Skreid is a basque tapas restaurant in 101, Reykjavik.
Skreid on Laugavegur is a Basque tapas room from the Sagardi Group, a small Reykjavik counter pouring natural wine alongside pintxos and bacalao a few steps off the main shopping street.
Signature dishes: Manchego with honey and walnuts, Salted bacalao
Must order: Manchego with honey, salted bacalao and a few small plates to share, with a Basque txakoli pour.
Tip: From the brothers behind Spain's Sagardi Group. Tapas-and-wine pace, evenings only into late.
Address: Laugavegur 4, 101 Reykjavik
Mat Bar on Hverfisgata is a chef-driven Reykjavik kitchen blending Icelandic produce with Italian sensibility, a thirty-seat room of small sharing plates that the Grapevine ranks high.
Signature: Sharing-plate tasting menu, Pasta of the day
Order: The three-course or five-course Best of Matbar sharing menu, or the pasta of the day.
Tip: Seven-time Best of Reykjavik medal winner. Open kitchen, intimate room, book ahead.
Forrettabarinn, the Starters Bar, on Nylendugata builds a meal entirely from small plates, a relaxed Reykjavik room near the harbour made for grazing.
Signature: Starters and small plates, Mussels
Order: Pick four or five starters across fish, meat and veg to make a meal.
Tip: Down in the old west-end harbour streets, away from the Laugavegur crush. Good shared-plate value.
Sushi Social on Thingholtsstraeti blends sushi with a South American grill, a dim Reykjavik basement pouring cocktails alongside Nikkei-style rolls.
Signature: Nikkei sushi, South American grill
Order: A mixed sushi selection, then something off the South American grill.
Tip: Dinner only from 17:00, with a strong happy hour early on. Book for weekends, it fills up.
Kol on Skolavordustigur grills modern Icelandic plates over charcoal a minute from Hallgrimskirkja, a polished Reykjavik room best known for its steaks.
Signature: Grilled steaks, Charcoal-cooked fish
Order: A charcoal-grilled steak, or the catch cooked over the same coals.
Tip: The cocktail bar is a destination on its own. Lunch is the value sitting before the dinner rush.
Mat Bar on Hverfisgata is a chef-driven Reykjavik kitchen blending Icelandic produce with Italian sensibility, a thirty-seat room of small sharing plates that the Grapevine ranks high.
Signature: Sharing-plate tasting menu, Pasta of the day
Order: The three-course or five-course Best of Matbar sharing menu, or the pasta of the day.
Tip: Seven-time Best of Reykjavik medal winner. Open kitchen, intimate room, book ahead.
Forrettabarinn, the Starters Bar, on Nylendugata builds a meal entirely from small plates, a relaxed Reykjavik room near the harbour made for grazing.
Signature: Starters and small plates, Mussels
Order: Pick four or five starters across fish, meat and veg to make a meal.
Tip: Down in the old west-end harbour streets, away from the Laugavegur crush. Good shared-plate value.
Kopar sits over the water at the Old Harbour on Geirsgata, a Reykjavik seafood room that leans on local langoustine and cod with vegan plates too.
Signature: Langoustine, Cod
Order: The langoustine, or the signature cod with whatever is in season.
Tip: Ask for a window table over the harbour. Lunch is the cheaper way into the same kitchen.
Sushi Social on Thingholtsstraeti blends sushi with a South American grill, a dim Reykjavik basement pouring cocktails alongside Nikkei-style rolls.
Signature: Nikkei sushi, South American grill
Order: A mixed sushi selection, then something off the South American grill.
Tip: Dinner only from 17:00, with a strong happy hour early on. Book for weekends, it fills up.
Kol on Skolavordustigur grills modern Icelandic plates over charcoal a minute from Hallgrimskirkja, a polished Reykjavik room best known for its steaks.
Signature: Grilled steaks, Charcoal-cooked fish
Order: A charcoal-grilled steak, or the catch cooked over the same coals.
Tip: The 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.
Signature: Catch of the day, Plokkfiskur
Order: The catch of the day, eaten where the fishermen themselves still eat.
Tip: Started as a coffee cart on the docks in 1935. Open from 08:00 for breakfast by the water.
