Hlollabatar is a subs and sandwiches restaurant in 101, Reykjavik.
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 dishes: Hot subs
Must 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.
Address: Ingolfsstraeti 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
