The 14 best restaurants in Reykjavik
Reykjavik’s culinary scene is as impressively cosmopolitan as the city itself, with a slew of restaurants offering everything from refined Icelandic, Nordic and French cuisine to mid-range and budget South American and Asian food. Vegetarian and vegan offerings have increased in recent years as have the number of places creating sustainable and seasonal menus. Here, our expert rounds up the best things to eat, from Icelandic seafood to tacos.
For more Reykjavik inspiration, see our guides to the best hotels, bars and things to do.
Skál!
Previously one of the popular starlets of the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall, Skál gained fame by balancing ambitious fine dining with a casual setting and affordable prices. Started by three friends – chef Gísli Matt, Björn Steinar and Gísli Grímsson – their approach bagged them a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019, and in 2024 they shifted the project to a larger 40-seat downtown venue. Led these days by head chef Thomas Lorentzen, the menu adheres to the same concept of innovative Icelandic dishes made from local products, but the setting, courtesy of architect Iris Laxdal, is chic and seductive, mixing up concrete floors and walls with a pink marble bar counter, walnut tables and leather sofas. Alongside its ever-changing mix of mains and sharing plates (raw scallops, beef tartare, hangar steak, arctic char), the restaurant also does a great lie in custom cocktails, house-brewed sparkling teas, natural wines and craft beers. There are some outside tables for warmer months too.
Contact: skalrvk.com
Prices: ​​£-££
Reservations:​ Recommended
Grillmarkaðurinn
Grillmarkaðurinn (Grill Market) is one of the capital’s best-known locavore spots and is renowned for its commitment to local farmers and suppliers. This aspect of the restaurant is reflected in the design-savvy but earthy interior, which makes canny use of natural elements such as wood, moss, basalt and fish leather. The menu offers elegant and consistently good fish and meat dishes, such as salted cod with lobster salad, grilled reindeer and horse tenderloin. There are a few vegetarian dishes, all of which are grilled to perfection and presented in interesting ways from wooden chopping boards to smoke-filled glass domes. The wine list is expertly curated and it’s well worth trying some of the great cocktails — Jalapeno Margarita, anyone?
Contact:​ grillmarkadurinn.is
Prices: ​​£-££
Reservations:​ Essential
Best table: Sit near the kitchen to see the chefs at work
DILL
The first restaurant in Iceland to win a Michelin star, DILL was originally opened in 2009 by head chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason, originally in the city’s modernist Nordic House. It gained its star in 2017, lost it in 2019 and reclaimed it in 2020. Throughout, it has stuck vehemently to its guns in terms of serving up high-end New Nordic cuisine with a commitment to the sustainable and the seasonal—with a noticeable, if gradual, improvement in its experiments and offerings. Its current location right on Reykjavik’s main shopping drag (Laugavegur) is stylish but deliberately understated, with natural wooden walls and tables embellished by simple decor (candles, paper lanterns) to create a disarming, even romantic, vibe. The food remains superlative: ingredients here are largely farmed, fished and foraged locally and include items such as cured lamb, wolffish from the Westfjords, goose leg, smoked haddock and blue mussels combined with bilberries, barley, beetroot and other earthy and fruity sides. Service is pitch-perfect and wines are hand-selected from small producers throughout Europe.
Website: dillrestaurant.is
Prices: £££
Reservations: essential
Saegreifinn
This legendary shack can be found down by Reykjavik’s harbour. Saegreifinn translates as 'the Sea Baron' and the restaurant is just a wood-panelled room decorated with – what else? – old photos, model ships and yachts and a bunch of rudimentary wooden tables and metal high-backed chairs. Its simplicity is part of its charm and partly explains why it’s always so full. The other reason is that it serves a justifiably renowned lobster soup: a rich and sumptuous offering brimming with locally caught lobster pieces. Other dishes include redfish, blueling and cod, seafood skewers (shrimp, salmon), and vegetable kebabs.
