If you love homemade bread, fresh seafood, organic meat and warm soups, Icelandic cuisine is for you. Here are my favorite eats and treats of Reykjavik.
For breakfast…
Check out the Sandholt Bakery on Laugavegur, which is known for its amazing pastries and sandwiches. Also, if you are planning on eating breakfast before 10 a.m., this is one of the only places that opens early for breakfast.
A fresh vegetable panini.
For lunch and dinner….
You will not regret a hot dog from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. It is a hot dog like no other. One taste and you will be craving it the rest of your trip. It may sound silly, but Iceland knows how to make the best hot dogs in the world. The secret is in the meat. The hot dog is made from lamb instead of the beef you may be used to. If you decide to go with a hot dog, make sure you get it fully loaded with all the toppings. The crunch of the raw and fried onions with an infusion of sauces will have you ordering more than just one.
Did you know that Bill Clinton had a hot dog at this stand? In fact, it was so good, he went back for another. And guess what, we did too!
The Sæta Svinid Gastropub offers a unique experience to try traditional Icelandic food in a 7 course meal. Some of the food offered may be a once in a life time experience; however, please know that there is a controversy regarding the menu items. The 7 course meal starts off with a refreshing shot of Icelandic “Brennivin” to clean your palate between courses. The wait staff will bring out the plates one at a time for you to savor and enjoy each course, but avoid the clutter on the table. The meal includes:
1. Smoked Puffin in a cranberry liqueur sauce
2. Minke Whale with a smoky celeriac puree
3. Traditional Icelandic “Flatkaka” (or flatbread) topped with arctic char, cream cheese, dill and lemon oil
4. Horse Carpaccio with dates and artichokes
5. Ling (a type of fish) dressed with mash potatoes, caper flowers and Dijon butter sauce.
6. Icelandic Lamb Rump Steak with an herb crumble and mash potatoes.
And to top it all off….
7. “Skyr” cream cheese with blackberry jam, pistachio nuts and lady fingers.
A taste of Icelandic Flatkaka (left) and Horse Carpaccio (right)
If you are interested in the “world’s best lobster soup”, look no further than the harbor. Next to a stunning view of the ocean and the marina, stop at Sægreifinn. This quaint market-style restaurant has warm and rich lobster soup to warm your belly and soul. There is nothing like a bowl of soup on a cold, Icelandic day, and this soup will meet all of your expectations.
Deemed the World's Best Lobster Soup!
The view from the pier
