Reykjavík · Nightlife

The small red house at Bergstadastraeti 1, running since 1993 and still the downtown default. Open 15:00-01:00 Monday to Thursday, 12:00-04:30 Friday and Saturday, 12:00-01:00 Sunday, with a happy hour daily from 15:00.

Bankastraeti 12, founded in 1951 and the oldest cafe-bar in the city: brunch and burgers by day, hip-hop and a door queue by night. Open 09:00-23:00 early in the week, until 01:00 Thursday and 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.

Laugavegur 20a, themed on the film and serving a long list of White Russians, with a kitchen running to 22:00. Live music Wednesday and Thursday from 22:00, DJs Friday and Saturday from 21:00, open to 04:30 at weekends.

Downtown rock bar established in 1999, built around whiskey, live bands and DJs. The crowd skews older and scruffier than the rest of Laugavegur, and it is one of the more forgiving places to turn up alone.

Alcohol is heavily taxed, so bar prices are steep and the local pattern is drinks at home first, then out after midnight. Off-licence alcohol comes only from the state Vinbudin shops, which keep short hours and do not open on Sundays, and almost every downtown bar runs an afternoon happy hour that is far cheaper than the evening.