Bistros, trattorias and the everyday rooms where Reykjavik actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Reykjavik actually eats.
2 Guys on Laugavegur has won the Grapevine's best Reykjavik burger several years running, a smashburger counter with a short menu and thin patties.
Signature: Smashburger
Order: The classic smashburger; add a second patty if you skipped lunch.
Tip: Grapevine best burger four years in a row. There is a second branch on Gnodarvogur if downtown is full.
Tommi's Burger Joint, known locally as Bullan, grills no-nonsense cheeseburgers by the Old Harbour on Geirsgata, a Reykjavik name that went international.
Signature: Offer of the Day, Cheeseburger
Order: The Offer of the Day, a burger with fries and a drink in one set.
Tip: Founder Tommi Tomasson exported the brand to London and beyond. The harbour branch is the original feel.
Chuck Norris Grill on Laugavegur runs a Texas-Ranger-themed diner in central Reykjavik, open late for burgers, milkshakes and an all-day American breakfast.
Signature: Wabamm burger, Diner breakfast
Order: The Wabamm burger, stacked with caramelised onion and chilli mayo.
Tip: Open into the small hours, so it doubles as a late-night feed after the bars. Cash and card both fine.
Hradlestin on Hverfisgata makes Chennai-style dosas and Punjabi bhatura in Reykjavik, the Grapevine's pick for best brunch and a rare South Indian kitchen.
Signature: Masala dosa, Bhatura
Order: A crisp masala dosa, or the bhatura with kheema for something richer.
Tip: The fast-casual sibling of a longer-running Indian kitchen. Brunch is the meal worth booking.
Flatey Pizza at Grandi fires Neapolitan pies in a 500-degree oven on Grandagardur, San Marzano tomatoes on a soft, blistered base locals rank highly.
Signature: Margherita, San Marzano pizza
Order: A simple margherita to judge the dough, then branch out.
Tip: The Grandi room by the harbour is the original. There is a second outlet in the Hlemmur food hall.
BakaBaka on Bankastraeti is a 1834-house bakery by day and wood-fired sourdough pizzeria by night, central Reykjavik's busiest crossover room steps off Laugavegur.
Signature: Wood-fired sourdough pizza, Cardamom buns
Order: A wood-fired Bianca mushroom pizza in the evening, or a cardamom bun by day.
Tip: Cardamom buns by day, natural wine and sourdough pizza by night in one of central Reykjavik's oldest houses.
Devito's Pizza has sold no-frills pies near Hlemmur on Laugavegur since 1994, a Reykjavik late-night staple for cheap, fast slices after the bars close.
Signature: Late-night pizza
Order: A simple pepperoni; this is fuel pizza, not an artisan project.
Tip: Open late and beloved by the after-hours crowd. Order at the counter; do not expect a sit-down meal.
Public House on Laugavegur runs a Japanese-leaning gastropub of shareable small plates and cocktails, one of central Reykjavik's busier mid-range tables.
Signature: Bao buns, Japanese small plates
Order: A spread of bao and small plates, built to share across the table.
Tip: Happy hour at the bar is one of the better downtown deals. Loud and lively most nights.
Salka Valka on Skolavordustigur runs a relaxed, meat-free Reykjavik kitchen with a daily-changing half-vegan menu of soups, bagels and comfort plates below Hallgrimskirkja.
Signature: Soup of the day, Open bagel sandwiches
Order: Whatever soup is on the chalkboard, or an open bagel sandwich from the case.
Tip: Fully meat-free with vegan options every day. Counter service, no reservations needed.
Mandi on Ingolfstorg square serves halal shawarma, kebab and falafel from a fast counter in central Reykjavik, a reliable cheap feed in a pricey city.
Signature: Shawarma, Falafel wrap
Order: A chicken shawarma wrap, or the falafel plate for a meatless option.
Tip: Fully halal and open late around the square. Good value when the sit-down rooms feel out of budget.
Yuzu on Hverfisgata flips Asian-influenced burgers on house-baked buns, a small Reykjavik counter where Japanese-Nordic touches lift a fast-casual order beyond the chains.
Signature: Yuzu cheeseburger, Asian-spiced fries
Order: A signature cheeseburger with the spiced mayo fries.
Tip: Bun, patty and sauce all made in-house. The weekday lunch deal is the best-value way in.
Ban Thai has cooked from a tiny Laugavegur room in Reykjavik for over two decades, repeatedly named Iceland's best Thai, with hot curries and big portions.
Signature: Curries, Pad thai
Order: A proper Thai curry, ordered as spicy as you can stand.
Tip: Small and popular, so reserve or get takeaway. Voted Iceland's best Thai by local press for years.
Krua Thai on Skolavordustigur is a casual Thai kitchen in central Reykjavik with generous plates and strong takeaway deals, a dependable budget option.
Signature: Pad thai, Green curry
Order: The pad thai, or a green curry with rice for the better value.
Tip: Takeaway is the cheaper way to order. Open through the day and into the evening.
Mama Kitchen on Laugavegur cooks the Vietnamese classics in generous bowls, a fragrant pho and crisp spring rolls that draw a loyal crowd to the main shopping street in Reykjavik.
Signature: Pho, Spring rolls
Order: A bowl of beef pho, or the spring rolls if you want something light alongside.
Tip: Open every day from 11:00 to 22:00. Portions are large for the price, value beats the downtown average.
Hlollabatar has built hot Icelandic-style subs since 1986, a local sandwich chain whose loaded baguettes are a Reykjavik late-night and lunch standby.
Signature: Hot subs
Order: A loaded hot sub; the New York filling is the house favourite.
Tip: Branches dot the city and some open late. The original recipe has barely changed since the 1980s.
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.
Signature: Burgers, Icelandic small plates
Order: A juicy lamb or beef burger, or a couple of the Icelandic small plates.
Tip: Happy hour runs 15:00 to 18:00 daily, and karaoke and bingo nights keep it lively.
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.
Signature: Argentine-grill plates
Order: Small plates off the Argentine grill, ideally during happy hour.
Tip: Open from 11:30 for lunch, with a long bar that fills early for the discounted hour.
Grandi Matholl on Grandagardur is a 2018 food hall in an old fish factory at the Old Harbour in Reykjavik, with seven counters of Icelandic seafood and global street food.
Signature: Mixed plates from multiple counters, Fresh seafood
Order: Sample plates across several counters, with seafood from Frystihusid for the local catch.
Tip: Casual harbour-side eating with industrial windows over the fishing fleet. Open daily 11:00 to 21:00.
Bryggjan Brugghus is a harbourside brewpub and bistro on Grandagardur, brewing its own beer in Reykjavik and pairing it with mussels and hearty bistro plates.
Signature: Mussels, Beer-paired plates
Order: A pot of mussels with a house-brewed beer alongside.
Tip: Live jazz some evenings and big windows onto the harbour. Brewery tours run on request.
Uppi sits above Fish Market on Adalstraeti, a casual Reykjavik wine bar running the same kitchen for sushi and small plates at a lighter price.
Signature: Sushi, Small plates
Order: A few sushi rolls with a glass of wine; the kitchen is the same as below.
Tip: The relaxed way into the Fish Market kitchen without the full tasting commitment. Good for a quick stop.