Reykjavik is not a cheap city to drink in, which is exactly why choosing the right bar matters. A forgettable lager at the wrong place can feel like a budgeting mistake. A well-poured Icelandic IPA, a flight of local seasonal beers, or a late-night stop with the right atmosphere can feel like money well spent.
If you are trying to find the best Reykjavik craft beer bars, the good news is that the city does this category unusually well. Reykjavik’s beer scene is compact, walkable, and serious without becoming snobbish. You can sample respected Icelandic breweries, talk to bartenders who actually know what is on tap, and move from polished beer halls to smaller specialist spots in one evening.
Best Reykjavik craft beer bars at a glance
The strongest beer bars in Reykjavik are not all trying to be the same thing. Some are built for range, with long tap lists and international bottles. Others are best when you want Icelandic craft first, atmosphere second. A few work especially well for travelers because they make tasting local beer easy without requiring deep beer knowledge.
If you only have one night, start in central Reykjavik and keep your route simple. Most visitors will do best with two or three stops rather than trying to cover the whole city in one crawl. Beer here is good enough to reward pacing.
Skúli Craft Bar
If you want one answer to the question of where to begin, this is it. Skúli Craft Bar is often the safest recommendation for travelers because it gets the fundamentals right: a strong tap selection, a central location, and staff who can steer you toward Icelandic beers without making the experience feel academic.
The atmosphere is relaxed rather than performative. That matters if you are visiting after a day of sightseeing and want a quality beer without stepping into a scene that feels too local to decode. Expect a rotating lineup, including Icelandic breweries and styles that go beyond the standard pale ale and lager comfort zone.
This is also one of the better picks if your group has mixed levels of beer interest. The serious drinker will find enough to care about, while everyone else can simply order something good and settle in.
Session Craft Bar
Session is a smart stop if you care about curation. It tends to attract people who want more than a random tap wall and who appreciate a place that treats beer as the main event. The range is usually thoughtful, and the bar has a more focused feel than some of the broader all-purpose drinking spots in the city.
For travelers, the appeal is that it feels current. You are not just drinking craft beer in Reykjavik. You are drinking in a place that reflects where the city’s beer culture is now. If you like smaller pours, trying new styles, and talking through options before you commit, Session is one of the best bets.
It is especially good earlier in the evening, when you can actually discuss the list and enjoy the room before the pace picks up.
MicroBar
MicroBar has long been part of the conversation around Reykjavik beer, and it still earns its place. It is a practical choice if you want variety and a bar that understands beer-first customers. The selection usually includes Icelandic craft options alongside imports, which is useful if you want to compare local brewing with broader European and American styles.
This is the kind of place where a flight or a couple of half pours makes sense. Reykjavik prices can punish indecision, so being able to taste strategically is a real advantage. If you are trying to get a feel for Icelandic brewing in one stop, MicroBar makes that easy.
The trade-off is that the experience can feel more functional than atmospheric, depending on the night. For many visitors, that is not a downside. It just means the beer is doing most of the work.
Malbygg Taproom
Malbygg is the name to know if you want one of Iceland’s standout modern craft breweries rather than just a good bar with local taps. Their beers have built a strong reputation, especially among travelers who already follow Nordic or European craft scenes and want to drink something local that still feels ambitious.
At the taproom, you get a more brewery-driven experience. That usually means fresher pours, clearer identity, and a stronger sense of what one producer does well. Expect hop-forward beers, seasonal experimentation, and a menu that feels like it was built by people who pay attention to trends without chasing them blindly.
For some visitors, this will be the highlight of the beer side of Reykjavik. For others, it may feel a little more destination-specific than a casual downtown bar. It depends on whether you want a broader night out or a more intentional brewery stop.
Ægir 101
Ægir 101 works well for travelers who want a central beer bar with a bit more atmosphere. It is approachable, well located, and easy to fit into an evening around dinner or a walk through downtown. That convenience matters in Reykjavik, where weather can turn a loosely planned night into a much shorter one.
The beer selection is usually broad enough to satisfy most visitors, with local craft beers well represented. It is not always the most specialist pick in town, but it often lands in the sweet spot between quality and ease. If someone in your group wants beer and someone else just wants a pleasant bar, Ægir 101 can cover both.
This is a good example of a place that may not win every head-to-head battle on rarity or depth, but still makes a lot of sense in real trip planning.
Lebowski Bar
Lebowski Bar is not a pure craft beer destination, and that is exactly why it can still be useful on this list. If your priority is a fun, energetic night with more than just beer on offer, it can be a smart inclusion. The menu is wider, the vibe is louder, and the appeal is broader than at dedicated craft spots.
For serious beer travelers, this is not the first stop. For mixed groups, especially on a weekend, it can be one of the more practical ones. You get a recognizable Reykjavik nightlife atmosphere with enough beer choice to keep things interesting.
Think of it as a social bar that happens to work for beer drinkers, not a beer bar that happens to be social.
Kaldi Bar
Kaldi Bar is a strong option if you want Icelandic beer in a setting that feels distinctly local and not overly polished. The bar is associated with one of Iceland’s better-known beer names, and that gives it credibility with visitors who want to drink something rooted in the country rather than just imported craft trends.
The mood here can feel more straightforward and less curated than at some newer craft-led spots. That is part of the appeal. If you are looking for a place to settle in with a few beers instead of analyzing every tap handle, Kaldi can be the right move.
This is also a useful reminder that the best Reykjavik craft beer bars are not all chasing the same style of experience. Some are about discovery. Some are about comfort.
Bastard Brew & Food
Bastard Brew & Food is a good fit if food is part of the plan, not an afterthought. There are bars where eating feels like a concession and bars where drinking feels secondary. Bastard tends to handle the balance better than most, which makes it especially useful at the start of an evening.
You can try local beer, have a proper meal, and avoid the common traveler mistake of drinking on an empty stomach in a city where alcohol hits both your energy level and your budget fast. The atmosphere is lively but accessible, and it works well for visitors who want one place that can carry a larger part of the night.
If you are building an evening in Reykjavik with dinner, drinks, and maybe one more stop after, this is one of the easier anchors.
Kex Hostel Bar
Kex is known more broadly as a social hub than as a specialist beer temple, but it deserves mention because it solves a real traveler need. Sometimes you do not want the best possible tap list. You want a cool, comfortable place with decent local beer, good energy, and a crowd that includes both visitors and locals.
That is where Kex delivers. It is especially good for a first or second night in the city, when you are still finding your rhythm and maybe not ready to commit to a narrower beer-only stop. The selection may not be the deepest in Reykjavik, but the setting often makes up for that.
How to choose the right beer bar in Reykjavik
The best bar depends on what kind of night you want. If craft beer is the point, start with Skúli, Session, MicroBar, or Malbygg. If you want a more balanced night with food or a broader crowd, Ægir 101, Bastard, or Kex may fit better.
Budget also matters. Happy hour can make a real difference in Reykjavik, so it is worth checking times before you head out. Some travelers try to hit every famous bar in one night, but that usually leads to rushed decisions and expensive rounds. Two good bars, with one chosen for range and the other for atmosphere, is often the smarter plan.
If you want more practical Iceland planning help beyond nightlife, Iceland Now at https://Icelandnow.org covers the kind of details that make a trip run smoother.
A final tip: order Icelandic beer first. You can drink familiar styles back home. In Reykjavik, even one well-chosen local pour tells you more about the city than a full night of safe choices.
