If you’re planning to travel to Iceland then there are several restaurants I suggest visiting. Prior to our trip to Iceland, we kept reading how expensive food was in Iceland. However, we had no idea how good the Iceland restaurants would be. We were really surprised most of the restaurants used fresh local ingredients. There are a number of farm to table restaurants and it is evident they focus on quality food. While Iceland restaurants are expensive, it’s worth the splurge for at least a few meals!
Below I’ll go through our favorite restaurants along the Ring Road as well as tips and tricks we used to keep our meal budget in check! The restaurants are listed in the order in which we traveled. If you’ve been to Iceland, let me know your favorite restaurant in the comments below!
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ICELAND TRAVEL TIPS
As I mentioned, food is expensive in Iceland and eating out tends to be really pricey. Since Max and I knew this ahead of time, we planned to eat out about once a day. Here are a few tips we used to keep our meal budget in check while also enjoying the several Iceland restuarants during our trip!
- Most of the blogs I read ahead of time mentioned Bonus was the place to stock up at before heading out of Reykjavik. I found the prices to be pretty similar between Kronan and Bonus for the items I purchased. The majority of large grocery stores are in Reykjavik so I would recommend doing your grocery shopping there. With that being said, Bonus and Kronan are scattered throughout the island so we did not have too much difficulty finding them outside Reykjavik.
- Most grocery stores close around 8 pm and don’t open until 10 am.
- If you’re traveling by campervan I recommend planning ahead as cooking is a process. We made pasta a few times but it takes awhile so found it easier to make a quick sandwich. We also enjoyed a lot of Skyr (basically Icelandic yogurt) and granola. It was an easy breakfast to eat while we drove.
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, make sure to grab the travel planners linked below. There are a total of 8 templates. Six of the templates list suggestions and travel tips for the most popular cities in the region. There is also a place for you to add your travel information as well as blank templates. They’re a great way to plan your trip and stay organized.
HALLDORSKAFFI VIK
I’m going to be honest, we didn’t eat much the first two days. We were so starving when we got to Halldorskaffi and probably would have eaten anything! With that being said, we loved the food. I would recommend eating here if you’re looking for Vik Iceland restaurants!
KAFFI HORNID HOFN
Kaffi Hornið was one of my favorite restaurants in Iceland! I ordered their unlimited soup of the day and a salad. The vegetables in the salad were really fresh and the soup was such a great deal! Max ordered the reindeer burger and it was very sweet! It had an applewood smoked taste to it. If you’re looking for Hofn Iceland Restaurants, it’s a must.
VOGAFJOS COWSHED CAFE MYVATN
Vogafjós Cowshed Cafe is an experience! If you’re in Myvatn it’s an absolute must. It is probably the most farm-to-table restaurant I have ever been to considering we literally had a view of the cows during dinner. We ordered the Caprese as an appetizer which, honestly, wasn’t worth it. The cheese was made in house which intrigued us but it was really small and overpriced. I ordered the lamb stew which was out of my comfort zone considering I am not a big meat person. It was delicious and the lamb was really tender! Naturally, Max ordered a burger and that was really good as well.
KAFFIHUS DALVIK
Gisli Eirikur Helgi Kaffihûs Bakkabrædra, is another one of my favorite Iceland restaurants! The small cafe in the seaside village, Davik, is a great cafe to grab a cup of coffee, bowl of soup, and enjoy the view of the water. They offer unlimited fish soup, salad, bread, and coffee or tea for 19 US which is a great deal in Iceland! We stayed at the restaurant for a few hours to enjoy the view and a couple rounds of the soup and salad bar!
AKUREYRI ICELAND RESTAURANTS
STRIKID
Strikid is a rooftop bar in Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland! While we were the only two people sitting outside, the view was totally worth it! Our waiter was awesome! He brought us blankets, turned on the heater, and brought us a free shot of Brennivín.
PYLSUVAGNINN
Iceland is known for their hot dogs so, a trip to Iceland would not be complete without trying a hot dog! Pylsuvagninn a Akureyri is the most well known hot dog stand in Akureyri so you must have one.
REYKJAVIK ICELAND RESTAURANTS
BAEJARINS BEZTU PYLSUR
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur opened in 1937 and has become a famous hot dog stand in Iceland making it a must try. It’s definitely a tourist trap but you just have to go while in Reykjavik!
GEYSER BISTRO
I was worried the Geyser Bistro was going to be a tourist trap since its located in the city center. While it probably is a tourist trap, the food was amazing! Max said it was the best burger he has ever had so I would highly recommend eating at Geyser Bistro.
While going out to eat in Iceland is expensive, it’s worth visiting at least a few restaurants in Iceland! The food is incredibly fresh and delicious making it worth the splurge!
Headed to Iceland? Read more:
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
I’ve linked a few of my favorite travel essentials below! See our travel shop for more essentials including my favorite baby travel gear. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below, I’m happy to help!
Yum! Soup is my favorite- they all look so delicious.