Kíkí Queer Bar

Kíkí Queer Bar occupies the second and third floors of a rainbow-painted timber house at the corner of Laugavegur and Klapparstígur, in the middle of Reykjavik's main bar street. The house was built in 1905 and has been a gathering place since 1959, and Kíkí's dance floor has been running since 2013. The venue describes itself as the only queer club in Iceland, and it is a central part of the city's LGBTQ+ nightlife, welcoming everyone who comes to dance and have fun.

The week has a clear rhythm. Thursday is karaoke night, Friday brings drag and dancing, and Saturday is all about the dance floor. Drinks include Icelandic beers and ciders and cocktails such as the house Kíkí Fizz. On the ground floor of the same building is 22 Bar, a vinyl café that opens from midday, which makes the building a good place to start in the afternoon and stay into the night.

Kíkí opens at 21:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, closing at 01:00 on Thursday and at 04:30 on Friday and Saturday. The bar itself advises arriving before 21:30 if you want a table, as the floor fills up towards midnight, which is typical of Reykjavik nights out. The entrance is on Klapparstígur rather than Laugavegur. Private parties and group bookings can be held upstairs; there is a booking form on the website, or you can email the bar.

Kíkí suits LGBTQ+ travellers, friends who want to dance, and anyone looking for an inclusive, energetic night out. As at all Reykjavik bars, expect to show ID and to pay high prices for drinks compared with many European cities, so consider timing earlier drinks with a happy hour elsewhere.

Reykjavik has a reputation as a welcoming city for LGBTQ+ travellers, and the centre is compact enough that you can walk between bars easily. Dress for the weather rather than the dance floor when you queue outside on winter nights, and use the cloakroom if one is available. Keep your ID with you, as door staff check ages at Reykjavik bars.

The building is right in the centre, a few steps from Kaldi Bar and Lebowski Bar, and within walking distance of most central hotels. After a late night, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur's hot dog stand on Tryggvagata stays open until the early hours at weekends, a short walk away.