Sushi Social is a japanese-peruvian restaurant in 101, Reykjavik.
Sushi Social on Thingholtsstraeti blends sushi with a South American grill, a dim Reykjavik basement pouring cocktails alongside Nikkei-style rolls.
Signature dishes: Nikkei sushi, South American grill
Must 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.
Address: Thingholtsstraeti 5, 101 Reykjavik
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hofnin, The Harbour, fills a 1930s house on Geirsgata with family-run Icelandic seafood, a Reykjavik room for shellfish soup and plokkfiskur by the marina.
Signature: Shellfish soup, Plokkfiskur
Order: The shellfish soup, or plokkfiskur, the creamy Icelandic fish-and-potato stew.
Tip: Window tables look out on Mount Esja across the water. Popular, so book ahead in summer.
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.
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.
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.
