216 Best Restaurants in Iceland

Glaumbær's cozy tearoom is an unforgettable stop, especially after a stroll through the historical grounds. You can order a pastry or bowl of soup à la carte, or go all in with the full cake buffet. Their traditional pancakes are particularly drool-worthy, as is the homemade rhubarb jam. Single pastries go for under ISK 1,000, while their buffet is ISK 3,200. 

This spot has been spicing up Reykjavík since 1994 with rich, aromatic Indian cuisine in a cozy setting. Beloved for everything from its tandoori salmon to the pappadoms, it’s a timeless go-to when winter demands warmth, flavor, and fire. This is not only the best Indian restaurant in Reykjavík, it's one of the city's best restaurants period.

An attention-attracting Viking ship decked out with colorful shields acts like a visual ringmaster for this fabulous Hauganes restaurant, drumming up business for their fishy fare. Tasty seafood dishes and baccalá (salted codfish)–theme meals star on the menu alongside the seaside views. If you're lucky, you might just see a whale in the distance. 

Akureyri’s favorite bakery gets a lot of business from locals but still flies under the radar for many visitors. As at most Icelandic bakeries, the shelves are stacked with Danish pastries, freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and cakes—but the quality here puts them a cut above the rest. It’s by the Glerá River, about a 10-minute walk from the city center.

Hungry locals and visitors all come to Berlin (no relation to the city or German food) for the eggs, bacon, and baked tomatoes served on thick crusty bread with a side of juicy fruits. For those with a sweet tooth, the Belgian waffles will no doubt hit the spot.

The menu may be small and handwritten, but dining here is an experience and stepping inside the family-run restaurant feels like walking into, well, a family home. The cuisine is contemporary Icelandic, with a French bistro twist; the primary emphasis is on seafood with a nose-to-tail philosophy, so expect to see dishes incorporating dulse and fish skin. Comfortable chairs dressed in luxurious fabrics flank the tables and the views are great no matter the season. The owner is usually there; be prepared to be engaged in a chat (bordering on a stand-up routine) about everything from small town gossip to food preferences. 

Pretty enough to be featured on picture postcards of Akureyri's town center, this beautiful blue building with red turrets is the perfect spot in any season to grab a coffee and watch the world go by. The interior, with weathered wooden beams and chandeliers, gives off a supercozy vibe—the perfect setting for a simple savory brunch plate, a soup, or a nice sweet treat.

Reykjavík’s artisanal bakery haven, Braud & Co. is famed for its legendary cinnamon rolls and flaky croissants. Using Icelandic butter and imported flours, they craft stunning sourdough loaves, pretzel croissants, vegan snúður, and much more.

This tiny yet famous fast-food stand is known for serving the original Icelandic hot dog—and a single person serves about a thousand of them a day from the window. Ask for eina með öllu (pronounced ayn-ah med utl-lou), or \"one with everything,\" which gets you mustard, tomato sauce, rémoulade (mayonnaise with finely chopped pickles), and chopped raw and fried onions. Expect fairly long lines at almost all hours of day and night.

This spot sources many of its ingredients from the surrounding fjord, offering an authentic taste of local life. This spot is often busy so call to book a table ahead of time.

This Icelandic food haven is a must-stop for many people around the world—just take a look at their guest book. Do yourself a favor and visit after taking in the views from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja; you'll feel like you're in the center of a Nordic movie set.

Set in a house so old that the village was actually built around it, calling Café Riis a local institution is putting it mildly. The restaurant is very popular with the locals and specials include langoustine pizza and braised cod cheeks, along with plenty of witchcraft-theme local microbrews. Its cozy interior gives it the feeling of a family holiday cabin, but don't let that fool you, as Café Riis seats up to 80 people in summer and can be booked for events and gatherings. 

Reykjavík’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, Dill offers a multicourse tasting menu that celebrates Icelandic ingredients through New Nordic cuisine. Chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason emphasizes sustainability, foraging, and preserving seasonal produce.

This family farm serves amazingly fresh dishes at their restaurant, Hlöðuloftið, including trout from the nearby lake and hamburgers from their own meat. But their downstairs ice-cream bar truly takes farm-to-table to another level with the delicious homemade ice cream you can enjoy while watching the dairy cows through a big glass window.

