216 Best Restaurants in Iceland

The large windows of this luxury country-lodge restaurant frame an engaging pastoral scene starring the bountiful Rangá (one of Iceland’s best fishing rivers) with Hekla (a famous sleeping volcano known as “the Gateway to Hell”) in the background. Here guests dine on a variety of locally sourced seasonal produce, and are often given the full VIP treatment from enthusiastic owner Friðrík, who takes great pride in everything from the presentation of the food to the minutiae of its preparation.

This exceptional restaurant that blends Icelandic ingredients and Japanese influence offers a menu that is truly one of the best in the country. If the innovative set menu feels intimidating, then there is plenty of familiar fare like hamburgers, soups, and tasty vegetarian options on the menu. This place truly has it all, making it both an easy stop for groups with varying dietary needs and a destination restaurant for the more culinary inclined. 

In addition to superb coffee and homemade pastries, this excellent vintage hospital–theme café offers a dose of 1940s-style respite—as well as a hint of theater—in a lovely, detailed setting in the countryside. Run by actress Maria Pálsdóttir, the café doubles as an exhibition center dedicated to patients of “the Great White Plague” (tuberculosis).

The town's old icehouse was once a storeroom for glacier ice used to keep the local fresh catches cool; it's now a popular harborside pizzeria serving up soups and salads but mainly stone-baked pizzas. You’ll find classic pizza toppings along with langoustine, for which Höfn is renowned (it's often dubbed lobster in this part of the world, but the Icelandic name is humar). There’s also lobster soup and cheese-filled breadsticks.

From traditional plokkfiskur (fish stew) and meat soup to a spectacular waffle fry, Íslenski Barinn covers a lot of ground on its menu, but the focus is local at this restaurant and bar. You'll also find only beers and spirits made in Iceland—so don't come here looking for imports.

The quiet enclave of Húsavík found worldwide fame in 2020 with the release of the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which told the dramatic tale of two Húsavík musicians who dream of winning the famous contest. Named after a song from the film, this theme café and bar pays homage to the hit in a delightfully cheesy manner.

By day, Kaffibrennslan is a cozy café, with a menu full of sandwich and soup options and every coffee drink you could imagine. At night, the scene changes and you're more likely to be taking a shot with the bartender than asking them which sandwich they prefer—no matter what, you're in for a great time. The second floor is an intimate loft area with window seating that overlooks the busy street below.

Two friends came together to open this café, which specializes in Italian coffee and baked goods. The interior is airy and lively, the perfect spot to plan your day of adventures.

Take a break from your tour of the west coast for a slice of cake at this quaint coffee shop. They also have solid coffee and a great selection of baked goods—everything you need to keep you going while sightseeing.

While enjoying the exhibitions at Skriðuklaustur, you might get distracted by the delightful aromas wafting from the in-house restaurant. If you follow your nose, you'll discover a lovely farmhouse-style dining area serving a buffet of lamb, reindeer pie, quiche, and salads, all made from mostly local ingredients. There's also a tantalizing display of sweets at the afternoon cake buffet. The cook, Elísabet, has published a collection of her favorite recipes available to purchase at the reception in English and Icelandic.

Sipping on a refreshing cocktail will add a spicy warmth to your cheeks while you take in this friendly spot's sights, sounds, and aromas, which intensify as the evening progresses. Each dish is carefully paired with wine and delivered with a detailed narrative by well-informed staff. Send your senses into overdrive with dishes like fruits de mer, charred salmon, or an assemblage of popular desserts

Nestled on the first floor of the art-centric Marshall House, La Primavera's impressive interiors give you a taste of what's to come on the upper floors. If you never thought you'd find Italian dishes in Iceland to rival those you'd find in Italy, think again.

Eating world-class food at a restaurant built into a lava cliff with views of the milky Blue Lagoon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you will never forget. Lava Restaurant, the more casual of the Blue Lagoon's culinary options, offers gourmet meals perfect for some après-spa relaxation.

This trendy—and tasty—eatery offers elevated fast food with a twist. Their menu features creative burgers, wings, and other crafty creations, made from locally sourced Icelandic ingredients while the in-house bakery, Deig, provides fresh bagels, donuts, and potato bread daily. Notably, Le Kock eschews the standard French fry in favor of a dish of Icelandic smælki, crispy fried new potatoes. You won't want a basic burger and fries ever again. In-house bar Tail serves up cocktails, craft beers, and natural wines, and features live jazz on Monday night.

The menu at waterside L’Abri features fish and meat dishes with the usual emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, plus a twist on French classics like duck confit and crème brûlée. The decor is modern and minimalist, featuring vintage photos of life in the town, but the best feature is the epic views of the fjord, where you might see a whale swim by or even catch a show of the northern lights.

This small neighborhood restaurant and bar turns out an impressive quantity and quality of small plates from its postage-stamp-size kitchen located smack-dab in the center of the dining room. The constant activity on display from the kitchen staff, bartenders, and attentive waiters only adds to the buzzing atmosphere of dining here. It helps that the food and drinks are all top-notch, too.

