Reykjavík Centre Guidebook
Food scene
Brút Restaurant is a Michelin recommended high end casual restaurant located in one of the oldest and most prestigious buildings in Reykjavík that is shared with the Radisson Blue 1919 hotel. The menu consists mostly of seafood sourced from the surrounding seas. It is a menu that changes seasonality depending on availability from nature, be it is fish, meat or vegetables. The kitchen is lead by Ragnar Eiríksson former head chef of Dill Restaurant and the first Icelandic Chef to ever win a Michelin star for that restaurant. Co owner with Ragnar is Sommelier, long time restaurateur and television personality Ólafur Örn Ólafsson. Wine list is extensive with an interesting selection of wine from all over the world, with emphasis on quality wines, mostly from lesser known producers but you will also find some better known pillars. It has been listed as one of the best in Iceland by StarWineList
17 habitants recommandent
BRÚT Restaurant
2 PósthússtrætiBrút Restaurant is a Michelin recommended high end casual restaurant located in one of the oldest and most prestigious buildings in Reykjavík that is shared with the Radisson Blue 1919 hotel. The menu consists mostly of seafood sourced from the surrounding seas. It is a menu that changes seasonality depending on availability from nature, be it is fish, meat or vegetables. The kitchen is lead by Ragnar Eiríksson former head chef of Dill Restaurant and the first Icelandic Chef to ever win a Michelin star for that restaurant. Co owner with Ragnar is Sommelier, long time restaurateur and television personality Ólafur Örn Ólafsson. Wine list is extensive with an interesting selection of wine from all over the world, with emphasis on quality wines, mostly from lesser known producers but you will also find some better known pillars. It has been listed as one of the best in Iceland by StarWineList
Hlemmur Mathöll
107 LaugavegurFancier fastfood
Dishes rooted in the simplicity of Italian cuisine mixed with Nordic food traditions.
56 habitants recommandent
MAT BAR
26 HverfisgataDishes rooted in the simplicity of Italian cuisine mixed with Nordic food traditions.
Upscale Italian/Icelandic. La Primavera combines food tradition from northern Italy with premium Icelandic ingredients.
Located in the Marshall house, also housing worldrenowned modern artist's 'Olafur Elíasson's satellite studio.
27 habitants recommandent
La Primavera Ristorante
20 GrandagarðurUpscale Italian/Icelandic. La Primavera combines food tradition from northern Italy with premium Icelandic ingredients.
Located in the Marshall house, also housing worldrenowned modern artist's 'Olafur Elíasson's satellite studio.
Tiny place, small menu, honest and fresh from all over the world, France, Italy, Asia, Northern Africa.
18 habitants recommandent
Hosiló
12, 101 HverfisgataTiny place, small menu, honest and fresh from all over the world, France, Italy, Asia, Northern Africa.
French inspired bistro. Not fabulous - decent and conveniently located.
288 habitants recommandent
Snaps Bistro
1 ÞórsgataFrench inspired bistro. Not fabulous - decent and conveniently located.
Artisan bakery famous for their delicious sourdough bread, and their scandi cinnamon/vanilla/liquorice etc rolls.
316 habitants recommandent
Brauð & Co.
16 FrakkastígurArtisan bakery famous for their delicious sourdough bread, and their scandi cinnamon/vanilla/liquorice etc rolls.
Perfect cafe/bistro to have coffee/meal before or after a dip in https://visitreykjavik.is/vesturbaejarlaug the local swimming pool - but mainly the hot tubs and sauna....
218 habitants recommandent
Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
20 MelhagiPerfect cafe/bistro to have coffee/meal before or after a dip in https://visitreykjavik.is/vesturbaejarlaug the local swimming pool - but mainly the hot tubs and sauna....
Kol Restaurant
40 SkólavörðustígurClassic cuisine with a twist of comfort food and coctails.
Sægreifinn
Casual - famed for lobstersoup...
Kitchen + bar close to the Parliament. Casual-smart, serving drinks, afternoon tea and more...
138 habitants recommandent
Apotek Restaurant
16 AusturstrætiKitchen + bar close to the Parliament. Casual-smart, serving drinks, afternoon tea and more...
Grandi Mathöll
16 GrandagarðurFast food hall
Eiriksson Brasserie
77 LaugavegurHappy hour, nice coctails and food - upscale loungy.
Fish and More
23 SkólavörðustígurNo nonsense fish
Dill Restaurant
A Michelin starred restaurant.
