Food Scene
Freshly baked sourdough bread and the delicious vanilla buns.
Note: it is not possible to have breakfast there, but easy to take home.
315 locals recommend
Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurFreshly baked sourdough bread and the delicious vanilla buns.
Note: it is not possible to have breakfast there, but easy to take home.
Þrír frakkar
14 BaldursgataTheir variety of traditional fish courses and the taste.
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Wonderful fish courses.
Very good food, good 360° view of Reykjavík if the weather is good.
Not very cheap though.
454 locals recommend
Perlan
Very good food, good 360° view of Reykjavík if the weather is good.
Not very cheap though.
Best burgers in town, and a nice atmosphere in this small burger joint by the harbor.
169 locals recommend
Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar
Geirsgötu 1 GeirsgataBest burgers in town, and a nice atmosphere in this small burger joint by the harbor.
The unique and different food experience. Their tomato soup is the best I have ever had.
149 locals recommend
Friðheimar
FriðheimarThe unique and different food experience. Their tomato soup is the best I have ever had.
Gourmet food, excellent raw material and superb cooking in tasteful environment. Great taste of Icelandic food.
http://www.fiskfelagid.is/en/
I cannot recommed this highly enough.
77 locals recommend
Fish Company
Gourmet food, excellent raw material and superb cooking in tasteful environment. Great taste of Icelandic food.
http://www.fiskfelagid.is/en/
I cannot recommed this highly enough.
All kinds of food but italian emphasis. Something for everyone really. Good if members of a group have very different taste.
13 locals recommend
Caruso
22 Austurstræti All kinds of food but italian emphasis. Something for everyone really. Good if members of a group have very different taste.
Excellent Icelandic food. Simple but quality menu. New family run place in our hometown. Both lunch and dinner but as always lunch costs less. Breakfast is not available. Children´s menu. Lively and can be noisy.
The stunning view is not from the restaurant but the town is a harbor town surrounded by lava and there are some nice views and it is always nice to get out of the "big city" of Reykjavik.
Parking in front of the restaurant.
69 locals recommend
Von mathús
75 StrandgataExcellent Icelandic food. Simple but quality menu. New family run place in our hometown. Both lunch and dinner but as always lunch costs less. Breakfast is not available. Children´s menu. Lively and can be noisy.
The stunning view is not from the restaurant but the town is a harbor town surrounded by lava and there are some nice views and it is always nice to get out of the "big city" of Reykjavik.
Parking in front of the restaurant.
Eldsmiðjan
81 LaugavegurThey have nice pizza and it is close.
Very good food. Lively with music. Great cocktails.
http://sushisamba.is/?lang=en
142 locals recommend
Sushi Social
5 ÞingholtsstrætiVery good food. Lively with music. Great cocktails.
http://sushisamba.is/?lang=en
Excellent fish restaurant - Seafood Grill
http://sjavargrillid.com/en/
119 locals recommend
Sjávargrillið
14 SkólavörðustígurExcellent fish restaurant - Seafood Grill
http://sjavargrillid.com/en/
Very good coffee and tea. They have many locations including Skólavörðustígur (in the Book Shop) and Laugavegur. The one on the main street Laugavegur is not as crowded as the one in the book shop.
106 locals recommend
Te & Kaffi
11 SkólavörðustígurVery good coffee and tea. They have many locations including Skólavörðustígur (in the Book Shop) and Laugavegur. The one on the main street Laugavegur is not as crowded as the one in the book shop.
Laugaás
1 LaugarásvegurFamily run. Same menu for decades because it works. Good lamb and fish.
Austur-Indíafélagið
56 HverfisgataExcellent Indian Food.
Very good indian food. Cheaper edition of Austur Indiafélagið. They have take-away. The location in Lækjargata 8 is more quet than the one on Hverfisgata 64a.
44 locals recommend
Hraðlestin
Very good indian food. Cheaper edition of Austur Indiafélagið. They have take-away. The location in Lækjargata 8 is more quet than the one on Hverfisgata 64a.
