Best Places to Eat in Reykjavík (Local Food Guide and Picks)

Reykjavík has only about 139,000 residents, but the food scene is surprisingly varied for a capital of this size. Two Michelin-starred restaurants share the city with bakeries, food halls, Indian kitchens, and Middle Eastern cooking. 

All prices and opening hours are as of September 2026.

Choosing where to eat in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, might feel tricky, but most places are concentrated along a few walkable downtown streets, so a good meal is usually less than 10 minutes away and slots easily into a 2-day Reykjavík itinerary. High-end dinners can get expensive, but the best affordable restaurants in Reykjavík keep lunch costs much easier to manage.

Many of Reykjavík’s best-known restaurants cluster in the walkable 101 district. Much of the high-end dining in Reykjavík is found between the old harbor and Hallgrímskirkja church. Dill, ÓX, Grillmarkaðurinn, and Apótek are all good choices for a special dinner. 

• Dill, at Laugavegur 59, earned Iceland’s first Michelin star in 2017 and holds one today. New Nordic cooking uses Icelandic produce from local farmers, fishermen, and foragers. A simple, rustic dining room keeps your attention on food. Dinner comes as either the Short menu, which costs 19,950 ISK ($165 / €140), or the 16- to 18-course Signature menu for 39,900 ISK ($330 / €285). With drinks, the total cost can rise to about 31,900 or 61,200 ISK ($265 or $505 / €225 or €435). There is no à la carte menu (individual dishes), and dinner lasts several hours. Dill is best for an evening built around the meal. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 6:00 PM to midnight. 

• ÓX, at Laugavegur 55, is hidden behind an unmarked door with only 17 seats around a single counter. Reykjavík’s second Michelin star has belonged to ÓX since 2022. Dinner follows a long tasting menu that gives traditional Icelandic cooking a modern turn. Each course is prepared and explained in front of you. Dinner costs 72,000 ISK ($595 / €510) per person, prepaid at booking, and covers the entire meal: food, wine or non-alcoholic pairings, coffee, and service, with nothing else to pay. The single seating is at 6:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with a Saturday lunch at 1:00 PM, and lasts approximately 3.5 hours. ÓX closes on Sunday and Monday, and guests must be at least 10 years old. Reservations open 90 days in advance.

• Grillmarkaðurinn, or the Grill Market, at Lækjargata 2A focuses on open-flame cooking and Icelandic ingredients. Rock, wood, and leather give the dining room a warm character. Modern interpretations of traditional dishes shape the evening menu, alongside tasting and group menus suited to celebrations and larger tables. A local favorite, Grillmarkaðurinn won a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice award in 2025. Off the charcoal grill, the beef ribeye and lamb chops are the dishes to order. Dinner begins at 5:30 PM daily. A three-course group menu is 15,490 ISK (about $128 / €110), and the tasting menu is 16,990 ISK (about $140 / €120) per person. 

• Apótek, at Austurstræti 16, is inside a landmark building designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson. Reykjavíkurapótek pharmacy occupied the building from 1930 to 1999, and much of that character remains. Food combines Icelandic and European cooking with an Argentinean grill, with many dishes designed for sharing. Opening at 11:30 AM makes Apótek suitable for both lunch and dinner. A two- or three-course lunch costs 7,990 or 8,990 ISK ( $66 or $74 / €57 or €64). Group dinner menus cost 13,900 to 16,900 ISK ($115 to $140 / €99 to €120). 

Dill and ÓX are the picks for Michelin tasting menus. Grillmarkaðurinn and Apótek are better suited to larger groups without a set menu. Summer tables fill quickly at all four, so it’s best to book in advance.

Seafood is a straightforward choice in Iceland’s capital, where cold northern waters supply much of what ends up on the plate. Dining ranges from polished harbor restaurants and modern Asian-influenced spots to traditional kitchens.

