Snaps Bistro is a french bistro restaurant in 101, Reykjavik.
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 dishes: Moules frites, Fish of the day
Must 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.
Address: Thorsgata 1, 101 Reykjavik
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.
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.
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.
Sjavargrillid, the Seafood Grill, plates grilled Icelandic fish and langoustine on Skolavordustigur, a colourful Reykjavik room with full a la carte choice.
Signature: Grilled langoustine, Seafood skewers
Order: The grilled langoustine, or a mixed seafood skewer off the open grill.
Tip: A short walk down from Hallgrimskirkja. Good for a la carte when you want fish without a set menu.
Tapas Barinn on Vesturgata has run Spanish-style tapas on Icelandic ingredients since 2000, best known for its multi-course Icelandic Gourmet Feast.
Signature: Icelandic Gourmet Feast, Tapas
Order: The Icelandic Gourmet Feast, a tasting run through local fish, lamb and skyr.
Tip: The Gourmet Feast even includes adventurous bites like puffin and minke for the curious. Dinner only.
Hornid opened in 1979 as Iceland's first Italian restaurant and still works a yellow corner house on Hafnarstraeti, making Reykjavik pizza and pasta to order.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Fresh pasta
Order: A 12-inch pizza made to order, or the daily fresh pasta.
Tip: Family-run for over forty years and open all day from 11:00. A dependable break from fish and lamb.
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.
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.
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.
Sjavargrillid, the Seafood Grill, plates grilled Icelandic fish and langoustine on Skolavordustigur, a colourful Reykjavik room with full a la carte choice.
Signature: Grilled langoustine, Seafood skewers
Order: The grilled langoustine, or a mixed seafood skewer off the open grill.
Tip: A short walk down from Hallgrimskirkja. Good for a la carte when you want fish without a set menu.
Tapas Barinn on Vesturgata has run Spanish-style tapas on Icelandic ingredients since 2000, best known for its multi-course Icelandic Gourmet Feast.
Signature: Icelandic Gourmet Feast, Tapas
Order: The Icelandic Gourmet Feast, a tasting run through local fish, lamb and skyr.
Tip: The Gourmet Feast even includes adventurous bites like puffin and minke for the curious. Dinner only.
Hornid opened in 1979 as Iceland's first Italian restaurant and still works a yellow corner house on Hafnarstraeti, making Reykjavik pizza and pasta to order.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Fresh pasta
Order: A 12-inch pizza made to order, or the daily fresh pasta.
Tip: Family-run for over forty years and open all day from 11:00. A dependable break from fish and lamb.
