Conde Nast Traveler in March surveys three locals for tips on where to go in “Red-Hot Reykjavik.” On the list is Harrison Ford’s favorite Icelandic Indian restaurant, Austur Indiafelagid. For seafood, the story suggests Sjavarkjallarinn. Another local says the Einar Jonsson Museum’s sculpture garden is the perfect place to play Frisbee on a sunny day. Kronkron is called a colorful boutique clothing store that carries bright geometric dresses by fresh names like Bernard Wilhelm. For antique board games, photography books, and Viking-inspired jewelry, one local quoted by Conde Nast Traveler recommends the National Museum gift shop.
More media coverage for the country in March includes these gems:
“Iceland was one of the earliest victims of the worldwide banking collapse: Its currency sank like a rock, losing around 45 percent of its value — making this traditionally pricey Scandinavian destination newly affordable.
“Now is a great time to support local Reykjavik brands like 12 Tonar (http://www.12tonar.is), known as one of the best independent record labels in the world, or the Handknitting Association of Iceland’s cooperative shops (http://www.handknit.is), which sell the work of 200 knitters. Look for a satellite boutique at the Hotel Saga (http://www.radisson.com/reykjavikic_saga).
“Of course, the country’s top attractions are its natural ones: A rental car should be your main cost as you take in the geysers, waterfalls and hot springs of the famed Golden Circle. Icelandair (http://www.icelandair.com) is running frequent promotions, and hotel deals abound, like the chic 101 Hotel’s (http://www.101hotel.is) offer of a free upgrade on any stay through the end of March.
– MSN.Com, March 17, 2009
“As the dollar gains strength in countries with weakened or collapsed economies, savvy travelers are going currency tripping, snapping up last-minute deals to beleaguered countries and planning long trips on the hunch that another currency will take a dive.
“In Iceland, where the krona has tumbled as much as 45 percent, there’s a deal at every doorstep. The redone grande dame Hotel Borg in Reykjavik, for example, was $417 a night last year. Now it’s $263.”
– Kevin Gray, The New York Times Travel Magazine, Spring 2009
“When the Vikings arrived in Iceland, their culinary concerns revolved around food preservation, not flavor. That led to distinct specialties — still enjoyed by Icelanders today — such as hrútspungar (ram’s testicles pickled in whey) and hákarl (rotted shark meat that reeks of ammonia). Thankfully, the advent of refrigerators, along with abundant natural fisheries, has decreased dependence on such idiosyncratic fare, and visitors today will be able to peruse an Icelandic menu without too much trepidation.
“At the center of the country’s restaurant scene is Sjávarkjallarinn (Seafood Cellar, www.sjavarkjallarinn.is). Housed in the capital Reykjavík’s oldest underground storeroom, which served as a stable in the late 18th century, the restaurant is known for its fusion of Asian flavors (think kaffir lime, star anise and yuzu) with fresh Icelandic fish, served within hours of being caught.
“Other dishes, like a succulent barbecued lamb chop garnished with pecans and cèpes, benefit from Icelandic husbandry: the island’s sheep spend their summers grazing freely in pristine mountain pastures.”
– William Lee Adams, Time Magazine, March 11, 2009
