Where to Eat in Iceland: A Guide to My Favorite Food Finds in Reykjavík & Beyond

This post may contain affiliate links wherein I earn a small commission if you purchase or subscribe to a product from one of my links (at no extra cost to you!). Read my full Privacy & Affiliate Policy here.

---

But you know what makes all that beautiful land even better? The food. Icelandic cuisine is more than their famous (and delicious) hot dogs – I’m talking fresh seafood dishes with arctic char and langoustine or hearty fish pies, soups, and dishes made with locally-sourced lamb. And don’t even get me started on the bakeries where I’ve eaten some of the best cinnamon rolls of my life.

I really had the hardest time narrowing down which restaurants and foodie experiences to have on my first trip to Iceland. There’s just so many great and highly-rated spots! Be sure to check out my Wish List at the end of this guide for all the places I still want to dine at.

But What About the Cost?

There’s no sugar coating the fact that Iceland is an expensive destination (maybe one of the most expensive destinations in the world). This is especially true when it comes to dining out at restaurants.

For me personally, living in California, dining out is already quite expensive so the sticker shock wasn’t huge for us. If you are coming from somewhere with a lower cost of living, be prepared to pad your dining budget.

That being said, you can balance out your food budget a little by planning a couple of nice dinners out in Reykjavík and finding more moderately-priced cafes, restaurants, and food trucks for the rest of your trip. I promise all the food is worth your hard-earned dollars!

Let’s Eat!

Below is my guide on where to eat in Iceland whether in the capital city of Reykjavík or the far reaches of Iceland’s charming coastal villages. In this guide, you’ll find all my favorite spots that I’ve been to so far from elevated dining experiences to bakeries, food trucks, and farms – plus my recommended eats at each spot!

My pick if you have a sweet tooth: a Spandauer pastry similar to a danish, filled with almond paste and custard, and topped with chopped nuts and chocolate and pink icing. I loved the light custard filling with the crunchy texture of the nuts.

Want something savory? They have a ton of different ready-made sandwiches or you could go for a savory pastry like we did with taco flavors and melted cheese (they warm this up for you and it’s very tasty).

Where to Eat in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is most definitely the foodie hub of Iceland, which makes sense seeing as it’s Iceland’s capital city! There are so many great restaurants ranging from fine dining with set menus to casual food halls, breweries, cafes, and little seaside eateries.

We got a couple of pints here along with their soft pretzels and jalapeño cheese dip which was so good, it nearly knocked my wool socks off. Spicy cheese dip and bread always make excellent companions to beer.

Like many restaurants in Iceland, set menus are available or you can order items a la carte (which we chose to do). We ate here on our first night in Iceland and it was one of my favorite meals!

I had to stop myself from eating too much of the bread and granola because holy cow, was that good. And what is the secret to butter in Iceland because it was so incredible everywhere we went!

This was also my first time trying arctic char, which if I had to describe is a lovely pink color similar to wild salmon but with a much more buttery texture and none of the fishiness that salmon can sometimes have. Incredible.

The fried lobster (langoustine) tacos here are killer with such a great combination of flavors. Our tacos came topped with garlic aioli, spinach, pickled red onions, date puree, and Parmesan cheese, making for a truly unique and tasty bite of food. These are craveable!

Another one of my favorites was their seafood soup – ultra creamy with a rich seafood flavor. On a cold or rainy day in the city, this is what I’d want to reach for first!

Even though gastropubs typically serve up hearty foods, you can still find a lot of creativity and beautiful presentations in the food – for example, at Sæta Svínið where we had cured arctic char on Icelandic flatbread and pulled lamb. I’m officially obsessed with arctic char. Salmon, be gone with you!

Sæta Svínið also has a really unique backstory – it’s a historic building that is 150+ years old and is a former falcon house! They used to house falcons here for the Danish king and other aristocratic European buyers. Now, it’s just a cool pub serving up Icelandic specialties.

I personally had never had a White Russian before so I went with the OG (this was also the cheapest option). They have a pretty extensive menu of different variations of White Russians if you want to see how creative they can get.

The milky appearance of this cocktail always deterred me but the Kahlua flavor shines through and I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed it. I can see why The Dude always had them in hand!

Our lamb birria burrito was delicious, served with a side of salty and tangy “birria” broth. My burrito craving was satisfied. They also have more traditional style burritos like carne asada and al pastor, or things of the non-burrito variety like quesadillas and nachos.

I’m always craving comforts of home when I travel and somehow manage to find burritos in the most unassuming places (like in Spain and Ireland). Added Iceland to that list!

