European in Iceland

A sophisticated wine bar in downtown Reykjavik offering an impressive selection of natural wines alongside refined European small plates.

Housed in a former pharmacy on Austurstraeti, Apotek combines a stunning historic interior with modern European cuisine and one of Reykjavik's best cocktail bars.

A bistro attached to a working barbershop on Laugavegur, separated by a red and white glass wall, serving Icelandic lamb, fish, and comfort food with daily happy hour and an unexpectedly stylish atmosphere.

A long-established restaurant in one of Akureyri's oldest buildings, serving an extensive menu of Icelandic and European dishes — from lamb chops and lobster bisque to burgers and steaks — in the heart of Iceland's northern capital.

A refined hotel restaurant in the village of Vik, serving locally sourced Icelandic cuisine with views of the surrounding mountains and black sand coastline.

An iconic Reykjavik brasserie since 1966, serving steaks, seafood, and European cuisine near Laugardalur valley with a free salad bar for main course diners and a popular Sunday evening steak buffet.

Part wine bar, part restaurant — Brut pairs an exceptional natural wine selection with creative European small plates in one of Reykjavik's liveliest evening spots.

A brewery and bistro in Reykjavik's Old Harbour area, brewing its own beer on-site and serving hearty bistro food with views of the harbour and Mount Esja.

A South American-inspired tapas and steak restaurant in the heart of Reykjavik, offering sharing plates and quality cuts in a warm, buzzy atmosphere.

A European-style all-day cafe on Laugavegur offering coffee, light meals, and evening drinks in a relaxed setting at the heart of Reykjavik's main shopping street.

A stylish hotel restaurant on Akureyri's main street serving modern European and Icelandic cuisine, from langoustine pasta to gourmet burgers, with a daily happy hour.

The restaurant at Fosshotel Lind in east-central Reykjavik, serving contemporary European and Icelandic cuisine alongside a solid breakfast buffet for hotel guests and visitors alike.

An Italian-inspired restaurant overlooking Austurvollur square and the Icelandic parliament, known for excellent pasta, duck dishes, and a popular bottomless brunch.

A dedicated breakfast spot on one of Reykjavik's quietest streets, serving beautifully prepared morning meals in a calm, civilised setting before the city wakes up.

A European-style brasserie in a former Landsbanki bank building on Laugavegur, featuring Italian-influenced cuisine, a 4,000-bottle wine cellar inside the original bank vault, and a 1950s brasserie atmosphere.

A well-regarded restaurant in Akureyri's cultural centre Hof, serving fresh seafood and Icelandic dishes with views over Eyjafjordur.

A lively restaurant on Hafnarstraeti serving Icelandic-inspired dishes with international flair, named after the national symbol of Iceland and offering one of the best outdoor terraces in downtown Reykjavik.

The Appetiser Bar — an informal restaurant built entirely around starters and small plates. Order five, share everything, and discover why less is more.

A cafe and bar on Reykjavik's oldest street, Forsetinn serves brunch, lunch, and evening drinks in a building steeped in Icelandic history.

A restaurant and bar in a historic cooperative building in Akranes, serving European-influenced dishes and drinks less than an hour from Reykjavik.

A smart-casual restaurant inside the Canopy by Hilton on Hverfisgata, serving locally sourced Icelandic dishes with cosmopolitan flair from breakfast through to late evening.

A cosy tapas bar on Laugavegur serving Mediterranean-inspired small plates with Icelandic ingredients, paired with a thoughtful wine list.

A cafe and cultural house in the beautifully restored 1915 home of Iceland's first prime minister, serving brunch and lunch in one of Reykjavik's most historic settings.

A Nordic restaurant on Bankastraeti serving seasonal Icelandic cuisine with European influences, known for its polished service and strong wine programme.

Reykjavik's dedicated steakhouse since 2003, serving quality cuts in a warm, intimate setting on Laugavegur with a bar that stays open until midnight.

The signature restaurant at Hilton Reykjavik Nordica, serving modern Icelandic and European cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients and an impressive open kitchen.

A beloved cafe, bar, and restaurant in Hofn since 1999, serving langoustine, fresh seafood, lamb, and pizza beneath soaring cathedral ceilings on the main street.

A Reykjavik institution since 1985 — restaurant by day, live music venue by night, with one of the best outdoor terraces in the city.

