Reykjavík's nightlife is Nordic-bohemian at its best — a scene built on craft-beer bars, cult hangouts like Kaffibarinn (once part-owned by Damon Albarn of Blur), live-music clubs and rooftop cocktail spots, all packed into a tiny, walkable centre. The famous weekend rúntur, a bar-crawl along Laugavegur that starts late and runs until 4:30am, is a local institution. Drinks are famously expensive, so many Icelanders warm up at home first. Under the summer midnight sun the party can run right through to sunrise. Here are the best bars, clubs and live-music spots, with areas, styles and tips.
Craft Beer BarKaldi Bar
Area
City Centre (Laugavegur)
Type
Craft Beer Bar
“Run by the Kaldi microbrewery — eight Icelandic beers on tap in a relaxed lounge. Open until 04:30 at weekends.”
Craft Beer BarMicro Bar
Area
City Centre (Vesturgata)
Type
Craft Beer Bar
“Fourteen Icelandic taps plus 30-plus bottles — grittier and more authentic than the polished bars.”
Hipster BarKaffibarinn
Area
City Centre (Bergstaðastræti)
Type
Hipster Bar
“A cult 1990s institution once part-owned by Damon Albarn of Blur — packed and buzzing at weekends.”
Live Music ClubHúrra
Area
City Centre (Naustin)
Type
Live Music Club
“One of the city's best live-music venues — local indie and electronic acts, with club nights after the gigs.”
Rock PubGaukurinn
Area
City Centre (Tryggvagata)
Type
Rock Pub
“Reykjavik's home of live rock and alternative music, with bands four nights a week — gritty and authentic.”
BrewpubBryggjan Brugghús
Area
Grandi (Old Harbour)
Type
Brewpub
“A harbourside brewpub with 14 taps brewed on site and a much-praised Sunday brunch.”
Bar / Hip-Hop ClubPrikið
Area
City Centre (Bankastræti)
Type
Bar / Hip-Hop Club
“Reykjavik's oldest bar (since 1951) and a hip-hop institution — a café by day, a club by night.”
Rooftop BarPetersen Svítan
Area
City Centre (Iðnó)
Type
Rooftop Bar
“A rooftop bar with sea views and cocktails made with Icelandic ingredients — great for a date.”
NightclubPaloma
Area
City Centre (Naustin)
Type
Nightclub
“A three-floor club with a different sound on each level — one of the city's main late-night dancefloors.”
Craft Beer BarSkúli Craft Bar
Area
City Centre (Aðalstræti)
Type
Craft Beer Bar
“The most serious of Reykjavik's craft-beer bars — 14 taps and bartenders who can talk hops all night.”
Reykjavík nightlife in detail
1.Kaldi Bar
Kaldi Bar is a beloved Reykjavik craft-beer bar on Laugavegur, run by the Kaldi brewery, one of Iceland's pioneering microbreweries. It pours eight Icelandic Kaldi beers on tap alongside a handful of international brews, in a laid-back, low-lit lounge that has a comfortable, grown-up feel rather than a rowdy party atmosphere. It's a favourite with locals in their thirties and up who come for good beer and easy conversation, and the mellow vibe makes it a great place to start an evening or settle in for a few unhurried pints. Draught beers run around $9 to $14, which is standard for famously pricey Reykjavik, so many Icelanders warm up at home first. It stays open until about 1am on weekdays and 4:30am at weekends, in step with the city's late-night rhythm, and its central spot on Laugavegur makes it a natural stop on the traditional rúntur bar-crawl. The interior is cosy and unpretentious, with a small outdoor area that comes into its own on long summer evenings. For anyone who wants to sample Icelandic craft beer in a relaxed, authentically local setting rather than a tourist-trap bar, Kaldi is one of Reykjavik's most reliable and enjoyable choices.
Hours
Until ~01:00 weekdays, ~04:30 weekends
Price
Draught beer ~$9–14
Getting there
On Laugavegur in the city centre
Insider tip: Run by the Kaldi microbrewery — eight Icelandic beers on tap in a relaxed lounge. Open until 04:30 at weekends.
