Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Must-Try Dining Experience

Matur & Drykkur

Grandagarður 2

Matur og Drykkur continues to grab attention with its Instagram-worthy entré of a whole cod head, cooked in chicken stock then glazed and torched. Whether you’re scoring likes or foodie bragging rights, this is the definitive adventurous dish to try in Reykjavík. The meat is tender, and knives and forks are redundant—go in with a spoon. It comes with the unctuous and creamy ‘gellur’—cod tongue—fried in a light tempura-like batter and served on the side. Matur og Drykkur is also one of a handful of restaurants that honours traditional Icelandic cooking by elevating it to fine-dining status, without reducing it to a shock-value spectacle.

Runner-Up:

Café Loki

Lokastígur 28

Café Loki seems to be have been around for as long as Hallgrímskirkja itself. Unassuming and simple, they were on the ‘dung smoked fish’ bandwagon before it was cool. Most new Icelanders had an initiation into Icelandic food at Café Loki. The rye bread soup and ice-cream are excellent, and you can try fermented shark and Brennivin.

Runner-Up:

Sægreifinn

Geirsgata 8

No longer a secret, this harbourside restaurant has seen a drop in the quality of their signature soup in recent years, but the number of visitors has only risen. However, it’s still a cosy place, the seafood kebabs are a good bet, and the soup is still comforting on blighty days.

Previous Winners

2016-17: Matur og Drykkur

2015: Shrimp pyramid at Jómfrúin

2014: Food section at Kolaportið

2013: Icelandic food at Kaffi Loki