We kept it pretty simple since we had already come from a bar crawl and had a refreshing Danish Somersby cider.

My husband and I chose two different tasting menus so we could try a nice variety of dishes.

My pick: smoked salmon, chicken and feta quesadillas, fish of the day (which was a delicate halibut with veggies), and skyr mouse for dessert. This was probably one of the best halibut dishes I’ve ever had!

I kid you not, I had the best cinnamon roll of my life here and I’d hop on a plane and fly for hours just to have one again!

We tried both the original cinnamon roll (kanilsnúður) and the vanilla roll (vanillusnúður), along with another Icelandic pastry called vinarbrauð – similar to a Danish.

Their cinnamon rolls are not like the ooey gooey ones you’d find in the U.S. – these are still very moist and have a bit of a sugar crunch on top rather than slathered in frosting. I’m hooked.

The vinarbrauð also surprised me with how good it was! Literally translated as “Vienna bread,” this pastry is similar to the spandauer we had from Kökulist but is cut from longer slices of pastry. It’s filled with an almond paste (made from brown sugar, butter, flour, cinnamon and almond extract) and vanilla custard. So. Freakin. Good.

This restaurant is a great spot to try plokkfiskur, which ended up being one of my favorite traditional Icelandic dishes! This is essentially a thick fish stew or “pie” with white fish, cream, and potatoes and often comes topped with cheese. It’s also served with a slice of dense and semi-sweet Icelandic rye bread. Such a great comfort food that I highly recommend!

The Icelandic Bar also has a great burger selection. Our pick: Sigga’s Burger topped with a bacon-filled Icelandic pancake and pepper cheese sauce. I would never think to top a burger with a pancake, but this savory specialty worked well. Delish.

We settled in one of the nooks of this little cafe and got a couple of orders of Icelandic waffles and savory ham and cheese bagels.

While the bagels were fairly simple (a couple of us just needed something simple with a little protein), the Icelandic waffles were well worth the stop. These came topped with chocolate syrup, a pile of fresh cream, and chocolate shavings – a literal treat to have for breakfast!

Run by a young creative chef and his mum, expect a menu highlighting local Icelandic ingredients, including seafood, lamb, beef, and a few vegetarian items to boot.

Where to Eat on the South Coast

As you make your way to Iceland’s South Coast, eateries tend to get a little more spread out. However, there are still a ton of great food finds to be had – like a food hall in Selfoss, food trucks near the waterfalls and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, casual pubs and pizza places in cute little towns, and higher-end restaurants in hotels.

And while you’re here, check out the Skyrland exhibit for a history on Iceland’s famous skyr.

Samuelsson Mat Bar

I chose Samuelsson Mat Bar specifically to try my first-ever plokkfiskur fish stew (I also had it at the Icelandic Bar in Reykjavík). I can’t tell you how comforting this bowl of warm stew is on a cold day!

This fish “stew” is made white fish, so the fish flavor is typically very mild. And rather than a stew, it’s actually more like a thick casserole pulled together with a creamy béchamel, potatoes, and onions and topped with melted cheese. So much yum.

On the side: rúgbrauð – a dense, slightly sweet Icelandic rye bread with the best butter in the whole world.

Takko

To mix things up a bit, we also ordered tacos from Takko at the food hall which were all very good! If I had to pick favorites though I’d go with the Korean BBQ pulled pork and the shrimp with pickled mango.

Their tacos all come topped with a chili nut crunch which provides a nice textural element.

As a tribute to the volcanic landscape of the area, Black Crust Pizzeria makes their pizza crusts with activated charcoal to give it that awesome-looking black crust. Don’t worry – it tastes like a completely normal pizza crust! If you don’t want to go for the adventurous black crust, you can get regular sourdough pizza crust here too.

We tried the spicy tuna on black crust, pepperoni sausage on black crust, and the pepperoni on sour dough. The unanimous favorite: pepperoni sausage on black crust! Next time we pop in, I’ll be trying the langoustine or marinated duck on black crust.

You can also get a set of Arctic Macarons here handmade by their pastry chef! I’m a sucker for a well-made macaron and these are special because they are Iceland-themed (like Lava, Glacier & Aurora). My favorite was the lava with a lil spicy kick from the chili pepper powder.

The Soup Company

Instagram | Víkurbraut 5 870, 870 Vík, Iceland

As its name suggests, this restaurant is pretty much dedicated to one dish: soup! Not only can you get regular bowls of soup, you can also get your soup in a sourdough black bread bowl (highly recommend). Just like the Black Crust Pizzeria, The Soup Company makes their bread bowls with activated charcoal as a nod to the area’s black sand beaches and volcanic landscape. I’m here for it!

