33 Best Restaurants in North Iceland, 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. 

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. 

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Reserve a table at this restaurant run by award-winning Moroccan chef Jaouad Hbib, who arrived at this remote northern town in 2016. The menu changes monthly, often highlighting local ingredients. For a taste of it all, order the three-course prix-fixe menu. Note: only dinner is served during the winter months. 

Seashells, driftwood, and nautical knickknacks are cleverly incorporated in this well-designed space, where large windows overlook the bay. Here you can dine on some hearty seafood dishes while enjoying a spot of whale-watching: humpbacks and killer whales are often seen breaching in the bay.

Those who appreciate dairy will love this place, which serves super-fresh whole milk and cream to go with your coffee and delicious (although ridiculously overpriced) home-baked cakes. The café has big windows with such satisfying views of the lush surroundings that you might be tempted to stay for the free refills (filter coffee only). There’s also a menu of farm–to–table dishes, a souvenir shop, and a viewing window into the cowshed.

This little café serves up coffee, cakes, light meals, and a menagerie of locally made tchotchkes and handicrafts. Fresh bouquets of flowers are on offer, too—an unexpected touch in such a rural area.

Aðalbakerí is Icelandic to the core, offering up all the country's classic pastries at refreshingly reasonable prices. Grab a gooey caramel snúður—an Icelandic-style cinnamon roll—or opt for more traditional bakery fare like a buttery croissant. Make sure to wash it all down with some of their superb coffee. 

The chef here is a supporter of the sustainable food movement and sources almost all supplies from local Icelandic farmers. All the veggies, salads, and berries are picked from the greenhouses next door. They serve breakfast and dinner and are open all day for light refreshments.

If you're exhausted after a long day of driving between all the wonders of the Mývatn region, Daddi has you covered. This small hole-in-the-wall pizza place is a local favorite and offers quick delectable bites. If you're brave, order the one with smoked trout on it. 

There's only one item on the menu at this unassuming little eatery and it's fresh, flakey, and guaranteed to hit the spot during a long day of sightseeing. Make sure you get your fries with \"kokteilsósa\"—a beloved Icelandic blend of ketchup, mayo, and secret spices.

This attractive old harborside restaurant made mainly of driftwood serves some of the heartiest meals in town, featuring a blend of burgers and pasta with an emphasis on seafood and traditional Icelandic dishes. It can get lively under the low beams of the nautical-inspired tavern, especially when there’s live music playing.

There’s a lively, old-fashioned tavern vibe going on at this “Old Farm,” where you can enjoy a cold beer and a pub lunch in the comfort of one of their velvet-upholstered, vintage wooden chairs. The menu features a range of popular classics like burgers and fish-and-chips, with a few local specials thrown in like Icelandic flatbread and meat soup.

There’s an unusual ensemble of Asian and Mexican dishes on the menu here, along with a few international fast-food favorites like pizza and burgers thrown into the mix—not to mention a full-on Chinese lunch buffet. While you wait for your meal you'll hear 1980s classics and get to appreciate framed quotes by the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow and Bob Marley.

Nestled in the heart of Þórshöfn, this cozy spot—the only restaurant in the village—exudes small-town charm. The hearty menu, featuring pizza, burgers, and other international favorites, is filling and does the job—perfect fuel for a lively game of darts post-nosh.

In a town as remote as Raufarhöfn, it's no surprise the best meal in town is at the best hotel in town. The owner—who is also the chef—will make sure you're full of Icelandic and international classics like baked cod, burgers, and pizzas while he regales you with stories of the area.

You don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine here, and as the only place for miles where you can get a decent sit-down meal, you should book well in advance. The menu features lots of Icelandic dishes boasting the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the so-called Skagafjörður food chest. The decor is modern and inviting.

Fill up on a hearty panini and end with a delicious piece of apple pie at this popular local café. It's owned by avid foragers, so it’s highly likely that a tasty harvest of blueberries and other fruits of the land could be flavoring your food. In case you are tempted to stay in town a little, the owners also offer comfortable and stylish guesthouse accommodation at Kaffi Klara Gistihús.

This appealing restaurant set in a historic town building from 1890 offers a menu of traditional Icelandic dishes with a variety of international favorites, including pizza, pasta, and a grill menu with burgers. If you can't decide what to order, the fish-and-chips is always a star.

Even if you aren't hungry, a trip to this eatery—located in the so-bright-you-can't-miss-it red house right on the Siglufjörður harbor—isn't a wasted one, thanks to its spectacular views. But if you are hungry, the pizzas are filling and the cakes are sweet. In the off-season, the café is often open during holidays or random weekends, so check their Facebook or call in advance. 

The terrific views of Stakhólstjörn pond and the Skútistðagígur pseudocraters are reason enough to visit this no-frills café, but the homemade fare comes in at a close second. Along with their delightful meat soup and cakes, they also offer a cozy selection of souvenirs and beer brewed on-site.

Named after the arctic tern, Krían is the only restaurant on the island. The menu includes simple traditional Icelandic dishes and standard international favorites like hamburgers; it's also one of the few places in Iceland where you can try puffin. The restaurant operates in tandem with the ferry and the airport and is always open for visitors.

Built in 1883, this appealing old wooden building once housed the town’s first co-op and was the heart and soul of the community. It’s now home to a lovely restaurant, where its historic presence is augmented by a lively crowd of locals and tourists getting their fill. The big menu is packed with popular classics, including tacos, street food, pizzas, burgers, and seafood. The catch of the day is always delicious.

Situated right on the quiet edge of town is a true culinary enigma. Its eclectic, upscale menu ranges from crisp internationally inspired artisanal pizzas to bold, traditional Icelandic fare like horse steak and mutton. In a small restaurant full of small-town charm, the flavors could still easily hold their own in any major city. Remember to save room for dessert.

A port in any weather, this lovely little bakery-cum-café on the main street has great coffee and lots of tasty pastries and cakes. They also serve daily delicious soups and a variety of ready-made sandwiches.