As anyone who spends much time in downtown Reykjavík will attest, finding a good, affordable place to have lunch can be a gruelling task. After a while, all those sun-dried tomato pastas, chicken breast tandooris and mushroom soups lose their charm; what…

Although mostly famous for its tender Argentinean grilled beef steaks, Argentína’s Christmas buffet this year is American style with the featured item being turkey in all its variations. The atmosphere at Argentína has little to do with America though, but everything to…

First off, Siggi Hall does not offer a traditional style buffet. Rather, the various dishes from the buffet are grouped together on tray according to tradition; starting with fish courses, moving on to cold meat dishes, then hot meat dishes and finally…

Located on the corner of Laugavegur and Klapparstígur, the organic and cultural coffeehouse Kaffi Hljómalind prides itself on its non-profit, co-op status and on sending a positive message to society. Being a popular concert spot for the local hardcore scene, Hljómalind also…

Imagine Danish cuisine in all its glory. Then imagine a trimmings-heaven where you can choose all the meat and garnish you could ever dream of, piled atop of a slice of rye-bread. Add a bit of friendly service and Icelandic quality ingredients…

Maru’s website claims that the Japanese restaurant emphasises take-out orders. This is fitting, as their near flawless take on sushi and Japanese cuisine in general is somewhat at odds with the all-too homey feel one encounters when dining there. Case in point:…

On the corner of Vitastígur and Bergþórugata stands the legendary local bar Vitabar, a Reykjavík burger fan´s favorite. This is the place most locals will point out to tourists looking for a quick hamburger meal, the way hamburgers should be presented, that…

Caruso has long been of the establishments one is bound to notice while strolling down Bankastræti any given night. Its trademark of sorts is an inviting row of candle-lit windows, where one can usually observe a plethora of seemingly satisfied patrons engaged…

The company Kaffitár (i.e. Coffeetear – reflecting the Icelandic habit of asking for ‘a tear’ of coffee) was established in 1990 by coffee lover Aðalheiður Héðinsdóttir. Her goal was to educate her countrymen on the finer aspects of coffee drinking. The company…

Located inside the trendy and modern Nordica hotel, the Vox restaurant is not only famous for its stylish design and a first-class evening menu but also for the Sunday brunch buffet from 11:30 to 14:00, where you can gorge yourself on all…

For years, Italian restaurant La Primavera has been one of Reykjavík’s most popular dining spots. With a menu offering various pasta, fish and meat courses and an impressive wine list, classy renovated lodge and location in the heart of downtown, the place…

Silfur is a new restaurant at Hótel Borg, run by the proprietors of Sjávarkjallarinn, which is often lauded in this magazine as being Reykjavík’s best for upscale dining. Silfur sees the owners expand beyond Sjávarkjallarinn’s seafood slant, while remaining firmly in the…

Having previously enjoyed what I recall to be good pizza in a comfortable environment at the downtown Italian restaurant Galileo, I had certain expectations arriving there on a Friday afternoon. A friendly waitress greeted us and gave us a window table in…

The first thing that one notices upon entering Núðluhúsið is a small handwritten sign proclaiming ‘Free coffee!’ hanging directly over a pot of said liquid. As we were about to find out, the free coffee is the sort of watery slop commonly…

Sjávarkjallarinn roughly translates to “the sea cellar”, but don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t a hangout for drunken sailors but surely one of the finest seafood restaurants in Reykjavík. Their two celebrated chefs have each won the ‘Icelandic Chef…

The Grapevine’s food critic was recently challenged, by a clown no less, to find dolphin on the menu of an Icelandic restaurant. His reasoning was that while the locals are nonchalant about eating whale, they might think twice about scarfing down the…

As soon as you enter you know this is no ordinary establishment. For one thing, it looks like a fancy version of the stereotypical Icelandic grandma’s house. The furniture and the décor are all more reminiscent of a well-to-do mid-fifties household than…

Across Iceland, there are dozens of legendary establishments that justify lengthy pilgrimages through the most imposing of driving conditions. The first that comes to mind is the storied Við Fjöruborðið, the lobster restaurant in Stokkseyri that has made a lobster and Brennivín…

Bautinn is an Akureyri landmark. In a sprawling bright red house located in the city centre, this restaurant has become, over its 30 or so years in business, a household name. It offers not the best or most professional in Akureyri dining,…

If you want the full 360 on Akureyri dining, you must pay a visit to Nætursalan. Preferably between the hours of 00:00-05:00 on a weekend. Preferably when you’re drunk. During the normal hours of the day, an Akureyri local will undoubtedly swear…

Friðrik Val Karlsson is a man who keeps his friends close, and his food closer. The 36-year-old chef, an Akureyri native, founded the restaurant with his wife Arnrún on his 31st birthday, and it has since been his professional playground. The name,…