37 Best Nightlife in Iceland

Akureyri-based brewery Einstök has opened the brand's first tasting space in the capital city. The interiors are cozy and moody—large groups mingle with solo drinkers enjoying pints of Arctic Pale Ale and other seasonal brews. The outdoor seating is the best on Laugavegur and provides the ultimate people-watching perch.

In true remote Iceland fashion, this space wears many hats, and to call Flak a pub would be a disservice. Sure, they serve up beers brewed near and far, but it's also a great seafood restaurant and often displays art.

Located on the main shopping street, this wine bar and nightclub is a go-to spot for televised live sports. It also has a piano on the lower level for impromptu drunken sing-alongs.

One of the city's most famous cafés and nightspots—thanks to its associations with local and international celebs, like Damon Albarn from Blur—Kaffibarinn is a relaxed café during the day but it gets hopping on nights and weekends, when DJs show up and play until the wee hours.

Unofficially Iceland's best gay bar, Kiki Queer Bar is a spirited mix of locals and travelers on any given night. Located in the heart of Reykjavík's nightlife hub, you can dance until the wee hours here.

This space is part vintage shop and part cocktail bar and the interiors play the part. Romantic vibes surround each table, where display cases of crystals and curated vintage clothing set the scene.

The line of people waiting to get in to this bar stretches around the block on weekends. And it's totally worth the wait: inside, you'll find some of the city's best DJs, as well as a ton of locals relaxing and mingling. Prikið is open during the day too, when the crowds are much smaller. The burger is a sleeper hit, so try and stop by for lunch if you can.

You can't go wrong with any of the craft beers on tap here. This bar is certainly a bit more refined than other beer-focused watering holes in Reykjavík, and prices reflect that. If you're on a budget, opt for smaller pours.

This loud bar's open-floor plan can accommodate groups easily. The best seats are the pillow-topped benches along the window—they were practically made for people-watching. All of the cocktails are great here, but the classics are treated with special care; you can't go wrong with an Old-Fashioned.

Right below the Hard Rock Cafe, you'll find this lively nightclub making the most of its near-windowless basement location. According to the owners—Sindri Snær Jensson and Jón Davíð Davíðsson, the duo behind Flatey Pizza and Yuzu Burger—that's the point: to create a space where you'll lose all sense of time.

For a night of reckless glamour among a crowd of well-dressed and heavily perfumed party people, head to b5, a classy (at least before midnight) yet comfortable nightspot illuminated throughout with backlit rose-color panels.

By day this place is a charming café offering unlimited Wi-Fi, good coffee, and some tasty pastries. By night it turns into a cool little pub that's open till midnight on weekdays with great deals on cocktails, a wide variety of Icelandic beers, and pool tables.

This microbrewery is the only one in the region and for this alone it's worth a stop. It only helps that the brews—Fossawatn, Skarfur Stout, Dynjandi IPA—are delicious and often named after local sights.

A great live music venue and bar in the north of Iceland, Græni Hatturinn ("the Green Hat") has been hosting some of Iceland’s best melody makers since it opened its doors in 1999. Located on a side street off Hafnarstræti in one of the town’s oldest houses, its primary mission is to provide a place to experience live rock, jazz, metal, pop, and a variety of other genres. The sound of bands sending it large and loud can often be heard spilling out from its basement doors.

The menu of gin and tonics here shouldn't be missed, as it truly showcases the variety of the classic cocktail. There are also seasonal drinks and thoughtful mocktails. While the bar is relaxed and cozy, this space also serves as a restaurant for guests of the Grandi Hotel.

This venue has hosted live music for as long as most locals can remember, welcoming those who wish to dance into the very late hours of the night.

A green oasis right in the middle of town, the plant-filled space might make you think you're elsewhere, but you'll be brought right back to reality once you try one of the bar's inventive cocktails. Adventurous drinkers won't want to miss the Cereal Killer, which is made with Bacardi carta blanca, strawberries, cornflakes, oranges, and almonds.

This is your basic, no-frills bar serving up drinks and cakes beginning in the afternoon and hosting DJs into the early morning hours. It's located in the main shopping district, making it a great spot to grab a snack and libation in the late afternoon.

Located in one of the oldest houses in Reykjavik, Lemmy is far from just a bar: you can also order a hearty breakfast here. But this spot is at its best when the drinks are flowing and the picnic tables are filled with locals and visitors alike.

Sister bar to the vintage shop and bar Lola Flórens and sister café to the Coocoo's Nest, Luna Florens serves up inventive cocktails and baked goods. More often than not, you'll find ingredients like turmeric and edible flowers mixed into your drinks.

Take a trip back in time—specifically, Miami circa the 1980s. The color theme is pastel, the architecture skews brutalist, and the neon lights never stop. Plus, the cocktails hold their own, too.

The best time to visit Micro Bar is between the hours of 3 and 7 pm, when the bar has two beers on special for happy hour. You'll find a solid selection of Icelandic beers and an inviting atmosphere that's perfect for making new local friends.

During the day, Mikki Refur serves up coffee, but once the sun goes down (or happy hour hits), the wine list becomes the popular choice. There are also small bites to help pace your sips.

If you are looking to watch the game, play some darts, or catch some live music on a late Friday night in Hafnarfjörður, then Ölhúsið is the place to be. It offers a late-night hangout on the weekends, happy hour from 3 till 7, and a consistently great selection of beers.

Fans of Akureyri’s famous craft beer producers, Einstök, will love this place, which has a brewer's lounge dedicated to the award-winning label. You can play darts or watch live sports in this cozy pub while enjoying either a local draft beer or a bottle from their impressive global selection.

Technically a nightclub, Pablo Discobar also serves food and some notable cocktails. Since the bar is open until 5 am on Friday and Saturday, you'll often find people making this their last stop after a night on the town. There is a bit of a dress code on weekends (think stylish over formal). You can also catch some great drag shows here, if you're lucky.

People of all ages and walks of life hang out at this Icelandic Irish “beach bar” in the heart of Keflavík. Come for a pint around dinnertime to hear the town stories from the older locals, then sit on the patio and watch as the bar transitions into the liveliest nightclub in town.