There are guides and there are guides. Longevity sets us apart and for 20-plus-years we have dined, wined, ordered takeaways and visited spots once, twice, a dozen times in our quest to find the city’s best burgers, bakeries, brews and more.
The Best of Reykjavík dining category has always reflected reality and nothing warms our hearts more than to see Newcomers graduate to winners as the years go by. Now we have winners who will have the added recognition of being Reykjavík Institutions, a badge of honour to commend establishments that have stood the test of time — so keep an eye out for the *I as you peruse our lists of what’s Best.
Here’s to another year of deliciousness, skál!
Best Seafood
Fiskfelagið/ Fish Company (I)*
Vesturgata 2a
Art Bicnick/The Reykjavík Grapevine
It’s not for nothing that this local legend has been continuously awarded the title of Best Seafood restaurant for 10 years running! Fish Company’s unwavering dedication to all things fish shines through on their menu. Marrying local fish and traditional preparations, and rendering them as contemporary, modern plates is at the heart of their continued success. Take for instance the graflax, a dish so ubiquitous here you can buy them pre-sliced in vacuum packed bags at the supermarket. Reimagined as a hot-cold dish, with a wasabi cucumber icecream and warm mussel broth, skilfully balanced so neither detracts from the salmon itself, this is a great showcase of the kitchen’s talents. Service is attentive, whether you are a solo diner or a group of 20 busting out tunes at the company Christmas party.
RUNNER-UP
Brút
Pósthússtræti 2
Photo by Art Bicnick
No one serves as many varieties of seafood on one menu as Brút does. From usual suspect cod to the seldom seen skate, diners are spoiled for choice. The warm whelks recall French garlic butter snails, and the lightly marinated scallops are a taste of summers past. Sure you could play safe and get the cod (which is lovely), but let us steer you towards the caper butter basted, pan-fried skate wing that has the most delicate white meat clinging to the slender mesh of cartilage. The sides are a let down, but when the fish is this good, who needs vegetables?
RIP. Since our panel decision, this business closed.
RUNNER-UP
La Barceloneta
Templarasund 3
More often than not, the seafood restaurant caters to the one-time diner, and you’d be remiss to seek out places you wouldn’t think of as a given. La Barceloneta is one of those still-hidden spots that dishes up Catalan Spanish food in small and big plates and honours Icelandic cod simply, but splendidly. And why not? Given that the country’s best bacalao continues to be exported to Spain, it’s no surprise that this slice of Catalunya serves up a mean croquetta and honey aioli baked cod at lunch. The seafood paella is fragrant and heady but it’s the service that takes you to sunny Spain.
Previous Winners
2024: Fiskfélagið & Brút
2023: Fiskfélagið & Brút
2022: Fiskfélagið
2021: Fiskfélagið
2020: Fiskfélagið
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