Reykjavik: Beer and Booze Tour

Iceland’s beer story is wonderfully odd: beer was banned for 74 years, and now you can spend an evening tasting ten local beers in three central Reykjavik bars. I love the mix of beer tasting and city orientation, and I like that guides such as Chris, Kristjan, Arnar, and Ástþór bring local stories rather than simply passing out drinks.

The small groups make it easy to ask about food, nightlife, and Icelandic customs. The main drawback is the price, $128 per person, and food is not included. Still, with Icelandic alcohol prices being famously high, ten samples can make the cost reasonable if you plan to drink anyway.

Key points to know before you book

• The beer ban makes the history unusually entertaining: Learn why Iceland went without beer until 1989 and how its modern craft scene grew afterward.
• You taste at three different bars: Skúli Craft Bar, Lemmy, and Ölstofa each give the evening a different setting.
• You get ten beer samples: You can choose five schnapps and spirits instead if beer is not your thing.
• Small groups suit curious drinkers: Guides make room for questions about Reykjavik, food, nightlife, and everyday Icelandic culture.
• The tour begins and ends in central Reykjavik: Meet outside Hlöllabátar by Ingólfstorg, then finish at Bastarður Brew Pub or Ölstofa.
• You must be at least 20: Bring a passport or ID card, and wear layers for the walk between bars.

Why Icelandic beer makes such a good Reykjavik introduction

This is not just a crawl from one bar to another. It uses beer as a way into Icelandic culture, law, history, and modern city life.

Your guide explains the old Viking connection with brewing, the country’s use of its clean freshwater, and the return of small breweries in recent decades. The oddest fact is also the best conversation starter: beer was illegal in Iceland for 74 years. Beer finally became legal on March 1, 1989, a date still marked as Beer Day.

That background gives the tasting some shape. You are not simply comparing pale ales and porters. You are hearing how a country with a short modern beer tradition built a lively microbrewery scene after a long period of restrictions.

I like this approach because it works even if you are not a serious beer fan. You can ask why a beer tastes smoky, sweet, bitter, or light, then connect that answer to Icelandic drinking habits and the country’s unusual alcohol laws.

The alternative is a spirits route with five different schnapps and spirits. This may suit you better if you prefer stronger drinks, though the supplied details do not promise the exact spirit selection. One well-known Icelandic spirit, often called Black Death, has appeared on the route, but the precise tasting lineup can change.

Meeting your guide by Ingólfstorg

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait if the weather turns wet or windy.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. One important tip is to arrive with the location clear on your phone. A small number of people have had trouble finding the meeting point, so check the map before leaving your hotel.

The tour stays in central Reykjavik, so you do not need a bus or taxi between stops. You walk from the square to the bars, with a short guided visit to Ingólfstorg along the way. Wear layers, even for a short city walk. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, and you will be going in and out of warm bars.

Ingólfstorg gives you your first city bearings

The first guided portion at Ingólfstorg takes about ten minutes. This is brief, but useful. The square sits at the center of the old city area and makes a sensible starting point for learning how Reykjavik’s main streets fit together.

Do not expect a full sightseeing tour here. The point is to get your bearings before the tasting begins. You may hear about the square, central Reykjavik, and the city’s past as the guide leads you toward the first bar.

This short walk also keeps the evening from feeling like a fixed classroom session. You get a little local context, then move into the part most people have come for.

Skúli Craft Bar is the main tasting stop

Skúli Craft Bar is scheduled for about an hour and is the most substantial stop. Here you can expect a beer tasting, with whiskey also listed as part of the visit. The bar is known for its craft beer focus, making it the natural place to begin comparing Icelandic styles.

The full beer option includes ten craft beer samples over the evening. That does not mean ten full pints, thankfully. It is a tasting format, so you can try a broad range without turning the first hour into a test of endurance.

This is also the stop where a new beer from an Icelandic microbrewery may appear before it reaches the wider market. That possibility adds a little fun, though it should not be treated as a guarantee. Beer selections can change.

The guide is the key to getting value here. Chris has been praised for being funny, informative, and good at drawing a group into conversation. Kristjan has led tastings with detailed explanations of Icelandic beers, while Ástþór has been noted for his entertaining style and local knowledge.

You do not need to know anything about beer in advance. If you prefer lighter or sweeter drinks, say so. A guide may be able to steer you toward options that are less bitter. That matters if one person in your group is only a casual beer drinker.

Small groups are especially helpful at Skúli. You can ask about the brewing process, local drinking habits, or what to order later in the evening without shouting over a large crowd. Private groups are also available if you want the tasting to stay within your own party.

Lemmy changes the pace after the first tasting

The next stop is Lemmy, with about 45 minutes set aside for beer. After the craft-focused opening at Skúli, this stop gives you another setting and another chance to see how Reykjavik’s bar scene differs from one place to the next.

The tour is not built around staying in one polished tasting room. You move through several local bars, and that variety is part of the point. Some people may find one bar more appealing than another. One stop can feel fairly ordinary, while the next may have a stronger atmosphere.

That unevenness is worth accepting. You are getting a slice of central Reykjavik nightlife, not a carefully staged tasting room experience. The guide helps connect the stops, explains what you are drinking, and keeps the group moving at an easy pace.

If your night is just beginning, Lemmy is also a good moment to ask where to go next. Your guide can suggest places to eat or continue drinking after the official tour ends. Food is not included, so this advice can be especially useful.

