Reykjavík's food scene is modern New Nordic at heart — a focus on local Icelandic ingredients like harbour-fresh fish, herb-grazed lamb, skyr and foraged berries, reinterpreted through refined technique. Iceland's only Michelin star belongs to Dill, but the city runs the full range, from ambitious seafood houses to the world-famous lamb hot dog stand and warming bowls of lobster soup. It's an expensive place to eat, so this guide gathers the standout tables at every budget, with cuisines, areas, price guides and booking tips.
$140Dill
Area
City Centre (Hverfisgata)
Type
New Nordic (Michelin)
“Iceland's only Michelin-starred restaurant — book around four weeks ahead for the tasting menu.”
$95Matur og Drykkur
Area
Grandi (Old Harbour)
Type
Modern Icelandic
“Set in a restored 1903 saltfish factory by the harbour — book about a week ahead for the five-course menu.”
$80Grillmarkaðurinn
Area
City Centre (Lækjargata)
Type
Grill
“Famous for Icelandic lamb and fresh-caught fish — book about three days ahead.”
$85Fiskmarkaðurinn
Area
City Centre (Aðalstræti)
Type
Seafood / Sushi
“Icelandic-Japanese fusion — the tasting menu is the way to explore it. Book about a week ahead.”
$25Sægreifinn (Sea Baron)
Area
Old Harbour
Type
Seafood / Soup
“The legendary lobster soup is the thing to order (about $18). No reservations — just turn up.”
$6Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Area
Old Harbour
Type
Hot Dog Stand
“Order 'eina með öllu' — one with everything. Bill Clinton ate here in 2004.”
$28Café Loki
Area
City Centre (by Hallgrímskirkja)
Type
Traditional Icelandic
“The place to try fermented shark (hákarl) if you dare — right across from Hallgrímskirkja.”
$40Messinn
Area
City Centre (Lækjargata)
Type
Seafood
“Order the pan-fried fish that arrives sizzling in the skillet — great value for the quality.”
$45Skál!
Area
Hlemmur Mathöll
Type
Modern Bistro
“The 'Land og Sjór' (Land and Sea) tasting menu is the move. No reservations — it's in the food hall.”
$25Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar
Area
City Centre (Geirsgata)
Type
Burgers
“Reykjavik's classic burger joint — a solid, filling budget lunch near the harbour.”
Reykjavík restaurants in detail
1.Dill
Dill has held a Michelin star since 2017 and remains Iceland's most celebrated restaurant, the natural pilgrimage for serious food lovers visiting Reykjavik. The kitchen practises modern New Nordic cooking with an uncompromising focus on local Icelandic produce — sea fish landed at Reykjavik's own harbour, lamb from the south coast grazed on Arctic herbs, skyr, foraged berries and mountain botanicals — all coaxed into precise, beautifully plated courses. The 'Dill Tasting' menu runs to around $140, with a wine pairing at roughly $105, served in an intimate room of just 35 seats where the pace is unhurried and the service knowledgeable. Because demand vastly outstrips those few tables, you'll need to book about four weeks in advance, and the smart-casual dress code leans smart rather than casual. This is very much a special-occasion destination rather than a casual drop-in, but for anyone who wants to understand how far Iceland's dining scene has come, it's the definitive experience. Expect dishes that taste unmistakably of this island — clean, seasonal and confident — matched with a thoughtful list that champions natural and Nordic wines. A memorable, if pricey, evening.
Hours
Dinner, Wed–Sat (check days); reserve well ahead
Price
Tasting menu ~$140; wine pairing ~$105
Getting there
Central, on Hverfisgata in the city centre
Insider tip: Iceland's only Michelin-starred restaurant — book around four weeks ahead for the tasting menu.
2.Matur og Drykkur
Set in a beautifully restored 1903 saltfish factory beside Reykjavik's old harbour, Matur og Drykkur ('Food and Drink') takes its name and its philosophy from a classic Icelandic cookbook, reviving old-fashioned recipes and reinterpreting them with modern skill. The kitchen isn't afraid of Iceland's more challenging traditional ingredients — cod tongues, blood pudding, even fermented shark — but it treats them with finesse and a light touch, producing dishes that feel both deeply rooted and thoroughly contemporary. The five-course menu at around $95 is the best way to experience the range, though à la carte mains in the $35 to $55 bracket are also available for a shorter visit. The setting, all timber and history in the Grandi district, adds real atmosphere, and the restaurant sits handily alongside the area's cluster of museums. It's an excellent choice for travellers who want to taste 'authentic Iceland' in a refined fine-dining form rather than as a novelty, with genuine craft behind every plate. Book about a week ahead, especially in the summer high season, and come curious — this is a menu that rewards an open mind and an appetite for the island's culinary heritage.
Hours
Dinner (check days); reserve ahead
Price
Five-course menu ~$95; à la carte mains ~$35–55
Getting there
In the Grandi harbour district, in the Saga Museum building
Insider tip: Set in a restored 1903 saltfish factory by the harbour — book about a week ahead for the five-course menu.
