The best restaurants in Reykjavik
Reykjavik’s culinary scene is as impressively cosmopolitan as the city itself, with a slew of restaurants offering everything from refined French, Nordic and Icelandic cuisine to mid-range and budget South American and Asian food. Vegetarian and vegan offerings have increased in recent years as have the number of places creating sustainable and seasonal menus. Here, our expert rounds up the best things to eat, from Icelandic seafood to tacos.
Grillmarkaðurinn
Grillmarkaðurinn (Grill Market) is one of the capital’s best-known locavore spots and is renowned for its commitment to local farmers and suppliers. This aspect of the restaurant is reflected in the design-savvy but earthy interior, which makes canny use of natural elements such as wood, moss, basalt and fish leather. The menu offers elegant and consistently good fish and meat dishes, such as salted cod with lobster salad and grilled pork ribs. There are a few vegetarian dishes, all of which are grilled to perfection and presented in interesting ways from wooden chopping boards to smoke-filled glass domes. The wine list is expertly curated and it’s well worth trying some of the great cocktails — Nordic wasabi martini, anyone?
Contact: 00 354 571 7777; grillmarkadurinn.is
Prices: £-££
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2pm, 5.30pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, 5.30pm-10pm
Reservations: Essential
Best table: Sit near the kitchen to see the chefs at work
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Saegreifinn
This legendary shack can be found down by Reykjavik’s harbour. Saegreifinn translates as 'the Sea Baron' and the restaurant is just a wood-panelled room decorated with – what else? – old photos, model ships and yachts and a bunch of rudimentary wooden tables and metal high-backed chairs. Its simplicity is part of its charm and partly explains why it’s always so full. The other reason is that it serves a justifiably renowned lobster soup: a rich and sumptuous offering brimming with locally caught lobster pieces. The other dishes –seafood skewers (shrimp, scallops, salmon) and vegetable kebabs – can be grabbed straight from the fridge and cooked fresh. Finish with a dessert made with Icelandic skyr (natural yogurt).
Contact: 00 354 553 1500; saegreifinn.is
Prices: £
Opening times: Daily, 11.30am-10pm
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Best table: Grab a seat in the glass-fronted outdoor section if you fancy some people watching
Nostra
This unassuming spot, located on the first floor of a shopping centre, has enjoyed a fairly stratospheric rise since opening. It offers a simple interior of black tables and windows that overlook the main shopping street and (from the balconies) the landmark church, Hallgrimskirkja. Now one of the city’s most in-demand fine-dining spots, the four-, six- and eight-plate set menus include vegan, pescatarian and vegetarian options, and integrate local influences and ingredients from sea truffles and freshly caught salmon and lobster to Icelandic goat's cheese and free roaming lamb. The kitchen grows its own micro-greens, salads and herbs and their artisan cocktail bar, Artson, makes its own syrups, bitters and alcohol infusions. Exceptionally friendly and expert service from young, trendy staff is a huge part of the experience, as is the well-selected down-tempo electronica soundtrack.
Contact: 00 354 519 3535; nostrarestaurant.is
Prices: ££-£££
Opening times: Wed-Sat, 6pm-10pm. Until 1am for drinks.
Reservations: Recommended
Best table: Near the window in the centre, overlooking the kitchen
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Dill Restaurant
Dill sits in a little stone-walled cottage in the centre of town and its candle-lit wooden tables and elegant brown drapes make for a romantic experience. The cuisine – despite increasingly high competition – remains one of the city’s fine-dining high points. It's the only restaurant in Iceland with a Michelin star. It continues to emphasise local and sustainable ingredients, which are often dried, smoked and combined to create original taste adventures. The frequently changing five- or seven-course menus offer unique takes on dishes such as smoked trout and pork belly, serving them with locally sourced barley, berries and kale. Head chef Kári Þorsteinsson’s signature Jerusalem artichokes with sweet and sour dill oil are a particular highlight.
Contact: 00 354 552 1522; dillrestaurant.is
Prices: £££
Opening times: Wed-Sat, 6pm to 10pm
Reservations: Essential
Best table: All equally good but if you’re a group there is also a private dining room
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Gló
Sólveig Eiríksdóttir, one of the first in Reykjavik to champion healthy eating, opened her first Gló back in 2007. These days she operates several iterations of the same restaurant around the city, each adhering to the same ethos of seasonal dining in a relaxed and unfussy environment. The original venue on Laugavegur is set on the second floor of a former residential property and has parquet floors, contemporary white tables and chairs, and a mix of designer lamps and Buddha statues. At this location the menu is now purely vegan, serving a mix of soups, salads, wraps and mains (spinach lasagne, veggie burgers), one of which is usually raw; plus a selection of cake and pastry options for desserts. The prices are very reasonable for the city.