• Kopar is a modern Icelandic restaurant on the old harbor at Geirsgata 3. It isn't seafood-only, but seafood is its strength, above all, the rock crab soup, the signature dish and what most people come for. With fishing boats out front, the kitchen cooks with seasonal ingredients. The menu includes shellfish risotto, lightly salted cod, and meat mains such as rack of lamb and black garlic beef tenderloin, plus a six-course Adventure Menu for the full tasting. Most tables face the water toward Harpa Concert Hall, so ask for one when you reserve. The crab soup is about 3,890 ISK (about $32 / €28), à la carte mains range from 5,990 to 9,890 ISK (about $50 to $82 / €42 to €70), and the Adventure Menu is 12,990 ISK per person (about $107 / €92). Open for lunch Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 3:00 PM, and for dinner nightly from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM. 
• Fiskmarkaðurinn, or the Fish Market, is a fine-dining seafood restaurant at Aðalstræti 12, pairing Icelandic seafood with Asian-inspired flavors. Cod, Arctic char, langoustine, and shellfish take leading roles on the menu. Fiskmarkaðurinn’s sushi is another highlight, voted the city’s best by the Reykjavík Grapevine. Dinner is served from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Sunday to Thursday, and until 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. À la carte is available, and the tasting menu is 16,900 ISK ( $140 / €120) per person. 
• Þrír Frakkar, at Baldursgata 14, is a snug, family-run restaurant with a more traditional approach. It’s one of the least touristy seafood choices in town. Old-school Icelandic cooking is the main draw, including fermented shark served with dried fish for 2,150 ISK ($18 / €15) per person. Lunch is Monday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Dinner is Sunday to Thursday from 6:00 to 10:00 PM and until 10:30 PM on weekends. The small dining room fills quickly, so booking ahead is wise.

Sumac and Austur-Indíafjelagið are two of the city’s best international restaurants. Sumac is inspired by Middle Eastern and North African grilling, while Austur-Indíafjelagið is one of the city’s longest-running Indian kitchens. Both are downtown and better suited to a full dinner than a quick stop. 

• Sumac, at Laugavegur 28, transforms Icelandic ingredients with fire and spices. North African and Lebanese flavors shape the cooking, while the dining room draws inspiration from Beirut, Lebanon's capital. Cocktails are a big part of the experience too. Berber beef ribeye is a popular dish at 9,960 ISK ($82 / €71), while the seven-course meze is meant for sharing and costs 14,900 ISK per person ($123 / €106). Sumac is open Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30 PM. 
• Austur-Indíafjelagið, at Hverfisgata 56, has served Reykjavík since 1994. Icelandic ingredients meet spices brought from India on a menu inspired by Indian cooking. Main dishes cost about 5,990 to 8,290 ISK ($50 to $69 / €42 to €59). Butter chicken, or Murgh Makhani, and lamb biryani are classic choices. An eight-course tasting menu for 16,990 ISK per person ($140 / €121) gives you a broader taste of the kitchen. Austur-Indíafjelagið is open from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Sunday to Thursday, and until 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Beyond these, the city’s best Asian restaurants serve Thai curries, ramen, sushi, Chinese dumplings, pho, and bubble tea.

Lunch is usually the cheapest meal in Reykjavík, with many sit-down restaurants pricing their midday menus well below dinner prices. Some of the best places to eat in Reykjavík on a budget are casual spots, from Indian kitchens to the city’s famous hot-dog stand. 

• Hraðlestin is a casual Indian restaurant known for bold flavors and reasonable prices. Its central Hverfisgata 64a branch is open daily from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. You can also find one at Grandagarður 23, open at the same hours, and at Grensásvegur 3, open from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and from 5:00 to 9:00 PM on weekends. Popular choices include chicken tikka masala, Mysuru lamb, thali, and other Indian favorites. Mains cost around 3,390 to 4,790 ISK ($28 to $40 / €24 to €34). A stuffed naan wrap costs 2,890 ISK ($24 / €20), keeping it well below a typical restaurant dinner. 
• Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is Iceland's most famous hot dog stand, serving the Icelandic hot dog from a small kiosk by the old harbor since 1937. At around 880 ISK ($7 / €6), it remains one of Reykjavík’s cheapest quick meals. Doors open daily at 9:00 AM and stay open past midnight. That makes it especially popular after a night out. Expect a line, especially in summer. Most people eat standing nearby or take their hot dog to go.

