An Icelandic cheesecake built on the country's tangy fresh-cheese skyr instead of cream cheese, set on a digestive-biscuit base and crowned with wild blueberry or crowberry compote.
Skyrterta emerged in Icelandic home baking in the mid-20th century as fridges arrived and households began folding skyr with whipped cream for a no-bake cheesecake. The wild blueberry crown comes from the late-summer aðalbláber and crowberries that locals still pick on highland walks. Sandholt and Mokka Kaffi serve the modern bakery version year-round.
4 editor picks for Skyrterta (Skyr Cake) in Reykjavik, ranked by editorial score. All Reykjavik signature dishes · Skyrterta (Skyr Cake) across every city.
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.
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.
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.
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.