The bar’s history stretches back decades, once known as a gathering spot for artists and musicians in downtown Reykjavik. Today, it keeps that creative edge while feeling easygoing and social. It's a place for the queer community where locals, travelers, and the occasional dog share the same space without pretense.
We arrived around 9 p.m. on a Thursday, our second stop after cocktails and tacos at Ellý, before heading upstairs later to join the karaoke night at Kiki. By then, 22 Bar was already full, and the low hum of conversation and the soft tap of paws on wooden floors made us feel right at home.
22 Bar Overview
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Address: Laugavegur 22, 101 Reykjavik
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Open hours: Sunday to Thursday 12 PM - 1 AM, Friday and Saturday: 12 PM - 2 AM
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Atmosphere: Relaxed, inclusive, and social — dogs welcome
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Signature drink: Cosmo 22 (twist on a cosmopolitan, refreshingly fruity with a hint of citrus)
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Food: Soups and freshly baked bread
A Night Among Locals and Travelers
The place was busy when we arrived, a mix of locals, travelers, and groups of friends scattered across the room. A woman rocking a baby who somehow slept through the laughter and music. A couple of dogs wandered between tables, greeting every guest like they were old friends.
The mix of people stood out; a couple sharing wine, backpackers going through photos on their camera, and a couple of regulars who clearly knew everyone, including the dogs.
Despite the contrast in ages and backgrounds, it all felt easy and familiar, like everyone had quietly agreed this was the place to be that Thursday night.
Cocktails and Other Good Decisions
We kicked things off at 22 Bar with their signature, the Cosmo 22, their own twist on a cosmopolitan. Light, fruity, and refreshing, it felt like the kind of drink that belongs in a place like this; unfussy and unsurprisingly delicious.
My friend also tried the Flamingo, one of their 0% options, which was fruity and sweet, with a caramel aftertaste that made it feel more like a treat than a compromise.
It’s clear that 22 Bar cares about its drinks. They’re not showy or overcomplicated, just well-made and easy to enjoy. Much like the place itself.
Then came the real test: an Espresso Martini. It turned out to be one of the best we’d had in a while. Smooth, strong, and balanced with that perfect line between coffee bitterness and creamy sweetness.
It was probably somewhere around this point, we decided to stay a little longer. Clearly, the only reasonable call at that moment.
More Than Meets the Seat
Seats were disappearing fast, but we lucked out with a table by the window.
We both instinctively launched for the window seat and laughed when we realized we both always sit in the booth, facing the room, and let our partners have the other seat. It reminded us of that viral debate on social media last year about the unspoken rule in (mostly straight) relationships that “the booth belongs to the girls.”
The two seats weren’t quite even in height, and we wondered if the design was intentional. Looking down at me from the taller booth-side seat, my friend admitted that sitting there felt like a quiet power move.
It was a small, satisfying (and probably completely unintentional) detail that somehow made perfect sense for 22 Bar.
The History Sits in the Walls
The building at Laugavegur 22 has been part of Reykjavik’s social scene for more than a century, originally hosting cafés and performance spaces before evolving into what is now 22 Bar.
Historically a gathering spot for artists, musicians, and the city’s creative set, the venue retains subtle traces of that past in its decor: vintage posters, old photographs, and a wall dedicated to local stories.
That artistic past has evolved rather than faded. These days, it shows up in small, playful ways.
Another frame on the wall features a quote by Lana Del Rey, nodding to the bar's pop-culture flair and casual confidence. Add to that a corner filled with quirky artwork, vinyl record music, and hints of the building’s history, and you start to get a sense of "who" 22 Bar really is.
Final Thoughts
22 Bar ended up being one of those places that’s easy to settle into without really meaning to. Maybe it’s the mix of people, maybe it’s the dogs, maybe it’s the lighting, probably a bit of everything.
Whether you’ve been ticking off the top things to do in Reykjavik all afternoon, want to experience a piece of Iceland's LGBTQ+ scene, or you're looking for a drink before or after dinner, 22 Bar is an easy place to slip into and unwind for a while. Also ideal, if you, just like us, need a quick and efficient warm-up before karaoke at Kiki.
To sum it up: Good drinks, easy atmosphere, and queer-friendly to the core. If you're bar-hopping in Reykjavik, 22 Bar definitely deserves a stop. It gets our full, no-hesitation recommendation.