Located inside the exhibition space of the National Park Center, Matarlist looks like a run-of-the-mill museum cafeteria, but it offers a pleasant departure from Iceland's usual roadside fare. Meals are nutritious and balanced, featuring freshly caught fish and a variety of other local ingredients mixed with Thai and Indian touches. Generous portions of lamb over puréed vegetables and hearty soups with red curry and coconut milk leave you with plenty of energy for glacial hikes and spelunking.

This small restaurant in the heart of the city is famous for its fish pans: the sizzling catch of the day accompanied by butter-fried potatoes and seasonal vegetables. It's a basic dish, but it is hearty and wholesome.

A stellar experience for the senses, the set menus at Moss Restaurant take diners on an Iceland-inspired food journey. Situated at the highest point of the Blue Lagoon, guests gaze through floor-to-ceiling windows upon the moonlike surroundings while enjoying delicious and diverse dishes made from seasonal produce gathered from the mountains, the rivers, the mossy fields, and the sea.

Located in a charming cottage and run by an Icelandic chef with a serious pedigree, Nielsen does wondrous things with its fine produce, all grown, caught, farmed, hunted, and foraged in the restaurant’s radius. Choose three, five, or seven shareable courses from the menu. You might spot wild game, pickled rhubarb, local barley, and angelica alongside better-known favorites such as fresh fish and lamb.

Winning accolades for food that creatively fuses fresh local fish with Japanese techniques and flavors, Norð Austur is worth booking ahead for. It is open in the summer only and is in high demand for its beautifully presented morsels, creative cocktails, and cozy atmosphere.

Tucked away in this small town is a local brewery that uses geothermal energy to make quirky and tasty beers and eclectic and delicious wood-fired pizzas. The selection of draft beers changes depending on what concoction these master brewers made that week, but expect to find very creative ingredients—many of which are local. 

Hidden behind a graffiti-covered door on Laugavegur, ÓX is Reykjavík’s intimate Michelin-starred secret. With just 17 seats, this chef’s table delivers a dazzling tasting menu rooted in Icelandic ingredients, bold technique, and genuine hospitality. It’s theatrical, personal, and unforgettable—like being invited to a private culinary performance.

Based in an old warehouse made of scrap wood, Pakkhús makes good use of the area's supply of fresh seafood, especially the langoustine, which they are primarily known for. Their menu also features cod, lamb, and beef, with some tempting desserts, too. The crème brûlée flavored with licorice presents a tasty (and very Icelandic) twist. Pakkhús doesn't take reservations, so you may have to wait for a table. 

Tucked away in the sleepy fishing town of Hafnarfjörður, Pallett looks at times like an ad from a 1970s issue of Vogue with its jungle of houseplants, a rotary telephone at the counter, and cassette player blaring in the background. But this is more than just a hipster hangout: the food is hearty, wholesome, and inherently British (think freshly baked scones with homemade jam) and the coffee is made from award-winning beans. Pálmar Þór, co-owner and resident coffee guru, is a national barista champion and makes a first-class Irish coffee that'll leave you feeling so serene, you might just want to stay in the 1970s a little longer.

Every table at this bistro under the expansive glass dome of Perlan comes with a 360-degree view of Reykjavík. Perched atop the city's geothermal water distribution tanks on Öskjuhlíð Hill, the eatery's international menu emphasizes quick, fresh dishes like pizzas, fish-and-chips, pizza, and lamb soup.

Quick roadside hot dogs—pylsur in Icelandic—are a mainstay of Icelandic culture, and no trip to Selfoss would be complete without a stop at this famed eatery. One of the most beloved pylsur spots in the country, Pylsuvagninn has a strong following for a reason; if you're looking to be truly decadent, don't forget to order yours covered in cheese.

At this boathouse on the water’s edge (built in 1890), you can enjoy gourmet dishes like fjord-fresh salmon and crispy reindeer meatballs. The interior is furnished with an impressive collection of maritime artifacts, and the soundtrack is of old Icelandic fishing songs. Upstairs the fishermen’s living quarters have been preserved exactly as they were found, undisturbed for almost a century.

If you’re serious about the quality of your cup of joe, then you should feel right at home at Reykjavík Roasters. Owned and operated by some of Iceland’s most esteemed, award-winning baristas, Reykjavík Roasters delivers incredibly consistent cups of coffee. Its dedicated patrons seem to occupy the shabby-chic seating all day long, occasionally getting up for a refill or to play the other side of a vintage vinyl. The staff at this respected establishment prepare every coffee variety perfectly, every time.

According to urban legend, it’s tradition for Icelanders returning home from abroad to make their first stop at this beloved restaurant, and indulge in chef Úlfar’s legendary fish stew. Not just a favorite with the locals, Þrír Frakkar—a curious name that can be interpreted either as \"the Three Overcoats\" or \"the Three Frenchies\"—has a number of high-profile celebrity fans, including chef Jamie Oliver, who reportedly dined on guillemot during his visit. Other cultural delicacies include smoked puffin, salt cod, and peppered whale steak.