16 Best Restaurants in City Center West, Reykjavík

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This restaurant inside the Reykjavík EDITION Hotel is a fantastic spot for a celebration dinner. There is a set menu available, but the friendly staff will also help you choose from the many à la carte seafood dishes, cocktails, and wines on offer.

The menu at Apotek is much the same as those at other upscale spots in Reykjavík—tons of fish, some sort of take on a tasting menu of traditional dishes (often with whale and puffin), and a few turf additions here and there—but the care and attention to detail is obvious here. The desserts alone are worth a visit, and can be enjoyed in the front lounge area with a tea or coffee for those seeking an afternoon treat while watching the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a great splurge for those looking to get in one last memorable meal before heading home.

This Michelin-recommended seafood restaurant offers a seasonally inspired menu featuring dishes like marinated scallops, skate, and Icelandic whelks. The ambience is casual yet stylish, with stone floors, large bright windows, and the works of local artists on the walls. Brút is celebrated for its exceptional service, high-quality food, and award-winning wine list, making it a standout choice for dining in Reykjavík. Don't sleep on the weekend brunch, either—it's long been considered the best in Reykjavík, bringing the same level of quality to a buffet of assorted fresh salads and hot dishes.

Tucked into a cozy downtown cellar, Fish Company is a love letter to Icelandic ingredients with a globetrotting soul. Chef-driven and unafraid to experiment, expect dishes like Arctic char with unexpected international flair. The vibe is intimate, sleek, and a bit mysterious—ideal for date nights or marking a special occasion. It’s where Reykjavík fine dining meets delicious, creative storytelling. Their lunch menu sushi platters are a favorite, but you really can't go wrong with anything at this local institution.

Located inside of Harpa Concert Hall, Hnoss is a picturesque place to go for a delectable weekend brunch. The bistro also offers a lunch menu on weekdays and opens for dinner when larger events are taking place in Harpa, making it an ideal spot for a preshow bite to eat or a postconcert drink.

Hressingarskálinn, more commonly known as Hressó, has been in operation since 1932. Though it has changed hands a few times in the past decades, it has been reinvented as a bistro with a talented culinary team serving home-cooked Icelandic foods with modern flair. If you're popping in between meals, be sure to order a slice of the cake of the day or a fresh kleina with your coffee.

Reminiscent of an American-style diner, Laundromat Café makes two promises: a meal and a place to wash your clothes—and it delivers. The latter can be found in the basement, but you'll find hearty breakfasts, weekend brunches, and a selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and snacks in the main-level eatery.

If you're short on time and you need a snack—or some quick fuel for your next museum visit—Mandi has you covered. The Middle-Eastern dishes span kebab and hummus to shawarma and falafel, but there are a few outliers as well, like burgers and fries.

The atmosphere is the real crowd-pleaser here—especially if you're looking for a romantic restaurant with low lighting for date night or a hip dinner with perfectly fine food. Matarkjallarinn serves a more casual menu of burgers or a fish of the day at lunch before dimming the lights and letting the live pianist loose on the ivories to bring a touch of class to dinner, when a selection of steaks, seafood, and duck confit are on the menu. As the name suggests, the surroundings skew toward stone and offer the cozy kind of vibes only a cellar can provide. 

If your ideal dinner consists of eating on a patio with a good beer in hand, you won't be disappointed by this lively gastropub. You can even mingle with the locals for a rousing game of bingo once a month. Be sure to greet the pig out front—she's usually dressed for the occasion.

This eatery blends Icelandic ingredients with Spanish flair in a cozy, dimly lit cellar. Think puffin with blueberry sauce, langoustines, or lamb—all washed down with a killer sangria. This is a great place to go with friends and share a selection of small plates or order a set menu for the table.