40 cheap eats places in Reykjavik, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Reykjavik: the places editors actually return to. All Reykjavik food.
Reykjavik Roasters ★ 4.7
101 · Karastigur 1, 101 Reykjavik
Reykjavik Roasters on Karastigur is the city's specialty-coffee anchor, a snug 1929 house roasting its own beans and pulling careful espresso.
Tip: The original branch behind Skolavordustigur. There are sibling cafes on Brautarholt and Freyjugata too.
Sandholt ★ 4.6
101 · Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavik
Sandholt has baked on Laugavegur since 1920, a fourth-generation Reykjavik bakery whose long-fermented sourdough and croissants set the city's standard.
Tip: The all-day breakfast in the cafe section pairs the bread with eggs and cheese. Arrive early for croissants.
Braud and Co ★ 4.6
101 · Frakkastigur 16, 101 Reykjavik
Braud and Co works a graffiti-painted house on Frakkastigur, a Reykjavik bakery whose warm cinnamon rolls and sourdough draw a near-constant queue.
Tip: You can watch the bakers through the open kitchen. Multiple branches, but Frakkastigur is the original.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur ★ 4.6
101 · Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavik
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur has sold Iceland's lamb hot dogs from a Tryggvagata kiosk since 1937, the most famous street-food window in Reykjavik by far.
Tip: Bill Clinton ordered his with mustard only in 2004, so that is now called a Clinton. Open very late.
Mokka Kaffi ★ 4.5
101 · Skolavordustigur 3a, 101 Reykjavik
Mokka Kaffi on Skolavordustigur has been Reykjavik's oldest cafe since 1958, run by one family and famous for waffles with rhubarb jam and hot chocolate.
Tip: Little has changed since the 1950s, down to the espresso machine. Cash-friendly, no laptops culture.
Reykjavik Roasters Brautarholt ★ 4.5
105 · Brautarholt 2, 105 Reykjavik
The Brautarholt branch of Reykjavik Roasters doubles as the roastery, a larger and brighter Reykjavik room where you can watch beans roast while drinking.
Tip: Less touristy than the Karastigur original and with more table room. Whole beans for sale at the bar.
Bernhoftsbakari ★ 4.4
101 · Klapparstigur 3, 101 Reykjavik
Bernhoftsbakari, founded 1834, is Iceland's oldest business, a Reykjavik bakery now run by the fifth generation and stocked with snudur and kleinur.
Tip: Iceland's oldest continuously operating business, on Klapparstigur. The traditional pastries are the draw.
Braud and Co Hlemmur ★ 4.4
105 · Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavik
The Braud and Co branch at Hlemmur on Laugavegur brings the bakery's cinnamon rolls and sourdough to the food-hall end of a busy Reykjavik street.
Tip: A shorter wait than the Frakkastigur original, beside the Hlemmur food hall. Same recipes throughout.
Sandholt Patisserie ★ 4.4
101 · Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavik
The patisserie counter at Sandholt on Laugavegur turns out croissants, eclairs and seasonal cakes, the laminated side of Reykjavik's oldest family bakery.
Tip: The same room as the bakery and cafe, so everything is fresh. Cakes can be ordered ahead for occasions.
Sandholt ★ 4.4
101 · Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavik
Sandholt on Laugavegur is a 1920 family bakery and cafe in Reykjavik, where the all-day sourdough breakfast and pastry counter draw a main-street crowd.
Tip: The cafe shares the room with the bakery, so the pastries could not be fresher. Open from 07:00.
Saegreifinn ★ 4.4
101-grandi · Geirsgata 4a, 101 Reykjavik
Saegreifinn, the Sea Baron, on Geirsgata serves a langoustine soup many call the world's best, plus grilled fish skewers in a tiny harbour shack in Reykjavik.
Tip: Started in 2003 by a former fisherman. Communal benches and barrels for seats; cosy and very small.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur ★ 4.4
101 · Tryggvagata 1, 101 Reykjavik
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur on Tryggvagata is Reykjavik's cheapest famous meal, a lamb hot dog with everything for under ISK 900 from a kiosk going since 1937.
Tip: At under ISK 900 it is the single best-value bite in a steep city. Ask for one with everything.
Hygge Coffee and Micro Bakery ★ 4.3
101 · Baronsstigur 6, 101 Reykjavik
Hygge on Baronsstigur is a small Danish-inspired micro-bakery in central Reykjavik, baking sourdough and laminated pastries from scratch with seasonal.
Tip: Opened 2022, with a sibling site at Seljavegur 2 by Grandi. Cardamom knots and filled croissants sell out by mid-morning.
Braud and Co Austurstraeti ★ 4.3
101 · Austurstraeti 17, 101 Reykjavik
The Austurstraeti outpost of Braud and Co puts the bakery's cinnamon rolls and sourdough right in the centre of Reykjavik, between the downtown sights.
