Reykjavik drinks small and late. The bar scene clusters along Laugavegur and the few side streets running off it, and most places are coffee-and-cake by day, beer-and-DJ by night. The legendary "Rúntur" — the Friday and Saturday bar crawl — really only kicks off after midnight; show up at 9 pm and you will sit alone. Drinks are expensive (a beer is around 1,500 ISK) so locals tend to drink at home first.
Useful to know: Iceland brews very good craft beer, sold cheapest at downtown bottle shops; tipping is not expected; and the state liquor store, Vínbúðin, is the only place to buy spirits or wine to take away.