Guidebook for Reykjavík
Food Scene
One of Reykjavík's best bakerys very close to our apartment.
Delicious sourdough bread, sandwiches and pastries.
48 locals recommend
Jói Fel
HringbrautOne of Reykjavík's best bakerys very close to our apartment.
Delicious sourdough bread, sandwiches and pastries.
Great little Café very close to the local outdoor swimming pool. Perfect place for a coffee and a light meal after swimming and relaxing in the hot tubs and sauna.
Frequented by the locals in the area, often the place for young parents on parental leave, meeting up to chat, leaving their children sleeping outside in their strollers, an Icelandic tradition.
218 locals recommend
Kaffihús Vesturbæjar
20 MelhagiGreat little Café very close to the local outdoor swimming pool. Perfect place for a coffee and a light meal after swimming and relaxing in the hot tubs and sauna.
Frequented by the locals in the area, often the place for young parents on parental leave, meeting up to chat, leaving their children sleeping outside in their strollers, an Icelandic tradition.
One of Iceland's best rated restaurants, popular with the locals serving Icelandic delicacies.
100 locals recommend
Matur og Drykkur
2 GrandagarðurOne of Iceland's best rated restaurants, popular with the locals serving Icelandic delicacies.
A great brunch place in Reykjavik's trending old harbor area with a hipster flare.
182 locals recommend
The Coocoo's Nest
23 GrandagarðurA great brunch place in Reykjavik's trending old harbor area with a hipster flare.
A downtown favorite serving a kaleidoscope of delicious small dishes and a good selection of beer.
51 locals recommend
Public House Gastropub
24 LaugavegurA downtown favorite serving a kaleidoscope of delicious small dishes and a good selection of beer.
A little hidden pizzaplace, hidden in the sense that there are no signs or indications that there is a restaurant inside serving a variety of delicious and often unusual pizzas. Try their highly recommended appetizers.
57 locals recommend
hverfisgata 12
12 HverfisgataA little hidden pizzaplace, hidden in the sense that there are no signs or indications that there is a restaurant inside serving a variety of delicious and often unusual pizzas. Try their highly recommended appetizers.
For an authentic, simple, and delicious burger at Tommi's Burger Joint that has been expanding internationally with franchises opening in Berlin, London, and Copenhagen.
169 locals recommend
Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar
Geirsgötu 1 GeirsgataFor an authentic, simple, and delicious burger at Tommi's Burger Joint that has been expanding internationally with franchises opening in Berlin, London, and Copenhagen.
Very close to our apartment, the Oddsson Bazaar offers great food and drinks. If you like burgers we recommend their Bazaar Burger, a delicious burger made of minced ribeye.
18 locals recommend
Bazaar Oddsson
Very close to our apartment, the Oddsson Bazaar offers great food and drinks. If you like burgers we recommend their Bazaar Burger, a delicious burger made of minced ribeye.
Local Icelandic Ice cream store with a large variety of ice cream flavors on offer. On a sunny day during a stroll through the harbor area this is a great place to stop and enjoy a tasty refreshing ice cream.
198 locals recommend
Valdís
GrandagarðurLocal Icelandic Ice cream store with a large variety of ice cream flavors on offer. On a sunny day during a stroll through the harbor area this is a great place to stop and enjoy a tasty refreshing ice cream.
A West Town establishment loved by the locals, serving ice cream and flurries. A great stop on your way home after a visit to the local swimming pool.
118 locals recommend
Ísbúð Vesturbæjar
HagamelurA West Town establishment loved by the locals, serving ice cream and flurries. A great stop on your way home after a visit to the local swimming pool.
A dessert shop in the old harbor area serving takeaway cakes and cup cakes.
14 locals recommend
17 Sortir
19 GrandagarðurA dessert shop in the old harbor area serving takeaway cakes and cup cakes.
Drinks & Nightlife
A great posh place for a late afternoon drink or a night cap in the Old Harbor area of Reykjavik.
If you like long drinks try their homemade gin and tonic or their great variety of cocktails.
They also serve delicious bar snacks.
51 locals recommend
Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina
2 MýrargataA great posh place for a late afternoon drink or a night cap in the Old Harbor area of Reykjavik.
If you like long drinks try their homemade gin and tonic or their great variety of cocktails.
They also serve delicious bar snacks.
For a wide selection of Icelandic and international beers. Try their happy hour specials.
99 locals recommend
Skúli Craft bar
9, 101 AðalstrætiFor a wide selection of Icelandic and international beers. Try their happy hour specials.
A great place in the Kex hostel for good beers and great food. They frequently have live music events.
176 locals recommend
Kex Hostel Reykjavik
28 SkúlagataA great place in the Kex hostel for good beers and great food. They frequently have live music events.
For the party-goers, head to Kaffibarinn after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays to experience Reykjavik's crazy nightlife.