Tip: The most central of the branches, handy off Ingolfstorg. Grab a roll and eat it on the square.
Grai Kotturinn ★ 4.3
101 · Hverfisgata 16a, 101 Reykjavik
Grai Kotturinn, the Grey Cat, on Hverfisgata is a tiny basement Reykjavik brunch room famous for the Truck, a plate of pancakes, bacon, eggs and potatoes.
Tip: Just a handful of tables, so expect a queue at weekends. Breakfast and lunch only.
Cafe Haiti ★ 4.3
101-grandi · Geirsgata 7b, 101 Reykjavik
Cafe Haiti on Geirsgata roasts beans flown in from Haiti on its own machine, a small Reykjavik harbour cafe pouring single-origin espresso since 2007.
Tip: Roasts beans on site in the harbour cafe. Whole beans by the bag to take home.
Valdis ★ 4.3
101-grandi · Grandagardur 21, 101 Reykjavik
Valdis at Grandi on Grandagardur scoops some of Reykjavik's most inventive ice cream, with over four hundred flavours tried since 2013, from rye to liquorice.
Tip: Queues out the door on summer evenings despite the cold climate. Cash or card both fine, no seating.
Brikk ★ 4.2
105 · Hateigsvegur 1, 105 Reykjavik
Brikk on Hateigsvegur near Hlemmur reinvents the Icelandic snudur in a Reykjavik bakery, with salt-caramel and Nutella versions plus sourdough sandwiches.
Tip: Started in Hafnarfjordur in 2017 and grew from there. The over-the-top snudur are the signature.
Cafe Babalu ★ 4.2
101 · Skolavordustigur 22a, 101 Reykjavik
Cafe Babalu on Skolavordustigur is a quirky two-floor Reykjavik living room of board games and books, pouring coffee with sandwiches, crepes and soups.
Tip: Vegan-friendly plates and a sunny upstairs balcony. A cosy stop on the climb to Hallgrimskirkja.
Cafe Loki ★ 4.2
101 · Lokastigur 28, 101 Reykjavik
Cafe Loki faces Hallgrimskirkja from Lokastigur, a Reykjavik cafe built on traditional Icelandic plates of dark rye bread, mashed fish and rye ice cream.
Tip: One of the easiest places to try traditional Icelandic food without a sit-down dinner. Walk-in only.
Fish and Chips Vagninn ★ 4.2
101-grandi · Grandagardur 19, 101 Reykjavik
Fish and Chips Vagninn is a red food truck at Vesturbugt harbour on Grandagardur, frying super-fresh Icelandic cod and chips British-style in Reykjavik.
Tip: Run by a fishing family with their own vessels, so the cod could not be fresher. Eat it by the water.
Saegreifinn ★ 4.2
101-grandi · Geirsgata 4a, 101 Reykjavik
Saegreifinn on Geirsgata serves its famous langoustine soup far cheaper than the restaurants, a budget taste of Icelandic shellfish at the Reykjavik harbour.
Tip: The soup with bread is a full meal for the price. Small and casual, with barrel seats.
Deig ★ 4.1
101 · Tryggvagata 12, 101 Reykjavik
Deig near the Old Harbour on Tryggvagata is a Reykjavik bakery of doughnuts, bagels and bagel sandwiches, sharing its room with the Le Kock burger counter.
Tip: Run by chef Markus Gudnason and open early. Good for a quick takeaway bagel near the harbour.
Stofan Cafe ★ 4.1
101 · Vesturgata 3, 101 Reykjavik
Stofan Cafe sits on Ingolfstorg square on Vesturgata, a Reykjavik living-room cafe of worn armchairs, cake and coffee that suits a slow afternoon downtown.
Tip: The name means living room and the upstairs sofas earn it. Good for a long sit with cake and wifi.
Banh Mi ★ 4.1
105 · Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavik
Banh Mi at the Hlemmur food hall on Laugavegur 107 stuffs crisp baguettes with marinated proteins, pickled veg and herbs, a fast Vietnamese street counter.
Tip: Inside Hlemmur Matholl, the old bus terminal turned food hall. Quick, cheap, takeaway-friendly.
Lobster Hut ★ 4.1
101 · Kalkofnsvegur 2, 101 Reykjavik
Lobster Hut is a food cart on Kalkofnsvegur near Harpa, serving Icelandic langoustine sandwiches, soup and salad far cheaper than a sit-down Reykjavik room.
Tip: A summer operation that may close in bad weather. Cheap fresh langoustine, eaten standing by the harbour.
Hradlestin ★ 4.1
101 · Hverfisgata 64a, 101 Reykjavik
Hradlestin on Hverfisgata serves fast, affordable South Indian dosas and bhatura, a budget-friendly Reykjavik option the Grapevine rates for value.
