own terms. Hverfisbarinn Club is in the
heart of midtown Reykjavík at Hverfisgata 20,
www.hverfisbarinn.is.
