Heart of Reykjavik Guest Guidebook
Bakeries
Sandholt Bakery is at the top of our recommendations list. We think it's one of the best bakery/cafes in Reykjavik and it's just 3 blocks from where you're staying. Everything is made fresh daily on premises. Perfect for dine in or take away.
146 íbúar mæla með
Sandholt
36 LaugavegurSandholt Bakery is at the top of our recommendations list. We think it's one of the best bakery/cafes in Reykjavik and it's just 3 blocks from where you're staying. Everything is made fresh daily on premises. Perfect for dine in or take away.
The other great bakery is Brauð & Co. This is take away only. Amazing bread and pastries along with several gourmet prepared items in their cooler
316 íbúar mæla með
Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurThe other great bakery is Brauð & Co. This is take away only. Amazing bread and pastries along with several gourmet prepared items in their cooler
Food Halls - (mathöll)
Hlemmur Mathöll (Mathöll means food hall) is a block away and offers several choices for lunch/dinner. Skál is a favorite as well as a gelato place for dessert.
367 íbúar mæla með
Hlemmur Mathöll
107 LaugavegurHlemmur Mathöll (Mathöll means food hall) is a block away and offers several choices for lunch/dinner. Skál is a favorite as well as a gelato place for dessert.
A bit further is another Food Hall we'd recommend BORG29. Divers range of choices and all offer good quality.
23 íbúar mæla með
Borg29 mathöll
29 BorgartúnA bit further is another Food Hall we'd recommend BORG29. Divers range of choices and all offer good quality.
One of the newest places in the heart of downtown. Many good places to explore. Definitely find Jasmine at Funky Bhangra; tell her we sent you ;-)
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar
One of the newest places in the heart of downtown. Many good places to explore. Definitely find Jasmine at Funky Bhangra; tell her we sent you ;-)
Grocery Store
Bónus is the "go to" grocery store for all the basics. About 2 blocks away on Laugavegur
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Bónus
Bónus is the "go to" grocery store for all the basics. About 2 blocks away on Laugavegur
Good grocery store more downtown than Bónus on Laugavegur. Offers some organic choices.
327 íbúar mæla með
Krónan
50 ReykjavikurvegurGood grocery store more downtown than Bónus on Laugavegur. Offers some organic choices.
Museums
A lovely Icelandic Museum with modern paintings & sculptures by well-known Icelandic artists, plus a cafe & gift shop. And it's just a very short walk from the Njálsgata.
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Kjarvalsstaðir
A lovely Icelandic Museum with modern paintings & sculptures by well-known Icelandic artists, plus a cafe & gift shop. And it's just a very short walk from the Njálsgata.
Coffee House (kaffihús)
A convenient choice for a nice coffee house with good coffee and pastries -
245 íbúar mæla með
Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurA convenient choice for a nice coffee house with good coffee and pastries -
A very cozy coffee house where they make cakes, cookies and excellent scones in-house daily
7 íbúar mæla með
Emilie and the Cool Kids
98 HverfisgataA very cozy coffee house where they make cakes, cookies and excellent scones in-house daily
Te & Kaffi
11 SkólavörðustígurGreat coffee house right on Laugavegur in the heart of downtown.
Restaurants
Von mathús + bar is our highest recommended restaurant in all of Iceland. Dynamic locally sourced food in a most comfortable setting. It's located in Hafnarfjörður which is a 15 minute drive from Reykjavik, but absolutely worth the effort. Also you'll want to call for reservations. Check for opening hours - lunch or dinner.
69 íbúar mæla með
Von mathús
75 StrandgataVon mathús + bar is our highest recommended restaurant in all of Iceland. Dynamic locally sourced food in a most comfortable setting. It's located in Hafnarfjörður which is a 15 minute drive from Reykjavik, but absolutely worth the effort. Also you'll want to call for reservations. Check for opening hours - lunch or dinner.
Chickpea
1 HallveigarstigurExcellent vegetarian choice. The Best Falafel in town.
The best lamb donar kabab anywhere; made from just Icelandic lamb and natural spices.. In the Grandi area and definitely worth the trip. A one of a kind method used for making Icelandic Lamb kabab. Delicious! Also has excellent falafel for non-meat choices. (Update) another location has opened at Borg 29 Food Hall
9 íbúar mæla með
Lamb street food
The best lamb donar kabab anywhere; made from just Icelandic lamb and natural spices.. In the Grandi area and definitely worth the trip. A one of a kind method used for making Icelandic Lamb kabab. Delicious! Also has excellent falafel for non-meat choices. (Update) another location has opened at Borg 29 Food Hall
One of the better restaurant choice in downtown. Always great quality - always well done. Call for reservations early. For a very special experience inquire about the Chef's Table.
63 íbúar mæla með
Sumac Grill + Drinks
28, 101 LaugavegurOne of the better restaurant choice in downtown. Always great quality - always well done. Call for reservations early. For a very special experience inquire about the Chef's Table.
A great place for comfort food and drinks. Specialties in Icelandic Lamb including Lamb for Two (whole lamb shoulder)
65 íbúar mæla með
Sæta Svínið Gastropub
HafnarstrætiA great place for comfort food and drinks. Specialties in Icelandic Lamb including Lamb for Two (whole lamb shoulder)
Destination for locals; french style bistro with great drinks and classic dishes.
288 íbúar mæla með
Snaps Bistro
1 ÞórsgataDestination for locals; french style bistro with great drinks and classic dishes.
Basic Icelandic classics. Simply done; very reasonable and very welcoming. Glad to see they are back (post covid)
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Icelandic Street Food
Basic Icelandic classics. Simply done; very reasonable and very welcoming. Glad to see they are back (post covid)
Excellent place for Icelandic comfort food (lamb shank and others) best burgers (my opinion) and great beverages. Sigga's Burger is a real treat ;-)
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Íslenski barinn
1a IngólfsstrætiExcellent place for Icelandic comfort food (lamb shank and others) best burgers (my opinion) and great beverages. Sigga's Burger is a real treat ;-)
City/town information
Vestmannaeyjar (Western Islands) is an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast of Iceland. It is in our opinion a "must see" if you can. Heimaey is the largest and only inhabited island. This place is so special and so very worth the trip. It's about a 2 hour drive from Reykjavík plus the ferry ride (+45 minutes). Depending on weather you'll want to check where the ferry departs from; you want Landeyjahöfn - if weather is poor it will be from a different location for departure and a much longer ferry ride that we don't recommend. Check https://herjolfur.is/en/ for details.
A place worth seeing there is the Eldheimar Museum. It's an interactive experience which chronicles Eldfell’s devastating 1973 eruption, when some 400 buildings were destroyed. Also make a stop in the local book store (Penninn Eymundsson) and ask for Erla; tell her Jónína sent you.
53 íbúar mæla með
Vestmannaeyjar
Vestmannaeyjar (Western Islands) is an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast of Iceland. It is in our opinion a "must see" if you can. Heimaey is the largest and only inhabited island. This place is so special and so very worth the trip. It's about a 2 hour drive from Reykjavík plus the ferry ride (+45 minutes). Depending on weather you'll want to check where the ferry departs from; you want Landeyjahöfn - if weather is poor it will be from a different location for departure and a much longer ferry ride that we don't recommend. Check https://herjolfur.is/en/ for details.
A place worth seeing there is the Eldheimar Museum. It's an interactive experience which chronicles Eldfell’s devastating 1973 eruption, when some 400 buildings were destroyed. Also make a stop in the local book store (Penninn Eymundsson) and ask for Erla; tell her Jónína sent you.