Top Sports Bars in Reykjavik to Watch the Match With the Crowd

Reykjavik might be a city of just 130,000 people, but when a big match kicks off, the energy in certain corners of the capital shifts from quiet Nordic reserve to something raw and communal. I have spent more evenings than I can count wedged into booths and bar stools across this city, pint in hand, watching everything from the Premier League to the Icelandic national team's improbable Euro 2016 run. The top sports bars in Reykjavik are not flashy American-style mega-venues. They are small, opinionated, and deeply woven into the neighborhoods they sit in. If you want to feel the city's pulse on game day, these are the places where locals actually gather, argue about offside calls, and stay until the last whistle.

The Graftagarðurinn: Where Laugavegur Meets the Pitch

Graftagarðurinn sits on the corner of Laugavegur, Reykjavik's main shopping artery, and it has been a fixture of the city's nightlife since well before the street became the tourist strip it is today. The interior is dark wood and exposed brick, with a handful of screens mounted at angles so you can catch the action from almost any seat. On Champions League nights, the crowd spills out onto the sidewalk, and the bartenders pour Einurgistingar bjórinn, their house draft, faster than they can pull it. Order the lamb soup if you arrive before kickoff, and ask for the back corner table near the kitchen, which has the best sightline to the largest screen. Most tourists head straight for the front bar, but the real atmosphere lives in the back room where regulars have claimed their spots since the place opened in the early 2000s. The one thing that catches people off guard is the lack of a dedicated sound system for match commentary, so when the crowd gets loud, you will miss the announcer entirely.

Hressingarskálinn: The Old Guard of Game Day Bars Reykjavik

Hressingarskálinn has been around long enough that half the city has a story about a night they ended up here after a match at Laugardalsvöllur, the national stadium just a short walk away. The bar occupies a spot on Austurstræti, and its walls are covered in framed jerseys and old match posters from the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. They show Premier League, La Liga, and every Iceland national team game without fail. The kitchen does a solid fish and chips, and the staff will switch between channels if two matches are on simultaneously, which is a small but meaningful gesture that bigger places rarely bother with. Thursday nights are the busiest, when the weekly schedule stacks multiple games back to back. The Wi-Fi signal drops out near the back tables during peak hours, so if you are trying to follow a second screen on your phone, grab a seat closer to the front window. Locals know to arrive early on international match days because the place fills up an hour before kickoff, and there is no reservation system, first come, first served, no exceptions.

Kaffibrennslan: The Neighborhood Spot on Hverfisgata

Kaffibrennslan on Hverfisgata is not the first place tourists think of when they picture sports viewing Reykjavik, but it has quietly become one of the best bars to watch sports Reykjavik offers for people who actually live here. The screens are modest, maybe three in total, but the atmosphere is intimate in a way that larger venues cannot replicate. They rotate between football, handball, and basketball depending on what is on, and the owner, a former semi-professional handball player, will personally explain the rules of Icelandic handball if you ask. The coffee is excellent, and the pastries come from a bakery two blocks away that has been supplying the neighborhood since the 1980s. Weekday afternoons are dead quiet, but weekend matches bring in a loyal crowd that has been coming here for over a decade. The outdoor seating on Hverfisgata gets uncomfortably warm if you sit in direct sun during the rare summer match broadcast, so grab an indoor seat unless the temperature drops below 15°C, which in Reykjavik is practically a heatwave.

The English Pub on Hverfisgata: A Laugavegur Adjacent Rival

Just down the street from Kaffibrennslan, The English Pub has carved out its own identity by focusing almost exclusively on English football. The walls are wallpapered with scarves from clubs across the Premier League, and the staff wear jerseys on match days. They open early for the Saturday 12:30 kickoff, which is unusual in a city where most places do not serve food until noon at the earliest. The full English breakfast is available from opening until 14:00, and it is one of the few places in Reykjavik where you can get a proper black pudding with your eggs. Order the house ale, which rotates seasonally, and ask the bartender what is on tap before committing to a full pint. The sound system is decent, but the crowd noise during derby matches drowns out the commentary entirely, which is honestly the point. Most tourists do not realize that the upstairs room has a separate screen and a quieter atmosphere, perfect if you want to watch a late La Liga match without the full Laugavegur crowd.

Session Craft Beer Bar: Skólavörðustígur's Modern Take

Session on Skólavörðustígur represents the newer wave of game day bars Reykjavik has developed in the last decade. The space is industrial concrete and reclaimed wood, with a projector screen that drops down for major tournaments. They focus on Icelandic craft beer, and the tap list changes weekly, so ask what is fresh before ordering. The kitchen does small plates designed for sharing, and the lamb sliders are worth ordering twice. Session draws a younger crowd than the old guard places on Laugavegur, and the energy during Euros or World Cup matches is electric in a way that feels more like a house party than a bar. The projector occasionally overheats during long tournaments, and the staff will switch to a flat screen backup, which is smaller but functional. Locals know that the back patio, which is not advertised, opens during summer matches and has its own speaker system.

