Iceland escapes
Fish Market-Adalstraeti 12
Fish Market
Adalstraeti 12
This newly established fish restaurant is famous for its fusion of Icelandic and Asian flavors at its best. Go for the tasting menu (around 10000ISK) or compose the menu of your choice from a variety raw fish and meat starters. The main courses delicious but so generous that you take the risk of being overloaded of to much perfectly cooked satay marinated cat fish…even if that sounds completely crazy!
www.fiskmarkadurinn.is
Boston-Laugavegur 28 B
Boston
Laugavegur 28 B
On the first floor on the main shopping street you will find this welcoming, bohemian venue. Despite the restaurants scruffy interior of well used furniture and medallion wallpaper and its limited menu consisting of not more than five dishes worth their price this restaurant is one of Reykjavik’s most popular restaurants. The lamb is fantastic either you pick the traditional soup or the lamb racks with olive stuffed potato. The secret behind its success is that the chef is also the one who is in charge of the cooking of Björk’s worldwide tours and always returns back home accompanied by the famous singer and all her new and old fans.
Iceland escapes
Naked Ape-Bankastræti 14, 2nd floor
Kron Kron
Laugavegi 63B
This multi brand shop is a refreshingly colorful contrast to the monotone color scheme of the Icelandic landscape and urbanization. Multi striped knits from Sonia Rykiel and Westwood’s experimental drapings under the label of Anglomania both compete for your attention. Joyful Eley Kishimoto prints sit side by side with fantasy stimulating parcels signed by Henrik Vibskov and local designers.
www.kronkron.com
Naked Ape
Bankastræti 14
A pink staircase leads you up to this studio/shop where unique textile prints give life to well fitted T-shirts, sloppy jersey tanks and dresses. Every purchase comes with a CD with the very best of the latest from the Reykjavik music scene and a happy smile from one of the three designers/shop owners.
www.dontbenaked.com
Spúútnik
Laugavegur 28
Reptile cowboy boots lined up under a rack of perfectly aged denim jeans. Sheer lingerie in powder pink and soft peach tones displayed on top of piles of gently folded traditional heavy knitted lambs wool cardis. Coming across this would probably be the highlight of every vintage fanatic – if only the shop was open! Rumors say it’s because of the ongoing demonstration held against the sitting parliament due to the country’s financial crises. This time I had to get my satisfaction from window-shopping crossing my fingers that the economic situation will improve and that business will flourish soon again.
Iceland escapes
Being one of the worlds most famous tourist attractions one can not help being a bit sceptical when browsing through all the brochures but still curiosity is aroused. Being there seeing it with your own eyes the only word to describe it is simply magic.
Mornings under the winter season are undoubtedly the best time to fully and, almost in solitude enjoy this paradise. Before letting yourself sink into the milky blue water don’t forget to put on a thick layer of the natural mud mask offered in large containers free of charge.
Iceland escapes
Parts of the FIlippa K design team recently spent some time on Iceland, an inspiring and fascinating country and a place that we had all always heard so many things about but never really been to. Iceland is intriguing in many aspects, the mythical and barren landscape, the creative culture and notorious hustle and bustle of capital Reykjavik are a few of the things that made us want to explore if the thesis of necessity being the birthplace of creativity is really true. Despite the hardships Iceland is experiencing financially it is amazing to still see the posture the culture is keeping, proving that true spirits can’t really be broken.
Iceland with a population of merely 320.000 offers an escape from the constant impressions and influences of our business society. Whether one comes to think about its glorious past or its more recent fashion and music scene, the sensation of history is always present.
The days on Iceland are so short and intense in winter time – in January the sun doesn’t rise until 11 o’clock and sets already at 4. Luckily the nights are long and full of opportunities! The ghostlike daytime of Reykjavik becomes alive when people return from work in the evening, the music is turned on and hungry stomachs are filled with fresh fish and local beer.
The excursions to discover the volcanic landscape and its wonders, such as the Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall, are as unavoidable as vital for your health and spirit. Thanks to this and the nightlife dullness is never present in tiny Reykjavik.