Beyond these two, Reykjavík has plenty more cheap eats, and the bakeries and food halls below also keep costs down.

Reykjavík's two best-known bakeries are Sandholt and Brauð & Co, both centrally located and easy on the wallet. 

• Sandholt, at Laugavegur 36, is a fourth-generation family bakery with a strong local reputation. The Grapevine named it Best Bakery in 2025. Sourdough and pastries are baked throughout the day, while the café also serves a full breakfast and lunch. Sandholt opens daily from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Most items cost about 1,390 to 3,450 ISK ($11 to $29 / €10 to €24). 
• Brauð & Co is an artisan sourdough bakery best known for its cinnamon buns. Its mural-covered building is easy to spot at Frakkastígur 16. The bakery opens daily from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Several other branches are spread around the city; a bun and coffee make an excellent takeaway breakfast. A cinnamon bun costs 870 ISK ($7 / €6). The Grapevine named Brauð & Co a runner-up bakery in 2025.

Sandholt is excellent for a slower sit-down breakfast, while Brauð & Co works better when you want something quick. Pastries from either also travel well for a day outside the city.

Food halls make group dining exciting in Reykjavík, especially when everyone wants something different. Pósthús keeps you downtown, while Grandi Mathöll adds a harbor setting. Both bring several kitchens together under one roof and usually cost less than a full meal out. 

• Pósthús Food Hall, at Pósthússtræti 3-5, fills a former post office in the city center. It opens daily from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM, with the kitchens closing one hour earlier. Food ranges from sushi and Korean street food to Indian dishes, pizza, and Asian-style burgers. A cocktail bar adds another reason to stay longer. Prices stay in the mid-range, making Pósthús a practical central choice without a big restaurant bill. 
• Grandi Mathöll is in the Grandi harbor district on Grandagarður, just beyond the old harbor. Opening hours are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Stalls serve sushi, pizza, Korean, Indian, and Icelandic food. More space around the tables makes Grandi Mathöll especially practical for families and larger groups.

Reykjavík's best plant-based cafés are Chickpea, fully vegan, and Garðurinn, vegetarian with many vegan options. Both are casual, central, and cheap. 

• Chickpea, at Hallveigarstígur 1, is a vegan café specializing in falafel, wraps, and bowls. The Grapevine named it a joint winner for Best Vegan Meal in 2025. A wrap with a drink costs 2,990 ISK ($25 / €21), making it an easy budget lunch. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 
• Garðurinn, at Klapparstígur 37, is a long-established vegetarian café with plenty of vegan dishes. Homemade soups, hot meals, cakes, and raw cakes rotate through a short menu that changes with the season. Regulars often treat it more like a neighborhood canteen than a formal café. The daily dish costs 2,400 to 3,550 ISK ($20 to $29 / €17 to €25), with soup and bread from 1,800 ISK ($15 / €13). Garðurinn is open Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM, except Wednesday, when it closes at 5:00 PM. Saturday hours are 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and the café is closed on Sunday.

Kaffi Loki and Íslenski Barinn are among the easiest places in Reykjavík to try hákarl. The Icelandic fermented shark is cured, hung to dry, and served in small cubes, often with a shot of Brennivín. Its strong smell is part of the experience and one reason curious visitors want to try it.

• Kaffi Loki, at Lokastígur 28, opposite Hallgrímskirkja church, is a café and a good first stop for Hákarl with Brennivín, which costs 2,900 ISK ($24 / €21). Traditional Icelandic food fills the rest of the menu. Kaffi Loki opens daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and does not take reservations, so just arrive and find a table. 
• Íslenski Barinn, at Ingólfsstræti 1a, is a cozy gastropub serving Icelandic fermented shark alongside Icelandic dishes and local beer. A relaxed pub setting makes it easy to pair your first taste with a drink. A hákarl and dried fish plate is 2,650 ISK ($22 / €19), or 4,350 ISK ($36 / €31) with a shot of Brennivín. You can try other Icelandic dishes like smoked lamb or rye bread here, too. The bar is open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM Sunday to Thursday, and to 3:00 AM on Friday and Saturday, with the kitchen serving until 10:30 PM.

