Reykjavík Nightlife Has Changed

A turning point may have been reached regarding nightlife in downtown Reykjavík, following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic when operating hours kept changing due to disease prevention measures. This is the view of the operators of a couple of popular places downtown, Morgunblaðið reports.

Attendance seems to be more spread out than before the pandemic; some people start partying early, while others arrive as late as they used to before the pandemic hit. Last weekend was the fifth in a row without restrictions.

Kormákur Geirharðsson, owner and operator of the pub Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar, states that although nightlife in Reykjavík is quite vibrant, people don’t have the stamina they used to have. “People start yawning shortly after 1 am, and by 2:30 they’re drinking water.”

It’s mostly the regulars who get tired — people who before the pandemic used to last well into the night. Kormákur suspects people begin partying earlier than they used to. “For example, I think they go out for dinner earlier,” he speculates. Those who used to reserve a table at 8 pm now do so at 6 pm.

“As the days get longer, things may return to the way they were,” he states. If we get a nice summer, I believe the energy may increase again.” He finds it likely that bars will have diverse operating hours, depending on their clientele.

Geoffrey Huntingdon-Williams, owner of the bar/restaurant Prikið, agrees. “Overall, we’re seeing this COVID-style nightlife continuing, where people show up early downtown,” he notes.

Every weekend, he notices business increasing. The first weekends, guests were exhausted by the time the bar closed. “You could say they needed to brush up after a long vacation,” he jokes, “but now, they seem to be back in business.”

He adds that guests now arrive at different hours. “This is more spread out than it used to be. Something has changed for the better,” he concludes.