15 nordic restaurants worth the trip across Iceland, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Iceland.
Dill ★ 4.8 · Reykjavik
101 · Laugavegur 59, 101 Reykjavik
Dill on Laugavegur was Iceland's first Michelin-starred restaurant and still leads its New Nordic cooking with a foraging-driven tasting menu in Reykjavik.
Tip: Founded by Gunnar Karl Gislason, Dill holds a Michelin Green Star too. It books out weeks ahead, so reserve early and take the wine pairing.
Ox ★ 4.8 · Reykjavik
101 · Laugavegur 28, 101 Reykjavik
Ox is an eleven-seat Michelin-starred counter hidden behind Sumac on Laugavegur, where chefs cook a long Icelandic tasting menu in front of you in Reykjavik.
Tip: Entry is through Sumac, the sister Levantine grill. Ox earned a Michelin Green Star in 2025. Two seatings a night, booked far ahead.
Grillmarkadurinn ★ 4.5 · Reykjavik
101 · Austurstraeti 22, 101 Reykjavik
Grillmarkadurinn, the Grill Market, works fire and smoke over Icelandic produce on Austurstraeti, a reliable Reykjavik room for lamb and aged beef.
Tip: Adventurous diners can find reindeer and whale on the menu. Dinner only from 17:30.
Fish Market ★ 4.5 · Reykjavik
101 · Adalstraeti 12, 101 Reykjavik
Fish Market, Fiskmarkadurinn, gives Icelandic seafood a Japanese turn on Adalstraeti in Reykjavik, with a sushi counter and robata grill that made its name.
Tip: The upstairs Uppi wine bar pours from the same kitchen if you want a lighter sitting. Dinner from 17:00.
Skal ★ 4.4 · Reykjavik
101 · Njalsgata 1, 101 Reykjavik
Skal, a former Hlemmur food-hall favourite now on Njalsgata, plates inventive Icelandic small plates and natural wine, a past Bib Gourmand in Reykjavik.
Tip: Relocated from Hlemmur Mathöll after seven years; chef Thomas Lorentzen is now a partner here.
Matur og Drykkur ★ 4.4 · Reykjavik
101-grandi · Grandagardur 2, 101 Reykjavik
Matur og Drykkur revives old Icelandic recipes in a former salt-fish factory at Grandi, named for a classic cookbook and Michelin Guide listed in Reykjavik.
Tip: It shares the building with the Saga Museum down at the old harbour. Open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner.
ROK ★ 4.3 · Reykjavik
101 · Frakkastigur 26a, 101 Reykjavik
ROK faces Hallgrimskirkja from a turf-roofed house on Frakkastigur, a Reykjavik small-plates kitchen built for sharing Icelandic ingredients at lunch.
Tip: The terrace under the church is the seat to ask for in summer. Open from 11:30 for lunch.
Mimir ★ 4.3 · Reykjavik
107 · Hagatorg, 107 Reykjavik
Mimir at Hotel Reykjavik Saga on Hagatorg works a head-to-tail Icelandic menu, a recently renovated fine-dining room run with the Farmers Association.
Tip: Owned by the Farmers Association of Iceland, with menus from local producers. Lunch and dinner.
Kol Restaurant ★ 4.2 · Reykjavik
101 · Skolavordustigur 40, 101 Reykjavik
Kol on Skolavordustigur grills modern Icelandic plates over charcoal a minute from Hallgrimskirkja, a polished Reykjavik room best known for its steaks.
Tip: The cocktail bar is a destination on its own. Lunch is the value sitting before the dinner rush.
Kaffivagninn ★ 4.2 · Reykjavik
101-grandi · Grandagardur 10, 101 Reykjavik
Kaffivagninn on Grandagardur has fed harbour workers since 1935, billed as Iceland's oldest restaurant, where the catch of the day is the meal in Reykjavik.
Tip: Started as a coffee cart on the docks in 1935. Open from 08:00 for breakfast by the water.
Brut ★ 4.2 · Reykjavik
101 · Posthusstraeti 2, 101 Reykjavik
Brut sits inside the Radisson Blu 1919 on Posthusstraeti in Reykjavik, a Michelin Guide listed seafood room where a former Dill cook keeps the fish simple.
Tip: Opened in 2021 in one of the city's grandest old buildings. Good wine list, lively at weekends.
Forrettabarinn ★ 4.1 · Reykjavik
101 · Nylendugata 14, 101 Reykjavik
Forrettabarinn, the Starters Bar, on Nylendugata builds a meal entirely from small plates, a relaxed Reykjavik room near the harbour made for grazing.
Tip: Down in the old west-end harbour streets, away from the Laugavegur crush. Good shared-plate value.
Apotek Kitchen + Bar ★ 4.1 · Reykjavik
101 · Austurstraeti 16, 101 Reykjavik
Apotek Kitchen + Bar fills the old first-pharmacy building on Austurstraeti in Reykjavik, cooking Icelandic-European small plates and an open Argentine grill.
Tip: The happy hour at the long bar is one of downtown's better deals. Open from 11:30 for lunch.
Saeta Svinid ★ 4.0 · Reykjavik
101 · Hafnarstraeti 1-3, 101 Reykjavik
Saeta Svinid, the Sweet Pig, on Hafnarstraeti is a casual Reykjavik gastropub of burgers, lamb and small plates at fair prices, with a long daily happy hour.
Tip: Happy hour runs 15:00-18:00 daily, and karaoke and bingo nights keep it lively.
Apotek Kitchen + Bar ★ 4.0 · Reykjavik
101 · Austurstraeti 16, 101 Reykjavik
Apotek on Austurstraeti pairs an all-day Icelandic-European menu with one of downtown Reykjavik's best happy hours, set in the old first-pharmacy building.
Tip: Open from 11:30 for lunch, with a long bar that fills early for the discounted hour.