2 Best Restaurants in Reykjavík, Iceland

Long before Reykjavík could boast of its cosmopolitan culture, this outstanding restaurant was busy with loyal local customers who enjoy authentic Indian cuisine. The gormandizing gets underway in a luxuriously decorated lounge where colorful, golden-brocade cushions, Tanjore painting, and teakwood walls frame a collection of Hindu deities. Here you can sip on a cool Cobra beer or Mysore masala cocktail, nibble on poppadoms (seasoned dough), and browse a menu of popular Indian classics with enough obscure regional dishes to impress any thali aficionado. The seafood dishes are worthy of consideration, too: the tandoori lasooni lobster and hariyali salmon are scrumptious, as are kozhi mappas chicken and achari gosht lamb.

Kopar means "copper" in Icelandic—an element well represented in this handsome harborside restaurant, where the cocktails like the "Ginger Rabbit" are as refreshing as can be. The restaurant is frequented by both travelers and local businesspeople, who bring clients they wish to impress. The vintage touches and carnival-style string lights create an atmosphere that invites lingering over your meal. The best views are upstairs, where a large picture window surveys the bustling harbor and beyond. A popular experience is the "Kopar Adventure"—a multicourse meal, featuring a superb menagerie of seafood, meat, and delicious desserts.