Ölstofan: The Craft Beer Hall Near the Harbor

Ölstofan sits close to the old harbor on a street that used to be all fishing warehouses before the city redeveloped the area in the 2000s. It is a craft beer hall first and a sports bar second, but they take match days seriously enough to dedicate their largest screen to whatever the biggest game is. The beer selection is the deepest in the city, with over 30 taps featuring Icelandic and international brews, and the staff can recommend pairings based on your taste. They do not serve food, but there is a food truck rotation outside that changes weekly, so check their social media before heading over. Weeknights are the best time to visit if you want to actually hear the commentary, because weekend crowds can get loud enough to rattle the glasses on the bar. The one detail most visitors miss is the upstairs mezzanine, which has a separate viewing area and a more relaxed pace, ideal for catching a late-night South American league match.

Kex Hostel Bar: The Unexpected Game Day Hub

Kex Hostel on Skúlagata is not a traditional sports bar, but on match days it transforms into one of the most interesting places for sports viewing Reykjavik has to offer. The bar occupies a former biscuit factory, and the industrial space has multiple screens set up for tournaments. The crowd is a mix of hostel guests and locals who have discovered that the atmosphere here is unmatched during major events. They serve affordable pub food, and the veggie burger is surprisingly good for a place that is technically a hostel. The beer selection is limited compared to dedicated craft spots, but the prices are lower, which matters when you are settling in for a full afternoon of matches. The sound system is surprisingly good for a converted factory, but the acoustics in the main hall can make it hard to hear commentary during peak hours, so grab a seat near one of the wall-mounted speakers. Locals know that the outdoor smoking area, which is covered and heated, has its own small screen and is often less crowded than the main room.

Hlemmur Mathöll: The Food Hall With a Sports Screen

Hlemmur Mathöll on Laugavegur is primarily a food hall, but the back bar area has become an unlikely spot for game day bars Reykjavik locals frequent. The space was renovated in 2017, and the design is clean Nordic minimalism with a large screen mounted above the bar. You can eat your way through the food hall, Thai, Icelandic, Italian, and then settle in at the bar for the match. The beer selection is curated but small, and the cocktails are better than you would expect from a food hall. Weekday evenings are the sweet spot, because weekends draw families and tourists who are more interested in the food than the football. The screen is visible from most seats, but the angle from the far-left bar stools is awkward, so arrive early and claim a center seat. Most tourists do not realize that the food hall stays open later than the individual vendors, and the bar continues serving well past when the kitchens close.

When to Go and What to Know

Reykjavik's sports bar scene operates on a different rhythm than what you might expect in London or Barcelona. Most places open by 11:00 or noon, but the real energy starts around 17:00 on weekdays and earlier on weekends when the Premier League schedule demands it. International tournaments, the Euros, the World Cup, and Iceland's own national team qualifiers are when the city truly comes alive, and you should plan to arrive at least an hour before kickoff at any of the places listed above. Tipping is not expected in Iceland, which still surprises visitors, and most places accept card payments exclusively, so do not bother carrying cash. The legal drinking age is 20, and enforcement is stricter than you might expect, so bring ID. If you are visiting in summer, remember that matches played in daylight hours feel surreal when the sun barely sets, and in winter, the early darkness makes every screen glow like a beacon across the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Reykjavik?

Tipping is not customary or expected in Reykjavik. Service charges are included in the listed price at all restaurants and bars, and locals do not leave additional gratuity. Tourists sometimes leave small change or round up the bill, but this is a personal choice rather than a social obligation. Staff are paid a full wage that does not depend on tips.

Are credit cards widely accepted across Reykjavik, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit and debit cards are accepted virtually everywhere in Reykjavik, including bars, food halls, taxis, and street vendors. Contactless payment is standard, and many places are moving toward card-only transactions. Carrying cash is unnecessary for daily expenses, though having a small amount, around 5,000 ISK, as a backup is reasonable.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Reykjavik?

A specialty coffee, such as a flat white or pour-over, costs between 650 and 900 ISK at most Reykjavik cafés. Local herbal teas, often made with Icelandic herbs like angelica or moss, range from 500 to 750 ISK. Prices are consistent across neighborhoods, with only slight increases in tourist-heavy areas like Laugavegur.

Is Reykjavik expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

A mid-tier daily budget in Reykjavik runs approximately 25,000 to 35,000 ISK per person. This covers a moderate hotel or guesthouse at 12,000 to 18,000 ISK, two meals at casual restaurants for 6,000 to 10,000 ISK, local transport or a rental car share for 3,000 to 5,000 ISK, and a few drinks or activities for 4,000 to 7,000 ISK. Fine dining or adventure tours push the budget significantly higher.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Reykjavik as a solo traveler?

Walking is the safest and most practical way to get around central Reykjavik, as the compact city center is well-lit and pedestrian-friendly year-round. The Strætó public bus system covers the greater capital area reliably, and a single fare costs 650 ISK with a 2-hour transfer window. Taxis are available but expensive, starting at around 1,500 ISK for a short ride, and ride-sharing apps like Hopp operate as a cheaper alternative.