Contact: 00 354 553 1111; glo.is
Prices: £-££
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm; Sat-Sun, 11:30am-9pm
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Best table: There are comfy sofas to sit on over by the wooden wall
Kol Restaurant
This upscale two-floor restaurant is run by Gunnar Rafn Heiðarsson and Sævar Lárusson, who both have a couple of decade’s worth of experience at some of Iceland’s top restaurants. Dotted with Tom Dixon furnishings — brown leather banquettes, black stools, a colourful mix of chairs — the warm and stylish interior also has an open kitchen and dapper bar, and invites guests to make an evening of it. And this is entirely possible thanks to the relaxed ambiance and friendly service. The diverse menu (which spans scallops, mussels, tuna tataki and lamb sirloin, plus delicious desserts), can be enjoyed à la carte, or as a set three-course menu or longer tasting menu. The wine list is comprehensive and the bar churns out mixology-standard cocktails.
Contact: 00 354 517 7474; kolrestaurant.is
Prices: ££
Opening times: Sun-Thu, 5.30pm-10pm; Fri-Sat, 5pm-11pm
Reservations: Recommended
Snaps Bistro
There’s always a lovely little buzz at Snaps, the city’s favourite French-style bistro. Part of its appeal – aside from the breezy, light-filled interior with its wooden floors, newspaper-covered wall, handsome square bar, and broad-appeal menu – is the mix of clientele. Hungover hipsters, families, young couples and business people all flow through the doors from morning to night to enjoy dishes such as garlicky moules marinières, excellently cooked steaks and the freshly prepared catch of the day. There are also daily lunch specials, popular weekend brunches, and the bar knocks out a very good range of beers, wines, and cocktails such as an immaculately made espresso martini, as well as fresh skyr (natural yogurt) smoothies. There can be a wait for tables, so be sure to book ahead if you are visiting for lunch or in the early evening, when you can reserve.
Contact: 00 354 511 6677; snaps.is
Prices: ££
Opening times: Sun-Thu, 11:30am-11pm (kitchen 10pm); Sat-Sun, 11:30am-12am (kitchen 11pm)
Reservations: Tables can only be reserved until 6:30pm, after which you’ll have to pop by and take a risk, though enjoying a drink at the bar until a table comes free certainly isn’t the worst fate
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Sjávargrillið
Sjávargrillið's (Seafood Grill's) chefs, Gústav Axel Gunnlaugsson and Lárus Gunnar Jónasson, create adventurous and classy Icelandic seafood and meat dishes in a welcoming wood-heavy interior. Among the restaurant’s signature dishes are slow-cooked lamb, lobster tacos and salted cod. If you’re finding it hard to choose, opt for one of the set menus like the 'big grill party' or the 'fish feast'. There are also decent vegetarian dishes, including a 'grilled vegan feast'. Wine pairings are possible, and the cocktails are top-notch. Service can be hit and miss but if you catch them on a good night it can be a highly memorable experience.
Contact: 00 354 571 1100; sjavargrillid.is
Prices: ££
Opening times: Mon-Thu, 11:30am–2:30pm, 5pm-10.30pm; Fri-Sat, 11:30am–2:30pm, 5pm–11.30pm; Sun, 5pm-10.30pm
Reservations: Essential
Bergsson Mathús
This bright and breezy café-restaurant, with its red and yellow chairs, exposed brick walls and hanging copper lamps, is run by the eponymous Þórir Bergsson – a veteran chef with a commitment to local and seasonal cuisine, but without the usual fussiness that comes with such things. The menu is refreshingly cosmopolitan as well as filling, with two core meals changing every weekday to keep things diverse. For breakfast, there’s chia porridge and oatmeal muesli. For lunch or dinner, you can choose from hearty fare such as Vietnamese pancakes, tandoori chicken or spinach lasagne. The fish is supplied straight from Reykjavik Harbour, and there are regular two-for-one takeaway deals after 4pm to avoid waste.
Contact: 00 354 571 1822; bergsson.net
Prices: £-££
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 7am-7pm; Sat-Sun, 7am-5pm
Reservations: Walk-ins are usually fine
Best table: The lovely green table in the center of the restaurant is great for groups
Noodle Station
Small and simple it might be, but this cheap and cheerful noodle soup spot on the high street is one of the city’s best (meals from around £6.80 – a steal by Reykjavik’s standards). The bright and friendly interior comprises a colourful counter manned by smiling staff and a handful of tables. The menu, written on the window as well as inside, is basically noodle soup with either beef, chicken or vegetables. All are made fresh in the open kitchen and are served steaming in white bowls topped with herbs, the amount of spice you’ve requested, and additional toppings of crushed peanuts or fish sauce. Extra meat, noodles or vegetables are on offer if you’re really hungry. There’s also another branch in the Kringlan mall.
Contact: 00 354 551 3198; noodlestation.is
Prices: £
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 12pm-10pm
Reservations: Walk-ins are fine
