Reykjavik Bites: A Culinary Journey through the Heart of Iceland's Capital
Reykjavik isn’t just a city of captivating natural wonders; it’s also a gastronomic haven waiting to be explored.
As avid food enthusiasts, we embarked on a culinary journey through the heart of Reykjavik, uncovering hidden gems and savouring the diverse flavours this vibrant capital offers.
In this blog post, we’re thrilled to share our firsthand experiences and recommendations for restaurants that have left an indelible mark on our taste buds.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveller planning your next adventure or a local seeking fresh dining inspiration, join us as we unveil the savoury secrets of Reykjavik’s culinary landscape.
Get ready for a mouthwatering tour through a selection of restaurants that embody the essence of Icelandic cuisine and redefine the meaning of dining in the land of fire and ice.
NOTE: We included in our Guide only the restaurants we have tried already, and we know that many other tasty gems await to be discovered by our taste buds in Reykjavik.
Grillmarkaðurinn, commonly known as Grill Market, is a renowned restaurant in Reykjavik that promises a unique and memorable culinary experience. At Grillmarkaðurinn, diners can expect a fusion of traditional Icelandic ingredients with modern culinary techniques, creating a gastronomic adventure that reflects the essence of the country’s rich and diverse food culture.
The restaurant is celebrated for its commitment to sourcing high-quality, local ingredients, including succulent meats, fresh seafood, and organic produce. The menu at Grillmarkaðurinn is a testament to the chefs’ creativity, featuring a variety of dishes that showcase the best of Iceland’s culinary offerings.
One standout feature of Grillmarkaðurinn is its emphasis on grilling and open-fire cooking methods. The chefs expertly prepare dishes over an open flame, infusing each bite with a distinctive smokiness and enhancing the ingredients’ natural flavours. From perfectly grilled Icelandic lamb to freshly caught seafood, the menu at Grillmarkaðurinn celebrates the country’s natural bounty.
Beyond the delectable main courses, Grillmarkaðurinn is known for its visually stunning presentations and innovative side dishes. The chefs take pride in combining textures and flavours in unexpected ways, offering a dining experience that is both visually appealing and incredibly satisfying to the palate.
With its stylish and contemporary ambience, Grillmarkaðurinn provides the perfect setting for a special evening out. The attentive and knowledgeable staff adds to the overall experience, guiding diners through the menu and offering expert recommendations to enhance the culinary journey.
The Viking Village Restaurant in Iceland offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that transports guests back in time to the days of the Vikings. Nestled in the charming coastal town of Hafnarfjörður, this unique restaurant recreates the ambience of an authentic Viking settlement, providing a delicious meal and an immersive cultural journey.
Upon entering the Viking Village Restaurant, visitors are greeted by the rustic charm of wooden structures, flickering torches, and the lively sounds of Viking-era music. The staff, dressed in traditional Viking attire, contributes to the immersive atmosphere, making guests feel like they have stepped into a bygone era.
The culinary experience at Viking Village is centred around using fresh, local ingredients prepared with a nod to ancient Norse cooking methods. The menu features a range of dishes inspired by Viking culinary traditions, including hearty meats, freshly caught seafood, and various root vegetables.
One standout feature of the dining experience is the use of open-flame grilling and pit-cooking techniques, which impart a smoky and robust flavour to the dishes. Viking Village is primarily known for its succulent lamb, cooked to perfection over an open fire, and an array of seafood options that showcase the bounty of the surrounding Icelandic waters.
Guests can also partake in the Viking Feast. In this communal dining experience, a feast of various dishes is served on long wooden tables, encouraging a sense of camaraderie among diners. Traditional Viking drinking vessels add an extra touch of authenticity to the overall experience.
Beyond the culinary delights, Viking Village Restaurant entertains in live performances, including music, storytelling, and demonstrations of Viking-era activities. This creates an engaging and festive atmosphere that complements the hearty and flavorful food.
TIDES restaurant (Reykjavik EDITION Hotel)
TIDES restaurant, nestled in the heart of Reykjavik, offers more than just a meal – it’s a journey into the heart of Icelandic culinary excellence. With a warm and inviting ambience, TIDES invites patrons to revel in the best seafood from Iceland’s pristine waters, skillfully paired with locally sourced meats and ingredients.
A curated selection of wines completes the experience, ensuring every moment spent at TIDES celebrates extraordinary flavours and cherished company.
At TIDES, the celebration of Iceland’s best seafood takes centre stage. The freshest catches from the crystal-clear waters are treated with reverence and cooked to perfection on the Josper Charcoal Grill.