3.Grillmarkaðurinn
Grillmarkaðurinn (the 'Grill Market') is one of Reykjavik's most reliably impressive restaurants, a sleek, contemporary grill house in the city centre known above all for its Icelandic lamb, slow-roasted to a classic tenderness, and its line-caught North Atlantic fish. The menu ranges across grilled meats, beef, lobster and a signature dried-fish pasta, all cooked over charcoal and served in a stylish, warmly lit room of stone, wood and metal that feels grown-up without being stuffy. Expect to spend around $70 to $95 a head for a full meal with wine, which is fair for the quality and generosity on offer. It's a favourite for couples in their thirties and up, for business dinners and for anyone wanting a dependable, high-quality taste of the best Icelandic produce in a smart setting. The kitchen makes a point of sourcing from named Icelandic farms and boats, so the provenance is part of the pleasure. Booking about three days ahead is wise, particularly at weekends and in summer. For a confident, produce-led dinner that showcases Iceland's lamb and seafood without the tasting-menu formality of the Michelin room, Grillmarkaðurinn is a standout central choice.
Hours
Lunch & dinner; reserve ahead
Price
~$70–95 per person
Getting there
Central, on Lækjargata in the city centre
Insider tip: Famous for Icelandic lamb and fresh-caught fish — book about three days ahead.
4.Fiskmarkaðurinn
Fiskmarkaðurinn (the 'Fish Market') is one of Reykjavik's most inventive restaurants, a modern fish and sushi house that fuses the island's superb seafood with Japanese technique and the occasional Asian flourish. The menu leans on day-fresh North Atlantic catch — salmon, cod and ling among them — turned into sushi rolls, sashimi and cooked plates, alongside a chef's tasting menu that's the best way to explore the kitchen's range. It's set in an atmospheric old timber house in the centre, with dark wood, low lighting and an intimate, slightly theatrical feel that suits the ambitious cooking. Expect to pay around $75 to $110 per person for a full experience, placing it firmly at the upper end. This is very much modern fusion rather than traditional Icelandic fare, so come for creativity and technique rather than old-country classics. It's a strong choice for a special dinner or a date, and popular enough that booking about a week ahead is sensible, especially in high season. For travellers who love seafood and want to see how Reykjavik's chefs are blending local ingredients with global influences, Fiskmarkaðurinn offers one of the city's most polished and adventurous tables.
Hours
Dinner (check days); reserve ahead
Price
~$75–110 per person
Getting there
Central, on Aðalstræti in the city centre
Insider tip: Icelandic-Japanese fusion — the tasting menu is the way to explore it. Book about a week ahead.
5.Sægreifinn (Sea Baron)
Sægreifinn — the 'Sea Baron' — is a beloved Reykjavik institution, a tiny, no-frills seafood shack by the old harbour that has been serving since 2002 and was long run by its legendary founder Kjartan Halldórsson. Its fame rests on one dish above all: a rich, buttery lobster soup, generous with shellfish and served with good bread, for around $18 — regularly cited as some of the best in Iceland. Beyond the soup, the other draw is the grilled fish and seafood skewers, chosen from a chilled display and cooked to order, from cod and salmon to more adventurous options like minke whale and monkfish. You eat at communal tables inside the cramped, cheerfully rough-and-ready room, elbow to elbow with tourists and locals alike, and there are no reservations, so you simply turn up and often queue a little at peak times. It's about as authentic and unpretentious as Reykjavik dining gets, and refreshingly affordable in a famously expensive city — figure on about $25 a head. For a warming, hearty and genuinely local taste of Icelandic seafood in a characterful harbourside setting, the Sea Baron is a must.
Hours
Daily, lunch into early evening
Price
~$25 per person; lobster soup ~$18
Getting there
By the Old Harbour, a short walk from the centre
Insider tip: The legendary lobster soup is the thing to order (about $18). No reservations — just turn up.
6.Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur — 'the town's best hot dogs' — is a world-famous stand by Reykjavik's old harbour that has been serving since 1937, and it remains the city's most iconic and affordable bite. The Icelandic hot dog is distinctive: made largely of lamb, snappy and savoury, and best ordered the classic way, 'eina með öllu' (one with everything), which means sweet mustard, ketchup, remoulade, raw onions and crispy fried onions. At around $6 each, they're the great equaliser in a pricey city, wolfed down by everyone from late-night revellers to visiting dignitaries — Bill Clinton famously stopped by in 2004, and there's still a 'Clinton Dog' (just mustard) named in his honour. There are no reservations, no seating to speak of and no fuss: you queue at the little red kiosk, order, and eat standing up in the harbour air. Figure on about $12 for a filling two-dog meal. It's touristy, yes, but genuinely good and woven into the fabric of the city, a rite of passage for first-time visitors. For a fast, cheap and quintessentially Icelandic snack, join the queue and try one with everything.
Hours
Daily, late morning into the small hours
Price
~$6 per hot dog; ~$12 per person
Getting there
By the old harbour in the city centre; no reservations
Insider tip: Order 'eina með öllu' — one with everything. Bill Clinton ate here in 2004.
