Reykjavik is a small city with a seriously big food scene. From harbor-side fish shacks to Michelin-starred dining rooms, the Icelandic capital serves up flavors that feel rooted in the land, the sea, and centuries of tradition.
Whether you are visiting for the Northern Lights or just following your appetite, these restaurants will give you a real taste of what this remarkable city is all about. Get ready to eat your way through one of the most exciting food destinations in the world.
1. Íslenski Barinn (The Icelandic Bar)
Hearty, homemade, and deeply Icelandic — that is the promise of Íslenski Barinn. This beloved spot serves traditional recipes that feel like a warm hug after a cold day exploring the city.
Think slow-cooked lamb shank, rich lamb soup, and the surprisingly addictive lobster hot dog.
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, making it easy to linger over your meal. Local ingredients take center stage here, giving every dish an honest, from-the-land quality that is hard to replicate anywhere else in the world.
2. Kaffivagninn
Since 1935, Kaffivagninn has been feeding fishermen, locals, and curious travelers right by Reykjavik’s lively harbor. As Iceland’s oldest restaurant, it carries a history that no trendy newcomer can match.
Generations of families have pulled up a chair here, and that sense of continuity is part of the charm.
The fish and chips are the stuff of legend — crispy, fresh, and deeply satisfying. Eating here feels less like dining out and more like stepping into a living piece of Icelandic history.
3. Fiskfélagið (The Fish Company)
Fiskfélagið has earned its reputation as one of Reykjavik’s top dining destinations by doing one thing exceptionally well — celebrating Icelandic ingredients. Their set menus read like a love letter to the country’s coastline and countryside, with each course building on the last.
Seafood lovers will feel right at home, but the kitchen’s creativity means every visit can surprise you. Consistently ranked among the city’s best, this is a restaurant that takes local sourcing seriously without ever losing sight of pure, genuine deliciousness.
4. Fiskmarkaðurinn (The Fish Market)
What happens when Icelandic seafood meets Asian-inspired cooking techniques? You get Fiskmarkaðurinn — a restaurant that rewrites the rulebook with every dish.
Their “New Style Seafood Cuisine” blends local catches with bold umami flavors, and the result is genuinely exciting.
The high-quality sushi bar is a must-try, and upstairs you will find Uppi, a casual wine bar and test kitchen for even more culinary adventure. It is innovative dining that still feels rooted in Icelandic identity.
5. Dill Restaurant
Making history as Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant is no small feat, and Dill carries that honor with quiet confidence. Chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason built the menu around sustainability and the kind of ingredients most chefs overlook — fermented, foraged, and fundamentally Icelandic.
Traditional preservation methods meet modern fine dining sensibilities here, creating dishes that feel ancient and avant-garde at once. A meal at Dill is not just dinner — it is a thoughtful conversation between Iceland’s past and its culinary future.
6. Grillmarkaðurinn (The Grillmarket)
Locals recommend Grillmarkaðurinn with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for a favorite family recipe. Centrally located and focused on premium Icelandic ingredients, this restaurant turns the simple act of grilling into something worth celebrating.
The menu spans land and sea, always prioritizing quality over quantity.
Whether you order the lamb, the fish, or something in between, you can taste the care that goes into every plate. It is honest cooking elevated to an art form that the whole city seems proud of.
7. Sjávargrillið (The Seafood Grill)
Sjávargrillið sits in a sweet spot between rustic cabin warmth and polished modern dining. The kitchen takes Icelandic ingredients and spins them through an international lens, creating dishes that feel both familiar and completely original.
It is a menu built for curious eaters who love a little surprise.
The cozy ambiance makes every meal feel special, even on a casual Tuesday night. If you want inventive seafood with a side of genuine atmosphere, this restaurant delivers on every level.
8. Brút
Housed in one of Reykjavik’s oldest buildings, Brút brings a sense of occasion to every meal without taking itself too seriously. The Michelin Guide-listed restaurant focuses on exceptional fish and seafood, prepared with skill and plated with understated elegance.
An acclaimed wine list makes choosing a glass just as enjoyable as choosing a dish.
Vegetarians are not an afterthought here either — the kitchen gives plant-based options the same careful attention. Historic walls, modern plates, and a genuinely welcoming vibe make Brút hard to forget.
9. Le Kock
Forget everything you think you know about fast food — Le Kock at the Exeter Hotel is playing a completely different game. Gourmet burgers built from locally sourced ingredients, artisan baked goods fresh from the oven, and craft cocktails that deserve their own spotlight all share the menu here.