This culinary technique imparts a smoky essence, enhancing the seafood’s natural flavours. The simplicity of Nordic cuisine is embraced, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine through in every dish.
Diners at TIDES can anticipate a culinary experience that goes beyond the ordinary. The menu is a carefully crafted symphony of flavours, where the richness of locally sourced meats and the freshness of the seafood combine to create memorable dishes.
The Josper Charcoal Grill, a focal point of culinary artistry, imparts a unique character to each offering, delivering a harmonious blend of simplicity and sophistication.
To complement the culinary offerings, TIDES presents a thoughtfully curated selection of wines. Each bottle is chosen to harmonise seamlessly with the Nordic-inspired cuisine, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or a novice eager to explore, the staff at TIDES is ready to guide you through the perfect pairing to elevate your meal.
TIDES is more than a restaurant; it’s a versatile space that caters to various occasions. TIDES provides an inviting atmosphere, whether you’re sharing laughter and stories with friends, indulging in a romantic dinner, or simply seeking an extraordinary culinary experience.
The cosy yet elegant setting reflects the warmth of Icelandic hospitality, making it the perfect place to enjoy exceptional food with your favourite people.
The Fish Company in Reykjavik is known for offering a unique and delightful culinary experience, mainly focused on seafood.
The Fish Company is dedicated to showcasing the best of Iceland’s seafood. The menu is a seafood lover’s dream, featuring diverse dishes highlighting the freshest catches from the pristine waters.
Expect an array of creatively crafted dishes, each designed to bring out the natural flavours and textures of the seafood.
What sets The Fish Company apart is its commitment to innovation in the kitchen. Chefs at this restaurant often incorporate modern culinary techniques to elevate traditional Icelandic and Nordic seafood dishes.
From precision cooking methods to artistic presentations, every dish is a testament to the creativity and skill of the culinary team.
To offer a well-rounded experience, The Fish Company often provides tasting menus allowing patrons to sample expertly prepared dishes.
These tasting menus may include a range of seafood delights, each paired with complementary flavours to create a harmonious dining experience. Wine pairings, carefully selected to enhance the seafood flavours, are also a standard feature.
The restaurant’s ambience is often stylish, creating an inviting dining atmosphere.
Whether enjoying a romantic evening, celebrating a special occasion, or simply savouring a meal with friends, The Fish Company provides a comfortable and welcoming setting that complements the culinary journey.
Given Iceland’s commitment to sustainable and local sourcing, The Fish Company uses seasonal and locally sourced ingredients to complement the seafood offerings. This ensures that each dish is delicious and reflects the freshness and quality of the region’s produce.
The culinary experience at Food Cellar in Iceland is a unique and sophisticated blend of Icelandic brasserie-style cuisine, creative cocktails, and live dinner music in a historic setting.
Food Cellar is located in a 160-year-old building in the centre of Reykjavík, contributing to a charming and historic ambience. The interior will likely exude character, possibly featuring elements that showcase the building’s age.
A mahogany grand piano from 1880 by the Bösendorfer Company suggests a touch of elegance and a commitment to providing a musical experience.
The culinary offerings at Food Cellar follow the Icelandic brasserie style, emphasising elegant preparation using the finest local ingredients.
This quality commitment suggests a menu showcasing the best of Icelandic produce and culinary traditions.
Diners can expect a range of dishes that might include fresh seafood, lamb, and other locally sourced ingredients, prepared with skill and enthusiasm by the chefs.
The allure of a secret menu adds an element of mystery and exclusivity to the dining experience.
This suggests that there might be special, off-menu items or unique combinations that diners can explore. It encourages a sense of adventure and surprises for those looking to try something beyond the regular offerings.
The Food Cellar bar offers a superb selection of fine cocktails crafted by outstanding bartenders. This implies a focus on mixology and an extensive drink menu. Diners can likely expect a variety of creative and well-crafted cocktails, perhaps featuring local or unique ingredients to enhance the overall dining experience.
Including live dinner music from an 1880 Vienna-made mahogany grand piano adds another layer to the overall experience. This suggests a commitment to providing both a culinary journey and an auditory one, enhancing the ambience and creating a multisensory dining experience.
Monkeys Reykjavik offers a blend of Japanese and Peruvian flavours, creating a distinctive fusion cuisine. Nikkei cooking, originating from the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions, combines the best elements, such as Japanese cooking techniques and the exotic flavours of Peruvian spices.
This fusion results in a menu that is likely to be adventurous and intriguing, offering a variety of small dishes to explore.
The restaurant is described as a small courses bar, indicating that the dining experience may involve enjoying a variety of smaller dishes rather than extensive courses. This format allows diners to sample diverse flavours and culinary creations, making the meal more interactive and dynamic.
