A Cozy Return to Spilavinir – Iceland’s Board Game Gem and Cafe

Whenever I visit a new city, there’s one stop I always make room for: the local board game store. It’s one of my favorite ways to get a feel for the place. Occasionally, I stumble on a store I love enough to visit again and again. Spilavinir in Reykjavík is 100% one of those stores.

Tucked into a cozy spot, it has a friendly, welcoming vibe and a basement that feels like a secret board game vault. Seriously! It’s packed with what seems like a million games, just waiting to be played. But the real magic? The people!

Spilavinir front store

Spilavinir window

Spilavinir entrance and stairs to Spilakaffi

A Staff That Knows Their Stuff

On this trip, Þorri was incredibly kind and helpful. He pointed us toward games we’d never seen in the States including Icelandic gems. He introduced us to Flip 7, a clever little game I already love. What makes Spilavinir special is how on point their recommendations are. A few years ago, they suggested Heckmeck (or Pickomino, depending on which name you know it by). I bought it purely because it said Reiner Knizia on the box and I trusted the Spilavinir staff

And boy. I LOVE this game! It’s quick, a little chaotic, and surprisingly strategic. There’s just something about grabbing warm worms from your friends that never stops being funny. So imagine my delight when I saw they now have a pocket version.. We immediately grabbed that. It's beautiful round small tin that's travel-size. Let's just say that my only regret from this trip was not grabbing more than one copy of Heckmeck

Flip 7, Warm Worms, and Universal Joy

One of my favorite things about board games is how universal they are. You can be anywhere in the world, roll some dice, play some cards, and instantly connect. Seeing a game you love being enjoyed in another country? That hits different. Spilavinir doesn’t just sell games—they help build that connection. Their thoughtful recommendations, warm energy, and ever-growing collection of clever titles make this spot feel like more than a store. It’s a gathering place for game lovers of all kinds. I think that after my local shop, Millennium Games, this one has my heart

Don’t Miss It

If you’re ever in Iceland 🇮🇸, Spilavinir is debatably on the way to the airport ✈️ and right next to Pure Deli, which has fresh, delicious wraps 🥗. That way you can leave the land of fire and ice inspired, a little over-packed 🎒, full of good food, and very excited to get back to the table. Now excuse me while I go {try and} win back my warm worms.