2.Micro Bar
Micro Bar is a Reykjavik favourite for serious beer lovers, a small central bar pouring 14 Icelandic beers on tap plus more than 30 bottled brews from little Icelandic producers. It feels grittier and more authentic than the slicker craft-beer bars, with a stripped-back, unpretentious atmosphere that puts the focus squarely on what's in the glass. Run by the people behind Skúli Craft Bar, it's a magnet for craft-beer fans and locals in their twenties to forties who want to explore Iceland's fast-growing microbrewery scene without frills. Draught beers run around $9 to $13, and the knowledgeable staff are happy to steer you through the ever-changing tap list towards something you'll enjoy. It stays open until about 1am on weekdays and 4:30am at weekends, keeping pace with the city's late nights, and its central location makes it easy to fold into a bar-crawl. The room is small and can get busy, which only adds to the convivial, beer-geek atmosphere. For visitors who take their beer seriously and want the widest, most authentic selection of Icelandic brews in a genuinely local setting, Micro Bar is one of the best spots in Reykjavik to spend an evening tasting your way around the island's breweries.
Hours
Until ~01:00 weekdays, ~04:30 weekends
Price
Draught beer ~$9–13
Getting there
On Vesturgata in the city centre
Insider tip: Fourteen Icelandic taps plus 30-plus bottles — grittier and more authentic than the polished bars.
3.Kaffibarinn
Kaffibarinn is Reykjavik's most legendary bar, a cult institution since the 1990s that was once 50 percent owned by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, who kept his stake until 2010. It's a firm favourite with the city's creative crowd, drawing locals in their thirties, forties and fifties as well as clued-up visitors, and its large outdoor terrace comes into its own on long summer evenings under the midnight sun. The mood is more cult-classic hangout than slick nightlife venue — this is where Reykjavik's artists, musicians and writers have propped up the bar for decades — and it carries a real sense of the city's bohemian, music-soaked culture. Cocktails run around $14 to $18, and it stays open until about 1am on weekdays and 4:30am at weekends, getting packed and buzzing as the night wears on. Its central spot on Bergstaðastræti makes it a natural fixture on the traditional rúntur bar-crawl. Featured in Icelandic films and endlessly namechecked by locals, it's as much a piece of Reykjavik lore as a place to drink. For a taste of the city's famous creative nightlife in its most iconic setting, Kaffibarinn is essential — busy, atmospheric and thoroughly Reykjavik.
Hours
Until ~01:00 weekdays, ~04:30 weekends
Price
Cocktails ~$14–18
Getting there
On Bergstaðastræti in the city centre
Insider tip: A cult 1990s institution once part-owned by Damon Albarn of Blur — packed and buzzing at weekends.
4.Húrra
Húrra is one of Reykjavik's best-loved live-music clubs, a central venue that has been a cornerstone of the city's famously vibrant music scene since 2014. Its programme leans towards indie and electronic acts — a mix of local Icelandic bands and international touring artists — with entry typically around $10 to $15 depending on who's playing. After the gigs, many nights turn into club nights that run until about 4:30am, so a single venue can deliver both a concert and a dancefloor, in true Reykjavik style. Drinks run around $14 to $18, standard for the city, and the atmosphere is more underground and music-focused than the mainstream clubs, drawing a crowd of music fans in their twenties and thirties. Given how far above its weight Iceland punches musically — this is the country that gave the world Björk, Sigur Rós and countless others — a night catching a band at Húrra is one of the most authentic ways to plug into that scene. Check the calendar before you go and buy tickets ahead for popular acts. For live music and late-night dancing with genuine local character, Húrra is a must for any music-minded visitor to Reykjavik.
Hours
Gigs from evening; club nights until ~04:30
Price
Entry ~$10–15; drinks ~$14–18
Getting there
On Naustin in the city centre
Insider tip: One of the city's best live-music venues — local indie and electronic acts, with club nights after the gigs.