Iceland's most visited restaurant by sheer volume, the IKEA cafeteria in Gardabaer draws 25,000 visitors per week with Swedish meatballs, affordable hot meals, and prices that defy Icelandic gravity.

The now-closed Reykjavik outpost of Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant chain, which operated on the ground floor of the historic Hotel Borg from 2017 until its closure.

A lively bistro-bar in downtown Reykjavik serving Icelandic tapas in jars, colourful burgers, and creative cocktails, with a games room and dance floor upstairs.

Contemporary Nordic cuisine in a sleek setting at Midgardur by Center Hotels, with daily happy hour, weekend brunch with bottomless drinks, and live music on Thursdays.

An elegant wine-focused restaurant at the 101 Hotel on Hverfisgata, pairing thoughtful European-influenced cuisine with one of Reykjavik's finest wine lists.

A stylish restaurant on the top floor of Harpa concert hall, offering modern European cuisine with wood-fired dishes and sweeping views over Reykjavik's old harbour.

Harbour-front dining with a view — fresh Icelandic seafood and European-influenced dishes served in a modern space overlooking the Old Harbour and Mount Esja.

A Danish-style pub and restaurant on Ingolfsstræti, serving hearty European comfort food with a strong beer selection and regular live music evenings.

A family-owned restaurant inside Kringlan shopping mall that has been serving European and Icelandic cuisine since the day beer was legalised in 1989 — offering pizza, lamb, steaks, and cocktails with more character than a mall restaurant has any right to possess.

A seafood-focused restaurant housed in a historic 1921 bacalao production building on Grandi harbour, blending Icelandic ingredients with Italian and European technique.

A genuine family-run French bistro on the corner of Laugavegur and Bergstadastraeti, Le Bistro serves classic French dishes — fondue, duck, escargot — alongside breakfast and brunch with Icelandic twists.

A wine bar and cocktail spot on Hverfisgata in central Reykjavik, offering curated wines, well-made cocktails, and a refined evening atmosphere.

A seasonal New Nordic restaurant on Bankastræti bringing a refined but relaxed approach to Icelandic ingredients, with a thoughtful natural wine selection.

A second-floor Nordic tapas restaurant on Austurstræti offering Icelandic ingredients in small sharing plates, perfect for groups wanting to taste their way through the menu.

A stylish all-day restaurant on Bankastraeti serving modern European dishes with Icelandic flair — reliable, central, and open from lunch through late evening.

A harbour-front seafood restaurant blending Icelandic ingredients with South American and southern European techniques, with views over the Old Harbour.

A welcoming restaurant on the Westman Islands serving fresh seafood and hearty fare to islanders and ferry-day visitors on Heimaey's main street.

Turkish and Mediterranean flavours on Laugavegur, with sharing plates, grilled meats, and a warm atmosphere that brings a taste of the south to the far north.

A stylish cafe-boutique hybrid on Hverfisgata combining Scandinavian design, artisan products, and a daytime menu of brunch and light meals.

A refined restaurant in the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel, owned by the Farmers Association of Iceland, celebrating local seasonal ingredients with Nordic creativity.

A popular bistro and bar in the heart of downtown Akureyri with a large outdoor patio, hearty bistro food, and views up to the iconic Akureyrarkirkja church.

A centrally located European-style restaurant and bar on Posthusstraeti, serving reliable lunch and dinner in one of Reykjavik's most historic downtown streets.

Honest, homestyle cooking at fair prices — Reykjavik Kitchen serves the kind of straightforward, satisfying food that keeps locals coming back week after week.

A casual neighbourhood restaurant on Skipholti serving burgers, steaks, and comfort food — Ruby Tuesday is an unpretentious local hangout away from the tourist centre.

A seasonal restaurant at the Skjaldarvik guesthouse north of Akureyri, serving a daily changing menu of Icelandic cuisine with stunning views across Eyjafjordur.

Icelandic-inspired tapas — whale, puffin, langoustine, and lamb served as small sharing plates in one of Reykjavik's most popular and long-running restaurants.

A cosy family-run brunch and pizza spot in the Grandi harbour district, The Coocoo's Nest has earned a loyal following for its sourdough pizzas, generous brunch plates, and harbour-side atmosphere.

Reykjavik's cosiest wine bar — an intimate, candle-lit basement on Laugavegur with a well-chosen wine list, cheese boards, and the atmosphere of a Parisian cave a vin.