Indian$$$101Sun-Thu 18:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 18:00-23:00
Austur-Indiafjelagid has cooked regional Indian food with Icelandic produce on Hverfisgata since 1994, the Grapevine's repeat pick for Reykjavik's best.
Signature: Tandoori salmon, Regional curries
Order: The tandoori salmon, the dish that bridges Icelandic fish and a Delhi tandoor.
Tip: Reykjavik's oldest Indian kitchen and a repeat Best of Reykjavik winner. Dinner only, book a table.
Modern Icelandic$$$101Wed-Sun 12:00-15:00; Sun-Thu 17:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-00:00
Skal, a former Hlemmur food-hall favourite now on Njalsgata, plates inventive Icelandic small plates and natural wine, a past Bib Gourmand in Reykjavik.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Natural wine
Order: Order several small plates to share, and let the staff steer the natural-wine list.
Tip: Relocated from Hlemmur Mathöll after seven years; chef Thomas Lorentzen is now a partner here.
French Bistro$$$101Daily 07:00-23:30 (breakfast 07:00-10:00; brunch 11:30-16:00; dinner 16:00-22:00)
Snaps Bistro on Thorsgata is Reykjavik's enduring French-Danish bistro, a glassed-in room serving moules frites, onion soup and the day's fish to a crowd.
Signature: Moules frites, Fish of the day
Order: The moules frites, or the fish of the day off the chalkboard.
Tip: Brunch runs till 16:00 and the room fills fast at weekends. Walk-ins possible early; book for dinner.
Seafood$$$101Daily 11:30-15:00 and 17:00-22:00
Messinn on Laekjargata built its name on the fish pan, fresh catch fried in butter and served sizzling in a cast-iron skillet to half of Reykjavik.
Signature: Fish pan, Pan-fried Arctic char
Order: A fish pan, the cast-iron skillet of butter-fried catch with potatoes.
Tip: Lunch is the value sitting and the room is small, so arrive early or expect a wait at dinner.
International$$$101Tue-Sat 11:30-23:00; Sun-Mon closed
Hosilo on Hverfisgata runs a weekly-changing globe-trotting menu of small plates, a Michelin Guide listed Reykjavik room for vegans and carnivores alike.
Signature: Lamb tartare, Butternut squash ravioli
Order: Whatever the rotating menu offers; the lamb tartare is a recurring standout.
Tip: The kitchen rewrites the menu every week, so no two visits match. Book ahead, the room is small.
Icelandic Small Plates$$$101Mon-Fri 11:30-23:00; Sat-Sun 12:00-23:00
ROK faces Hallgrimskirkja from a turf-roofed house on Frakkastigur, a Reykjavik small-plates kitchen built for sharing Icelandic ingredients at lunch.
Signature: Small plates, Mussels
Order: Build a meal from several small plates; the mussels and lamb are reliable.
Tip: The terrace under the church is the seat to ask for in summer. Open from 11:30 for lunch.