5.Gaukurinn
Gaukurinn is Reykjavik's home of live rock and alternative music, a gritty, unpretentious pub in the centre that hosts local Icelandic bands and international touring acts around four nights a week. Entry is usually a modest $8 to $12, and drinks run around $9 to $14, keeping it accessible in an expensive city. The crowd skews towards rock fans in their twenties to forties, and the atmosphere is refreshingly raw and authentic — this is a proper music dive rather than a polished nightclub, with a long history as a cornerstone of Reykjavik's grassroots scene. Beyond straight rock gigs it also hosts metal, punk, drag shows, comedy and open-mic nights, giving it a wonderfully eclectic, anything-goes programme that reflects the city's creative energy. It stays open until about 2am on weekdays and 4:30am at weekends. For travellers who want to see live music with real edge and character, away from the mainstream party bars, Gaukurinn is the place — a beloved, slightly scruffy institution where you can catch a sweaty gig, discover a new Icelandic band and drink alongside the local music community. Check the listings, as there's almost always something on, and it's an easy, central stop on a night out.
Hours
Until ~02:00 weekdays, ~04:30 weekends
Price
Entry ~$8–12; drinks ~$9–14
Getting there
On Tryggvagata in the city centre
Insider tip: Reykjavik's home of live rock and alternative music, with bands four nights a week — gritty and authentic.
6.Bryggjan Brugghús
Bryggjan Brugghús is a lively brewpub and restaurant on Reykjavik's old harbour in the Grandi district, brewing 14 of its own beers on site. It's as much a place to eat as to drink, with a much-praised Sunday brunch (around $40) and a menu of pub classics — fish and chips, burgers and brewery fare — where a full meal runs about $35 to $55 per person. The big draw beyond the beer is the setting: a large space with a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking the harbour and the fishing boats, which is a wonderful spot for a pint on a bright summer evening with Mount Esja across the water. Draught beers run around $9 to $14, and the on-site brewing means a rotating range to work through, from lagers to seasonal specials. It draws a mixed crowd of locals and visitors and has a relaxed, sociable feel that works equally well for a long lunch, an afternoon drink or the start of a night out. Its harbourside location pairs nicely with the Grandi museums and fish restaurants nearby. For craft beer brewed on the premises, hearty food and one of the best waterfront terraces in the city, Bryggjan Brugghús is a dependable and enjoyable choice.
Hours
Daily, midday into late evening
Price
Draught beer ~$9–14; mains ~$35–55
Getting there
In the Grandi harbour district, by the old harbour
Insider tip: A harbourside brewpub with 14 taps brewed on site and a much-praised Sunday brunch.
7.Prikið
Prikið is Reykjavik's oldest bar, running since 1951, and it wears two very different hats. By day it's a laid-back diner and café, a classic hangover-cure spot serving big breakfasts and burgers; by night, especially at weekends, it transforms into the city's hip-hop institution, playing hip-hop, R&B and soul to an up-for-it young crowd. Entry is around $10 (and often free before 11pm), with drinks around $12 to $16. It's long been at the heart of Reykjavik's rap and urban-music scene, giving it a cred and an energy that sets it apart from the beer bars and rock pubs, and it draws a lively 22-to-35 crowd who come to dance until the 4:30am close. The central location on Bankastræti, right at the top of the main drag, makes it a natural fixture on a night out and an easy hop from the other bars nearby. Its day-to-night flexibility means you can start with brunch and end on the dancefloor without leaving. For visitors who want a taste of Reykjavik's urban nightlife with real history behind it — the city's oldest bar turned hip-hop club — Prikið is a distinctive and enjoyable stop.
Hours
Café by day; club nights until ~04:30 weekends
Price
Entry ~$10 (free before 23:00); drinks ~$12–16
Getting there
On Bankastræti in the city centre
Insider tip: Reykjavik's oldest bar (since 1951) and a hip-hop institution — a café by day, a club by night.
