Reykjavík

Austur-Indíafjelagið

East India Company

One of few Indian restaurants in Reykjavik. It serves very good food though and can be compared to the top tier Indian restaurants in the UK.

4,000-5,000 kr

Bæjarins beztu pylsur

The name of this popular hot dog stand literally means "Town's Best Hotdogs" and, based on the queues, it seems to deserve the name.

Open now · open 24 hours·Hot dog 820 kr, soda 420 kr

Café Haiti

A cafe serving coffee and light food. Note that this is not their original location, although you can see their sign still painted on the side of nearby building where they began. They roast their own coffee.

Caruso

A cozy Italian restaurant with good food. They sometimes have live guitar music, which together with the dimmed lighting makes for a very romantic setting.

Mon-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri Sat 11:30-23:30, Sun 17:30-22:00·3,000-5,000 kr

Dill

Part of a growing trend called “new Nordic food” (most famously promoted by Noma restaurant in Copenhagen), this small restaurant prides itself in using local ingredients, many of them sourced from a vegetable garden next to the building.

Fish Company

Fiskifélagið

In the basement of a renovated old timber house standing in the original harbour of Reykjavík.

5,000-6,000 kr

Fjalakötturinn

Mostly focuses on fish and seafood, though there are a couple of meat alternatives to choose from. There are also different three and four course menus to choose from and the wine list is more extensive than you would expect on Iceland. The service can be slow, but the food is tasteful and the servings are beautiful - in other words, if you want a large serving of fast and cheap grub you'd better go elsewhere.

4000-6000 kr

Hamborgarabúllan

Small hamburger cafe next to the old harbour designed in the traditional American diner style. Very popular with locals and a reliable alternative to the absent international burger chains.

Hotel Holt

A staple of the city's up-scale dining landscape. Thick carpets, art over dark wood panels, French cuisine, an extensive wine cellar, the country's most expansive collection of single malts.

5,000-6,000 kr

Humarhúsið

Specialising in lobster (the name means Lobster House) and on the expensive end, but has exquisite food that the prices reflect.

5,000-6,000 kr

Kaffihús Vesturbæjar

Very cosy cafe and bistro. Some tourist but most local clientele. Free Wifi

Mon-Fri 08:00-23:00; Sat Sun 09:00-23:00·300 kr mains.

Kaffiport

The small restaurant inside the flea market is one of the cheapest places to eat in the city. They have kjötsúpa (Icelandic lamb soup), pylsa (hot dogs), some desserts and drinks.

Sat Sun 11:00-17:00

Kaffismiðja Íslands

This cafe supposedly employs some of Iceland's best baristas, and does serve great coffee. Also offers a selection of French and Icelandic pastries. On the small side with just a few tables, but big windows let in lots of light. Friendly staff and student clientèle.

Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00; Sat 10:00-17:00

Kolaportið

flea market

If you're in Reykjavik on a weekend, don't miss the farmers market. Many vendors have free samples of Icelandic chocolate, Icelandic liquorice, Icelandic desserts, and even hakarl (fermented shark). Even without the free samples, the prices are reasonable.

Sat Sun 11:00-17:00

Messinn

Generous portions of beautifully cooked fresh fish served in a friendly, warm atmosphere.

11:00–15:00, 17:00–22:00 daily

Múlakaffi

A bit away from the city centre, this place is very like an office cafeteria. It prides itself on selling authentic Icelandic home cooking. The sparse menu varies between days. Due to its location surrounded by offices, it caters more to a lunch than dinner and closes at 20:00 weekdays, 14:00 Saturdays and is not open Sundays. It also seems to stop serving main meals some hours before closing.

Perlan

In addition to its famous restaurant, Perlan also has a café offering food. You can eat with (almost) the same view and a much cheaper price.

Restaurant Reykjavik

A good central restaurant, aimed a little more toward the tourist crowd it does however deliver decent food. The lamb is good. Also contains an ice bar.

3,000-5,000 kr

Shalimar

A small family-owned Pakistani restaurant packed into a tiny building in the oldest part of town. Delicious food, and a very friendly staff.

3,000-4,000 kr

Sægreifinn

Seabaron

An extremely authentic seafood place, serves a wonderful lobster soup and offers grilled cod, whale, shrimps, salmon, etc.

Winter: 11:30-22:00, Summer: 11:30-23:00·800 - 2500 kr

The Icelandic Bar

Serves delicious traditional Icelandic food at reasonable prices, the lamb shank in particular is a must try as is the simple but extremely tasty skyr dessert. Set menus are available from around 4000 kr for a three-course meal. The restaurant is lovely with outside tables available overlooking the small park across the road and catching the afternoon sun.

2,000-4,000 kr

Tian

This little Chinese restaurant near Laugardalslaug parc and the Arctic Comfort Hotel is a quiet little spot with great food and friendly service. The prices are quite low.

to 22:00

Vegamót

A decent fast food restaurant during the day and a happening nightclub after hours. Minimum age of 22 on Friday and Saturday nights. The lobster pasta is the restaurant's signature dish and well worth tasting.

Þrír frakkar

3 Frenchmen (or overcoats) at Úlfar's

A nice seafood restaurant. Serves big meals for a moderate price. Their lunch plokkfiskur special is legendary. They serve whalemeat, both raw (as sashimi) and cooked, to those willing to try. This is a convenient price; whale is less expensive in other port towns. They serve a strange (and delicious) traditional cake, skyrterta, made from the Icelandic skyr, this cake alone is worth the visit. Rumour has it that this restaurant has seal steaks available as well, but they are not on the menu and must be requested a day ahead of time.

3,000-5,000 kr

Matarkjallarin

Serves excellent modern Western cuisine.