Best Party Night

I made a recent discovery. The best night to go out in Reykjavik is Thursday night. Reykjavík has been through massive changes. When I was growing up and started going out to bars and clubs it was only possible to go out on Friday and Saturday nights. There was nothing going on during the week, except maybe a concert or you could go to the movies. Still five years ago, when I left this country, you would only go out partying on the weekends. The trend was starting to happen, you could go out to cafés or bars and have a beer or a glass of wine on a weekday without being considered an alcoholic. Nevertheless, the parties only took place on Friday and Saturday nights. Now I've been out in Reykjavik two consecutive Thursdays and had a better time than on a regular Friday or Saturday night.

Reykjavík has gained a reputation as a city with crazy nightlife. This craziness still takes place during the weekends when bars stay open until it's time to have breakfast. Every time I've been away from Reykjavík and come back home I get a culture shock when I hit the bars again on weekends, so I can imagine foreigners being utterly surprised. It's a different world out there. It's a jungle. People are drunk out of their minds, push and pull, spill beer on you, dance on tables, hang from chandeliers, step on your feet and point the cigarette in your face or even worse, cigarettes have been put out on my upper arm, my jacket and the back of my shirt. (Note to travellers: Do not wear your best clothes when hitting bars in Reykjavík on weekends and girls expect your shoes to be ruined after the night. Be careful with high heels.)

However, on a Thursday night, the bars are still filled with people and Djs play the best music. Only difference is that people are more laid back and relaxed. They don't expect as much out of the night and that gives room for the unexpected. Often on weekends there is too much pressure on having a really good time, seeing all your friends, dancing, finding the man of your dreams and looking absolutely fabulous while you're at it. Sometimes that is just too much for one night.

Last Thursday I went to an opening at Pikknikk, a new store in Reykjavík. I wasn't planning on going out but they served Reyka Vodka cocktails. Next stop was the Comme de Garcon store, they were introducing a new perfume line. They served Tópas liquor shots and beer. Next stop was Bæjarins Bestu where we had hot dogs so we wouldn't fall over. It was still early so we went to Sirkus. And there we ended up staying until closing, listening to good music, actually striking up conversations with people otherwise too drunk to speak on a weekend. And dancing the night away. Still getting up on Friday morning to go to work and still feeling fine.

hannabjork@reykjavik.com