Akureyri's nightlife is modest but lively on weekends, when the town fills up with visitors from the surrounding region. The main strip is Hafnarstræti, the pedestrianised high street, where most of the bars are clustered.
Góði Hirðirinn (the Good Shepherd) is the most popular pub, with a wide beer selection including local Icelandic craft beers. Sjallinn is louder and more of a club on Friday and Saturday nights. For something quieter, the café at the Akureyri Art Museum is pleasant during the day.
Coffee culture is taken seriously. Kaffi Ilmur is the local favourite for quality espresso drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, and doubles as a good place to sit with a laptop on a rainy afternoon.