The Drunk Rabbit Irish Pub

Every city with a tourist economy eventually gets an Irish pub, and Reykjavik is no exception. The Drunk Rabbit on Austurstraeti does what Irish pubs do everywhere — Guinness on draught, live music, a certain convivial chaos on weekend nights — but it does it in a city where a pint costs enough to make you reconsider your life choices. That it remains packed most evenings tells you something about both the quality of the Guinness and the scarcity of affordable nightlife in Iceland's capital.

The Drinks

Eight Icelandic craft beers rotate on tap alongside the inevitable Guinness, which multiple regulars claim is among the best-poured pints in the country. Whether that is true or merely the kind of thing people say about Guinness in Irish pubs, the result is a solid selection that covers both local curiosity and familiar comfort. The whiskey collection is respectable, the cocktails are competent, and during happy hour the prices drop to levels that almost feel continental.

The Food

Do not come here for dinner. The food menu is brief — fish and chips, burgers, and pizza from a wood-fired oven — and exists primarily to sustain you through an evening of drinking. The fish and chips are adequate, the burger does its job, and the pizza is better than it needs to be. But food is not the point. The point is the atmosphere.

The Atmosphere

Two floors of warmth, noise, and strangers becoming temporary friends. The ground floor fills quickly and gets loud; upstairs offers slightly more breathing room. Live music runs most nights — acoustic during the week, full bands at weekends — and the quality varies from surprisingly good to enthusiastically mediocre. Karaoke nights attract a crowd that ranges from talented to heroically confident.

In summer, a small outdoor seating area opens until 22:00, catching the late-evening sun that makes Reykjavik's downtown feel almost Mediterranean — until you remember the wind.

Practical Tips

Best time to visit. Weeknight evenings for a quieter pint and conversation; Friday and Saturday nights for the full Irish pub experience, complete with crowds, music, and the kind of atmosphere that either delights or exhausts.

Getting in. No cover charge. Just walk in, find a spot at the bar, and order. On peak weekend nights there may be a queue after midnight.

Budget tip. Happy hour is your friend. Beer in Reykjavik is expensive, and the Drunk Rabbit's happy hour brings prices down to merely expensive rather than eye-watering.

Location. Central as it gets. Austurstraeti is one of the main downtown streets, and you will likely walk past The Drunk Rabbit multiple times during any stay in Reykjavik.

The Drunk Rabbit is not a destination for culinary pilgrims or craft beer connoisseurs. It is a good, lively pub with decent drinks, passable food, and the kind of atmosphere that makes solo travellers feel less alone and groups feel more alive. In Reykjavik's nightlife landscape, that counts for quite a lot.