White tablecloths and antiques add to the neoclassic tone of Eldhúsið restaurant, where you can enjoy beautifully plated meals made proudly from locally sourced ingredients. You can’t go wrong with the fish of the day, beef reared on the surrounding farm, or the homemade ice creams and sorbets. The good-value three-course set menu showcases the region's culinary highlights. There are decent vegan options, too.

Offering a truly elevated countryside culinary experience, this restaurant's menu includes sophisticated, high-end twists on traditional Icelandic cuisine. While the meat dishes—often involving unique ingredients like reindeer and horse—are impressive, the vegan dishes are just as stunning.

This spot brought Neapolitan-style pies to Iceland, winning over the masses with their slow-rising sourdough pies. Most of the menu stays relatively traditional when it comes to toppings, but the Pizza of the Week tends to be a bit more creative.

Located in a greenhouse within the Reykjavík Botanical Garden, Café Flóra, serves light bistro fare amid tropical plants and an idyllic pond. Much of what you'll find on the menu is grown in the gardens, and you can learn all about the sustainable practices of the kitchen.

The only mushroom farmers in Iceland invite you to feast on pâté, spreads, sauces, and ice cream—all made out of mushrooms. There's an emphasis on slow cooking, and their herbs, meat, and vegetables come from neighboring farms.

This beautifully designed hotel restaurant is a convenient place for guests to dine, although you don't need to be a guest to eat here. While their main menu offers traditional first-rate Icelandic fare, they also have great burgers.

For a true chocolate high, visit Frida—aka the chocolate temptress of the north—who sells exceptional handmade chocolates in her delightful coffee shop. The decor is stylish, from the cartoon-covered walls of the bathroom to all the featured works of art, but the chocolates are the star attractions here, with some surprising flavors like blue cheese and beer.

Iceland might not be a place you’d normally associate with the production of delicious tomatoes, but thanks to the abundance of geothermal energy, hothouses like those at Fríðheimar can produce more than 300 tons of them a year. At its greenhouse café—a popular stop with those traveling on the Golden Circle route—its juicy variety of tomato is the star ingredient of every dish on the menu, including the superlative soup, the bizarrely good tomato ice cream, and perhaps the best Bloody Mary you’ll ever have. The homemade bread is a standout as well. Make sure to book in advance. 

There is a glorious jumble of vintage ski wear, old leather saddles, and other knickknacks to engage your curiosity in this small-town café, which is just as charming as the children’s story it’s named after: The Brothers From Bakki. The famous local storybook (about three brothers who build a house with no windows and tried to carry sunshine into the house using their hats) makes for a great read while you wait for your order. Look out for the marvelous wooden sculpture of former President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson by local artist Dagur Óskarsson.

This plain and simple breakfast spot has won the hearts of many politicians who work nearby—as well as Björk—and it tends to get quite busy. If you feel like taking on a huge meal, give \"the Truck\" (pancakes, eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, tomatoes, and toast) a go. All of the books on the shelves surrounding the tables are free for perusal while you wait for your food.

This museum restaurant not only serves some delightful fare but also acts as Skagafjörður's premier event venue, bringing both famous and small-time artists to play in the remote countryside. They also have a small store with gifts and souvenirs.

A vibrant food hall in Reykjavík's Grandi district, Grandi Mathöll is housed in a converted fish warehouse. It features diverse street food stalls offering Icelandic, Korean, Italian, and other international cuisines, making it a great spot to go with a group---especially one that can't always agree on a single place to dine. It also has a communal seating area and waterfront views.

The \"Grill Market\" is known for its emphasis on Icelandic cuisine, featuring dishes like grilled beef, lamb, and seafood. The restaurant collaborates closely with local farmers to source fresh seasonal ingredients, ensuring high-quality meals. Its interior blends natural Icelandic elements such as basalt, wood, and moss, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere that feels like a destination in and of itself.

Reykjavík's first food hall—the one that started an enduring craze—is still serving up a variety of cuisines from a sometimes rotating cast of vendors. With seven eateries in one location, everyone can get something they'd like to eat, while the long, communal tables keep things social.

Established in 1979 and owned-and-operated by the same family ever since, Hornið was the first Italian-style restaurant in Iceland. The welcoming spot in a sunny yellow building has maintained its charm over the years, serving pizzas fresh from the oven as well as pastas, soups, and meat and seafood dishes. The warm service is a bonus.

Stop for pizza named after local landmarks at this cozy restaurant overlooking the harbor, or try something a little more exotic like chicken tikka masala. Whether it’s trout, salmon, haddock, or plaice, the catch of the day is always delicious, as is the soup.