What is the best restaurant in Reykjavík?
Classic question our guides get, so we’ve compiled here below a list to help you decide.

Our favourites:

Cafe Loki – Traditional Icelandic Food, the Lamb soup is very filling, likely a small portion is enough, we recommend tasting the unique rye bread ice cream and some dried fish with a lot of butter!
Messinn – Fish restaurant, great pan friend fish such as Arctic char Great lunch offer!
Sæta Svínið – The Sweet Pig place, offering hybrid menu and including the controversial Ice Platter with horse, puffin and whale!
Mama Restaurant – Vegan food, Dahl and soups.

Other low key / casual / budget restaurants:

Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur – The Famous Hot dog stand from 1937, where Bill Clinton came and many more celebrities. 600 kr per hot dog! Take Away.
Hlöllabátar – Subs, “Also Good sober” is their slogan, cheap very filling and sweaty bites. Take Away.
Mandi – Syrian Kebab, very cheap wraps and plates. Great hummus! Take Away but few seats.
Sægreifinn (Sea Baron) – Famous for their Lobster soup. Great in between meals & cheap decent portion.
Hornið Italian – Great Pizzas & pastas.
Hamborgarabúllan – Burger chain, located originally in the Old harbour and is still in the same place, now located all over Iceland and even found in Berlin, Copenhagen and London. Ask for French fries w. spice & cocktail sauce mayo and french fries spice. The founder is now a member of the parliament in Iceland (2021)
Kröns – Soup, lamb soup and mushroom soup are very good portion
Ramen Momo – All the way from the Himalayas! Noodle soups and asian like food. Cheap and quick.

High-end nice restaurants:

Apótek – Located in a protected by our famous architecture Guðjón Samúelsson, building from 1917 visible from the Austurvöllur square.
Fjallkonan – Hybrid, best for beer on sunny days they have outside seating area
Kol – Coal, grilled steaks!
Kopar – Harbor view
Monkeys – Peruvian / Japanese fusion.
Sumac – Lebanese
Sushi Social – more sushi!, cool interiors

Michelin star restaurants – Make sure to book in time!

OX Got the Michelin star 2022
Dill – Got the Michelin star in 2017

Bakeries:

Sandholt – Great for sit-down breakfast, really popular among tourists but its because the pastry is delicious!
Brauð & Co. – Only take away bakery, best cinnamon buns in town! Make sure to try the Wedding Blizz cake as well!

Coffee:

Kaffibrennslan – Old wooden house
Mokka – Oldest cafe in town on the rainbow street!
Kaffifélagið – Many local celebrities go there for a morning cup!
Reykjavik Roasters – By Hallgrímskirkja in a lovely square, great for outdoor cup and next to Brauð og co amazing take away bakery!

Bars:

Skúli Craft bar – CityWalk Deal: Beer of choice at 900 from 12 – 19 on weekdays Great caulk board with craft beers
Kaldi – small & popular among locals after work.
Lebowski – White Russian of course!
Prikið – Hipsters of Iceland gather here!
American bar – Biggest TV screen in downtown to watch sport events and turns into a dance club by midnight.
The Drunk Rabbit – Irish bar, Conor McGregor was here!

Clubs:

American Bar
Auto
Bankastræti Club
Hverfisbarinn

Finally there are food halls which are really popular among locals and seem to be popping up on every corner.
Pósthús Foodhall and bar Fancy, nice decor by the harbour, across the street from the Penis Museum
Hafnartorg Gallery Party place, 2min walk from the Parliament
Grandi Hipster, by the harbour
Hlemmur Rustic look

Foodhalls in Reykjavik – Click here

If you like to learn more about Icelandic cuisine and culture with a local guide we recommend checking out our Private Food Tour for more info Private Walking Tour – Click here –

If you want to be a part of a bigger group and socialise with other tourists we recommend the VIP tour, which can include one of our favourite dish (with citywalk discount) at the end of the tour if you book that under “extra” VIP Walking Tour – Click here –

If you enjoyed our tour we would highly appreciate reviews on Tripadvisor, Google or other platform!

All the best!

The Citywalk Team!