Ölstofa finishes the evening with more local beer

The final scheduled tasting stop is Ölstofa, also listed for about 45 minutes. You continue with beer here, and the end of the route can include a spirit such as Black Death depending on the evening’s plan.

Ölstofa is a fitting finish because it keeps the focus on local drinking culture rather than ending with a formal lecture. By this point, you have enough context to compare the bars and beers for yourself.

The route can finish at Ölstofa or Bastarður Brew Pub. That is convenient if you want to continue your evening nearby, but you should not expect a ride back to your hotel. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

The final bar has been especially well liked for its atmosphere, though the earlier stops may feel more mixed depending on your taste. I would book this for the company, guide, and tasting range first, rather than expecting every bar to be a personal favorite.

Ten beers or five stronger drinks

The main choice is between ten craft beer samples and five schnapps and spirits. If you enjoy tasting different beer styles, ten samples give you the broadest look at Iceland’s modern brewing scene.

The spirit option makes sense for someone who does not care for beer or wants to try Icelandic drinking traditions from another angle. Keep in mind that five spirit samples may feel stronger than ten small beer samples, so pace yourself and drink water when you can.

All drinks are included in the $128 price. Food is not included, although small snacks have sometimes been served during tastings. Do not count on snacks as a meal. Eat beforehand or plan food afterward, especially because the tour takes place around the start of an evening out.

The amount of alcohol matters when deciding if this is right for you. This is not a quick single-drink orientation. Ten beer samples or five spirits over roughly two and a half hours can leave you with a real buzz, so avoid scheduling a demanding activity immediately afterward.

Is $128 a fair price in Reykjavik?

At first glance, $128 may look steep for a bar walk. Reykjavik is expensive, and alcohol is not cheap in Iceland. Since the tour includes ten beer samples or five spirits, the price can be fair if you would otherwise spend the evening buying several drinks yourself.

You are also paying for a guide, the local stories, and the structure of visiting three bars without having to choose them on your own. A good guide adds real value by explaining the beers and answering practical questions about Reykjavik.

The value is weaker if you only want one drink, do not care about local beer, or prefer choosing your own bars. You can walk around central Reykjavik independently, but you will not get the same organized tasting or the guide’s recommendations.

The small-group format helps justify the cost. It creates a more personal evening, and some departures have had only two participants and a guide. Private groups are available if that matters to you, but the standard experience may already feel quite personal when attendance is low.

Who will enjoy this evening most

I would choose this tour for a first or second night in Reykjavik. It helps you learn the center, meet other people, and gather ideas for the rest of your stay.

It suits:

• Adults who enjoy craft beer, schnapps, whiskey, or local drinking customs
• People making a short stopover who want a social evening with some city orientation
• Couples and small groups looking for a guided night out
• Casual beer drinkers who want help finding lighter or sweeter choices
• Anyone who likes asking a local guide about food, nightlife, and Icelandic culture

It is less suitable if you want a quiet sightseeing walk, a full meal, or a detailed brewery visit. The tour is centered on bars, not production facilities. Pregnant people and anyone under 20 cannot join, and children are not allowed inside the bars.

You also need to be comfortable walking between venues in Icelandic weather. The distances are within central Reykjavik, but rain, wind, and cold can make a short walk feel longer.

Practical ways to get more from the tasting

Eat before you arrive. The tour includes drinks, not dinner, and even a few small snacks will not replace a meal.

Bring your passport or ID card. The stated legal drinking age for purchasing alcohol in Iceland is 20, and you must be at least 20 for this experience.

Arrive early at Hlöllabátar and match the meeting point to the square, stone pillars, and CenterHotel Plaza. The light blue jacket should help, but finding the location before the start removes needless stress.

Tell the guide what you like. If you dislike bitter beer, prefer sweeter flavors, or are new to craft beer, say so. The tasting is more useful when the guide can adjust suggestions to your palate.

Use the final minutes to ask about dinner or nightlife. The tour ends in the center, at Bastarður Brew Pub or Ölstofa, so you are already well placed to continue your evening.

The tour is offered in English. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve while paying later, which helps if your Reykjavik plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour?

Book it if you want a social, adult evening that combines Icelandic beer, local stories, and a quick introduction to central Reykjavik. The strongest reasons are the ten-drink tasting, the strange beer-ban story, and the chance to speak with a local guide in a small group.

I would be more cautious if $128 feels high, you do not drink alcohol, or you want a meal included. For everyone else, the price makes sense when you consider Iceland’s drink costs and the chance to try several local products in one evening.

Choose the beer route for variety and the spirit route for a shorter list of stronger Icelandic drinks. Either way, this is a good early-trip activity, especially if you want your guide to point you toward your next meal or late-night stop.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Beer and Booze Tour last?

The experience lasts 150 minutes, or about two and a half hours.

How many drinks are included?

The beer option includes ten Icelandic craft beer samples. You can choose five different schnapps and spirits instead.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

How do I find the guide?

The local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik written on the back.

Which bars does the tour visit?

The route includes Skúli Craft Bar, Lemmy, and Ölstofa. The tour can finish at Bastarður Brew Pub or Ölstofa.

Is food included?

Food is not included. Small snacks may be available during the tasting, but you should eat before the tour or plan a meal afterward.

What is the minimum age?

You must be at least 20 years old. Children and infants are not allowed because people younger than 20 cannot be inside the bars for this tour.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card and wear layers suitable for Icelandic weather. The tour includes walking between central Reykjavik bars.