240 locals recommend
Kaffibarinn
For the party-goers, head to Kaffibarinn after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays to experience Reykjavik's crazy nightlife.
Great little bar in the heart of Reykjavik's down town area.
If you are lucky you will experience the piano in the room in use by one of the guests, sometimes the whole bar breaks out in song.
262 locals recommend
Kaldi Bar
20a LaugavegurGreat little bar in the heart of Reykjavik's down town area.
If you are lucky you will experience the piano in the room in use by one of the guests, sometimes the whole bar breaks out in song.
For a wide selection of Icelandic and international beers. Try their happy hour specials.
35 locals recommend
Micro Bar
86 LaugavegurFor a wide selection of Icelandic and international beers. Try their happy hour specials.
Located on the top floor of a hidden pizza place. Serving a great variety of beers, although they can get a little pricey, depending on what you order.
43 locals recommend
Mikkeller & Friends
12 HverfisgataLocated on the top floor of a hidden pizza place. Serving a great variety of beers, although they can get a little pricey, depending on what you order.
A micro brewery in the Old Harbor area serving their own brewed on site beers as well as a selection of other local beers.
100 locals recommend
Bryggjan Brugghús
8 GrandagarðurA micro brewery in the Old Harbor area serving their own brewed on site beers as well as a selection of other local beers.
Sightseeing
Harpa, or the Harp, is an award winning architectural wonder in Reykjavik. For those interested in music events, from operas, classical symphonies or pop, rock and heavy metal, you see the selection on offer inside. The building offers a fascinating show of light illuminating Reykjavik in the darker hours.
535 locals recommend
Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre
2 AusturbakkiHarpa, or the Harp, is an award winning architectural wonder in Reykjavik. For those interested in music events, from operas, classical symphonies or pop, rock and heavy metal, you see the selection on offer inside. The building offers a fascinating show of light illuminating Reykjavik in the darker hours.
Hallgrimskirkja is a centrally located church towering over Reykjavik's central area. A sight in itself but offers a great view over Reykjavik from its tower.
743 locals recommend
Hallgrimskirkja
Hallgrimskirkja is a centrally located church towering over Reykjavik's central area. A sight in itself but offers a great view over Reykjavik from its tower.
Perlan, or the pearl, is built on top of Reykjavik´s old hot water tanks with a nice view of Reykjavik from the top.
455 locals recommend
Perlan
Perlan, or the pearl, is built on top of Reykjavik´s old hot water tanks with a nice view of Reykjavik from the top.
Alþingi, or the parliament building is situated in the center of Reykjavik and houses the Icelandic national assembly. It has a little public garden in the back and a larger park in front surrounded by a variety of cafés and restaurants.
88 locals recommend
Parliament House (Althingishus)
KirkjutorgAlþingi, or the parliament building is situated in the center of Reykjavik and houses the Icelandic national assembly. It has a little public garden in the back and a larger park in front surrounded by a variety of cafés and restaurants.
Parks & Nature
Tjörnin is Reykjavik's central lake. Bring some bread to give the ducks.
During winter it often freezes over and the local children use it to ice skate.
140 locals recommend
Tjörnin
Tjörnin is Reykjavik's central lake. Bring some bread to give the ducks.
During winter it often freezes over and the local children use it to ice skate.
Grótta offers nice views of the ocean, the Grótta lighthouse, bird life and breathtaking sunset views.
118 locals recommend
Grótta
8 SuðurströndGrótta offers nice views of the ocean, the Grótta lighthouse, bird life and breathtaking sunset views.
Nauthólsvík is Reykjaviks beach. A nice place to stroll around, on hot summer days it fills with beach goers playing on the sand and taking dips in the ocean which is heated with geothermal water. There are also hot tubs for those not willing to dip in the ocean.
434 locals recommend
Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach
Nauthólsvík is Reykjaviks beach. A nice place to stroll around, on hot summer days it fills with beach goers playing on the sand and taking dips in the ocean which is heated with geothermal water. There are also hot tubs for those not willing to dip in the ocean.
Everything Else
Vesturbæjarlaug is the neighborhood swimming pool, with hot tubs, a sauna and pool for those who want to swim a few laps. Highly recommended and short walk from our apartment.
458 locals recommend
Vesturbæjarlaug
HofsvallagataVesturbæjarlaug is the neighborhood swimming pool, with hot tubs, a sauna and pool for those who want to swim a few laps. Highly recommended and short walk from our apartment.
Arts & Culture
A museum for whale enthusiasts, offering life size models of whales and information.
169 locals recommend
Whales of Iceland
A museum for whale enthusiasts, offering life size models of whales and information.
Shopping
Laugavegur is Reykjavik's main shopping street, with plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
328 locals recommend
Laugavegur
LaugavegurLaugavegur is Reykjavik's main shopping street, with plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.