Monkeys Reykjavik strongly emphasises a good selection of wines, sparkling wines from around the world, and great cocktails. This suggests that the beverage menu complements the exotic and flavorful nature of the food. Guests likely expect a carefully curated selection of wines and creative cocktails to enhance their dining experience.
The restaurant has a warm, colourful, and exciting environment. This ambience suggests a lively and welcoming atmosphere, creating a pleasant setting for guests to enjoy their culinary journey.
Nikkei cooking is characterised by a blend of Japanese elegance and refinement with Peruvian cuisine’s bold and flavorful ingredients.
Diners can expect dishes that showcase a harmonious combination of these culinary traditions, emphasising respect for raw materials and the creation of exotic flavours.
Eiriksson Brasserie offers a menu with a European style, particularly emphasising Italian cooking. Guests can expect a diverse array of dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of Europe, with a particular focus on the flavours and techniques of Italian cuisine. This could include pasta dishes, antipasti, and other Italian specialities.
Led by Friðgeir Ingi Eiríksson and his father, Eiríkur Ingi Friðgeirsson, both recognised figures in the Icelandic restaurant industry, Eiriksson Brasserie brings a wealth of culinary expertise. Friðgeir Ingi, having served as the head chef at Domain de Clairefontaine, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Lyon, France, indicates a commitment to high culinary standards.
Housed in a redesigned building formerly a bank branch, Eiriksson Brasserie provides a cosy and classy atmosphere. Incorporating the historic money vault into the restaurant, serving as a wine cellar and a private dining room, adds a unique touch to the dining experience, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the history of the building.
The wine cellar in the old money vault boasts an impressive collection of about 4,000 bottles, with many rare and valuable wines not commonly found on the market. This extensive wine selection suggests a commitment to providing a diverse and exceptional wine experience to complement the culinary offerings.
Guests can dine in a private room called “The Vault,” inside the bank vault in the cellar. This unique setting can accommodate private lunches, dinners, meetings, or special occasions. The intimate atmosphere of The Vault, surrounded by glass walls showcasing rare wines, adds an elegant and exclusive element to private dining experiences.
Whether enjoying a delicious lunch dinner or spending time at the bar with a specially brewed Eiriksson Kaldi beer, guests can expect a relaxed atmosphere. This suggests that the brasserie is focused on culinary excellence and creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment for patrons.
Kopar is situated in the heart of Reykjavik, likely offering scenic views of the harbour due to its waterfront location. The restaurant may feature a modern and stylish interior, creating a comfortable and inviting dining atmosphere.
Kopar is known for its focus on Icelandic ingredients and seafood. Icelandic cuisine often uses fresh, local produce, including fish and seafood. The restaurant may offer a variety of dishes that showcase the flavours of the region, with an emphasis on high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients.
Given Iceland’s abundant seafood resources, Kopar likely includes a selection of seafood specialities on its menu. This might consist of fresh fish, shellfish, and other seafood delicacies prepared in various ways to highlight their natural flavours.
Kopar is known for its contemporary approach to Icelandic cuisine. Expect a blend of traditional Icelandic flavours with modern culinary techniques, creating a dining experience that is both familiar and innovative.
The restaurant has a well-curated beverage menu, including Icelandic beers, wines, and creative cocktails. The drink selection is likely chosen to complement the flavours of the dishes and enhance the overall dining experience.
Because of its exact location, Kopar offers beautiful views of Reykjavik’s harbour. The combination of delicious food and scenic surroundings adds to the dining ambience.
Icelandic cuisine often adapts to the seasons, incorporating seasonal ingredients. This can allow diners to experience the freshest and most flavorful produce available at any given time.
Apotek Restaurant is often praised for its prime location in Reykjavik’s heart, typically on Austurstræti. The restaurant may feature a stylish and modern interior, often housed in a historic building, providing an elegant and comfortable setting for diners.
Apotek is known for offering a diverse menu inspired by Icelandic and European culinary traditions. The cuisine is likely characterised by combining traditional flavours with contemporary and innovative twists.
Like many restaurants in Iceland, Apotek often emphasises using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Icelandic seafood, lamb, and other produce may be featured prominently in the dishes, showcasing the country’s rich culinary offerings.
Apotek is known for its attention to presentation, with dishes often plated creatively to enhance visual and culinary appeal. The chefs may take pride in delivering delicious flavours and aesthetically pleasing dishes.
Many visitors to Apotek enjoy exploring the restaurant’s cocktail menu. The bar staff is often skilled in crafting unique and well-balanced cocktails, adding an extra layer to the dining experience.