8.Petersen Svítan
Petersen Svítan is one of Reykjavik's few genuine rooftop bars, perched atop a historic early-20th-century building in the city centre with lovely views over the harbour and out to Mount Esja. It specialises in well-made cocktails that showcase Icelandic ingredients — think birch liqueur, local gin and foraged botanicals — served at around $16 to $20 in a stylish, romantic setting that makes it a favourite for dates and special evenings. The rooftop terrace is the obvious draw when the weather cooperates, particularly on long summer nights when the sun barely sets, though the interior is equally atmospheric when the Icelandic wind picks up. It stays open until about 1am on weekdays and 2:30am at weekends, making it more of a sophisticated pre-club or early-evening spot than a late-night dancefloor. The crowd skews towards couples and groups in their late twenties to forties looking for good drinks and a view rather than a raucous party. For travellers who want to enjoy a well-crafted cocktail with an Icelandic twist and a rooftop panorama over the city and sea, Petersen Svítan offers one of the most memorable and picturesque drinking spots in Reykjavik, and a classy way to begin a night out.
Hours
Until ~01:00 weekdays, ~02:30 weekends
Price
Cocktails ~$16–20
Getting there
In the city centre, atop the Gamla Bíó / Iðnó area
Insider tip: A rooftop bar with sea views and cocktails made with Icelandic ingredients — great for a date.
9.Paloma
Paloma is one of Reykjavik's main nightclubs, a three-floor venue in the centre where each level has its own sound: indie and electronic on the ground floor, hip-hop and R&B in the middle, and pop and commercial hits up top. That variety means there's something for most tastes under one roof, and it draws a lively crowd of international visitors and locals in their twenties and thirties. Entry is around $12, drinks run $14 to $18, and it stays open until about 4:30am at weekends, making it a reliable late-night destination when the bars wind down. It's more mainstream and party-focused than the underground music clubs, which is exactly its appeal for those who just want to dance to familiar sounds until dawn. The central location makes it easy to reach at the end of a rúntur bar-crawl, and it gets busy and energetic as the night goes on. For travellers who want a straightforward, up-for-it club night with a choice of music and a buzzy atmosphere, Paloma is one of the surest bets in Reykjavik — a place to end a big night on the dancefloor, especially during the endless light of the summer weekends when the party can run right through to sunrise.
Hours
Club nights until ~04:30 weekends
Price
Entry ~$12; drinks ~$14–18
Getting there
On Naustin in the city centre
Insider tip: A three-floor club with a different sound on each level — one of the city's main late-night dancefloors.
10.Skúli Craft Bar
Skúli Craft Bar is the most serious of Reykjavik's craft-beer bars, a central spot with 14 rotating taps drawn from Icelandic and international microbreweries. More technical and connoisseur-focused than Kaldi or Micro Bar, it's the place where the bartenders can genuinely discuss beer styles, hop varieties and brewing methods, and where dedicated beer lovers come to explore the more esoteric end of the range. Draught beers run around $9 to $14, and the ever-changing tap list rewards repeat visits. Set on Aðalstræti in the heart of the old centre, it has a smart but relaxed feel, drawing a knowledgeable crowd of beer enthusiasts in their late twenties to forties rather than a rowdy party set. It stays open until about 1am on weekdays and 4:30am at weekends. Named after Skúli Magnússon, an 18th-century figure often called the father of Reykjavik, it fits neatly into a bar-crawl around the compact centre. For travellers who take their beer seriously and want expert guidance through a carefully curated, frequently updated selection of craft brews, Skúli is Reykjavik's most beer-geek-friendly bar — a calm, quality-focused spot to appreciate what Iceland's microbreweries and their international peers are producing.
Hours
Until ~01:00 weekdays, ~04:30 weekends
Price
Draught beer ~$9–14
Getting there
On Aðalstræti in the city centre
Insider tip: The most serious of Reykjavik's craft-beer bars — 14 taps and bartenders who can talk hops all night.