Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 33

ADVENT UR E
C A P I TA L I S M
Iceland has a population of 330,000 people, and more than
217,000 of them live in the capital region of Reykjavik. No trip
to Iceland is complete without spending time in this easily
walkable city with incredible restaurants, eye-popping street
art, and world-famous nightlife.
Spectacular at any time of year, the city truly comes alive in the
summer months as the temperatures rise. If you want to see some of
the best that Reykjavik has to offer, be sure to explore Laugavegur,
the central street and the main shopping district. The name means
“wash road” in Icelandic; many years ago, the street led to hot
springs where inhabitants would take their laundry. As there are so
many restaurants, nightclubs and cafes now, Laugavegur is filled
on the weekends with people enjoying the weather and socializing
until dawn.
My favourite area in the city is near Hlemmur Square, at the
top of Laugavegur, which has a hotel of the same name. This area
is “home” to a mix of locals and tourists; it’s centrally located with
a bus station nearby. It’s also a stone’s throw from Lucky Records,
one of the best vinyl shops in the world, and just down the street
from Eldsmiðjan, my favourite restaurant. The specialty there,
brick-oven pizza, draws huge crowds in the evenings, making it
an excellent place to mingle and feel the vibe of this amazing city.
Just up the hill, you’ll find Hallgrímskirkja, the largest church
in Iceland. From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the
entire city, down to the waterfront, across Faxa Bay, and the
volcanic mountain range of Esja beyond. After spending time
in the more remote parts of Iceland, I always look forward to
periods of reflection in a warm coffee shop in Reykjavik on a
quiet side street.
My favourite place is the aptly named Reykjavik Roasters, just
down the hill from Hallgrímskirkja. They roast in-house and
serve an incredible espresso. They also offer a fantastic take on
Icelandic happy marriage cake, a delicious mix of oats, brown
sugar and rhubarb. It’s not overly sweet, goes great when paired
with good coffee, and will keep you coming back for more—just
like Iceland itself.
PHOTOGRAPHY (OVER AND BOTTOM RIGHT) JASON NUGENT; (TOP RIGHT) JOHN MEISNER
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