Best Restaurants in Reykjavik - 2026 Local Guide
Reykjavik might be one of the smallest capitals in the world, but its food scene is absolutely world-class. From small local kitchens and lively seafood restaurants, to Michelin-starred tasting menus, every bite here tells a story about Icelandic creativity, tradition, and pure love for good food.
Icelandic cuisine has deep roots in survival and innovation. Some traditional dishes might sound unusual - fermented shark, dried fish, skyr, or lamb soup - but each one reflects how Icelanders have turned limited resources into something delicious for centuries.
Here you’ll find the best Reykjavik restaurants that are at the top of their game right now - serving unforgettable dishes, amazing atmosphere, and genuine Icelandic hospitality.
As locals, we’ve created this guide to help you decide where to eat in Reykjavik and discover the restaurants that define Icelandic food culture - from fine dining to everyday local favorites. Whether you’re here for a once-in-a-lifetime meal or simply looking for a fantastic dinner in Reykjavik tonight, this is your trusted local guide to eating incredibly well in Iceland.
Want to experience the best of Icelandic cuisine in just one day? Join our Reykjavik Food Walk! A 3-hour guided walking tour with multiple departures every day. Explore the heart of Reykjavik, learn about its history, and enjoy the perfect introduction to Icelandic food through carefully selected local stops.
How We Choose the Best Restaurants in Iceland (and Why We Care)
Let’s be clear - we’re not Michelin inspectors in suits. We’re locals who live right here in Reykjavik. We eat out a lot, and it’s literally our job to explore and know the best food spots and things to do in this city. We know Reykjavik’s food scene inside and out. Our criteria for what makes a restaurant truly great in Iceland is a little different - and in our opinion - a lot more real.
Each year, we curate this list with help from our Wake Up Reykjavik Mastermind Group - a collective of passionate locals who live and breathe the Icelandic foodie scene. The group includes experts from the Wake Up Reykjavik team (the professional foodies behind the world’s #1 rated food tour), along with some of our favorite local chefs, restaurateurs, and fellow Reykjavik food enthusiasts.
Some restaurants earn their place because they’re genuinely world-class. Others make the list because they deliver incredible value for money or serve authentic Icelandic food that every traveler simply has to experience.
Then there are the restaurants we locals keep returning to week after week - not because they’re fancy, but because the vibe is cozy, the service is warm, the food is honest and consistently spot-on… and it just feels like Reykjavik.
So this guide isn’t about white tablecloths or formal rankings. It’s a celebration of the restaurants that Icelanders truly love - from fine dining to casual comfort food, from inventive fusions to tiny local kitchens that just nail it every time.
And here’s why we do it: The internet is overflowing with “best restaurant” lists written by people who’ve visited Iceland once - or algorithms ranking places no local has ever eaten at. We’re here to change that. We decided to create something better: create a local, trustworthy guide you can actually rely on, where every restaurant is one we’d personally send our friends and family to.
And honestly, we do it because this is what we love. We spend our free time talking about food, trying new places, and sharing what’s genuinely worth your time (and what isn’t). Every spot we include is a place we believe you’ll fall in love with - just like we have.
So let’s get to it …
The top 10 Restaurants in Reykjavik in 2026
10. Íslenski Barinn
⭐ Best for: Traditional Icelandic food, casual
📍 Ingólfsstræti 1a, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$
One of the best places in Iceland to have real, homemade Icelandic food. Think hearty portions, local ingredients, and recipes that haven’t changed in decades. The lamb soup is Icelandic comfort food in a nutshell - warm, rich, and deeply satisfying. Other icons on the menu include the local lamb shank, catch of the day, lobster hot dog, and langreyður whale steak.
Íslenski Barinn isn’t fine dining - it’s homey, cozy, and wonderfully authentic. It is included in this list because it is the absolute perfect spot for travelers who want to experience genuine, home-cooked Icelandic food in a relaxed and friendly setting.
Pssst: We often visit Íslenski Barinn on our Reykjavik Food Walk.
9. Hósíló
⭐ Best for: Surprise and high-quality casual dining (and if that category doesn’t exist, Hósíló just invented it)
📍 Lækjargata 6b, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$
Small, intimate, and full of character, Hósíló is one of Reykjavik’s most charming hidden gems .
The name means “small room,” and that’s exactly what it is: cozy, low-key, and wonderfully personal. The menu changes weekly, offering three starters, mains, and desserts - each crafted with care and bursting with flavor. Simple as that.
It’s the kind of place locals go for an unpretentious but high-quality meal - relaxed atmosphere, excellent cooking, and always something new to try.