Good thai food. They have take-away and you can just call and pick up. The place is very small but worth a visit.
69 locals recommend
Ban Thai Restaurant
130 LaugavegurGood thai food. They have take-away and you can just call and pick up. The place is very small but worth a visit.
Sandholt
36 LaugavegurGood bakery with a long tradition.
Great food and good service.
7 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/sipstQ1oJCo
288 locals recommend
Snaps Bistro
1 ÞórsgataGreat food and good service.
7 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/sipstQ1oJCo
Great french food and wine bar. Very good week-end brunch. Good view to the main street Laugavegur especially from upper floor.
9 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/uhD17BaG6742
12 locals recommend
Le Bistro
12 LaugavegurGreat french food and wine bar. Very good week-end brunch. Good view to the main street Laugavegur especially from upper floor.
9 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/uhD17BaG6742
Very good food in hip surroundings at ground floor of Nordica Hotel.
Week-end brunch is recommended but do book in advance.
20 locals recommend
VOX Brasserie & Bar
Very good food in hip surroundings at ground floor of Nordica Hotel.
Week-end brunch is recommended but do book in advance.
Breakfast from 06:30 (3000 kr./pers.) - excellent lunch or dinner.
http://www.sattrestaurant.com/en
Satt Restaurant
52 NauthólsvegurBreakfast from 06:30 (3000 kr./pers.) - excellent lunch or dinner.
http://www.sattrestaurant.com/en
Good location - view to Hallgrímskirkja. Icelandic food. Open from 9 a.m.
5 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/GtCXdjoBQPH2
67 locals recommend
Café Loki
28 LokastígurGood location - view to Hallgrímskirkja. Icelandic food. Open from 9 a.m.
5 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/GtCXdjoBQPH2
Grocery stora - Quality fish and meat https://www.facebook.com/kjotogfiskur/
7 min. walk https://www.facebook.com/kjotogfiskur/
16 locals recommend
Kjöt og Kúnst
BreiðamörkGrocery stora - Quality fish and meat https://www.facebook.com/kjotogfiskur/
7 min. walk https://www.facebook.com/kjotogfiskur/
Sightseeing
The largest and most iconic church in Iceland. Very good view of the city from the tower. You might want to get up early for this one but it is only a few minutes walk away from the apartment.
743 locals recommend
Hallgrimskirkja
The largest and most iconic church in Iceland. Very good view of the city from the tower. You might want to get up early for this one but it is only a few minutes walk away from the apartment.
The place is remote but always impresses me - the wind and the open sea are powerful against this small church with a remarkable history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strandarkirkja
6 locals recommend
Strandakirkja
The place is remote but always impresses me - the wind and the open sea are powerful against this small church with a remarkable history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strandarkirkja
Take a trip around Reykjanes peninsula - you can visit the lighthouses for example http://www.visitreykjanes.is/en/moya/toy/index/index/lighthouses
Be prepared for windy conditions :)
22 locals recommend
Reykjanesviti
Take a trip around Reykjanes peninsula - you can visit the lighthouses for example http://www.visitreykjanes.is/en/moya/toy/index/index/lighthouses
Be prepared for windy conditions :)
Parks & Nature
The park is just down the street. It is small but nice and conveniently located. If you cross the street on the other side you come to the University of Iceland area and can walk towards south to the coast. Nice refreshing walk :)
116 locals recommend
Hljómskálagarður
The park is just down the street. It is small but nice and conveniently located. If you cross the street on the other side you come to the University of Iceland area and can walk towards south to the coast. Nice refreshing walk :)
Esja, the Reykjavik city mountain gives you a view of Reykjavik and surrounding towns as well as a good view of the nature around Reykjavík. The hike up is relatively easy and can be crowded on the weekends. This is where the locals go for a short hike.
75 locals recommend
Esjan
Esja, the Reykjavik city mountain gives you a view of Reykjavik and surrounding towns as well as a good view of the nature around Reykjavík. The hike up is relatively easy and can be crowded on the weekends. This is where the locals go for a short hike.
