Reykjavik is Iceland's capital and northernmost capital city of a sovereign state, set on the Faxaflói bay with mountains and glaciers on the horizon. Known for the Hallgrímskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall, geothermal swimming pools and a compact, colourful old town, it is the base for the Golden Circle, the South Coast and northern lights tours.
Reykjavik's nightlife is compact and centred on Laugavegur and the streets around it. Bars open from the afternoon, pubs fill after 21:00 and clubs peak at weekends after midnight, when many stay open until about 04:30. Alcohol is expensive, so many locals start the evening at home.
Laugavegur for bars, craft beer and Kiki; Hverfisgata and Bankastræti for cocktails and DJs; the Old Harbour and Tryggvagata for live music and Húrra.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- Bars 18:00-01:00; clubs 23:00-04:30 on Friday and Saturday.
- Average drink
- Beer (0.5 L) ISK 1,400-1,900 (~$11-15); glass of wine ISK 1,700-2,400 (~$14-19); cocktail ISK 2,400-3,200 (~$19-26); shot ISK 1,100-1,600 (~$8.8-13)
- Dress code
- Casual to smart casual; Icelandic bars and clubs rarely enforce a strict dress code.
- Cover charge
- Hours and programmes change; check each venue's website or social media before going. Carry photo ID, as venues check age and the legal drinking age is 20.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Laugavegur
Best for: Craft beer, themed bars, queer clubs
Bankastræti
Best for: Cocktails, DJ nights, hip hop
Old Harbour and Tryggvagata
Best for: Live gigs, karaoke, drag
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Kaldi Bar
Laugavegur bar serving beer from the Kaldi brewery and other Icelandic craft brewers.
Known for: Icelandic craft beer on tap
Laugavegur 20b, 101 Reykjavik
Skúli Craft Bar
Old-town bar with dozens of Icelandic craft beers on tap and in bottles.
Known for: Large selection of Icelandic craft beer
Aðalstræti 9, 101 Reykjavik
Röntgen
Cocktail bar on Hverfisgata with DJ nights at weekends.
Known for: Cocktails on Hverfisgata
Hverfisgata 12, 101 Reykjavik
Lebowski Bar
Laugavegur bar themed on The Big Lebowski, serving White Russians, beer and burgers.
Known for: White Russians and burgers in a Big Lebowski setting
Laugavegur 20a, 101 Reykjavik
Dillon Whiskey Bar
Rock bar on Laugavegur with a large whiskey list and a beer garden.
Known for: Large whiskey selection and live rock
Laugavegur 30, 101 Reykjavik
Prikið
Bankastræti bar that serves coffee by day and hosts DJ nights at weekends.
Known for: Hip hop nights in one of Reykjavik's oldest bars
Bankastræti 12, 101 Reykjavik
Microbar
Small Austurstræti bar with a changing selection of craft beer.
Known for: Icelandic and imported craft beer
Austurstræti 6, 101 Reykjavik
Ölstofan Kormáks og Skjaldar
Pub in a wood-lined room that serves beer and spirits until late.
Known for: Old-style pub
Vegamótastígur 4, 101 Reykjavik
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
Húrra
Central club and concert venue hosting local bands and DJs.
Cover: Free to ISK 2,000-5,000 (~$16-40)
Hours: Typically closes 01:00 on weekdays and 04:30 Friday-Saturday; programme-dependent
Gaukurinn
Bar and venue known for gigs, karaoke and drag nights.
Cover: Free to ISK 1,500-4,000 (~$12-32)
Hours: Typically 17:00-01:00 Sunday-Thursday and 17:00-03:00 Friday-Saturday; programme-dependent
Kiki Queer Bar
Laugavegur queer club with dance floors and drag shows.
Cover: Free
Hours: Typically Thursday 20:00-01:00, Friday-Saturday 20:00-04:30; closed other days
B5
Bankastræti venue serving cocktails by early evening and hosting DJ nights at weekends.
Cover: Free to ISK 1,500-3,000 (~$12-24)
Hours: Typically daily from afternoon to late; clubbing from Thursday to Saturday
Bravó
Laugavegur bar known for a long daily happy hour, beside Kiki.
Cover: Free
Hours: Typically daily from late morning; long happy hour until about 20:00
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
A half-litre beer costs about ISK 1,400-1,900 (~$11-15), so happy hours from about 16:00 to 19:00 are popular.
The state-run Vínbúðin shops sell take-home alcohol; bars and clubs are the only places to buy it after the shops close.
Clubs often fill after midnight, and many bars have no cover charge.
Kiki is closed early in the week; check opening days before going.