Food · Reykjavík · Iceland
What to eat in Reykjavík
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Reykjavík, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Icelandic lamb soup, Fish stew and Icelandic hot dog. Hlemmur Mathöll in the old bus station and Grandi Mathöll in a harbour warehouse bring together small kitchens serving fish, Icelandic lamb, Vietnamese and Mexican food at more accessible prices. Tap water is excellent and free; ask for a jug in any restaurant.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Icelandic lamb soup
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Iceland; service is included in prices and wages.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Icelandic lamb soup (Kjötsúpa)
A hearty broth of lamb on the bone with root vegetables, rice or oats and herbs. Icelandic sheep graze freely in the highlands in summer, giving the meat a distinctive flavour.
Where: Traditional restaurants and cafés in downtown Reykjavík, especially in winter.
Dish
2.Fish stew (Plokkfiskur)
Flaked cod or haddock mashed with potatoes, onions and béchamel, traditionally served with buttered rúgbrauð. It is everyday Icelandic home cooking.
Where: Lunch menus at traditional cafés and fish restaurants near the Old Harbour.
Street food
3.Icelandic hot dog (Pylsa)
Lamb, pork and beef sausages in a bun with crispy and raw onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard and remoulade. Order 'eina með öllu' to get it with everything.
Where: Hot-dog stands such as the long-running Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur near the harbour, and petrol stations across the country.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
4.Skyr
A thick, high-protein cultured dairy product, technically a soft cheese but eaten like yogurt, often with berries or cream. Icelanders have made it for centuries.
Where: Any supermarket for breakfast, and as a dessert in traditional restaurants.
Bakery · Vegetarian
5.Geothermal rye bread (Rúgbrauð)
A dense, dark, slightly sweet rye bread traditionally baked slowly in the ground near hot springs. It is served with butter, smoked trout or pickled herring.
Where: Bakeries and cafés in Reykjavík; the Laugarvatn Fontana spa on the Golden Circle demonstrates the hot-spring baking method.
Snack
6.Dried fish (Harðfiskur)
Wind-dried cod or haddock torn into strips and eaten with salted butter. It is a protein-rich snack that Icelanders take on hikes and road trips.
Where: Supermarkets, petrol stations and Kolaportið flea market.
Snack
7.Fermented shark (Hákarl)
Greenland shark cured by fermentation and months of hanging to dry, with a strong ammonia smell. It is a traditional midwinter food, usually tried as a dare with a shot of Brennivín.
Where: Small tasting portions at Kolaportið flea market and some traditional restaurants, and at Þorrablót feasts in January and February.
Dish
8.Langoustine and seafood (Humar)
Icelandic langoustine, cod, Arctic char and haddock are the stars of local menus. Creamy langoustine soup is a harbour classic on a cold day.
Where: Seafood restaurants around the Old Harbour and Grandi, and the town of Stokkseyri on the south coast.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Kleinur
Twisted, lightly spiced fried doughnuts with a hint of cardamom, eaten with coffee at any time of day.
Where: Bakeries across the city and supermarket bakery sections.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Brennivín
Iceland's caraway-flavoured schnapps, nicknamed 'Black Death', traditionally drunk ice-cold with hákarl. Alcohol is expensive and sold to take away only at the state-run Vínbúðin shops.
Where: Bars in downtown Reykjavík, Vínbúðin stores and the duty-free shop at Keflavík Airport.
Snack · Vegetarian
11.Liquorice sweets (Lakkrís)
Icelanders love liquorice, especially chocolate-coated liquorice in bars and bags and liquorice-flavoured ice cream.
Where: Supermarkets, petrol stations and souvenir shops; the most popular brands are on every checkout counter.
Food experiences
Food halls
Hlemmur Mathöll in the old bus station and Grandi Mathöll in a harbour warehouse bring together small kitchens serving fish, Icelandic lamb, Vietnamese and Mexican food at more accessible prices.
Happy hour
With beer and wine heavily taxed, most bars run late-afternoon happy hours that bring prices down noticeably; locals plan evenings around them.
Hot dog by the harbour
A pylsa with everything from a downtown stand is the city's quickest, most traditional and most affordable meal.
Þorrablót midwinter feast
In January and February, some restaurants serve Þorri platters of traditional preserved foods — fermented shark, sour ram's testicles, singed sheep's head and rúgbrauð — a glimpse of how Icelanders survived winter.
Quick bites and street food
- Icelandic hot dog — Hot-dog stands such as the long-running Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur near the harbour, and petrol stations across the country.
- Skyr — Any supermarket for breakfast, and as a dessert in traditional restaurants.
- Geothermal rye bread — Bakeries and cafés in Reykjavík; the Laugarvatn Fontana spa on the Golden Circle demonstrates the hot-spring baking method.
- Dried fish — Supermarkets, petrol stations and Kolaportið flea market.
- Fermented shark — Small tasting portions at Kolaportið flea market and some traditional restaurants, and at Þorrablót feasts in January and February.
- Liquorice sweets — Supermarkets, petrol stations and souvenir shops; the most popular brands are on every checkout counter.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Skyr, Geothermal rye bread, Kleinur, Brennivín and Liquorice sweets. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Tap water is excellent and free; ask for a jug in any restaurant.
- Many restaurants offer a lunch menu or fish of the day at noticeably lower prices than dinner.
- Supermarkets such as Bónus and Krónan are the best-value way to buy breakfast and picnic food.
- Wine and spirits for drinking at home are sold only at Vínbúðin state shops, which keep limited hours and close on Sundays and holidays; buy at the airport duty-free on arrival instead.
- Book popular restaurants a few days ahead in summer and on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Iceland; service is included in prices and wages. Leaving a little extra for exceptional service is appreciated but never expected.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Halló / Góðan daginn | Hello / Good day |
| Takk / Takk fyrir | Thanks / Thank you |
| Skál! | Cheers! |
| Bless | Bye |
| Já / Nei | Yes / No |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Reykjavík famous for?
Icelandic lamb soup, Fish stew, Icelandic hot dog and Skyr. A hearty broth of lamb on the bone with root vegetables, rice or oats and herbs.
+Is Reykjavík good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Skyr, Geothermal rye bread and Kleinur.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Reykjavík?
Tipping is not customary in Iceland; service is included in prices and wages. Leaving a little extra for exceptional service is appreciated but never expected.