It is the kind of place that makes you realize quality and casual can absolutely coexist. A quick lunch or a long evening both work equally well, depending on your mood and appetite.
10. Sægreifinn (The Seabaron)
No trip to Reykjavik is complete without a stop at Sægreifinn. This tiny, no-frills harbor shack has achieved legendary status among locals and tourists alike, almost entirely on the strength of one dish — its lobster bisque.
Rich, warming, and deeply flavorful, it is the kind of soup that stays with you long after you leave Iceland.
The fresh seafood skewers are equally worth your attention. Simple surroundings, extraordinary food, and a story worth telling back home make this an unmissable stop.
11. Icelandic Street Food
Sometimes the most satisfying meal is also the most straightforward one. Icelandic Street Food has built a loyal following by serving traditional lamb soup the way it has always been made — hearty, warming, and accompanied by a generous slab of bread.
There is nothing pretentious about this place, and that is exactly the point.
The complimentary waffle-making station is a delightful bonus that never gets old. Budget-friendly and soul-satisfying, it is the perfect introduction to Icelandic comfort food culture.
12. Skál
Skál on Laugavegur looks like the coolest diner you have ever walked into, and the food absolutely backs up the attitude. This tavern-style spot puts a funky, quality-driven spin on traditional Icelandic dishes without inflating the price tag — a rare combination in a city where dining out can be expensive.
The atmosphere is distinctly its own — loud, fun, and full of energy. Come here when you want great food, zero pretension, and a dining experience that feels like pure Reykjavik personality on a plate.
13. Hósíló
Hidden gems are rare in a city as well-documented as Reykjavik, but Hósíló genuinely earns the title. This small, intimate restaurant changes its menu every single week, offering just three starters, mains, and desserts — a focused approach that lets the kitchen pour maximum care into every dish.
Regulars keep coming back precisely because the experience is never exactly the same twice. If you value thoughtful cooking in a relaxed, personal setting over flashy presentations and long menus, Hósíló is your kind of place.
14. Gló
Gló proves that healthy eating in Reykjavik does not mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. As one of Iceland’s leading health food restaurants, it serves vibrant vegetarian and vegan dishes built almost entirely from locally farmed, organic produce.
At least half of everything on the menu is certified organic — a commitment you can actually taste.
Bright, fresh, and genuinely nourishing, a meal here feels restorative in the best possible way. It is the kind of restaurant that makes you want to eat your vegetables enthusiastically.
15. Bryggjan Brugghús Bistro & Brewery
Beer enthusiasts, this one is for you. Bryggjan Brugghús holds the distinction of being Iceland’s first microbrewery, and it sits right by the harbor where the salty air seems to make every sip taste better.
The in-house brewed Icelandic beers span a wide range of styles, giving every visitor something to get excited about.
The bistro food pairs beautifully with whatever is on tap, keeping local ingredients front and center. It is a laid-back spot with serious craft credentials and a view worth savoring.
16. Matarkjallarinn (The Food Cellar)
Adventure eaters, welcome to your new favorite restaurant. Matarkjallarinn operates on the principle that a secret menu should genuinely surprise you, and dishes like grilled puffin and cured goose back that philosophy up completely.
Tucked away in a cellar setting, the whole experience has a theatrical quality that matches the boldness of the food.
Unique desserts round out a meal that is unlike anything else in the city. For travelers who want to push their culinary boundaries, this is where the real Reykjavik food adventure begins.
17. Moss Restaurant at Blue Lagoon
Eating at Moss Restaurant is one of those rare experiences where the setting is just as extraordinary as the food. Located within the iconic Blue Lagoon, the dining room frames Iceland’s surreal geothermal landscape like a living painting.
Tasting menus here showcase langoustines, local wasabi, and produce that speaks directly to the country’s unique natural environment.
Every course feels like a reflection of the volcanic landscape just outside the window. Fine dining rarely comes with scenery this dramatic or ingredients this distinctive.
18. Friðheimar Greenhouse Restaurant
About 90 minutes from Reykjavik on the famous Golden Circle route, Friðheimar is one of the most uniquely charming dining experiences in all of Iceland. You eat surrounded by rows of thriving tomato plants inside a working greenhouse, which sets the stage for a menu that is — quite literally — all tomatoes, all the time.
From tomato soup to tomato ice cream, the kitchen proves this fruit’s versatility in delicious fashion. Sustainable, locally grown, and utterly memorable, it is a detour every food lover should make.