KIOSK

Grandagarður 35, 101 Reykjavík

Owned by a quintet of designers, Kiosk has been putting the work of Icelandic fashion brands front and centre for years — even before establishing their storefront in Grandi. It is the place to go, whether you’re shopping for some seriously stylish everyday looks or that perfect outfit for a special event. “What’s best is that it’s an all female designer run space focusing on small batch, sustainably made pieces,” one panellist said. “It’s a store where one walks in and feels seen, realising that at long last they found their designer.”

Runners-up

Fischersund

Fischersund 3, 101 Reykjavík

What can be said about Fischer that the Grapevine hasn’t already raved about. It’s more of an extrasensory experience than a standard shop. Walking in to the historic house on the laneway from which the shop borrows its name requires your eyes to first adjust to the low light, then your ears will pick up the soundscape curated specifically for the space, your olfactory senses will be brought to life by the herbaceous and earthy scents wafting through the air. Luckily, Fischer is a shop, so you can select perfumes, candles, beauty products, art and even an album to try and recreate that experience in your own home.