Are you looking for the best lunch places in Reykjavik?
I’m giving you my list of favorites from my most recent trip to Iceland.
It covers different experiences to give you plenty of choices to find a lunch spot in Reykjavik that fits your needs.
I love to try all types of local cuisine, from fast food to casual, to fine dining when possible. You will find all these and more when you head out to eat lunch in Reykjavik.
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Short on time and want someone to show you the best lunch places in Reykjavik?
Take the Reykjavik Food Walk Tour
- Voted #1 tour by TripAdvisor
- Viator’s Top 20 Most Exciting Experiences in all of Europe
This tour introduced us to some of the best Reykjavik lunch spots on this list! Some we returned to because they were great, and we wanted more.
What to expect:
Your small group will meet at the Harpa Concert Hall and visit several local lunch places in Reykjavik.
What makes it stand out:
The authentic Icelandic food paired with the local lore and culture.
Possible downside:
Traditional Icelandic food is not vegan friendly. It would not be worth your vegan while.
The Icelandic Bar – Islenski Barinn
What to expect:
A warm pub atmosphere serving draft beers and traditional Icelandic dishes.
What makes it stand out:
Excellent burgers. Unique proteins for the adventurous eater. If you are looking to taste reindeer or shark, you’ll find it here.
Possible downside:
Gets crowded. Recommended to make reservations well in advance.
Cafe Loki
When you are near the Hallgrímskirkja Church and want lunch with a view in Reykjavik.
What to expect:
Eat here for a chance to taste some traditional food of Iceland. The menu includes meat soup, plokkfiskur (mashed fish), and yummy rye bread ice cream.
Upstairs seating is quirky and fun as the walls are painted with Icelandic Sagas featuring Loki.
What makes it stand out:
Offers sample platters so you can try several things at once.
Great location directly across the street from Hallgrímskirkja Church.
Possible downside:
A great view of the church means it gets over busy at times.
Messinn
What to expect:
Charming wood beamed ceilings and friendly service. High quality fresh seafood.
After my first taste of Arctic Char here, I was hooked.
Happy to discover I can purchase frozen Arctic Char from Iceland at Whole Foods back home. I tried to replicate the recipe from here, but it’s not the same.
Messinn is a very popular lunch place, so making a reservation is recommended.
What makes it stand out:
The fish is served on a sizzling platter which adds to the overall experience of the meal.
Sizzling Icelandic cuisine eaten on The Reykjavik Food Walk Tour
Possible downside:
Dishes are served family style, which I appreciate, but not everyone does.
Old Iceland Restaurant
What to expect:
A cozy family-run restaurant. This may be my favorite of every place we ate lunch in Reykjavik. It has a quaint, non-touristic feel when eating there.
What makes it stand out:
Fantastic service and unexpectedly beautiful food.
Order the mushroom soup.
Possible downside:
It has a tiny dining room, so you may not get in without a reservation.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
What to expect:
A walk-up kiosk where you will be served the most popular fast food in Iceland, a pylsur. The hot dogs are made from lamb, pork, and beef.
They are served with raw onion, crispy fried onions, ketchup, remoulade, and a sweet mustard called pylsusinnep.
There are seven locations in Reykjavik, but the original is near the Harpa Concert Hall.
What makes it stand out:
This is an iconic location to taste a pylsur in Iceland. You will have bragging rights to say you ate lunch at the same spot as Bill Clinton or Kim Kardashian.
Possible downside:
Hot dogs are not the healthiest lunch choice.
The Sea Baron – SÆGREIFINN
The Sea Baron is the perfect place to soak in the atmosphere of the fishing culture in Iceland.
Stop in while you are waiting for your puffin tour to depart.
What to expect:
A rustic harbor restaurant serving steaming hot soup, crusty bread, and fish kabobs. Wash it all down with a draft Gull.
What makes it stand out:
Famous lobster soup is amazing. You can sit outside by the harbor when the weather lets you.
Possible downside:
Communal seating indoors adds charm but might not be your thing.
GrillMarket– Grillmæðurinn
Okay, so technically not a lunch spot but depending on where you are traveling from, some people eat lunch more toward the evening. After a full day of exploring, dine at 6pm and call it a late lunch.
