21 editor picks in Reykjavik.
21 nordic places in Reykjavik we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Reykjavik | Nordic across every city.
Nordic cooking is the heart of how Reykjavik eats, running from world-renowned tasting rooms to the corner hot-dog stand. Dill on Laugavegur put New Nordic Iceland on the map, with Ox alongside and Mimir out in the 107 district pushing the high end, while Matur og Drykkur down at Grandi on Grandagardur revives heritage recipes. At the other extreme, Baejarins Beztu Pylsur on Tryggvagata has served the city's signature lamb hot dog for decades.
Skal, a former Hlemmur food-hall favourite now on Njalsgata, plates inventive Icelandic small plates and natural wine, a past Bib Gourmand in Reykjavik.
OrderOrder several small plates to share, and let the staff steer the natural-wine list.
TipRelocated from Hlemmur Mathöll after seven years; chef Thomas Lorentzen is now a partner here.
ROK faces Hallgrimskirkja from a turf-roofed house on Frakkastigur, a Reykjavik small-plates kitchen built for sharing Icelandic ingredients at lunch.
OrderBuild a meal from several small plates; the mussels and lamb are reliable.
TipThe terrace under the church is the seat to ask for in summer. Open from 11:30 for lunch.
Forrettabarinn, the Starters Bar, on Nylendugata builds a meal entirely from small plates, a relaxed Reykjavik room near the harbour made for grazing.
OrderPick four or five starters across fish, meat and veg to make a meal.
TipDown in the old west-end harbour streets, away from the Laugavegur crush. Good shared-plate value.
Kol on Skolavordustigur grills modern Icelandic plates over charcoal a minute from Hallgrimskirkja, a polished Reykjavik room best known for its steaks.
OrderA charcoal-grilled steak, or the catch cooked over the same coals.
TipThe cocktail bar is a destination on its own. Lunch is the value sitting before the dinner rush.
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.
OrderThe catch of the day, eaten where the fishermen themselves still eat.
TipStarted as a coffee cart on the docks in 1935. Open from 08:00 for breakfast by the water.
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.
OrderA juicy lamb or beef burger, or a couple of the Icelandic small plates.
TipHappy hour runs 15:00-18:00 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.
OrderSmall plates off the Argentine grill, ideally during happy hour.
TipOpen from 11:30 for lunch, with a long bar that fills early for the discounted hour.
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.
OrderWhatever the set tasting menu serves; the kitchen smokes, ferments and forages its own larder.
TipFounded 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 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.
OrderThe single set menu is the only choice, and the langoustine and aged-fish courses are its peak.
TipEntry is through Sumac, the sister Levantine grill. Ox earned a Michelin Green Star in 2025. Two seatings a night, booked far ahead.
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.
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu, built from the Farmers Association's producer roster.
TipOwned by the Farmers Association of Iceland, with menus from local producers. Lunch and dinner.
Grillmarkadurinn, the Grill Market, works fire and smoke over Icelandic produce on Austurstraeti, a reliable Reykjavik room for lamb and aged beef.
OrderThe dry-aged rib eye, or the Trip to the Countryside tasting if you want range.
TipAdventurous diners can find reindeer and whale on the menu. Dinner only from 17:30.
Fish Market, Fiskmarkadurinn, gives Icelandic seafood a Japanese turn on Adalstraeti in Reykjavik, with a sushi counter and robata grill that made its name.
OrderThe sushi, or the tasting menu that runs the grill and raw-bar both.
TipThe upstairs Uppi wine bar pours from the same kitchen if you want a lighter sitting. Dinner from 17:00.
Apotek Kitchen + Bar fills the old first-pharmacy building on Austurstraeti in Reykjavik, cooking Icelandic-European small plates and an open Argentine grill.
OrderThe shareable small plates and anything off the open Argentine grill.
TipThe happy hour at the long bar is one of downtown's better deals. Open from 11:30 for lunch.
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.
OrderThe slow-cooked cod head, the dish that put the kitchen on the map.
TipIt shares the building with the Saga Museum down at the old harbour. Open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur on Tryggvagata keeps its hot dog window open into the small hours, the post-bar institution feeding Reykjavik since 1937.
OrderOne with everything to soak up the night, eina med ollu.
TipOpen until the early hours, later on Friday and Saturday. The classic end to a Reykjavik night out.
Hlollabatar on Ingolfsstraeti runs hot Icelandic subs late into the night, a Reykjavik sandwich window the after-hours crowd has leaned on since 1986.
OrderA loaded New York sub, hot off the press.
TipThe central branch stays open for the night crowd. Quick, filling and a long-standing Reykjavik habit.
Family-run Icelandic kitchen across from Hallgrimskirkja on Lokastigur serving meat soup, fermented shark and rye-bread ice cream from 8am to 10pm daily.
TipThe easiest place to try rye bread with mashed fish and rye-bread ice cream. Walk-in only.
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.
OrderIcelandic hot dog
TipAt under ISK 900 it is the single best-value bite in a steep city. Ask for one with everything.
Jomfruin on Laekjargata has served Danish smorrebrod open sandwiches for 25 years, a budget-friendly central Reykjavik counter for a one-plate lunch downtown.
OrderDanish open sandwiches
TipA single smorrebrod with a beer is a filling lunch for the price. Open daily 11:00-22:00.
Hlollabatar has filled cheap hot Icelandic subs since 1986, a reliable budget sandwich chain whose loaded baguettes still undercut a sit-down Reykjavik meal.
OrderHot subs
TipSeveral branches, some open late. The loaded baguettes are filling enough to skip a second meal.
Saegreifinn on Geirsgata serves its famous langoustine soup far cheaper than the restaurants, a budget taste of Icelandic shellfish at the Reykjavik harbour.
OrderLobster soup
TipThe soup with bread is a full meal for the price. Small and casual, with barrel seats.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Learn about the culture of Reykjavik and Iceland through its tasty food on a guided walking tour. Visit 5 different Icelandic eateries as you explore the Icelandic cap...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Experience traditional Icelandic food, and learn about real-deal Icelandic cuisine on this exciting tour.
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Join a beer walking tour to explore three of the finest bars in Reykjavik. Sample 10 of Iceland’s delicious craft beers, most of which you can only find in Iceland.
