Gaukurinn — Restaurant in Reykjavik

I may be biased in thinking that Gaukurinn is the best venue in Reykjavík, but it’s not without reason. Gaukurinn stands out not just as a bar or a live music venue, but as a cultural cornerstone, representing the diversity and vibrancy of Reykjavík's alternative and queer communities. It’s a place where you can experience a metal concert one night, a drag show the next, followed by a chilled Lo-Fi Monday or a queer open mic. It’s the kind of venue that embraces variety, celebrating alternative culture while providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone, especially for queer individuals.

What makes Gaukurinn truly special is that it's not just a gay bar. It’s a pioneering space that has been one of the first to blend queer culture with the broader live music and nightlife scenes in Iceland. Whether it’s hosting the only goth night in town or creating a platform for queer voices.

Beyond its eclectic events, Gaukurinn fosters an atmosphere that feels warm and inclusive, no matter how busy or laid-back the night might be. It's a space where people of all backgrounds can come together, making it a vital hub for the city’s queer and alternative communities. In my opinion, Gaukurinn isn’t just a venue, it’s a statement about what inclusivity and culture can look like when they intersect in the most authentic way possible. but as I mentions before, I might be biased,l if you don't like diversity and representations, there's other options...

Gaukurinn is by far one of - if not the best bar - in Reykjavík.

Don't let the single entrance door that simply leads to a flight of stairs put you off, once you head up them, the place is amazing.

The most chilled out, accepting, tolerant and LGBTQ+ friendly bar in town awaits you at the top of the stairs, with themed nights, karaoke, stand up, drag shows, and super friendly staff who are awesome.

Gender neutral bathrooms, a great live music area and a great selection of drinks with super friendly bar staff every night of the week, plus a fantastic atmosphere that's maintained by super nice security staff.

There's a smoking deck out back for those who like it, and the staff are regularly out there to keep the place as clean as possible.

My only constructive criticism of the place would be that it sometimes gets a bit warm in the summer, but that's due to the fact it's under a pitched roof and also so popular that it regularly fills to capacity. It's also a little dark sometimes in the late hours, but the atmosphere is always...

Ok you guys, we are tourists and after reading some recent sketchy reviews, did not want to come here. BUT we were wrong. The other reviews are wrong. We are a group of 4 people in our 20’s and 30’s (men and women) and felt safe and comfortable here in this bar. We had beer and cocktails and sang karaoke for about 3 hours! We stumbled upon this bar after walking around town and I’m so happy we found it! We did go on a Thursday night, I’m not sure if the weekend is any different. Everyone inside the bar was nice and accommodating including the DJ running karaoke and the bartender. I have...