Best Of Reykjavík 2018: Best Vegetarian Meal

There has never been a more exciting time for the restaurant scene in Reykjavik. Thanks to burgeoning tourism, exposure, and a genuine curiosity for foods from far and wide, diners now have a plethora of choices on offer. Whether it’s high-end fine dining (we even boast a Michelin starred gem!), or a cheap late night bite, Reykjavik is coming into its own as a culinary destination, offering small plates, tasting menus, farm to table seasonal produce and classic Iceland cuisine, and all while accommodating vegans and vegetarians. The following restaurants are the very best, according to our panel of enthusiastic gourmands. Feel free to let us know what you think of our choices as you eat your way around the city. We’re listening. And we’re hungry.

Best Vegetarian Meal: Joint Winners

Mat Bar

Hverfisgata 26

This stylishly designed restaurant has an interesting variety of vegetarian dishes that go way beyond the standard salad and side-dish options. Their grilled carrots are as good as any grilled meat we’ve had, and the radicchio salad with toasted nuts and goat cheese or spicy bok choy with fermented oranges are the stuff of vegetarian dreams. Seasonality is a key focus at Mat Bar, so be warned that favourites may vanish suddenly when the menu changes, but something surprising and new will spring up in their place.

Shalimar

Austurstræti 4

The vegetarian thali at Shalimar comes chock full of seasonal veggies in a melange of flavours, spices, and colours. Unlike the à la carte menu, the thali offerings change every day, so expect beetroot cooked in a savoury, tangy stir-fry one day, or gourds and squash in a heady gravy on another. It’s home-style cooking, with restaurant flair, and the kitchen puts effort into the simple desi buffet. Don’t waste your krona on the mango lassi—it’s an unnecessary distraction from the food.

Runner-Up

Pallett

Strandgata 75, Hafnarfjörður

It might seem odd to give this award to a place with only one permanent vegetarian option on the menu, but the veggie sausage roll at Pallett is the stuff of dreams. With melt-in-the-mouth flaky buttery pastry and a tasty, spicy filling, it’s a true Grapevine favourite. Also, the coffee is so good it’d be worth the trip to Hafnarfjörður alone.

Previous Winners

2016-17: Kaffi Vínyl

2015: Teni

2013-14: Gló

Other Dining Categories

Best Burger

Best Coffeehouse

Best Sushi

Best Indian

Best Thai/Chinese

Best Goddamn Restaurant

Best Place For A Fancy Meal

Best Family Meal

Best Cheap Meal

Best Pizza

Best Coffee

Best Bakery

Best Vegetarian Meal

Best Vegan Meal

Best Brunch

Best Seafood

Must-Try Dining Experience

Best Late Night Bite

Best Place To Go With A Group Of Friends

Best Newcomer

Best Lunch Place

Best Veggie Burger

Best Ice Cream

Best Tasting Menu

Best Italian

You can buy a copy of the full Best Of Reykjavík 2018 magazine—an essential guide to having fun in Reykjavík—here, posted worldwide. We also have a Special Offer double-pack that also includes our Best Of Iceland magazine, about places to eat, see, swim, shop and stay, all around the country, here.