World City Guide

Restaurants

Introduction
There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Reykjavik. We have selected 15 of the best, which we have listed under five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These restaurants are divided into four different pricing categories (the prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal and for half a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent per person; they do not include tax or tip):
$ (under IKr1000)
$$ (between IKr1000 and IKr2500)
$$$ (between IKr2500 and IKr4000)
$$$$ (over IKr4000)
The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential. Bear in mind that alcohol is prohibitively expensive in Iceland, so an easy way to cut down on the cost of eating out is to avoid it altogether, and stick to water and soft drinks.

Gastronomic

Siggi Hall
Gourmets argue that Siggi Hall is worth a trip to Iceland in itself& and I am not one to disagree with them, although the country has much to offer beside. But this restaurant really stands in a class of its own. Named after Iceland’s best loved chef Siggi Hall (a man with several TV shows and cookbooks to his credit), the restaurant offers Icelandic food with a modern twist. Siggi has long been a champion of Icelandic ingredients, passionately campaigning to raise their profile at home and abroad, and this is evident on the menu, where lamb and seafood are prominent. The delivery is never short of exceptional as the maestro in the kitchen conjures up superb creations that are as inspiring for the tastebuds as they are pleasing for the eyes. Add to this a stylish setting, an informal atmosphere (the host frequently makes appearances to enquire about the wellbeing of his guests) and attentive waiting staff, and it is easy to see why Siggi Hall is everybody’s favourite restaurant in Reykjavik!

Thorsgata 1
Tel: 511 6677.
Website: www.siggihall.is
Price range: $$$$

Laekjarbrekka
The black wooden house overlooking the junction of Bankastraeti and Laekargata was built by a rich Danish merchant as a bakery shop in the 1830s, and for many years it remained the only such shop in Reykjavik. Now fully restored, the restaurant still has that old time feel to it, and eating at Laekjarbrekka is a bit like stepping back in time, sampling the best traditional food Iceland has to offer in authentic 19th century surroundings. There is a cosy bar upstairs under the roof which is perfect for pre- (or post-) dinner drinks, and the main dining room downstairs is just as comfortable and homely, with its collection of eclectic ornaments, embroidered tablecloths, lace curtains, Tiffany lamps and tapestries on the walls& there is even a grandfather clock. Add to this piano music in the background, and fresh roses and candles on the table, and you have the perfect setting for a romantic dinner like no other. The food, which is excellent, is traditional Icelandic fare in all its splendour, ranging from lamb to lobster (the house speciality): we felt a bit bemused by the choice on offer at first, but our waiter provided excellent advice and guidance and helped us made judicious choices. All in all, an evening with a touch of magic, and one well worth splashing out for.

Laekjarbrekka Bankastraeti 2
Tel: 551 4430.
Website: www.laekjarbrekka.is
Price range: $$$$

Sjavarkjallarinn
The Seafood Cellar (thus named because it is located in the oldest cellar in Reykjavik), is one of the city’s newest and most exciting restaurants, and one that has already received several accolades in the international press (it made the Conde Nast's Hot Table list in 2004), gaining recognition for its inventive and daring cooking. The main emphasis here is on fusion cooking, with fish and seafood, as one would expect, very much at the forefront of the menu (although lamb and vegetarian options are also available). The setting, with its stone walls, dimmed lights and white tablecloths, is original and inviting, and the service professional and unobtrusive. Add to this a solid wine list, and you are on to a winner.

Aðalstræti 2
Tel: 5111212.
Website: www.sjavarkjallarinn.is
Price range: $$$$

Business

Vox
Located in the Nordica Hotel, Icelandair’s flagship hotel, the open-plan Vox Restaurant is fast becoming a gourmet destination in its own right, and it is the perfect setting for a classy night out. The restaurant, under the auspices of award winning executive chef Hakon Mar Orvarsson, is popular with hotel guests and locals alike, but also increasingly with business people looking for a venue with a touch of sophistication for their meetings. The food is international, and combines Icelandic ingredients such as game, seafood and lamb with strong Mediterranean flavours, in dishes that embrace various continental trends.

