3 Must Visit Bars in Reykjavík - And Why You'll Love Them

3 Must Visit Bars in Reykjavík - And Why You'll Love Them

Heyyy friends and welcome to another blog post from the Wake Up Team! Today we are going to go over the 3 must visit bars in Reykjavík and why you are going to love their vibe and location!

Reykjavík city might be small compared to other cities around the world, but it does have great variety when it comes to the nightlife and to be honest, probably some of the best bars in the world are tucked into this cozy capital believe it or not.

Rain, snow, or sunshine, nothing stops us locals from heading to town and going out for a drink or two and we sure love to have some fun at every opportunity.

So, come along as I take you to the three of my absolute favorite bars in Reykjavík. Whether you’re after craft beer, cocktails, or a good old fashioned white Russian, there’s something here for everyone.

It’s 5:00 o’clock somewhere am I right? Let’s go drinking!

1. Welcome to BINGÓ Drinkery

Hidden just off the famous Rainbow Street (Skólavörðustígur) you’ll find Bingó, a cozy, quirky bar that feels like you’ve walked into your grandma’s house if your grandma served Icelandic craft beer and hosted bingo nights.

Here are the reasons why you will love this place:

• It offers Board games, retro vibes, comfort and cozy decor
• Great selection of local craft beers
• Amazing cocktails made by actual mixologists that have years of experience
• Happy Hour occasionally (so keep your eyes open!)
• Guinness on draft which is definitely a rare gem in Iceland

I usually grab their house brew, the Bingó Pilsner since it is a fresh, crisp, brewed beer with rice and barley. Sipping on that as I soak in the mellow energy before the night kicks off.

This is my go-to first drink of the evening and Bingó is the perfect place to kickstart your night in downtown Reykjavík.

2. Lemmy Bar: For Rock Lovers & Craft Beer Nerds

Next stop: The legendary Lemmy, the dive bar of dreams. Named after the iconic frontman of Motorhead, this place is the perfect mix of rock ‘n roll vibes and serious beer culture with some funky decor and live music.

Here are the reasons why you will love this place:

• 50+ beers on tap
• Fish Aquarium by the bar
• Biggest selection of Beers on draft in Iceland
• A heated and covered beer garden (yes, even in the winter!)
• Legendary beer selections so you can try a bit of everything

At Lemmy, I always grab a beer sampler with a few Icelandic favorites. My personal lineup:

• Dr. Sauron – Light, funky, and not too intense
• Helga – A raspberry sour and my favorite summer brew
• Pale Lager from Dokkan – Clean and refreshing
• Úlfur IPA – One of Iceland’s first IPA that was brewed and super tasty.

You can feel the passion for brewing here. Whether you're into fruity sours or hoppy IPAs, Lemmy is the place for craft beer in Reykjavík.

Oh and yes, they serve Brennivín (aka Black Death) our iconic Icelandic spirit. But we recommend that you ease into that one.

3. The Lebowski Bar: Come for the Drinks, Stay for the Vibe

Last but never least: The Lebowski Bar, inspired by The Big Lebowski and just as fun and weird as you'd hope. People go to Lebowski for a good cocktail, fresh cold beer and good vibes altogether.

This place is a Reykjavík nightlife icon with great music on the weekends.

Here are the reasons why you will love this place:

• 20+ variations of White Russians (yes, really)
• DJ sets on weekends
• Burgers, beer, and late-night energy until 4 AM on weekends
• A massive prize wheel where you can win drinks (or nothing, spin at your own risk)

I go for Egils Light Lager here, perfect after a few stronger pours earlier in the night.

• Bonus: This is one of the most fun spots to end your bar crawl. Energy is high, people are dancing, and your night is far from over.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re just popping in for a weekend or staying for a while, Reykjavík’s bar scene is packed with character, creativity, and really good beer.

These three bars are just the beginning and we have many more on offer in downtown Reykjavík, so no worries there. 

• Fun Fact: Did you know that beer was illegal in Iceland until 1989? That’s right 74 years of no beer here. Poor us right?

Until then: Skál, bless bless and see you at the bar.

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