I didn’t know much about Icelandic cuisine prior to this trip. Despite the colder rainy weather, the food scene is abundant and full of fresh local ingredients.
One of our stand out favorites was Icelandic lamb! When you drive out for your excursions, against the beautiful landscape you will see sheep free roaming and grazing These are the same herds that provide the tender and flavorful lamb that you will eat in Iceland! With that being said check out our Reykjavik restaurant guide for our favorite places to eat in Iceland.
Lava Restaurant At The Blue Lagoon
We recommend you start your trip by heading straight to the Blue Lagoon from the airport. You can relax in the lagoon and get a nourishing meal at the Lava Restaurant in your fluffy robes. While some people may assume it’s just an overpriced tourist trap, we found it completely worth the price. In general, it is important to note that food is more expensive in Iceland compared to the United States.
We had our first experience at this restaurant with Icelandic lamb. We were impressed by its tenderness and lack of gamey taste that one usually expects of a thick cut. In addition we tried the cod and it was superb! The cod was flaky and fresh, pairing well with with the fennel. Head here for a great first taste of Icelandic cuisine.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
On the theme of lamb, once you get to downtown Rejkavic head to an Icelandic classic Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for their lamb hot dog. This is the hot dog stand that was made famous by the former president Bill Clinton and the late Anthony Bourdain. Their hot dog is a lamb based hot dog that they add ketchup, sweet mustard, and remoulade (tangy mayo based sauce) to top it off.
There is minimal seating so be prepared to stand and eat!
Skál!
For a world class meal in Iceland, Skál! is a must visit. In our quest to experience fine dining in Iceland, we booked two reservations – one at OTO (a Michelin recommended restaurant) and the other being Skál!. We thought that Skál! outshined OTO in food, service, and atmosphere. We loved all the dishes but we were wowed by their beef tartar. It had a unique crunchy texture and sweet freshness that neither of us have tasted before in a raw beef dish anywhere. The addition of berries to the tar tar was an refreshing contrast to the typical rich sauces traditionally pared with a tar tar. We ate the tar tar so fast we forgot to take pictures of it!
Kaldi Gin Bar
After a great dinner at Skál, head just next door to Kaldi for amazing vibes and refreshing gin based drinks. With mood lighting, stone walls, and wooden accents Kaldi provides a lovely atmosphere. They have a large collection of gin. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable. We told them what flavors we enjoyed and they made us a custom cocktail. If you are a gin lover this is a must visit.
Messin Seafood Bar
If you are looking for a hearty meal after a cold rainy day in Iceland, Messin is absolutely worth your time!
Here you can try Icelandic classics like Arctic Char. Fun fact: Iceland is a premier destination for arctic char fly fishing. The flaky warm fish is served in a sizzling pan with hearty potatoes and vegetables. It warms you up from the inside out. Even for people who don’t usually enjoy seafood, it did not taste fishy!
We hope you enjoy your trip! If you are planning travels to other countries check out our other food guides!
Written by,
Ashley
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