Get Caffeinated: Four Awesome Coffee Shops in Reykjavik

Hailing from Seattle, finding a good coffee shop is pretty high on my list of priorities when I travel. Not just for my much-needed caffeine fix, but also for the great comfort and workspace that comes from a really good coffee shop. Though quite a small city, Reykjavik is certainly not lacking in cosmopolitan comforts, and coffee is no exception. Though there are many great shops to choose from, these are my favorite coffee spots in Reykjavik.

1// Reykjavik Roasters – Kárastígur 1

Reykjavik Roasters (previously called Kaffismiðjan) is one of the city’s most prominent coffee shops. The Grapevine has named it the best coffee shop in the city the last six years in a row, and for good reason. The space is cozy and cute, and as their name indicates, they roast their coffee in-house. Their skilled baristas make delicious coffee drinks, and with free wi-fi and lots of comfy seating, it’s the perfect place to park it for a couple hours and people-watch through their massive windows.

2// Café Babalú – Skólavörðustígur 22

Babalú is one of my favorite cafés in Reykjavik. Centrally located on Skólavörðustígur (just a few blocks down from the church), this coffee shop is one of the best places to get work done. They have two floors of seating, great coffee, reasonably-priced veggie/vegan-friendly food, and a cute little deck, which is great on the occasional sunny day. Though many coffee shops in Reykjavik close early, at five or six, Babalú is open until 11pm every day.

3// Mokka Kaffi – Skólavörðustígur 3a

Open since 1958, Mokka is one of the oldest coffee shops in Reykjavik. A beautiful little wood-paneled shop, they make great coffee and have delicious waffles and pastries. They don’t have wi-fi, but I like to think of it as a positive quality of this small café. It gives a great opportunity to take a break from technology and have a chat with a friend over coffee, or hunker down with a great book.

4// Kex Hostel – Skúlagata 28

OK, this one’s cheating a little bit, as Kex isn’t technically a coffee shop. However, their bar serves tasty coffee for about 450 ISK for a little pot (about 2 cups) and has a ton of great seating, free wi-fi, and big windows facing the sea. They have beer and good (but pricey) food as well, and if you’re lucky, you might just catch some live music in the evenings.