Here's where to drink the best coffee in Reykjavik, Iceland
Anyone who turns their nose up at black coffee from a common office machine should go and get some coffee. There is good coffee in Reykjavik, but not on every street corner. These are four (or actually six) nice addresses in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, for coffee snobs where it is also a bit nice to sit.
In the meantime a no brainer: The best way to fly to Iceland is with PLAY Airlines.
By far the best coffee in-town can be found at Reykjavik Roasters, which with three locations around the city center is never far away. Nice Scandinavian interior with colored slatted chairs, granite floor, raw walls and mid-century furniture, although all three locations are slightly different. A bit messy and relaxed, but deadly serious with the black gold: perfect combinette. Also tasty cake-like things, such as a cinnamon scone and heavy brownie, next to porridge and yogurt for breakfast and sourdough rolls with different fillings. Each branch has a different menu; the newest location in art center Ásmundarsalur is the most extensive and the interior is also the most polished. The other two locations are more relaxed - and in the experience of Barts Boekje therefore more fun.
The oldest coffee house in Reykjavik, in its original state since 1958 – it feels like you’re on a set by director Alex van Warmerdam. Behind an unmissable orange facade on the ‘rainbow street’, a side street of the main shopping street (which you can easily skip, unless you’re a fan of souvenir shops with all the same cheap, but still way too expensive junk) you step into Professor Barabas’ Time Machine (IYKYK) for a strong coffee among the Icelanders. Pleasantly relaxed and quiet atmosphere with lots of Scandinavian woodwork and beautiful mid-century tube lamps that you’ll want to steal for your home, plus a cute olive green bar where you order. Definitely not to be missed.
PS In the neighborhood, so swing by right away: wooden corner house Baka Baka, where they sell the best cinnamon buns until five in the afternoon. They also have coffee and delicious breakfasts/lunches and you'll be fine. After five the place changes into an evening affair, with according to Reykjavikers the best sourdough pizza and full (red) wine - imported of course.
Nice, nothing-to-do wooden coffee house with adjoining terrace where you can also go in the late afternoon and evening for Icelandic beers and an – exciting – matcha-martini cocktail. Good coffee in the middle of the center, where you can sit by the window, on the Thonet-like chairs under an industrial metal lamp at a French bistro table with cast iron legs and watch people. There are also various snacks, from waffles to red velvet cake and creative toasties.
We are very serious about coffee', Kaffi Ó-le headlines on its website, which is of course a funny thing if you have 'olé!' in your name and pronouncing it sounds like kaffee-oo-leej, like an American coffee shop (just like Versace becomes 'Vursees'). Anyway, Kaffi Ó-le is half-fused with the hotel next door, a tastefully decorated place with wooden floors, tables and chairs and warm beige tiles. Calm en Cozy. A place where you can just get coffeesplainers might encounter in the wild, but don't be distracted by bean talk and roasting times; the coffee is tasty, the pastries also. Popular place in the city, so busy at coffee peak times (early morning). Located on Hafnarstræti (sounds like jester street, means harbour street), close to the harbours.
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