5 Best Restaurants in West Iceland and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

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. 

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.

A charming old bait shack has been turned into an ecologically certified restaurant, serving up contemporary Icelandic cuisine with delicious fish sourced directly from local fishermen. The limited seating and high popularity means you will need to reserve in advance to secure a spot at this local gem. There are few better places to enjoy a deeply savory wolffish or a gently poached halibut with a gorgeous view of Stykkishólmur harbor.

As with any restaurant in a coastal town—and Sker is located right on the sea—fish is the way to go here. But travelers keep coming back here for its broad menu, which ranges from seafood and pizza to vegan options for both lunch and dinner. The meals are filling, but may be a little heavy on the sauce for some. They are able to handle big groups with ease and seating sometimes carries over to their sister restaurant Reks (\"Sker\" backward), which also offers event catering services.

This restaurant is located in the oldest section of Stykkishólmur inside a bright, airy building from the early 1900s. The crowd-pleasing menu features regional items like lamb shanks, scallops, and cod. It's a popular spot with the locals and its downstairs bar is a good choice for a late-night drink and to catch some classic 1970s pop ballads.