Food History of Reykjavik

Key eras

1. Settlement and the medieval larder, 9th to 15th century

   Settlers reached Iceland in the 9th century, and skyr came with them from Norway; it appears in medieval sources such as Egil's saga and Grettis saga. Dried fish with butter was traditionally served with every meal of the day, and Egil's saga already has stockfish shipped to Britain.

2. The Danish trade monopoly and the long winters, 1602 to 1900

   In 1602 the Danish king restricted Icelandic trade to Danish merchants. Bernhoftsbakari began baking in Reykjavik in 1834 and at first made little beyond rye bread, sifted bread, French bread, sour bread and country bread; vinarbraud and buns followed around 1840. Student associations held Thorrablot dinners from the late 19th century.

   Taste it todayBernhoftsbakari

3. Restaurants, buffets and thorramatur, 1900 to 2000

   Kaffivagninn, founded in 1935, calls itself Iceland's oldest restaurant, and Baejarins Beztu Pylsur has sold hot dogs on Tryggvagata since 1937. Naustid advertised thorramatur in 1958, the first time the word appears in Icelandic texts, Hornid opened in 1979 as Iceland's first Italian restaurant, and Grillid at Hotel Saga introduced the Christmas buffet in 1980.

   Taste it todayKaffivagninnBaejarins Beztu PylsurHornid

4. Michelin stars and craft beer, 2000 to today

   Iceland entered the Michelin Guide in 2017, when Dill won the country's first star; OX has held one since 2022 and Moss at the Blue Lagoon since 2023. Beer Day, 1 March, marks the end of the 1915 to 1989 beer ban, RVK Brewing was founded on it in 2017, and Hlemmur's old bus terminal became a food court that year.

   Taste it todayDillOx

Immigrant influences

Danish and German

A German master baker began Bernhoftsbakari in 1834, and Jomfruin on Laekjargata has served Danish open sandwiches without a break for 30 years.

Taste it todayBernhoftsbakariJomfruin

Thai and Vietnamese

Mama Kitchen cooks family recipes from Vietnam on Laugavegur and at Haaleiti with Thai dishes beside them, and Ban Thai and Krua Thai run Thai menus.

Taste it todayMama KitchenBan ThaiKrua Thai

Indian

Austur-Indiafjelagid on Hverfisgata runs special regional menus, and Hradlestin, a family-run restaurant, blends spices imported from India.

Taste it todayAustur-IndiafjelagidHradlestin

Middle Eastern

Mandi cooks falafel, hummus and shawarma on Veltusund, with most dishes marked halal, and Sumac serves Middle Eastern food on Laugavegur 28.

Taste it todayMandiSumac

Signature innovations

• Hakarl, Greenland shark buried for weeks and hung to dry for months
  Taste it todayHakarl (fermented shark)
• Skyr, a fresh sour milk cheese eaten cold, sometimes with cream
• Hverabraud, rye bread steamed in the ground near a hot spring
• The lamb-based hot dog, ordered with everything, sold since 1937
• Dill, which won the first Michelin star in Iceland in 2017
  Taste it todayDill