My soup picks: the Red Hot Lava Soup (much like a beef chili) in the sourdough black bread bowl that essentially looks like a volcano – you just have to right? I also highly recommend the Icelandic Lamb Soup – so much flavor!

They do have rotating soup specials here depending on the season (I also tried their shredded chicken soup) and always have a vegetarian option. And even better, each person who orders a bowl of soup gets a free refill of whatever soup they want!

If soup isn’t your thing, there are also a couple of salads, paninis, and even a nacho bowl on the menu for something different.

Heimahumar “Local Langoustine” Truck

Instagram | Jökulsárlón, eastern region, 781 Hornafjörður, Iceland

It doesn’t get anymore convenient than the food trucks at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon! Just picture yourself munching on a langoustine roll or Icelandic hot dog with one of the most beautiful views in the whole world.

Langoustine is a very popular seafood item in Iceland (often referred to as lobster on menus). Compared to lobster, the meat is more light and delicate and has a slightly sweeter flavor!

I will say that the langoustine roll at this food truck wasn’t my absolute favorite thing we ate in Iceland, but their hot dogs were spot on (so much so that we actually went back to get an extra one!). Wash it all down with a fizzy Appelsín orange soda.

Where to Eat on the Golden Circle

The eateries that you’ll find on one of the most popular driving routes in Iceland are quite rustic from farm bistros to a handful of hotel and higher-end restaurants. To me, the farms are what shine here!

I’d argue that the best choice for your lunch at Friðheimar is their bottomless tomato soup and heaping bread bar. The soup is tangy and not sweet, served with a side of cream and cucumbers for texture. To finish your meal here, I also recommend their refreshing tomato sorbet trio.

Some skips for me: the tomato beer (didn’t really have much tomato flavor – I’d opt for the Bloody Mary next time) and I thought the pasta was pretty average.

Know that Friðheimar is very popular. The Golden Circle is one of the most heavily-touristed areas in Iceland (particularly because it’s the easiest day trip from Reykjavík) and the tomato farm is even included on some group tours. This means that you’ll be sharing the space with a lot of other visitors and reservations are pretty much a must to guarantee yourself a table.

Efstidalur II

Website | Bláskógabyggð, 801 Laugarvatn, Iceland

If you think it’s too cold for ice cream in Iceland, think again! Just get a cup of coffee to go along with your ice cream and you’ll be set.

Efstidalur is a non-negotiable stop if you’re an ice cream lover. It’s some of the most creamy and tastiest ice cream I’ve had – and you get to enjoy it right on the dairy farm’s premises! You can even watch cows through an observation window chowing down on grass while you enjoy the fruits of their labor 😉

Wish List Eats

I knew Iceland would have great eats in store for me and it lived up to my every expectation. My only problem is there are just too many great spots to eat at! Here are just some of my wish list eats for future trips:

• Reykjavík Wish List
  • Sumac Grill – fusing North Africa and the Middle East with Icelandic ingredients
  • Cafe Loki for rye bread ice cream
  • Messinn – their fish pans look amazing!
  • Apotek for an elevated evening out
  • Le KocK & Deig for burgers, chicken sandos and donuts
  • Reykjavík Kitchen for a hearty three-course Icelandic dinner
  • Skal – their scallops are calling my name!
  • Vikinga Pylsur for Icelandic hot dogs with unique toppings
  • Sól Restaurant to dine in a greenhouse in Reykjavík city limits
• South Coast Wish List
  • Ingólfsskáli Viking Restaurant – a cool Viking-themed dinner spot on the way out to the South Coast (in Selfoss)
  • Mia’s Country Van – A highly-rated fish & chips food cart near Skogafoss
  • Skool Beans – a coffee shop located in an old school bus in Vík!
  • Crepes.is for yummy-looking crepes sold out of a little shack in Vík
  • Pakkhús Restaurant in Hofn – give me all the langoustine dishes!

On our next trip to Iceland, we’ll be heading north! If you’ve been to Iceland, shoot me an email or comment below so I can add some good spots to my wish list (especially for Northern Iceland).

Wishing you happy eating in one of my favorite countries in the whole world!

Read Next:

• Reykjavík Food Tour Review: The Best Thing to do In Reykjavík for Iceland First-Timers
• One-Week Iceland Itinerary Based in Reykjavík & Vík (Including Snæfellsnes & the South Coast)
• Iceland Travel Tips & Self-Drive Road Trip Advice