What to expect:
A cool vibe and creative food and cocktails. Main proteins focused on Icelandic foods. This is the lunch place in Reykjavik when you want to dress up a little. GrillMarket is the place to go to early if you head out later for dancing and drinking.
What makes it stand out:
A fun tasting menu experience.
Possible downside:
This option is the most costly one on this list. Eating here may be out of your Iceland travel budget.
The tasting menu was served rather quickly. At least it was for us, but it may not always be the case. If you like to linger between courses, you’ll be disappointed.
Dessert Board at Grill Market
Fish & Chips Restaurant
There are many places to eat fish and chips on Ring Rd. or when touring the waterfalls and beaches. When in town, we tried this place right in downtown Reykjavik on Frakkastigur. It was excellent.
What to expect:
No frills, casual and comfortable atmosphere. You are there for the fried fish and chips.
What makes it stand out:
The fish is so fresh it melts in your mouth.
Possible downside:
Limited menu.
Sandholt Bakery
What to expect:
Amazing pastries, salads, sandwiches, and soups. You’ll find homemade chocolate candies with original flavors, such as blueberry licorice. They have takeaway items for a nice picnic and packaged items to bring home as souvenirs from Iceland.
What makes it stand out:
Everything is made fresh from scratch and tastes as good as it looks.
They cater to many dietary restrictions, such as vegan.
Possible downside:
This is a busy place with a small and cozy seating area. Expect that you may have a long wait, 30 minutes on the weekends.
Picnic by the Sun Voyager
What to expect:
Breathing the fresh sea air while sitting under the inspiring steel sculpture described by the creator as “the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom.”
Grab your picnic from Sandholt Bakery above or snacks from the Bónus on Laugavegur just 2 blocks away.
What makes it stand out:
The amazing view of the water on Faxaflói Bay, along with great people watching.
Possible downside:
Picnic weather in Iceland may not always be ideal. It’s often too cold, wet, or windy, so it will eliminate this option entirely.
Valdis
What to expect:
Ice cream.
Ice cream for lunch.
Why not? You’re on vacation. It’s filling and provides calcium.
Can you tell I’ve rationalized this before?
Just do it.
What makes it stand out:
Delicious and original flavors such as Turkish Pepper and Rhubarb Skyr.
Six or more vegan choices are available each day.
Possible downside:
Is there truly a potential downside to eating ice cream?
You may not enjoy eating ice cream when it’s cold outside, but that’s not a thing for most Icelanders (or me!).
Frequently Asked Questions
While reservations are only sometimes required for lunch, booking ahead for popular restaurants is a good idea, especially during peak tourist seasons or weekends.
Yes, there is fast food in Reykjavik. You can find Dominos, KFC, and Taco Bell, among others. The menus look different from U.S. menus, so a visit will prove interesting. You will not find a Starbucks or a McDonalds in Iceland.
Tipping is not customary in Iceland, including for lunch. Service charges are generally included in the prices, but rounding up the bill or leaving small change is appreciated.
Try the Icelandic hot dog, “pylsur,” a popular street food option for lunch in Reykjavik. A restaurant called 101 Reykjavik Street Food serves quick soups and fish for takeaway.
Visit the Reykjavik Flea Market for a wide range of food stalls, or check out the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall for diverse lunch options.
Lunch prices in Reykjavik vary but expect to spend around 2000-3000 ISK (15-25 USD) for a typical meal per person. This is an estimate and depends on the exchange rate at the moment.
Yes, Reykjavik has vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants like Gló, Kaffi Vínyl, and Veganæs, which offer delicious plant-based dishes for lunch. Many lunch places in Reykjavik will offer one or more vegetarian and vegan options on their regular menus.
Don’t miss out on trying the Icelandic specialty, “plokkfiskur” (fish stew), or the classic “meat soup” when having lunch in Reykjavik. For seasonality, eat fish in the summer and lamb in the winter.
The tap water in Iceland is most likely the cleanest and purest you will ever drink. It comes from aquifers and natural springs.
RESOURCES
Water. https://www.government.is/topics/environment-climate-and-nature-protection/water/. Accessed 10 July 2023.