7.Café Loki
Café Loki sits directly opposite Hallgrímskirkja and is one of the easiest places in Reykjavik to try genuinely traditional Icelandic food. The menu is a roll-call of old-country classics: hákarl (fermented shark), hearty lamb soup, rye-bread ice cream, flatbread with smoked lamb, and skyr with blueberries, served in a cosy upstairs room with a view of the church. Reckon on around $25 to $35 per person. It's more of a cultural experience than a fine-dining destination, and all the better for it — this is where curious first-time visitors come to taste the flavours that defined Icelandic cooking for centuries, hákarl included, even if that pungent fermented shark remains a genuine challenge for non-Icelanders. The mood is warm and unpretentious, the staff are used to explaining the more unusual dishes, and the location, right at the foot of the city's most famous landmark, could hardly be more convenient. Come for a leisurely lunch after climbing the church tower, order the Icelandic tasting plate to sample several traditional bites at once, and wash it down with coffee or a shot of Brennivín. For an authentic, characterful taste of Iceland's culinary heritage, Café Loki is a reliable and enjoyable choice.
Hours
Daily, breakfast & lunch into afternoon
Price
~$25–35 per person
Getting there
In the centre, directly opposite Hallgrímskirkja church
Insider tip: The place to try fermented shark (hákarl) if you dare — right across from Hallgrímskirkja.
8.Messinn
Messinn is a firm favourite among Reykjavik locals for honest, generous seafood without the fine-dining price tag. Its signature is the pan-fried fish, brought to the table sizzling in the skillet it was cooked in, dressed with butter, herbs and vegetables — a simple, comforting way to enjoy the day's catch. Beyond that, the menu runs through Icelandic seafood classics such as plokkfiskur (the traditional fish hash with potato and onion), lobster soup and fresh fish pasta, all cooked with care and served in a bright, relaxed room. Expect to pay around $35 to $55 per person, which is good value given the quality and portion sizes, and comparable dishes elsewhere cost considerably more. It's popular enough that booking or arriving early is wise, especially in the evenings and through the summer. The atmosphere is friendly and unfussy, drawing a mix of clued-up visitors and locals who come back for the reliable cooking. For travellers who want to taste Iceland's seafood culture — pan-fried catch, plokkfiskur, lobster soup — in a warm, wallet-friendlier setting than the top-end rooms, Messinn hits the sweet spot, and its central location makes it an easy choice on any evening in town.
Hours
Daily, lunch & dinner
Price
~$35–55 per person
Getting there
Central, on Lækjargata in the city centre
Insider tip: Order the pan-fried fish that arrives sizzling in the skillet — great value for the quality.
9.Skál!
Skál! is one of the most exciting stalls in the Hlemmur Mathöll, Reykjavik's answer to the great European food halls, at the eastern end of Laugavegur. Small, buzzy and unashamedly hip, it plates creative modern Icelandic and Nordic dishes that draw a young, in-the-know crowd of locals in their twenties, thirties and forties. The signature 'Land og Sjór' (Land and Sea) tasting menu, at around $45, is the best way to experience the kitchen's playful, produce-led cooking, moving between land and ocean across a run of inventive small plates. Being in a food hall, it's informal and lively rather than formal, with no reservations — you grab a spot and settle in — which suits its relaxed, sociable spirit. The wider Hlemmur Mathöll around it gathers coffee, bakeries, tacos, Vietnamese food and a bar, so it's easy to graze more widely or start and end your meal at different counters. For visitors who want contemporary, chef-driven Icelandic food in a casual, energetic setting — and a glimpse of how younger Reykjavik actually eats and drinks — Skál! is a great pick, and its food-hall home makes it easy to combine with a wander along Laugavegur.
Hours
Food-hall hours (check days)
Price
'Land og Sjór' menu ~$45
Getting there
Inside the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall on Laugavegur
Insider tip: The 'Land og Sjór' (Land and Sea) tasting menu is the move. No reservations — it's in the food hall.
10.Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar
Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar — usually just 'Búllan' — is a beloved Reykjavik burger joint by the old harbour, running since 2007 under the larger-than-life local character Tómas. The formula is simple and satisfying: proper burgers made with Icelandic beef, crisp French fries and thick milkshakes, served in a fun, retro-diner space plastered with signs and slogans. At around $20 to $30 per person, it's noticeably more affordable than most Reykjavik restaurants, which makes it a go-to for budget-conscious travellers and families wanting a quick, hearty meal without the fine-dining bill. The burgers are generous and well-priced by Icelandic standards, and the laid-back, good-humoured atmosphere is part of the appeal. It's exactly the kind of unpretentious, reliable spot you want when you've had your fill of tasting menus and lamb soup and simply fancy a good burger. Its central, harbourside location makes it easy to reach on foot, and it's a handy option for lunch between sightseeing. For a filling, wallet-friendly bite in a city where eating out can quickly add up, Búllan is a dependable and enjoyable choice, and a local favourite that has earned its long-running popularity.
Hours
Daily, lunch & dinner
Price
~$20–30 per person
Getting there
By the old harbour, on Geirsgata in the centre
Insider tip: Reykjavik's classic burger joint — a solid, filling budget lunch near the harbour.