Brunch Beyond 101 Reykjavík: Austurbær Versus Vesturbær

Makona and Kaffi Vest are worth the detour

The humble brunch is perhaps one of the greatest inventions of the modern age, whether it leans into pancakes, bacon and eggs, or something altogether lighter. The city of Reykjavík is particularly well stocked with places to indulge in the breakfast–lunch hybrid. Our brunch scene has long orbited around 101, where queues snake out the door, mimosas are a go-go, and indulgence comes stacked, poured and refilled. But lately, as locals increasingly feel the city centre slipping into tourist territory, the gravitational pull seems to be shifting outward. In Austurbær (East Reykjavík) and Vesturbær (West Reykjavík), two very different cafés are quietly making a case for brunch that feels less like a performance and more like a habit.

Photo supplied by Makona

Makona in Austurbær

When Makona opened in Borgartún only a couple of months ago, it felt like an attempt to soften the city’s most corporate stretch, less suit-and-spreadsheet, more slow coffee and something indulgent on a plate.

Set in the heart of Reykjavík’s financial district, the space, formerly home to a rather uncharming pizzeria, has been transformed into something unexpectedly airy and calm. High ceilings, large windows and a warm, sophisticated palette of wood and beige give it a softness that feels almost at odds with its surroundings. It’s busy, but never cramped; tables are generously spaced, and the overall effect is one of understated ease.

On weekdays, Makona caters largely to the office crowd with buffet lunches and an evening à la carte menu, but weekends are clearly where it comes into its own. Brunch is served buffet-style across curated stations that reward a slow, considered approach rather than hurried plate-stacking.
“But lately, as locals increasingly feel the city centre slipping into tourist territory, the gravitational pull seems to be shifting outward.”

The usual suspects are all present: a full English breakfast, croissants and pastries, yoghurt and muesli, cheeses and charcuterie. But there’s also a more substantial, almost Sunday-lunch offering: roast lamb, crisp potatoes, and a notably good vegan lentil pie that elevates the spread beyond standard buffet fare.

For the health-conscious, there’s a generous selection of salads, fresh slaws and Middle Eastern-style accompaniments, alongside panini and what might well be one of the best hummus offerings in Reykjavík: smooth, balanced, and clearly made with care.

If you still have room, the dessert table leans into indulgence. Alongside familiar staples like chocolate gâteau and cheesecake, the standout is the pastéis de nata which is a rarity in Iceland. These small, flaky Portuguese custard tarts, caramelised just enough on top, alongside excellent coffee, are reason enough to linger longer than intended.

Makona has, unsurprisingly, in its short lifespan, become a popular weekend destination, so booking ahead is advisable. The crowd spans everything from couples to large family groups, and the atmosphere remains bright, relaxed, and relatively unboozy, making it an easy choice for a more laid-back daytime gathering.

It’s the kind of place you drift into on a Sunday and stay longer than planned, making it the sort of neighbourhood spot this part of town has quietly been missing.

Photo by Art Bicnick

Kaffihús Vesturbæjar, Vesturbær

Kaffi Vest, on the other hand, doesn’t need much introduction. When it opened in 2014, it was something of a pioneer, one of the first cool cafés to make a convincing case for life outside 101 Reykjavík. Situated in Vesturbær, a neighbourhood that manages to be both deeply local and quietly chic, it sits opposite the ever-busy Vesturbær pool and draws a crowd of regulars, artists, and the kind of culturally attuned, well-educated residents that give the area its distinct character.

Comfortably in its own rhythm, brunch here is not an event but a continuation of the morning. Always busy but never hurried, it is perhaps the closest thing to a French café in Reykjavík, embodying a quiet, old-world elegance: classic, unpretentious interiors, a chalkboard menu, an outdoor terrace, and none of the urgency that defines downtown spots.
“These are places you go to disappear a little, into a second coffee, into conversation, into the reassuring idea that Reykjavík still has corners that belong to the people who live in it.”

Open throughout the day for coffee, lunch, dinner and drinks, it is particularly beloved for a post-pool weekend brunch and, increasingly, a leisurely glass of wine. Brunch here is an à la carte affair, with a menu that changes weekly but reliably features favourites such as croque monsieur, shakshuka and Turkish eggs, alongside what might well be one of the most perfect omelettes in Reykjavík with a handful of varieties to choose from. Portions are generous, often accompanied by a crisp green salad lightly dressed in a French vinaigrette and thick slices of sourdough.

Coffee is excellent, matcha thoughtfully prepared, and the wine list favours the French, making a glass of Crémant de Bourgogne or a Pinot Noir feel not only appropriate, but almost necessary. It’s a place for friends, couples and families alike; lively, cosy, and the sort of spot where you could easily spend an entire afternoon. You might even spot an Icelandic star or two but here, nobody really bats an eye.

And that, perhaps, is its charm: a place that feels quietly in-the-know, without ever needing to show it.

If downtown brunch is about being seen, these are places you go to disappear a little, into a second coffee, into conversation, into the reassuring idea that Reykjavík still has corners that belong to the people who live in it.

Makona, Borgartún 26, 105 Reykjavík; Kaffihús Vesturbæjar, Hagamelur 67, 107 Reykjavík