We loved Reykjavik, and part of the reason was the food! We never let a meal go to waste, so we tried a lot of different places around the city that we loved and want to share our favorites.
Important note - we went on a food tour, and it was so much fun! Highly recommend! Also our guide introduced us to a few of the places below! We booked through Viator, but the company was called Your Friend in Reykjavik and you can also book directly with them. Our guide was Daniel (on Instagram at losticelander). He grew up there but also traveled around the world before returning to study tourism. So he's super passionate about his home country, and it literally shines through. He was so energetic, knowledgeable, and patient! And patience is key when bringing a 6 and 8 year old to five different restaurants at the end of a long day... they were not nearly as well-behaved as they were the night at Matur og Drykkur (below)! Eeks. Anyway, if you can swing it, book with him on your first night there so you can really get a feel for the city - as not only will he share all the food and related info with you, but he talks about the city as you walk around... which also informed our last post about walking around Reykjavik!
And now, our favorites!
pastries + coffee
Baka Baka: This place is pumping out all the freshly made pastries - and handmade espresso drinks. We loved it for a quick, cozy breakfast before we headed out for the day.
Sandholt: Alright, we took a picture expecting that we'd eat there... but we had a tour pick up in 30 minutes and the line was SO long... we had to skip. And notice it's EARLY too (you can see the sun barely rising in this picture), so I suggest going with an expectation to wait. Seems like it's worth it with all the good reviews so we're recommending you try even though we couldn't!
Te + Kaffi: Instead, we walked across the street and down a bit to a Te + Kaffi. It seems like an Icelandic chain coffee shop. Honest review is that the coffee was great but the pastries were just OK. It was good for a quick stop though and had a cute vibe!
lunch (or dinner)
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: You've probably read about it in the guide books and heard about it from your guides. You can't go to Reykjavik without trying this little hot dog stand at least once. I mean, it's just a thing. All the famous tourists have tried it, and you can't be left behind. They serve basically one main thing - hot dogs (made of lamb, pork, and beef) that you should order with 'the works' (ketchup, mustard, fried + raw onion, and a mayonnaise-based sauce). There's a stand near the harbor, and the line will be long, but it's worth it. Andrew said it was the best hot dog he's ever had (and that is from a picky eater). Downside is that (maybe obviously) it only has outdoor seating... as it's just a little cart in a small square. So dress for eating outside in Iceland (lol).
Saegreifinn: Also known as 'The Sea Baron', this cozy place on the harbor is all about seafood. They're famous for their lobster soup and the grilled fish. We stuck with the lobster soup and were not disappointed. The first time we tried it, we noticed that it had almost a Thai flavor... and once we went on the food tour, we learned that we were right! The founder (an old Icelandic fisherman) spent a lot of time in Thailand, and wove those flavors into the soup. Even if you're not into seafood, the fresh bread and butter aren't bad... but the best part is the wharf vibe of the place- it's almost like a mini nautical museum, especially upstairs!
Now... if you go on the food tour, there is one more item you can try on the menu here. And that is hákarl - the rotten and poisonous shark! Before you freak out about all things, the details. These are Greenland sharks - and it's not just the fin, they eat the whole shark (responsible fishing!). They are poisonous when fresh, but obviously not when served, as they've been fermented... hence the very strong taste of ammonia if you don't follow directions (a couple chews, then swallow it down, then chase with a drink). The kids chased with their second most favorite find in Iceland (first was the PRINCE POLO chocolate bar - thanks, Daniel!), Egils (appelsin flavor). For the adults, we chased with the equally famous (and kind of gross) brennivín. It's a potato vodka with a cumin smell (aka 'Black Death'). Anyway, the whole thing is more for the fun of it than the taste (obviously). And it was memorable for everyone! :)
Iðnó: This little cafe has a great location (along our walking tour right on Tjörnin). We sat at a little bistro table inside and had the lamb soup. It was a beautiful little building inside, and we also got to peak in at the original theater.
101 Reykjavik Street Food: If you're looking for a quick Icelandic spot right near all the shopping around Rainbow Street, don't miss this one. We had the Icelandic fish stew with rúgbrauð (rye bread) and butter. Definitely recommend. And 'fish stew' may sound like something different than what it is here... this Icelandic version tastes like creamy mashed potatoes with butter. Literally. Do not miss this - our entire group was obsessed!
Yuzu Burger: It was a super duper windy day, and we needed a place near our hotel (that was highly rated of course) without a long wait. At first you may think it's stupid to waste a meal in Iceland on a burger... but Icelanders love their burgers! Plus - this is a unique burger! They have a kind of 'gourmet' version of your classic cheeseburger or chicken sandwich, but more exciting is that they have specialty burgers with Icelandic 'twists'. This is mostly in the seasoning and toppings - but it was good, good, good! Plus they have local beers! :)
Íslenski barinn: We were lucky to have this restaurant right across the street, and boy was it a true Icelandic restaurant feel! Not only did they have all the classics, but the vibe there is like an old school pub. You can literally try every single traditional Icelandic staple here (even the fermented shark!). It's loud and crowded and you will likely need to wait for a table, but it's kind of a must stop!
dinner
Matur og Drykkur: Alright this place is expensive, but I promise you it is SO worth it if you're a foodie. I'm not kidding when I say that I'd book my next flight around a reservation here. It's an upscale place with a cozy feel (shares space with the Saga Museum in an old saltfish factory), and they get super creative with Icelandic staples. We did a tasting menu, and all the food (and many of the paired drinks) is local to Iceland. Every detail and flavor profile has been painstakingly thought out, and they will tell you all about it during each course. I could probably write an entire post about our meal here (tell me if that's something you want!) because I absolutely adored it. One of my favorite restaurants ever (and that is saying A LOT). The food is amazing, but the reason it's special is because so is the ambiance. And so are all the creative wine and cocktail pairings. It's got it all. Book your reservation when you book your flight, as it's not open every night and it books up quickly on nights it's open. You do not want to miss it.
OH and yes, you can bring the kids. Molly and Andrew (6 + 8) had a flawless experience, even though it was risky because we went our first night in Iceland... hello jetlag. Not sure I'd recommend a toddler here unless your kid is reliably super chill (as there was one European toddler that was also perfect while we were there). No matter the age, I'd recommend bringing an activity for the kids since it's a long meal - you want to enjoy this experience too! And in terms of what the kids thought, I think the experience itself was special for them (how often do kids get to go out at night and experience a tasting menu?). Plus the servers helped us decide which courses made sense to just share bites with the kids versus serve them their own plate, and they ate almost everything they were served.
(Note that there is another restaurant called Dill that is also tasting menu based and supposed to be amazing. We didn't get there, but if you're able to, I'd try it!)
special treats
Sæta Húsið: OK I'm putting this in its' own category... "special treats"... but they do also have lunch here. But I had to call it out because it's a do NOT miss!! They specialize in desserts (waffles, ice cream, hot chocolate) and it's the sweetest little place. They have an artsy pastel rainbow vibe going on - so cute! Since it was a mid-afternoon snack (right before our food tour with five stops) we kept it simple - hot chocolate with all the toppings! It was SO DECADENT and SO GOOD. Highly recommend for an afternoon treat!
And that's a wrap! Believe it or not, there were lots of other places we wanted to try that we didn't get to! So do some Googling (Eater is a site we've found to be the most reliable across the globe), get out there, and report back to us!
Don't forget to check out our post about all the things to DO in Reykjavik (if you're into doing fun things between all the awesome meals)! :)