The restaurant likely offers a sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere. The building’s combination of modern decor and possibly historical elements may contribute to a unique ambience, making it suitable for casual and special occasions.
Apotek may adapt its menu to reflect seasonal ingredients and culinary trends. This commitment to freshness and variety allows diners to experience a range of flavours throughout the year.
Guests at Apotek can typically expect attentive and professional service. The staff may know the menu, providing recommendations and ensuring a favourable dining experience.
Sjavargrillid is known for its emphasis on seafood. The menu likely features dishes showcasing fresh Icelandic seafood, including fish, shellfish, and other marine delicacies.
Like many Icelandic restaurants, Sjavargrillid is likely committed to using local and seasonal ingredients. This ensures the freshness of the dishes and allows diners to experience the best flavours Iceland offers.
The culinary experience at Sjavargrillid may involve innovative and creative preparation of seafood. Chefs may use various cooking techniques to highlight the natural flavours and textures of the ingredients.
While seafood is a focal point, Sjavargrillid may also offer high-quality meat options, providing a well-rounded menu for diners with diverse preferences.
Sjavargrillid is likely to present a contemporary twist on Icelandic cuisine. The chefs may incorporate modern culinary techniques while still celebrating traditional Icelandic flavours.
The restaurant is known for providing a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Icelandic design may influence the ambience, offering a comfortable setting for diners to enjoy their meals.
Visitors to Sjavargrillid can expect attentive and knowledgeable service. The staff may be well-versed in the menu, providing recommendations and answering questions about the dishes.
Sjavargrillid may offer a carefully curated selection of wines and beverages to complement the seafood and other dishes. Wine pairings with seafood are often highlighted for a complete dining experience.
Dishes at Sjavargrillid are likely to be presented with attention to artistic detail. The visual appeal of the plates adds to the overall dining experience.
Old Iceland restaurant strongly emphasises showcasing the best of Icelandic produce. This likely means that the menu features a variety of dishes that highlight local ingredients, including seafood, lamb, dairy products, and other fresh produce unique to Iceland.
The restaurant sets itself apart by incorporating herbs and spices from the mountains of Iceland into its dishes. This creative use of local flavours enhances the authenticity of the dining experience, offering guests a taste of the unique terroir of Iceland.
The result of incorporating Icelandic herbs and spices into the cuisine is described as unique. Guests can expect innovative and distinctive flavour profiles that set Old Iceland apart from other dining establishments, providing a memorable culinary experience.
Old Iceland is owned and run by three brothers, which adds a personal touch to the dining experience. Family-owned establishments often prioritise hospitality, warmth, and a commitment to delivering a unique experience to guests.
The involvement of three brothers in running the restaurant suggests a shared passion for culinary excellence. Depending on their roles, they may contribute to various aspects of the operation, such as menu development, kitchen management, and overall customer satisfaction.
Given the focus on Icelandic produce, Old Iceland restaurants may also adhere to local and sustainable practices in sourcing ingredients. This commitment to sustainability aligns with the growing trend of responsible and eco-friendly dining.
Established in 2014, Old Iceland has had time to develop its culinary identity and establish itself within the Reykjavik dining scene. This longevity may reflect a successful formula that has garnered support from locals and visitors alike.
Honourable mentions of the best culinary experiences in Reykjavik: Hekla Restaurant, Duck and Rose, Reykjavik Kitchen, ROK Restaurant, and Felino Restaurant.
Reykjavik’s culinary scene is a vibrant tapestry woven with unique flavours, innovative chefs, and a commitment to showcasing the best of Icelandic produce. Whether you’re indulging in the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine at Monkeys Reykjavik, savouring the contemporary twists on Icelandic classics at Apotek Restaurant, or embarking on a seafood journey at Sjavargrillid, your taste buds are in for an unforgettable adventure.
As you navigate the charming streets of Reykjavik, consider these restaurant recommendations as your passport to the heart of Icelandic gastronomy. From family-owned gems like Old Iceland, where local herbs and spices dance on your palate, to the cosy elegance of Eiriksson Brasserie with its rich culinary heritage, each establishment adds a unique chapter to Reykjavik’s culinary story.
So, whether you’re a seasoned foodie seeking the next culinary thrill or a traveller eager to explore Icelandic flavours, Reykjavik’s diverse restaurant scene welcomes you with open arms and plates full of delightful surprises. Take a seat, raise a toast, and let the symphony of flavours enchant you in this charming capital of the North.
Expand your culinary journey from the capital city to the entire country and discover the best spots to delight your taste buds in Iceland. Check our guide for restaurants in Iceland.
