Your best bet is the "fish in a pan" daily special, which is literally brought over to your table still inside the pan it was cooked in. The menus at this restaurant inside the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina come tucked inside retro comic books, and the drinks have appropriately cartoonish names: The Incredible Hulk, for example, features pistachio, honey, and chocolate bitters. " Hlemmur Square, Kex, and Loft Hostels are all internationally acclaimed and awarded hostels with great design, frequent concerts, and a terrific selection of local and foreign beers," Eva Maria says. And you're as likely to spot locals in the Kex lobby as you are tourists. But even if you're not staying there, the bar is worth a visit, and the hostel hosts film, music, and art events regularly. © Aran Goyoaga Kex Hostel Kex Hostel, which is Icelandic for "biscuit," is an upscale hostel in, naturally, a former biscuit factory. That kind of longevity is unusual in the Icelandic restaurant industry, but it's well deserved!" My first memory of going there is from the late '80s and it’s been consistently amazing ever since. "My favorite is probably the Grillid Restaurant located on the top floor of the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel. "It's really hard to pick a favorite restaurant as there are just so many excellent choices," says Hannes. It’s located right in the center of town and loved by local hipsters and senior citizens alike." Grillid
"I love all the geothermal swimming pools in Reykjavik," says Eva Maria, "but my favorite is the Art Deco–ish indoor swimming pool, aptly named Sundhöllin (The Swimming Palace). Many Icelanders stop in for a swim first thing in the morning before work, which is a good way to get warm in the harsh winters. No visit to Iceland is complete without a trip to a thermal bath. "It's a firm favorite with the over-30s and for someone who prefers great conversation over late-night dancing it’s the perfect place to hang out any night of the week," says Hannes. Kaldi is one of Iceland's biggest beer breweries, and their central Reykjavik bar Kaldi Barserves their brews alongside liquor and other drinks. Ida Zimsen Courtesy Pink Iceland Kaldi Bar They stock great books, great coffee, and I can take my dog there. Hannes also makes a case for " Ida Zimsen, a bookstore and cafe right next door to the Reykjavik Art Museum. "I often wonder whether the foreign guests coming in for a cup of the best coffee in Reykjavik realize they’re surrounded by some of the best artists, actors, and writers in the country," Eva Maria says. Both Eva Maria and Hannes recommend Reykjavik Roasters, just a few blocks from Pink Iceland's offices on trendy Hverfisgata. Icelanders will proudly tell you that Starbucks wasn't able to make headway in this hyper-caffeinated country.
"It’s the only LGBT club in the country and offers a predictably packed dance floor every weekend, a mixed crowd, and a friendly vibe!" Reykjavik Roasters Reykjavik's sole gay bar Kiki Queer Bar gets high marks from Eva Maria. Two of the company's three owners, Eva Maria Thorarinsdottir Lange and Hannes Palsson (the third is Eva Maria's partner Birta), share their picks for the best of Reykjavik, whether you're gay, an ally, or just looking for a great time. Pink Iceland was the first LGBT-focused travel specialist in Iceland, coordinating and organizing everything from weddings to private excursions and guided tours.