Some of the Best Restaurants in Reykjavik for All Occasions
No matter if you are looking for a quick breakfast spot or healthy brunch. A cheap lunch or a fine dining dinner, these are some of the best restaurants in Reykjavik.
Breakfast Spots in Reykjavik:
Bergsson Mathús
If you are looking for the best restaurants in Reykjavik brunch goodness, this restaurant is the best place you can find. The food you can order here will change your life if you are a brunch fan. The food here is as quality as the service is. Their prices are great and the ingredients are fresh. If you want a healthy place the local's love, try out Bergsson Mathús. Here is a great list of hotels to stay in Iceland if you are looking to visit this restaurant.
Early in the Morning
This restaurant is a piece of hidden gold. It has a great atmosphere and meals that sing. The menu may be small, but this is only because they are intentional with each and every dish. The service here is known for being exceptional too, so this is a huge plus. The atmosphere would be described as peaceful and calming. At the end of the day, the breakfast is just plain good. It is a must try best restaurant in Reykjavik.
Braud & Co
This is a great little bakery close to the center of the city. It is a good spot if you are participating in tourist attractions. You can stop in here to pick up a breakfast item in the morning and then continue with your day. There are all types of bread, croissants, filled rolls, danishes, and coffee. You will find cinnamon buns that are extremely famous among locals and visitors. The bakery is very colorful and unique, so this makes it a fun place to go in the morning to pick up a warm treat. Just walking by this place early or mid-morning will be enough to pull you in. It is a great little hole in the wall type bakery with a well-seasoned baker. This place has nothing but tons of 5-star reviews and it is considered a must try for best breakfasts in Reykjavik for visitors.
Cafe Babalu
Cafe Babalu is a comfort food type of place, and what better time to eat comfort food than during breakfast hours? This is a great place to go for a coffee break or a quick snack or drink. They serve amazing pancakes, including the lemon pancake which is raved about. It is also one of the only places open on the holidays, which is a great thing if you are visiting Reykjavik during a holiday season. There are great options for vegans and vegetarians here as well which sets it apart as a great place for those with these food restrictions.
The décor is very enticing and makes this café a fun atmosphere, similar to our previous breakfast spot. There are breakfast foods, crepes, tons of coffee options, and so much more. This is an affordable option and is quirky enough to remind you of a scene out of Harry Potter. This place is so unique that even the bathroom is raved about and considered a must-see. It even has a great staff with exceptional service. We can give endless reasons for you to visit Cafe Babalu for breakfast or simply to sit down and take a break while in Reykjavik.
Fast Food Spots in Reykjavik:
Noodle Station
Noodle Station nails it all. They have fast service and low priced food. But they give their customers options and serve up great service. It can be hard to find good fast food spots in Reykjavik, but here is a great option. There are four noodle options to choose from as well as good sized food. You can’t expect to get much better than this when looking for best restaurants in Reykjavik.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur
This phrase translates to English as the best hot dog in town. This place is a must visit when it comes fast food spots. It has been around since 1937 and most locals have eaten here before. Iceland would consider hot dogs the food to represent their nation. So it is a huge honor to be able to be the hot dog stand that is known and loved by visitors and locals alike. You can put a variety of topping on your dog, or maybe all of them. Be sure to try this stand!
Hamborgarabulla Tomasar
This fast food diner is American dining. If you are from the states and missing home, this is a good place to check out! They have a great lunch, dinner, and late evening meals. They are known for having the best burgers in the city, by many. The people who make the food here create a fun, happy go lucky environment. Guests who dine here can tell they enjoy what they do and enjoy working together. This makes the food taste even better than it is, somehow! This diner is like an old American diner. They specialize in burgers (best in the city!), shakes, and chips (french fries). This is a very affordable hole in the wall spot that has a great atmosphere and even better food. You can’t beat great food, nice staff, and great prices.
Vitabar
This fast food joint is another American dining type place. It is a pub atmosphere that serves lunch, dinner, and late night meals as well. There is also the option of takeout, and a full bar. This is a quiet atmosphere. It's a great place to get a burger or a steak and a beer. This place is known for its affordable prices. If you are looking for American food that is for a bit of a more mature audience than our previous place, this is a great place to go. They specialize in the basics. Beer, burgers, a welcoming atmosphere, and good prices.
Your Heading Here
The logo of this Icelandic chips place is “Where Fries are Twice as Nice”. This restaurant specializes in JUST chips (also known as fries). This is a great place to stop in to get a nice snack and try some great dipping sauces. There are potato and sweet potato chips. You will find all types of sauces. Some popular ones are the pickle sauce, garlic mayo, and chili dip. Beer and soft drinks are more items you can pickup here to go along with your chips. The beers are local and a great addition to your snack. This place is a bit pricey, but it is well worth it once you taste the chips and dips.
Fine Dining Spots in Reykjavik:
Kol Restaurant
Everything from start to finish at Kol is top notch. Their focus is on seafood here, but they serve up so many dishes with other meats such as beef and duck. It is a higher end restaurant, so the prices are on the higher end, but it is so worth the experience. From the starter bread to the main course, Koi is worth every last bit of money. This is one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik
Kolabrautin
This restaurant promises three or four courses with only the best and freshest ingredients. You will begin with the starter, then the main course, and end with dessert. The menu is called “Du Jour”. Translated, this lets you know you are in for a world of surprises. The menu can change at any time. Seasonal ingredients are what the dishes are based on here, so prepare to be impressed by going more than once. This is one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik.
