Follow the scent of freshly baked bread through downtown Reykjavik and you might find yourself choosing between a flaky pastry and a leisurely seafood lunch. A few streets away, chefs prepare Icelandic lamb with inventive sauces while a hot dog stand near the Old Harbour serves the same familiar combination of crisp onions and sweet mustard that has been its specialty for the better part of a century.

For cruise guests with a few hours ashore, some of Iceland’s most memorable dining is a short taxi or shuttle ride from the cruise port. From a Michelin-starred tasting menu to casual neighborhood favorites, the best restaurants in Reykjavik all share an appreciation for ingredients from Iceland's surrounding waters and rugged countryside. Exploring the city's food is one of the most satisfying things to do in Reykjavik, whether you're planning a memorable lunch or simply following your appetite between sights. 

Discover the flavors that await you on cruises to Reykjavik.

Key takeaways

Reykjavik’s dining scene offers New Nordic tasting menus, fresh seafood and casual favorites, including the city’s famous hot dogs.

Icelandic lamb, Arctic char and skyr are local specialties worth trying, while a Princess® shore excursion offers the chance to enjoy a langoustine feast beyond the capital.

Reykjavik’s compact downtown makes it easy to explore bakeries and cafés on foot. Reserve ahead for fine dining and allow enough time to return to your ship.

Notable Reykjavik restaurants

Iceland's culinary traditions are rooted in its fishing communities and agricultural heritage, and Reykjavik's chefs are always pioneering ingenious ways to work with familiar ingredients. “New Nordic” cooking is a recurring influence, emphasizing seasonal produce, local sourcing and innovative techniques and combinations that bring out the character of each and every flavor.

You'll find that approach in intimate tasting-menu restaurants and welcoming dining rooms across the city.

A close-up of an elegantly plated gourmet dish featuring a seared meat steak topped with dark glaze, pickled mustard seeds and microgreens, served alongside smooth puree and roasted shallots on a ceramic plate.
Experience the exquisite fine dining scene in Reykjavík, where Icelandic chefs elevate local ingredients into artfully plated masterpieces.

Fine dining and tasting menus

Reykjavik's fine-dining restaurants offer a closer look at the country's contemporary cuisine. Just make sure you allow enough time to focus on each course and enjoy the full dining experience; these are meals that are meant to be savored.

  • Dill restaurant - Dill helped establish Icelandic fine dining on the international culinary map. Its tasting-menu approach highlights foraged and regional ingredients, with preparations that are directly tied to the country's seasons. Expect inventive options that showcase traditional flavors in unexpected ways. Dill is primarily open for dinner, so it suits guests with a late departure or a longer port call. It’s an opportunity to discover Iceland’s culinary culture through a multi-course tasting menu.
  • Grillmarkaðurinn restaurant - Also known as the Grill Market, this downtown restaurant serves Icelandic lamb, fresh seafood and seasonal specialties. Its emphasis on grilling brings out the natural flavors of its ingredients, making it an appealing choice for guests who want to explore Icelandic cuisine through a substantial à la carte meal. Grillmarkaðurinn is open for dinner, so it suits guests with a late departure.

Relaxed favorites

A good meal in Reykjavik doesn't have to involve a succession of carefully plated courses. Some of the city's most interesting restaurants offer a more relaxed setting, allowing you to settle in over lunch before continuing your explorations.

  • Messinn restaurant - Seafood is the main attraction at Messinn, where Icelandic fish takes pride of place. Known for its fish dishes served in hot pans, the restaurant offers a satisfying way to enjoy the day's catch, with generous portions that are well suited to sharing.
  • Brút - Set in one of Reykjavik's older downtown buildings, Brút offers an elegant-yet-approachable dining room near the Old Harbour. Fish and shellfish are central to its cooking, and dishes such as scallops, skate and lemon sole show the range of its menu. Its lively dining room is well suited to guests who appreciate refined food in surroundings that encourage conversation.
Two white ceramic bowls filled with creamy orange seafood soup sit on a wooden table alongside a basket of sliced white bread and small butter packets.
Warm up in cozy Reykjavík eateries with classic Icelandic comfort food, like rich, creamy seafood soup paired with fresh crusty bread and butter.

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Classic Icelandic ingredients and dishes

From tender lamb to freshly caught Arctic char, Icelandic ingredients offer plenty to discover during your day ashore. Here are some of the dishes worth looking for on Reykjavik's menus:

  • Icelandic lamb - Raised on open pasture during the warmer months, Icelandic lamb appears on menus throughout Reykjavik. You might find it slow-roasted with herbs, served as a tender cut of meat or incorporated into traditional lamb soup.
  • Skyr - This thick, cultured dairy product is a staple of Icelandic cuisine. Enjoy it with fruit for breakfast or look for it in restaurant desserts, where its mild tang balances sweeter ingredients. Chefs also incorporate it into savory sauces.
  • Hákarl (fermented shark) - Traditionally preserved through fermentation and drying, hákarl is known for its powerful aroma and distinctive flavor. It's one of Iceland's more adventurous foods, but if you're feeling curious, a small taste can be a story worth sharing.
  • Fresh seafood - Arctic char has a delicate flavor and rich texture, while cod is a favorite for everything from restaurant entrées to fish and chips. Langoustine, commonly called Icelandic lobster, is prized for its tender meat and naturally sweet flavor.