Contact:​ saegreifinn.is
Prices: £
Reservations:​ Always, except for summer season when it’s walk-ins only
Best table: Grab a seat in the glass-fronted outdoor section if you fancy some people watching
Matur og Drykkur
Located in a 1920s-era salt-fish factory at Grandi – the same building as the Saga Museum – Matur og Drykkur has a convenient harbour location and exudes an appropriately rustic charm, complete with wooden beams and nautical decor that pays homage to the country’s maritime heritage. The ten-course tasting menu similarly pays tribute to the country’s traditional cuisine, albeit with a modern twist; using wild herbs and seaweed and collaborating with local farmers and fishermen, the food here is seasonal but spans dishes such as lamb with fermented moss, herring with rye bread and vegetarian options, with both wine and non-alcoholic pairings available. Staff are particularly welcoming and accommodating, rounding the experience off nicely.
Contact:​ maturogdrykkur.is
Prices: ​​££
Reservations:​ Essential
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Arguably one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik, the “Fish Market” Fiskmarkadurinn pays exquisite attention to detail, from the sultry and stylish two-floor interior, hung with red, Asian-style lanterns and bedecked with wooden floors and spotlit wooden tables, to the immaculately presented Japanese-inspired dishes. Drawing on locally sourced ingredients, the dishes span glistening sashimi, maki and nigiri, fish dishes and good quality meat. The desserts are quite spectacular too, and there are vegetarian options also available.
Contact: fiskmarkadurinn.is
Prices: ££-£££
Reservations: Recommended
Best table: Near the window in the centre, overlooking the kitchen
Þrír Frakkar
Þrír Frakkar (Three Overcoats) is one of the city’s more charming and intimate traditional bistros. Situated on a quiet street close to downtown, it has been serving up traditional fish and seafood dishes in the same spot since 1989. Founded by Úlfar Eysteinsson and now run by his son Stefan Úlfarsson, it’s an immediately welcoming place, with friendly and warm service, smartly set tables with smart tableclothes and a mix of sea-themed décor, paintings and family portraits on the wall. The menu stretches to cod, halibut, catfish and plaice, trout, plus specialities such as plokkfiskur (mashed fish) with black bread, whale steak, smoked puffin and horse tenderloin, and there’s a decent wine list too.
Contact: 3frakkar.is
Prices: ££
Reservations: Generally recommended but walk-ins also possible at quieter times
Hósiló
Hosiló is an intimate fusion restaurant owned by three friends—Númi Þorkell Thomasson, Atli Ottesen and Aðalsteinn Ragnar Benediktsson—with a passion for creating simple but delicious meals. With capacity for only around thirty customers in the warm-but-chic low-lit interior, the small but eclectic menu changes weekly, and is full of surprises, with dishes spanning Italy and France, Asia and North Africa. Working with local vegetable and fish suppliers, the ingredients are fresh and generally seasonal, and there’s always a meat, fish or vegetarian dish to choose from, as well as ice cream and cheeses. Expect to be sharing the space with at some of the restaurant’s loyal locals.
Contact:​ 00 354 793 6666
Prices: ​££
Reservations:​ Recommended at weekends.
Kol Restaurant
This upscale two-floor restaurant is run by Sævar Lárusson (kitchen) and Arnór Haukur Diego (bar, front of house), who both have a couple of decade’s worth of experience at some of Iceland’s top restaurants. Dotted with Tom Dixon furnishings — brown leather banquettes, black stools, a colourful mix of chairs — the warm and stylish interior also has an open kitchen and dapper bar, and invites guests to make an evening of it. And this is entirely possible thanks to the relaxed ambiance and friendly service. The diverse menu (which spans birch smoked salmon, reindeer tataki and truffled beef tenderloin, plus delicious desserts), can be enjoyed à la carte, or as a set three-course menu or longer tasting menu. There are also “bubble brunches” at weekends and the bar churns out mixology-standard cocktails.