Nordica Hotel Suthurlandsbraut 2
Tel: 444 5050.
Website: www.voxrestaurant.is
Price range: $$$$

The Pearl Restaurant
The Pearl is a favourite for business meetings, and it is easy to see why. The restaurant, on the top floor of the Perlan building, is located on a revolving platform which allows guests to enjoy spectacular panoramic views while savouring fine international cuisine. The Pearl truly comes into its own in the evening (it is in fact closed at lunchtime), when the sunset can be admired through the thousand glass panels of the dome, and later on when the lights all over it turn the interior into a star-studded night& regardless of the weather outside. The restaurant completes a full rotation every two hours.

Perlan, Oskjuhlith
Tel: 562 0200.
Website: www.perlan.is
Price range: $$$$

The Gallery Restaurant
Based in Hotel Holt, the Gallery Restaurant, named after the paintings that adorn the walls of this elegant hotel (the largest permanent private art collection in the country) is a perfect setting for a business meeting with a touch of class. Since it first opened in the 1960s, the restaurant has remained among the finest dinning places in the capital, and indeed Iceland. The wine list, with over 4,000 bottles, features an impressive selection of vintage wines, cognacs, malt whiskies and Armagnacs, and the food, traditional French with Icelandic touches, is superb.

Hotel Holt, Bergstathastaeti 37
Tel: 552 5700.
Website: www.holt.is
Price range: $$$$

Trendy

Café Solon
Pass Café Solon at any time during the day or in the evening and you’ll notice the place is always packed to the rafters, so they must be doing something right. Maybe it’s the music playing in the background, or the huge windows and the funky artwork on the walls of the bright dining room that make it such a relaxing place to hang out? Maybe it’s the chilled out and friendly attitude of the staff who never seem too busy to attend to their customers despite the sometimes hectic pace of proceedings? Or maybe it’s just because the dishes here are always tasty, filling, well presented, reasonably priced and served with a smile. Whatever the answer, the recipe is a successful one, and customers (a mix of tourists and locals) keep coming back to this happy eaterie, some for the food alone, others to also enjoy the upstairs bar and disco after hours.

Bankastraeti 7a
Tel: 562 3232.
Website: www.solon.is
Price range: $$ - $$$

Apotek
Right next door to Hotel Borg, Apotek is one of the latest additions to the capital’s dining scene, and a trendy venue popular with the younger crowd (there is a disco on the fifth floor). The restaurant, a spacious airy room with an adjacent bar, occupies the premises of what used to be a pharmacy& hence the name. The décor is full of subtle contrasts, with oriental touches offset by shades of Scandinavian whites, and the food, best described as Icelandic and Asian fusion, is likewise marked by a variety of influences. Dishes range from traditional offerings with a twist to more adventurous creations, but all reflect the chef’s desire to please the eyes and the palate at the same time.

Austurstraeti 16
Tel: 575 7900.
Website: www.veitingar.is
Price range: $$$$

Rosso Pomodoro
Rosso Pomodoro opened a couple of years ago, and quickly established itself as one of the best Italian restaurants in town, with a regular devoted clientele who swear the pizzas, cooked in a big woodfire oven, are 'the best in the world'! This is no small achievement for a newcomer in a city where restaurant openings seem as frequent as earthquakes in the Reykjanes peninsula, so watch this space. The food, in true Napolitan style (the restaurant is part of a Naples chain bearing the same name), is tasty and hearty, the portions generous and the prices tame, especially by Icelandic standards. The setting, all white and red mosaics with wooden furniture and floor, is cosy and welcoming. And the location, right on Laugavegur, means this is a perfect pit stop after a morning of hectic shopping, or an ideal place to have dinner before heading to the 101 district for a drink or two.
Laugavegi 40a
Tel: 561 0500.
Website: www.rossopomodoro.is
Price range: $$ - $$$

Budget

A Naestu Grosum
Vegetarians can sometimes feel a bit left out in Reykjavik, as few eateries offer many meat-free options, but this restaurant, on the first floor of a wooden house right on the main shopping street, will certainly have them leave with a full stomach... and a smile on their face. Reykjavik’s premier vegetarian restaurant offers a great selection of healthy dishes such as home-made salads, quiches and soups, pasta and rice dishes, all very reasonably priced. There are also yummy desserts to choose from, and take away is available. On Fridays and Saturdays, the emphasis is on Indian cuisine served with freshly baked Naan bread.