Tip: A masala dosa is a big, cheap plate. One of the better-value sit-down meals downtown.
Kaffibrennslan ★ 4.0
101 · Laugavegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
Kaffibrennslan works a historic Laugavegur house as a Reykjavik cafe by day and a relaxed bar by night, pouring coffee, cake and Icelandic beer.
Tip: The street-watching window seats on Laugavegur are the prize. Happy hour bridges cafe and bar.
Kaffi Grandi ★ 4.0
101-grandi · Fiskislod 43, 101 Reykjavik
Kaffi Grandi is a daytime cafe in the Grandi harbour district inside FlyOver Iceland on Fiskislod, pouring espresso with croissants, bagels and pastries.
Tip: Card only, no cash. Open daily until early evening, handy before or after the FlyOver Iceland show.
Deig ★ 4.0
101 · Tryggvagata 12, 101 Reykjavik
Deig near the Old Harbour on Tryggvagata pairs coffee with doughnuts, bagels and bagel sandwiches, a casual Reykjavik counter sharing space with Le Kock.
Tip: Shares premises with Le Kock and the Tail cocktail bar, so it runs late some nights. Counter service.
Solon Bistro ★ 4.0
101 · Bankastraeti 7a, 101 Reykjavik
Solon Bistro at the corner of Bankastraeti and Laugavegur is a downtown Reykjavik cafe-bistro of coffee, sandwiches and brunch, an all-day room at the heart.
Tip: Brunch runs 11:00-16:00 daily. Cafe by day, bar later, a quick-stop central anchor.
Hallo Xin Chao ★ 4.0
105 · Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavik
Hallo Xin Chao at Hlemmur Matholl on Laugavegur cooks Vietnamese street food and pho from a counter in the old bus terminal, a fast Reykjavik stop a short.
Tip: Inside Hlemmur Matholl food hall, so plenty of shared seating around. Open daily until 21:00.
Deig Le Kock ★ 4.0
101 · Tryggvagata 12, 101 Reykjavik
Deig near the Old Harbour on Tryggvagata sells doughnuts and bagel sandwiches from a fast counter, a Reykjavik stop sharing space with Le Kock burgers.
Tip: Open early for a takeaway bagel before the harbour. Shares the building with Le Kock and the Tail bar.
Jomfruin ★ 4.0
101 · Laekjargata 4, 101 Reykjavik
Jomfruin on Laekjargata has served Danish smorrebrod open sandwiches for 25 years, a budget-friendly central Reykjavik counter for a one-plate lunch downtown.
Tip: A single smorrebrod with a beer is a filling lunch for the price. Open daily 11:00-22:00.
Yuzu ★ 4.0
101 · Hverfisgata 44, 101 Reykjavik
Yuzu on Hverfisgata flips Asian-influenced burgers on house-baked buns, a central Reykjavik counter whose lunch deal pairs a burger with fries for under ISK.
Tip: The weekday lunch burger plus fries plus mayo costs ISK 1,990, one of the better-value mid-day fills in 101.
Salka Valka Kitchen ★ 4.0
101 · Skolavordustigur 23, 101 Reykjavik
Salka Valka on Skolavordustigur runs a meat-free, half-vegan kitchen of soups, salads and sandwiches, a cheap healthy Reykjavik option a few doors below.
Tip: Vegan options daily and a small but filling lunch menu. Bagels and soups are the value picks.
Mama Kitchen ★ 4.0
101 · Laugavegur 84, 101 Reykjavik
Mama Kitchen on Laugavegur sets generous bowls of pho and Vietnamese rice plates on a fast counter, a central Reykjavik budget meal on the main shopping.
Tip: Open 11:00-22:00 daily. Pho or a stir-fry plate is the value pick for a quick filling lunch.
Bjornsbakari ★ 3.9
101 · Hringbraut 35, 101 Reykjavik
Bjornsbakari on Hringbraut has baked since 1900, a long-running Reykjavik neighbourhood bakery turning out kleinur, snudur and daily bread for locals.
Tip: More local than touristy, out toward Vesturbaer. Good for traditional pastries without the downtown queues.
Kaffi Vest ★ 3.9
107 · Melhagi 20, 107 Reykjavik
Kaffi Vest is a neighbourhood cafe in the western Vesturbaer district of Reykjavik on Melhagi, a local spot for brunch and coffee away from the centre.
Tip: Out in residential Vesturbaer near the swimming pool, so it draws locals more than tourists.
Voffluvagninn ★ 3.9
101 · Skolavordustigur, 101 Reykjavik
Voffluvagninn is a bright yellow waffle wagon parked near Hallgrimskirkja, serving warm waffles with sugar, chocolate and cream as a Reykjavik street snack.
Tip: A seasonal cart that parks by Hallgrimskirkja in good weather. A cheap sweet stop between the sights.