Contact:​ kolrestaurant.is
Prices: ​££
Reservations:​ Recommended
Snaps Bistro
There’s always a lovely little buzz at Snaps, the city’s favourite French-style bistro. Part of its appeal – aside from the breezy, light-filled interior with its wooden floors, newspaper-covered wall, handsome square bar, and broad-appeal menu – is the mix of clientele. Hungover hipsters, families, young couples and business people all flow through the doors from morning to night to enjoy dishes such as moules marinières, excellently cooked steaks and the freshly prepared catch of the day. There are also daily lunch specials, popular weekend brunches, and the bar knocks out a very good range of beers, wines, and cocktails such as an immaculately made espresso martini, as well as fresh skyr (natural yogurt) smoothies. There can be a wait for tables, so be sure to book ahead if you are visiting for lunch or in the early evening, when you can reserve.
Contact:​ snaps.is
Prices: ​££
Óx
Run by award-winning chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson, this exclusive fine-dining venue opened in 2018 as an annex of sister restaurant Sumac. Now in a new location along the road, it’s been a largely word-of-mouth sensation ever since, thanks to an innovative 20-course degustation menu paired with excellent wines, craft beers and local liquors. The team has also opened a neighbouring speakeasy-style cocktail bar called Amma Don. You’ll need to book ahead for ÓX but Amma Don operates on a first come, first-served basis.
Website: ox.restaurant
Prices: £££
Reservations: essential
Sjávargrillið
Sjávargrillið's (Seafood Grill's) chef, Gústav Axel Gunnlaugsson, creates adventurous and classy Icelandic seafood and meat dishes in a welcoming wood-heavy interior. Among the restaurant’s signature dishes are slow-cooked lamb, lobster tacos and salted cod. If you’re finding it hard to choose, opt for one of the set menus like the 'big grill party' or the 'fish feast'. There are also decent vegetarian and vegan dishes, wine pairings and top-notch cocktails. Overall, a highly memorable experience.
Contact:​ sjavargrillid.is
Prices: ​££
Reservations:​ Essential
Jómfrúin
Jómfrúin (“The Virgin”) describes itself as a Danish sandwich shop, though that is arguably selling itself short. In essence, it’s a traditional restaurant whose classic green façade hides a deceptively charming and modern interior, with stylish hanging lamps and artworks hanging on the walls, and a pleasant summer patio that hosts occasional jazz concerts. The main dishes, a variety of smørrebrød, are generous chunks of rye bread with delicious toppings such as prawns, herring, fried plaice and smoked lamb, which come in small or large sizes, but also a selection of platters and daily specials.
Service is friendly and attentive, and there’s a formidable list of Aquavits from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Request a table in the garden during summer, or near the front windows for casual people-watching, and watch out for the newer outlet at Keflavik airport too.
Contact: jomfruin.is
Prices: ​£-££
Reservations:​ Walk-ins are usually fine
Noodle Station
Small and simple it might be, but this cheap and cheerful noodle soup spot on the high street is one of the city’s best (meals from around £6.80 – a steal by Reykjavik’s standards). The bright and friendly interior comprises a colourful counter manned by smiling staff and a handful of tables. The menu, written on the window as well as inside, is basically noodle soup with either beef, chicken or vegetables. All are made fresh in the open kitchen and are served steaming in white bowls topped with herbs, the amount of spice you’ve requested, and additional toppings of crushed peanuts or fish sauce. Extra meat, noodles or vegetables are on offer if you’re really hungry.
Contact:​ noodlestation.is
Prices: ​£
Reservations:​ Walk-ins are fine
How we choose
Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller’s taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Paul has been an Icelandophile since writing his 2003 music-themed travelogue, 'waking up in Iceland'. He has travelled all over the country during his numerous visits since, and loves nothing more than a dip in a local hot pool and a waffle at the timeless Mokka cafe.