Laugavegur 20b
Tel. 552 8410.
Website: www.anaestugrosum.is
Price range: $$

Baejarins Beztu
Hot dogs (pylsur) are big in Iceland, as in many other Nordic countries, and Baejarins Beztu has become a real institution. Facing the harbour and overlooking a rather uninspiring parking lot, this tiny kiosk is famous throughout the city (and indeed further afield according to locals) for serving the original quintessential Icelandic hot dog; over a thousand a day are sold from the unassuming window. Like the locals who flock to the place at any time of day or night for a quick bite to eat, go for the full monthy, i.e. a hot dog with mustard, ketchup and chopped raw and fried onions. It might not be glamorous, but it sure tastes delicious!

Corner of Tryggvagata and Pósthússtræti
Price range: $

Kina Husid
Centrally located on Laekjargata, this restaurant, housed in a little red building, offers some tasty, no-nonsense Chinese food in a comfortable setting. There are excellent value special discount lunch menus as well as an a la carte selection featuring house specialities, including Cantonese,Szechuan and Peking dishes.

Laekjargata 8
Tel: 551 1014.
Price range: $$

Personal Recommendations

Tveir Fiskar
Located right on the harbour, Tveir Fiskar is without doubt one of the best seafood restaurants in town. The fish here is as fresh as it comes (as the boats and trawlers literally empty their catch straight through the kitchen door) and the service is relaxed and friendly. But what sets Tveir Fiskar apart is the originality of its menu, which combines typical Icelandic fare (with offerings such as smoked puffin, dolphin carpaccio, whale steak or skyr, the traditional yoghurt-like dessert, for example) with Mediterranean inspired fish dishes such as bouillabaisse. Garlic, olive oil and basil all feature prominently on the menu. There is also a changing daily special, depending on the catch of the day.

Geirsgata 9
Tel: 511 3474.
Website: www.restaurant.is
Price range: $$$ - $$$$

Rauðara Steakhouse
Rauðara Steakhouse (the name means ‘red river’) occupies the premises of Reykjavik’s first brewery, and the only one to remain open (allegedly to keep the army and the politicians of the day supplied in beer) after Iceland, well ahead of the USA, set the international prohibition bandwagon rolling by outlawing alcohol. (The prohibition was to last for over seven decades, and beer only legalized again in 1989!). The restaurant has retained many of the original features, which bear witness to the history of the building. The setting is cosy and intimate, with dimmed lights, big candles and imposing wooden tables, and the service friendly and relaxed. The main menu features typical Icelandic offerings varying with the season (and includes whale, puffin, reindeer and even horse meat), with strong emphasis on grilled meat and fish. There is also a more affordable international tourist menu for those with more conservative tastes& and/or those watching their budget. The owner and head chef, Stefan Stefansson, is a friendly host, and he will make sure that your evening at Rauðara is a memorable one&

Rauðararstigur 37
Tel: 562 6766.
Website: www.raudara.is
Price range: $$-$$$

Austur India Felagið
If you ever feel in need of a curry fix while in Reykjavik, you could do a lot worse than heading for Austur India Felagið on Hverfisgata. This award-winning upmarket Indian restaurant is not only the northernmost in the world, it is also one of the best in Europe... Mughalai, Tandoori, North and South Indian dishes all feature on the menu, and the food looks, tastes and smells very authentic indeed. Excellent value for money.

Hverfisgata 56
Tel: 552 1630.
Price range: $$$