Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
boarding school in the western part of town have both
private and shared facilities. There's sleeping-bag dorms,
too, and breakfast
costs an
extra 15
00kr. Close
d mid-Aug to
mid-June. Dorms
2400kr
; doubles
18,800kr
Gamla Gistihúsið
Mánagata 1 & 5
T
456 4146,
W
gistihus.is.
The former hospital building dating from
1896 at no. 5 has cosy twin-bedded rooms with shared
facilities; just down the road at no. 1, there are sleeping-
bag dor
ms only,
and breakf
ast costs an extra 1600kr. Dorms
4300kr
; doubles
16,500kr
Ì
Gistikofinn Silfurgötu
Silfurgata 12
T
862 5669,
W
massi.is.
Run by engaging Icelandic-Finnish couple
Árni and Mimmo, this superbly appointed studio apartment
comes with fully fitted kitchen, high-speed internet and
underfloo
r heating, and makes a real home-from-home.
16,000kr
Ísajörður
Silfurtorg 2
T
456 4111,
W
hotelisajordur
.is.
Don't be put off by the 1980s grey concrete exterior of this
hotel, perfectly located on the town's main square; inside the
doubles are cosy, decor is mercifully p
lain and is
imple and
there are good views out over the fjord.
27,500kr
Kollinn
Hrannargata 2
T
456 5555.
This no-nonsense
accommodation in five rooms above the
Húsið
restaurant is
great value. Rooms share facilities and there's a sitting
room and
kitchen on the sam
e floor fo
r guests' use. Doubles
13,500kr
; with sleeping bag
4000kr
EATING AND DRINKING
Bræðraborg
Aðalstræti 22B
T
456 3322.
A compact,
homely, little café run by Borea Adventures, serving
sandwiches and soups, as well as tasty home-made cakes
and a wide range of fresh coffees. All produce is local or
homegrown.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sun 8am-4.30pm.
Hamraborg
Hafnarstræti 7
T
456 3166.
This pizza and
burger joint, crammed into the corner of a video store, is
Ísafjörður's answer to an American diner and is inordinately
popular with the town's teenagers: pizzas from 1790kr,
burgers from 899kr. Takeaway is available.
Daily
7am-11.30pm.
Húsið
Hrannargata 2
T
456 5555.
In a characterful old
building from 1906 with original wooden floorboards, this
new place serves wonderfully juicy fish (1990kr), lamb
chops (2690kr) and a delicious steak with onions and
mushrooms (2990kr); there are pizzas and burgers, too.
Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat & Sun 11am-3am.
Ì
Ka
Edinborg
Aðalstræti 7
T
456 8335.
A great
Euro-style brasserie housed in a former warehouse from
1907 which once did extensive trade with Edinburgh.
There's a large menu featuring pan-fried fresh fish
(2890kr), lamb chops (3300kr), and lobster and shrimp
salad (2290kr).
Mon-Fri 11.30am-1am, Sat & Sun
11.30am-3am.
Ka
Ísól
Austurvegur 1
T
456 6670.
This new café,
housed in one of the town's old haberdashery stores,
specializes in pancakes with fresh cream and jam, and
also has Greek salad, chicken wraps and quesadillas for
1550-1750kr.
Daily: June-Aug 11.30am-1am; Sept-
May 3-8pm.
Thai Koon
Hafnarstræti 9-13
T
456 0123.
Excellent
Thai restaurant with genuinely tasty chicken, pork and beef
dishes with rice for 1590kr or 1790kr depending on the size
of the portion; beer is 890kr.
Mon-Sat 11.30am-8pm,
Sun 5-8pm.
Ì
Tjöruhúsið
Suðurtangi
T
456 4419.
Located at
the Heritage Museum, the menu here changes daily
depending on the morning's catch, but the fish is always
cooked to perfection and often served with a mouth-
wateringly creamy sauce plus salad. Reckon on 2000kr
for lunch, 3000kr for dinner.
Mid-May to Sept daily
noon-10pm.
Við Pollinn
Silfurtorg 2.
Inside
Hótel Ísafjörður,
, this is
the place to come for fine dining in elegant surroundings:
try the gratinated salted cod (3750kr) or the pan-fried
lamb with rhubarb and chilli compote (4700kr). A set
three-course menu is 6700kr.
Daily 11am-2.30pm &
6-8.30pm.
4
Bolungarvík
Fifteen kilometres northwest of Ísafjörður along Route 61, the fishing village of
BOLUNGARVÍK
, at the mouth of Ísafjarðardjúp, suffers from one of the most exposed
locations in the country. Not only does it receive some of the foulest weather in
Iceland, but its position at the foot of three mountains, two of which are close to 700m
high, means it's also susceptible to avalanches and landslides. Consequently the road
now passes through a new tunnel which ensures that Bolungarvík is no longer cut off
when the winter weather takes a turn for the worse.
Although it's the second largest settlement in the West Fjords, with a population of
around 960, Bolungarvík is a workaday place with little to entertain visitors, though it
does boast a couple of good
museums
.