Eating out in Reykjavík is expensive by European standards, so a few local habits are useful to know first. Tipping, card payments, and free tap water are simple details that can save money and avoid confusion.

• Budget for one sit-down meal a day. Fill the gaps with bakeries and hot dog stands. Iceland is an expensive food market. Groceries cost 56% more than the EU average in 2025, according to Statistics Iceland's European price comparison, and the same gap runs through prices in Iceland for restaurants, alcohol, and accommodation.
• Tipping isn't expected. Service is already included, and restaurant staff doesn’t rely on tips. You can round up, but there is no pressure, and the same tipping norms in Iceland apply to guides and taxi drivers.
• Cards work almost everywhere. Most places accept cards and phone payments, including hot dog stands, so carrying cash is rarely necessary.
• Tap water is free and excellent. Ask for kranavatn (tap water) instead of bottled water, and restaurants will usually bring a carafe to the table.
• Restaurant food has 11% VAT. Iceland applies a reduced rate rather than the standard 24%, and prices already include the tax.
• Kitchens can close early. Many stop serving around 9:00 or 10:00 PM, so late dinners may need a little planning.
• Menus and hours can change. Smaller restaurants change them most often, so check the restaurant’s website before visiting.

Yes, dining out costs more than in most of Europe, but how much you spend depends entirely on where you eat. A tasting menu or a seafood dinner is a real splurge, while a hot dog, a bakery breakfast, or a food-hall plate stays cheap. Most visitors mix the two over the course of a trip rather than going high-end every night.

Reykjavík is known for seafood, Icelandic lamb, rye bread, and skyr-style dairy desserts, as well as modern Nordic cooking made with local ingredients. Fermented shark (hákarl) is the adventurous classic. Bakery culture is strong too, led by sourdough and cinnamon buns.

Yes, and plant-based eaters are well looked after here, not just at dedicated spots. Chickpea and Garðurinn are the two cafés devoted to vegan and vegetarian food, but most food halls, bakeries, and regular restaurants also list vegan dishes, so you're rarely stuck for a choice.

Yes, for popular spots like Dill, ÓX, Grillmarkaðurinn, and Kopar, reservations are recommended, especially in high season. Bakeries, food halls, and budget spots are walk-in. Tasting menus can book out days ahead. Reserve early if a specific evening matters to you.

Start with seafood, which is what Iceland does best, then add a bakery pastry and, if you're feeling brave, a cube of hákarl. With everything in the compact city center, you can try all three in a single day, or let the guided Reykjavík Food Walk cover up to eight Icelandic dishes in about 3 hours, so you don't have to plan the route yourself.

Reykjavík's cooler, livelier scene is concentrated in the 101 downtown streets: food halls, casual sharing-plate places, and design-forward cafés rather than formal dining rooms. It's the part of town to explore without a booking, ducking into whatever looks busy, along a self-guided walking route through downtown Reykjavík, with Pósthús and Grandi, or Sumac for cocktails and small plates, as good starting points.

For the best restaurant views in Reykjavík, Perlan Restaurant & Café has the widest panorama, with 360° views over the city, Faxaflói Bay, and nearby mountains. Ráðagerði Veitingahús in Seltjarnarnes has ocean and mountain views near Grótta lighthouse. Kopar and Höfnin Restaurant both overlook Reykjavík’s old harbor and are good central options for dinner by the water. For a more casual harbor setting, Kaffivagninn looks directly over the working harbor.

The average sit-down meal in Reykjavík is around 5,000 to 10,000 ISK ($41 to $83 / €35 to €71) per person. Cheaper options like a hot dog, a food hall plate, or a casual Indian dinner cost from 900 to 5,000 ISK ($7 to $41 / €6 to €35), while a tasting menu starts at around 15,000 ISK ($124 / €106). Prices rise in summer, since it is the best time to visit Iceland, so budget a little extra in peak season.