8. OTO
⭐ Best for: Italian-Japanese fusion, fine dining
📍 Hverfisgata 44, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$$
Japanese-Italian fusion might sound bold, but OTO absolutely nails it. Michelin recommends it as “one of the hottest tickets in town” for its Italian-Japanese fusion cuisine and “pure, natural flavours.” And we couldn’t agree more.
OTO brings something fresh and exciting to the Reykjavik dining scene - an energetic atmosphere, a creative kitchen, and unique dishes that feel both playful and refined. Try the Bikini buns, the Miso cod, and the OTO lemon dessert (trust us on that one).
It’s inventive, flavorful, and unlike anything else in the city. A true modern favorite among Reykjavik locals.
7. SUMAC
⭐ Best for: Lebanese-Moroccan-Icelandic. Vegetarian friendly
📍 Laugavegur 28, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$
Sumac has been a local foodie favorite since it’s founding in 2017. Icelandic ingredients meet Middle Eastern and North African spices - creating vibrant, smoky, and unforgettable flavors.
Led by renowned chefs Thráinn Freyr Vigfússon and Eyþór Freyr Haraldsson, the kitchen blends Lebanese-inspired meze with Icelandic produce and an open charcoal grill. It’s rustic, colorful, and always full of energy.
If you want something exciting, flavorful, and truly one-of-a-kind in Reykjavik, Sumac is a must.
PS. Also a big favourite for vegetarians and vegan guests.
6. Uppi (and the Fish Market)
⭐ Best for: Icelandic seafood, fine dining
📍 Aðalstræti 12, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$-$$$$
Hidden above Fish Market, Uppi (which literally means “upstairs”) is Reykjavik’s cozy wine bar and creative test kitchen - a place where chef Hrefna Sætran and her team experiment with new dishes and ideas. It’s relaxed, accessible, and always packed with flavor.
Fish Market itself is one of Reykjavik’s flagship seafood restaurants, specializing in New Style Seafood Cuisine - using local Icelandic ingredients to craft fish, meat, and desserts with a modern Asian-inspired twist. You’ll also find what many consider the best sushi in Iceland right here.
Uppi offers a more casual, playful take on the same philosophy - creative, high-quality, and refreshingly unpretentious. Both are top-tier, and you simply can’t go wrong with either.
5. Messinn
⭐ Best for: Authentic Icelandic seafood, casual
📍 Lækjargata 6b, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$
Messinn is where Icelandic seafood shines in its purest, most comforting form. Casual setting in an old building in the heart of town. And every dish is served sizzling in a big pan, meant to be shared across the table - just like at grandma’s house.
Expect perfectly cooked catch of the day, buttery potatoes, and a dash of local veggies. No frills, no overcomplication - just honest, delicious seafood. Our favourites are their traditional fish pans with arctic char, cod or the local “plokkfiskur”.
It’s one of the most recommended casual restaurants in Reykjavik for travelers and locals alike. If you want seafood in the authentic Icelandic way, this is your place.
(Psst… we also visit Messinn regularly on our Reykjavik Food Walk.)
4. Grillmarkaðurinn (The Grill Market)
⭐ Best for: Icelandic food, fine dining, meat
📍 Lækjargata 2a, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$$
Founded in 2011, Grillmarkaðurinn is one of Reykjavik’s true dining landmarks - a place where Icelandic design, produce, and craftsmanship come together. The interior, built from local lava rock, wood, and moss, is as stunning as the food itself.
Working closely with local farmers, the team sources the freshest seasonal ingredients directly from producers across the country. The result? A menu where Icelandic tradition meets modern creativity - bold, beautifully presented, and full of local flavor.
The steaks are legendary, but you’ll also find outstanding seafood, lamb, and seasonal dishes that showcase the best of Iceland, elevated to fine dining perfection.
3. Lóla
⭐ Best for: Italian-nordic fusion, creative, modern cuisine
📍 Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$
Stylish, bold, and brand new - Lóla is the talk of the town.
Opened in the summer of 2025 by the young and award-winning chef Sigurður Laufdal, it’s already a favorite among Reykjavik’s foodie community. Sigurður’s background includes Chef of the Year, Bocuse d’Or, and experience at Geranium in Copenhagen - one of the world’s top restaurants.
Lóla serves innovative dishes rooted in Italian tradition with playful Nordic flair. Rumor has it that Gordon Ramsay has already stopped by and called it “the best pasta he’s ever had,” (wow).