Hafnartorg Gallery food hall
Food court
Raðagerði Veitingahús
Great views and pizza when you take a stroll at Grótta lighthouse
Sumac Grill + Drinks
28, 101 LaugavegurLively and great food
Baka Baka
Great bakery
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar
Great new food hall.
Anna Jóna
Dragon Dim Sum Reykjavik
Skreið
Great tapas and ambiance
Wine bars
Temporarily weird openinng hours so check beforhand. There is not a strict selection of wines by the glass at Bodega: you can either open a bottle to share or just have a glass. The wine list holds a blend of natural and conventional wines from all over with a few South American options.
8 habitants recommandent
Bodega
9 TýsgataTemporarily weird openinng hours so check beforhand. There is not a strict selection of wines by the glass at Bodega: you can either open a bottle to share or just have a glass. The wine list holds a blend of natural and conventional wines from all over with a few South American options.
This place takes you from a nice coffee and bar menu to a glass of wine from the weekly selection. Focused on wines from producers and regions they import directly, like Spain and France.
Perfect after a performance at the National Theater
14 habitants recommandent
Mikki Refur
This place takes you from a nice coffee and bar menu to a glass of wine from the weekly selection. Focused on wines from producers and regions they import directly, like Spain and France.
Perfect after a performance at the National Theater
Difficult to find if it is your first time in the city. Feels like your living room, with soft lights and music. The wine selection mainly focuses on the Old World and labels from South America, where both are part of the weekly by-the-glass selection.
26 habitants recommandent
Port 9
Difficult to find if it is your first time in the city. Feels like your living room, with soft lights and music. The wine selection mainly focuses on the Old World and labels from South America, where both are part of the weekly by-the-glass selection.
Feels your friend's basement, cosy and homely. The wine list, with a lot of interesting options, well balanced and with a focus on natural wine.
13 habitants recommandent
Vínstúkan Tíu sopar / Wine Bar
27 LaugavegurFeels your friend's basement, cosy and homely. The wine list, with a lot of interesting options, well balanced and with a focus on natural wine.
Nikkei cuisine, this is one of the most extensive wine lists in the city, both by the glass where they rotate Old World labels monthly or weekly, and the bottle list, which has a good vintage depth.
13 habitants recommandent
Monkeys Reykjavik
Nikkei cuisine, this is one of the most extensive wine lists in the city, both by the glass where they rotate Old World labels monthly or weekly, and the bottle list, which has a good vintage depth.
Kramber
Neigbourhood winebar with nice nibbles.
Café - hipster coffee.
Lovely coffee in the beautifully restored Ásmunarsalur Gallery.
245 habitants recommandent
Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurLovely coffee in the beautifully restored Ásmunarsalur Gallery.
Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
20 MelhagiBistro/cafe for pre-or post-pool nourishment
Reykjavik Roasters
1 KárastígurCozy neighbourhood cafe.
KAFFE OLE Cozy place and super high quality coffee. Espresso and pour over with delicious Ethiopian coffee. Nice croissants, too.
Hafnarstræti 11
11 HafnarstrætiKAFFE OLE Cozy place and super high quality coffee. Espresso and pour over with delicious Ethiopian coffee. Nice croissants, too.
Sandholt
36 LaugavegurGood cafe and bread and small dishes
Bar
Röntgen Bar
Best bar
Good for a drink and music, especially with the concerts in the garden in summer.
31 habitants recommandent
12 Tónar
15 SkólavörðustígurGood for a drink and music, especially with the concerts in the garden in summer.
Vedur
33, 101 KlapparstígurGood drinks
Best pools/swimming
Vesturbæjarlaug is our favorite pool - serving up a wonderful selection of hot tubs chock full of chattering artists, students and other 107 locals. The pool has a nice outdoor pool, big hotpots, a large steam room and a particularly lovely outdoor changing area, which you should take advantage of in the summer months, and in winter if you are a local. And remember, life, the universe and everyting is to be discussed in the hottubs...
458 habitants recommandent
Vesturbæjarlaug
HofsvallagataVesturbæjarlaug is our favorite pool - serving up a wonderful selection of hot tubs chock full of chattering artists, students and other 107 locals. The pool has a nice outdoor pool, big hotpots, a large steam room and a particularly lovely outdoor changing area, which you should take advantage of in the summer months, and in winter if you are a local. And remember, life, the universe and everyting is to be discussed in the hottubs...
The downtown pool- to chill in the hottub after a long day or to begin one.
484 habitants recommandent
Sundhöllin
45a BarónsstígurThe downtown pool- to chill in the hottub after a long day or to begin one.
