During your stay at Exeter Hotel in Reykjavik, it’s likely you’ll find yourself in the Icelandic capital’s main shopping street, Laugavegur. This well-known thoroughfare stretches for more than a mile, running parallel to the shore. On it is a plethora of shops, cafés, restaurants and bars that you might enjoy during your stay. Let’s take a closer look at this important street in downtown Reykjavik.

The history of Laugavegur

Before they came to shop on Laugavegur, this was a place to do laundry at Thvottalaugar (washing pools) which were located in the Laugardalur valley. To reach Thvottalaugar, people would have walked along Laugavegur (Washing or Pool Road), carrying baskets of clothes and pulling carts. Geothermal activity in the area meant that there was a constant supply of hot water even though the laundry pools were outdoors.

The road as we know it started to take shape in 1885. Until the 1930s, people still used it to reach the place where they did their washing, but instead of having to navigate the bumpy terrain and ford streams, they benefited from having a proper road surface. Before long, buildings were constructed along its length.

Laugavegur today

During your stay at Exeter Hotel, you’re likely to find yourself on Laugavegur at some point, though it won’t be to do laundry. After you’ve finished the day’s sightseeing, there’s a good chance you’ll come here to shop, eat and drink, however.

Shopping

This street is one of the best in downtown Reykjavik for clothes shopping. If you’re looking to grab some great quality outdoor gear, then Icelandic clothing brand 66°North is a good bet; there are also branches of Icewear and Fjällräven here. Vintage hunters should call in at Spúútnik, while in secondhand outlets such as Verzlanahöllin, you might stumble upon a vintage pre-loved lopapeysa, the classic Icelandic wool sweater.

Art makes a great souvenir. Galleries abound. For colourful landscapes depicting scenes across Iceland, try iurie | fine art, just off Laugavegur on Skólavörðustígur. Art67, Art Gallery 101 and MUTT Gallery are also super places to browse or buy. Large pieces can usually be shipped if you fall in love with something you can’t squeeze into your carry-on. Incidentally, if you’re happy just to look, there are some stellar examples of street art on Laugavegur, such as the mural that covers the Mjúk store at the junction with Klapparstigur.

Cafés and restaurants

Reykjavik has a long-established café culture and there are many places along Laugavegur where you’ll find a decent cup of coffee. You’ll find a branch of popular roastery chain Te of Kaffi but you might also try places such as Kaffibrennslan, which also stays open late into the evening as a popular bar. Call in to Hús máls og menningar and you’ll not only find coffee, but live music and singalongs in the evenings – it’s a bookstore too.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, then Old Iceland, which specialises in authentic local fare, is likely to be a hit. For a special treat, book a table at DILL. This fine dining restaurant sources seasonal organic ingredients and under the guidance of chef Gunnar Karl Gíslasson, turns them into something extraordinary.

Bars

After dark, the downtown end of Laugavegur is especially lively and if you’re a night owl, there are plenty of venues where you can socialise late into the evening. Keep your hat and coat on when you duck into Magic Ice, where everything – from sculptures lit by colourful LEDs to glasses in which they serve their signature Arctic Crowberry cocktail – is made out of the cold stuff.

Craft beers are the focus of Session, with a range of IPAs, stouts and lagers from local brewers like RVK Brewing Co, Borg Brugghús and The Brothers Brewery. If you’re seeking more of a cosy pub vibe, then  hunker down in Prikið. Founded in 1951, it’s a coffeehouse by day – the oldest in Reykjavik – but morphs into a bar in the evening.