Italian food in Iceland? Maybe not what you expected - but absolutely a delicious surprise.
2. ÓX
⭐ Best for: Michelin quality, creative Icelandic food
📍 Laugavegur 55, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$$
For the true culinary adventurer, ÓX is an unforgettable experience. Hidden behind a secret entrance in the heart of Reykjavik, it seats only 17 guests around a single kitchen counter. To enter, you ring a brass bell - and step straight into one of the most intimate dining rooms in Europe for a set menu experience.
With a Michelin Green Star, ÓX focuses on sustainability, zero-waste principles, and deeply Icelandic ingredients. Each dish is personal, surprising, and tells a story.
In most cases, it’s necessary to book with weeks or months in advance - but expect to remember it for life.
1. Skál!
⭐ Best for: Creative Nordic cuisine, value for money
📍 Njálsgata 1, 101 Reykjavík
💰 $$$
At number one sits Skál! (meaning cheers in Icelandic) - a restaurant that perfectly captures the Reykjavik spirit: creative, casual, and full of heart.
Founded by three friends with one goal - to make great food and great drinks accessible to everyone - Skál! has become the city’s ultimate local hangout. The menu focuses on Icelandic ingredients, prepared with a modern Scandinavian twist.
They’ve earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for “excellent food at moderate prices,” and for good reason. Expect amazing food, natural wines, local beers, and fun cocktails in a beautiful space that feels like home.
In 2024, Skál! moved from Hlemmur Food Hall to its own location on Njálsgata 1, where it continues to serve up real Reykjavik vibes at their very best.
Final Notes
And there you have it - our handpicked list of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. Whether you’re looking for fine dining, cozy comfort food, or something truly Icelandic, these are the places we locals love most in 2026.
Use this guide as your trusted list for where to eat in Reykjavik this year - every place here has been tested, loved, and approved by our local foodie mastermind group.
And if you’d like a proper introduction to Icelandic flavors, come join our Reykjavik Food Walk - it’s still our favorite way to experience it all in one delicious afternoon.
Gjörðu svo vel!
That’s Icelandic for bon appétit! - and the only thing left to do now is eat your way through Reykjavik. Hope to see you around!
Frequently Asked Questions
- When Do Icelanders Eat Out?Reykjavik is pretty relaxed when it comes to dining hours. Locals usually have lunch between 12:00 and 14:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 21:00. The busiest hours - when reservations matter most - are 19:00 and 20:00. Note that opening hours are often shorter than what you might be used to at home. Most restaurants close their kitchens around 22:00, though bars and casual spots sometimes serve food a little later on weekends.
- Reservations: Do You Need Them?Yes - and honestly, it’s best not to risk it. While Reykjavik’s dining scene feels casual, the city’s best restaurants are small and book up fast. If you’re eyeing any of great spots in this guide or any fine-dining restaurant, make a reservation at least a few days (or even a week) in advance. Lunch and casual spots are usually fine for walk-ins.
- Dining Costs in ReykjavikTo be honest, eating out in Iceland isn’t cheap - but the quality is consistently excellent. Casual meal: 3,000–5,000 ISK. Mid-range dinner: 6,000–10,000 ISK. Fine dining experience: 15,000–25,000 ISK+. Local tip: many restaurants offer lunch menus that are significantly cheaper than their dinner menus - same great food, lower price.
- Tipping Etiquette in IcelandTipping isn’t required in Iceland, and service charges are always included. Most locals don’t tip, but tipping or rounding up for great service is always genuinely appreciated and has become normal in the service industry. Don’t feel pressured - a smile and a “takk fyrir” (thank you) also go a long way.
- Dietary Options and AllergiesReykjavik is incredibly accommodating when it comes to dietary needs. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or lactose-intolerant, you’ll find plenty of choices almost anywhere. Just mention it to your server - Icelandic chefs are friendly and happy to adapt dishes.
- Water, Drinks & Alcohol Rules in IcelandIcelanders regularly shake their heads when we see visitors leaving shops with bottled water - our tap water is glacier-pure, free, and always better than bottled. Alcohol, on the other hand, is only sold in licensed restaurants, bars, and government-run liquor stores (called Vínbúðin, or simply “the wine store”). The legal drinking age is 20, and yes - drinks are pricey.
- Payment and Currency TipsReykjavik is almost entirely cashless. Credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere - even food trucks and tiny remote cafés in the countryside. There’s really no need to exchange money before your trip. But if you enjoy carrying cash (and like to hold a few thousand Icelandic króna), that still works - almost everyone still accepts cash.