Fancy new spa lagoon combining hot pools, nature and booze. It is in Kópavogur, carved out of seaside rocks and with a view to kill for and a spa experience - expensive but lovely!
104 habitants recommandent
Sky Lagoon
44-48 VesturvörFancy new spa lagoon combining hot pools, nature and booze. It is in Kópavogur, carved out of seaside rocks and with a view to kill for and a spa experience - expensive but lovely!
If you thought Iceland is not the best location to swim in the ocean, you probably haven’t heard about the geothermal beach in Reykjavík. Nauthólsvík is a true local paradise with golden sands, a hot tub, steam bath and a nice view. Grill your own hot dogs and create a lifelong memory by swimming in the freezing cold North-Atlantic Ocean. Using the water running from the hot tubs, the small lagoon is warmed up to a tolerable 15-19° C (or somewhat less in the winter season). The beach gets quite busy on a sunny summer day, but locals use it all year round. Situated in 101 Reykjavik, next to the domestic airport.
434 habitants recommandent
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
If you thought Iceland is not the best location to swim in the ocean, you probably haven’t heard about the geothermal beach in Reykjavík. Nauthólsvík is a true local paradise with golden sands, a hot tub, steam bath and a nice view. Grill your own hot dogs and create a lifelong memory by swimming in the freezing cold North-Atlantic Ocean. Using the water running from the hot tubs, the small lagoon is warmed up to a tolerable 15-19° C (or somewhat less in the winter season). The beach gets quite busy on a sunny summer day, but locals use it all year round. Situated in 101 Reykjavik, next to the domestic airport.
Music
12 Tónar
15 SkólavörðustígurBest music store
Record store linked to art collaborative Bad Taste with Björk and Sjón and other artists affiliation.
Smekkleysa
32 HverfisgataRecord store linked to art collaborative Bad Taste with Björk and Sjón and other artists affiliation.
The National Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and Reykjavik Big Band nourish the halls with endless music. The smallest resident, Maximus Musikus , the music mouse, who also has a permanent residence in Harpa is involved in organizing various events for children all year round. http://maximusmusikus.com/
Harpa is one of Reykjavík's greatest and most distinguished landmarks and a world-class concert house. Emphasis is placed on professional ambition and diversity so that the music in the house is a cross section of Icelandic music. The house is also a forum for Icelandic musicians and their music making, and excellent international artists and bands. The house offers high quality acoustics that is suitable for all music. The concert halls are of various sizes and all the facilities are of high quality.
535 habitants recommandent
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
2 AusturbakkiThe National Symphony Orchestra, Icelandic Opera and Reykjavik Big Band nourish the halls with endless music. The smallest resident, Maximus Musikus , the music mouse, who also has a permanent residence in Harpa is involved in organizing various events for children all year round. http://maximusmusikus.com/
Harpa is one of Reykjavík's greatest and most distinguished landmarks and a world-class concert house. Emphasis is placed on professional ambition and diversity so that the music in the house is a cross section of Icelandic music. The house is also a forum for Icelandic musicians and their music making, and excellent international artists and bands. The house offers high quality acoustics that is suitable for all music. The concert halls are of various sizes and all the facilities are of high quality.
Mengi
2 ÓðinsgataBest music/art space
Museums
National Museum of Iceland
41 SuðurgataReykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir
24 FlókagataReykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus
17 TryggvagataNational Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Islands)
Gerðarsafn is one of those hidden gems outside of Reykjavík. Located in Kópavogur, the museum offers a fresh take on Icelandic art and gives visitors an opportunity to meet and listen to their artists in their fantastic artist talks. It also has a coffee shop and a delightful garden.
42 habitants recommandent
Gerðarsafn - Kópavogur Art Museum
4 HamraborgGerðarsafn is one of those hidden gems outside of Reykjavík. Located in Kópavogur, the museum offers a fresh take on Icelandic art and gives visitors an opportunity to meet and listen to their artists in their fantastic artist talks. It also has a coffee shop and a delightful garden.
Árbæjarsafn (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈauːrˌpaiːjar̥ˌsapn̥]) is the historical museum of the city of Reykjavík as well as an open-air museum and a regional museum. Its purpose is to give the public an insight into the living conditions, work and recreational activities of the people of Reykjavík in earlier times
168 habitants recommandent
Árbær Open Air Museum
KistuhylurÁrbæjarsafn (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈauːrˌpaiːjar̥ˌsapn̥]) is the historical museum of the city of Reykjavík as well as an open-air museum and a regional museum. Its purpose is to give the public an insight into the living conditions, work and recreational activities of the people of Reykjavík in earlier times