Overview
A guided walk to three bars in central Reykjavík, with Icelandic craft beer or spirits at each stop. All the drinks on the tour are included. Two and a half hours in all.
The Beer and Booze Tour is a guided walk around the centre of Reykjavík that stops at three bars. It is run by Your Friend in Reykjavik, in English, and takes two and a half hours from start to finish. The walking between stops is short. Most of the tour is spent in the bars, sitting down with a drink in front of you.
You meet the guide on Ingólfstorg and decide at the start which way you want to drink: nine Icelandic craft beers over the course of the tour, or Icelandic gin, vodka and a few versions of Brennivín, the national spirit. Wine can be ordered at each place if neither appeals, though it will not be Icelandic. The first bar is on Aðalstræti, a short walk from the square. The second is upstairs on Skólavörðustígur, where the windows look out over the city centre. The third is a quieter place on Vegamótastígur. The tour finishes back in the centre of town.
Between rounds the guide explains what is in the glass and runs through the history of alcohol in Iceland, including the 74 years when beer was banned outright. There are also tips on the local bar scene, on where to eat and drink, and on how to keep the cost of a round down. All the drinks on the tour are included in the price. Gratuities are not.
The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar on Ingólfstorg, facing the two tall stone pillars, with CenterHotel Plaza on your right. There are benches and a covered roof to wait under. Guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. Be there five minutes before the start; there is no hotel pick-up. Departures are at 14:00, 18:00, 20:00 and 20:30, and booking closes 30 minutes before departure. The bars themselves are indoors, so the weather only matters for the short walks between them — dress warmly. The tour is for guests aged 20 and over. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and the tour may be cancelled or rescheduled if the minimum group size is not met.