Enjoy an Icelandic lobster feast beyond the city

If langoustine has caught your attention, a Princess excursion from Reykjavik offers a chance to enjoy it while discovering more of Iceland's coastal landscape.

The Moonscapes, Hot Springs & Langoustine Feast excursion takes you by motorcoach beyond the capital and through the fishing village of Eyrarbakki to Stokkseyri, a seaside town known for its black-sand beach. At a local restaurant, you'll sit down to a meal of Icelandic langoustine served with baby potatoes and homebaked bread. Sweet garlic dip and tarragon sour cream provide the finishing touches. After lunch, the journey continues along the coast to Lake Kleifarvatn. The surrounding terrain gives way to the Krýsuvík geothermal area, where steam escapes through the earth and sulfurous gases rise from vents.

A close-up plate featuring grilled Icelandic langoustine tails seasoned with herbs, accompanied by a side salad with seeds, a small dish of creamy dipping sauce and a slice of crusty bread.
Indulge in succulent Icelandic langoustine (humar) at Reykjavík’s coastal restaurants, where tender grilled lobster tails are served alongside crisp green salad, dipping sauce and crusty bread.

Food halls and street food

When everyone in your group has a different craving, a Reykjavik food hall makes choosing lunch considerably easier. The city's casual dining options also offer a range of opportunities to sample Icelandic favorites without setting aside hours for a restaurant meal.

Hlemmur Mathöll offers a little of everything

Housed in a former bus terminal, Hlemmur Mathöll brings together small eateries serving Icelandic specialties and international dishes. Browse the vendors, choose whatever catches your eye and settle in for a relaxed lunch. The food hall sits at the eastern end of Laugavegur, so many guests take a taxi or make it a longer walk. It's a fun and convenient choice for guests with different tastes — or for anyone who’d prefer to sample several options rather than commit to a single dish.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur serves Reykjavik’s famous hot dogs

Serving hot dogs since 1937, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is one of Reykjavik's best-known street food stops. Order eina með öllu (meaning “one with everything”) for a hot dog topped with raw onions, crispy fried onions, sweet mustard and other traditional condiments. The crunchy onions and sweet mustard help make this an Icelandic favorite.

A smiling traveler wearing a yellow knit beanie, patterned scarf and yellow jacket holds a container of fresh fried fish and golden french fries at a harbor with boats in the background.
Sample fresh local street food along the harbor in Reykjavík, where classic crispy fish and chips offer a delicious, cozy bite while admiring the fishing boats in port.

Bakeries and cafés

Reykjavik's bakeries and cafés may offer a welcome break from sightseeing. Freshly baked treats make a tempting start to your morning, while a downtown café is an inviting place to warm up after a walk through the city's cool ocean breezes.

Sandholt serves freshly baked Icelandic favorites

Located on Laugavegur, Sandholt is a well-known bakery where the aroma of freshly baked confectioneries delivers a very convincing argument for stepping inside. Take a moment to browse the display of pastries and artisan breads before choosing something to enjoy. It's a satisfying stop for breakfast or a midmorning treat along Reykjavik's main shopping street.

Reykjavik’s café culture and coffee between sights

Coffee is a fixture of daily life in Iceland, and Reykjavik's downtown cafés offer a chance to enjoy that tradition firsthand. Order an espresso or linger over a cappuccino as you watch the city go about its day. After a morning of sightseeing, a warm cup and a comfortable seat can be every bit as captivating as your next attraction.

A display tray filled with freshly baked, spiral-rolled cinnamon pastries featuring buttery golden-brown layers and caramelized spice swirls beside crisp croissants.
Treat yourself to fresh artisanal pastries at local Reykjavík bakeries, where sweet cinnamon rolls (snúðar) and flaky golden croissants are baked fresh daily.

What to know before dining in Reykjavik

Reykjavik's dining scene has a lot to offer, but restaurant customs and prices may differ from what you're used to at home. Keep these tips in mind when deciding where to eat:

  • Reserve ahead for fine dining - Popular restaurants (such as Dill) can have limited seating. Check their opening hours before booking.
  • Consider lunch for a more flexible meal - Some restaurants offer lunch menus, while food halls and casual eateries let you choose how much time and money to spend.
  • Don't worry about tipping - Gratuity isn't generally expected in Iceland, as service is included in menu prices.
  • Check your return time - Restaurant hours and meal durations vary. Allow time to travel back to your ship. The cruise port is a short taxi or shuttle ride from downtown.
An overhead angle of a rectangular brown ceramic platter featuring roasted lamb chops garnished with microgreens, served alongside charred onion cups filled with creamy sauce, roasted potatoes and a rich jus.
Savor the refined flavors of Icelandic culinary artistry in Reykjavík, where succulent roasted rack of lamb is paired with delicate root vegetables and rich reduction sauces.

Make Reykjavik part of your culinary journey

The best restaurants in Reykjavik give you a delicious introduction to the ingredients and traditions that shape Icelandic cooking. Its compact downtown puts bakeries and casual favorites within reach, while a longer port call opens up opportunities for more leisurely dining.

A day ashore in Reykjavik is your chance to discover Iceland through its food, with flavors worth savoring long after you’re back aboard your ship.

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