Fish Marketadurinn
Translated in English into “The Fish Market”, this restaurant specializes in Asian fusion and street food. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options. If there is any type of food you want to make sure to enjoy in Reykjavik, it is their seafood. The staff here is very friendly and helpful, which is a huge perk for great dining! They make sure to explain exactly what all the dishes are in detail, as well as answer any questions you may have. There is a lengthy wine list with many options to pick from. The courses are presented in a very classy way, which makes for a great show along with your meal! This is a great place to go for a special celebratory occasion and one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik.
Apótek Restaurant
This restaurant has a wonderful four-course tasting menu. Many celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and parties here. The type of food served here is seafood (must try in Iceland!), a grill, and has European hints. If there is a type of meat you want to taste, it is here. Everything from whale, duck, lamb, beef, salmon, and beyond. The good reviews here are endless. Many have evens said this is the best food they have ever tasted.
There are special options for so many food restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. The staff is kind and helpful, making this an extra special experience. The whole family will be blown away by the presentation of the courses. This restaurant is an Icelandic eatery that is true to its roots. When you come here, do not be surprised to have the best meal of your life, as well as one of the most creative and entertaining experiences.
Gallery Restaurant
This restaurant is well known by locals and those all over the world. It is something very special. This begins with the 4,000 bottles to choose from in the wine cellar of all vintage wines. This is a great lounge restaurant, but don’t get too comfortable. You will want to be fully aware of the show that is out on. The plating presentation of head chef Fridgeir Ingi Eiriksson is simply incredible.
You will find this restaurant in hotel Holt, which has long been the host of some of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. There is art covering the place from the minute you walk in until you get to your seat. One of the best parts about going here is the distance it will take you to get to downtown, which is just a short walk! They serve true Icelandic dishes like seafood and wild game. Prepare to pay for the experience and food when you come here. And try the reindeer!
Café Spots
Cafe Gardurinn
Cafe Gardurinn is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, wheelchair, and takeout friendly. In other words, this Cafe Spot truly has something for everyone. This would be considered a vegetarian cafe. They specialize in soups served with hummus and break, completely homemade. This is a very well priced food and it all comes from scratch. Cafe Gardurinn has great options if you have food restrictions or are simply looking to eat healthier. If you have enjoyed a bit too much fast food places found in this article, this cafe may be a good place to stop in for a healthy lunch or quick and healthy treat.
There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan sweets and a very large drink list. Vegan and vegetarian options can be hard to come by in your travels here, so this is a pleasant surprise. Stop in for a cold or warm drink (depending on the weather that day), a slice of cheesecake, or a nice warm soup. This is another place that has received endless amounts of 5-star reviews. It is a cozy place that is great to stumble upon (which most people do and are pleasantly surprised), but even better to know about and plans a visit to during your travels.
The Coocoo’s Nest
This is a cozy little place, kind of like a nest (pun intended). This place is known for having incredible coffee, which is a major plus for many travelers! They serve a great breakfast and brunch. There are plenty of meals such as sandwiches with fish as the topping. You can get steak and eggs, or even just traditional non-meat heavy breakfast foods. This restaurant is across the street from a Brewery that is said to serve some of the best beer in the area. This is a prime spot if you are looking to get some drinks after your meal!
Coocoo's Nest restaurant’s relaxing and laid back environment is only encouraged by the lovely and hospitable staff. The prices here are fair and reasonable. You are getting good quality and decently healthy food. The best part is the amount of variety they have here. Menu options do not just stop at breakfast foods. There are pizzas, burritos, wine, sandwiches, soups, and so much more. The décor has a rustic feel and local art marks the walls of this eatery. Coming here is a great experience, so be sure to stop by if you are in the area. This is a best restaurant in Reykjavik.
Reykjavik Roasters
There’s nothing like a great coffee shop to take a visit to on a vacation. This place is said to have some of the best coffee in Iceland. Many visitors will stop in more than once because they say they cannot get enough of the coffee goodness! This is a great place to join the locals and have a break from tourist attraction hunting. The feel of the place is laid back and enjoyable with some Scandinavian pieces of furniture throughout. It can get crowded, but many simply see this as a great opportunity to people watch and enjoy the world around them.
Bring a laptop to write a travel blog post, or maybe a pen to fill out postcards to send your friends and family back home. Bring a book to enjoy while sipping on some incredible coffee or bring a travel journal to document some more of your trip to Reykjavik. This coffee shop is close to Main Street which is a huge perk if you are headed that way plan to visit. They don’t just have a hipster shop that draws tourists in, this is a coffee shop where locals go to get great coffee. It is clear those who work here are knowledgeable when it comes to the art of coffee. If you are getting sick of tourist trap type coffee shops, this is a great alternative place to head to.
Enjoy All Reykjavik, Iceland Has to Offer
Be sure to prepare to eat at all types of restaurants in Reykjavik. Try fast food places in between museum hopping. Plan to try a fine dining restaurant for a fancy night out on the town. Stop into a café and buy a coffee while you wander downtown areas on your trip. And make sure to try a great breakfast pastry before you start your days in order to have tons of energy! Get your taste buds for seafood and wild game ready for some amazing meals. There is so much to do in Iceland. But when it comes to finding the best restaurants in Reykjavik, you can find so many options as well. No matter the budget or the family, there is something for you.
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