Relatively easy mountain walk with stunning views. 15 min. walk from parking to mountain and then half an hour up ca. Take care - the main stone type is tuff and it has loose sand on top so the trail can be very slippery.
23 locals recommend
Helgafell
Relatively easy mountain walk with stunning views. 15 min. walk from parking to mountain and then half an hour up ca. Take care - the main stone type is tuff and it has loose sand on top so the trail can be very slippery.
Arts & Culture
A museum dedicated to Iceland´s most prestigious painter Johannes Kjarval.
276 locals recommend
Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir
24 FlókagataA museum dedicated to Iceland´s most prestigious painter Johannes Kjarval.
http://en.harpa.is/
You can stroll around but they also have guided tours or you could see the play: How to Become Icelandic in Sixty Minutes ;) http://harpa.is/dagskra/how-become-icelandic-60-minutes-186
But just visiting the Music House Harpa for the architecture is enough - http://en.harpa.is/mies-van-der-rohe
http://en.harpa.is/harpa/about-harpa/design
They have two restaurants - scroll down their website for info.
535 locals recommend
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
2 Austurbakkihttp://en.harpa.is/
You can stroll around but they also have guided tours or you could see the play: How to Become Icelandic in Sixty Minutes ;) http://harpa.is/dagskra/how-become-icelandic-60-minutes-186
But just visiting the Music House Harpa for the architecture is enough - http://en.harpa.is/mies-van-der-rohe
http://en.harpa.is/harpa/about-harpa/design
They have two restaurants - scroll down their website for info.
If you are interested in archeology this is the place.
http://www.thjodminjasafn.is/english
You just cross the walking bridge and you are almost there.
393 locals recommend
National Museum of Iceland
41 SuðurgataIf you are interested in archeology this is the place.
http://www.thjodminjasafn.is/english
You just cross the walking bridge and you are almost there.
If you are interested in the settlement of Iceland which has only been inhabited for about 12 hundred years you definitely have to see this exhibition
http://borgarsogusafn.is/en/the-settlement-exhibition
86 locals recommend
The Settlement Exhibition
16 AðalstrætiIf you are interested in the settlement of Iceland which has only been inhabited for about 12 hundred years you definitely have to see this exhibition
http://borgarsogusafn.is/en/the-settlement-exhibition
Getting Around
BSI Coach Terminal
Coach terminal for coaches taking you on sightseeing tours.
For domestic flights. You might want to fly to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Höfn, Húsavík or whatever :)
36 locals recommend
Reykjavik Domestic Airport station
For domestic flights. You might want to fly to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Höfn, Húsavík or whatever :)
Drinks & Nightlife
Old style bar with a lot of original icelandic paintings. Quiet and stylish.
http://www.holt.is/english/drink/gallery-bar/
Four minutes walk https://goo.gl/maps/CMdpeDWqsAm
28 locals recommend
Hotel Holt
37 BergstaðastrætiOld style bar with a lot of original icelandic paintings. Quiet and stylish.
http://www.holt.is/english/drink/gallery-bar/
Four minutes walk https://goo.gl/maps/CMdpeDWqsAm
Lonely Planet says: "This old house with the London Underground symbol over the door contains one of Reykjavík’s coolest bars; it even had a starring role in the cult movie 101 Reykjavík (2000). At weekends you’ll feel like you need a famous face or a battering ram to get in. At other times it’s a place for artistic types to chill with their Macs.
9 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/1GwJ8G7UtXw
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/iceland/reykjavik/entertainment-nightlife/other/kaffibarinn#ixzz4JU17Mmou"
240 locals recommend
Kaffibarinn
Lonely Planet says: "This old house with the London Underground symbol over the door contains one of Reykjavík’s coolest bars; it even had a starring role in the cult movie 101 Reykjavík (2000). At weekends you’ll feel like you need a famous face or a battering ram to get in. At other times it’s a place for artistic types to chill with their Macs.
9 min. walk https://goo.gl/maps/1GwJ8G7UtXw
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/iceland/reykjavik/entertainment-nightlife/other/kaffibarinn#ixzz4JU17Mmou"