The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Reykjavik (2026)

Iceland is a country defined by lamb, dried fish, and dairy. The traditional diet is about as plant-based as a sheep farm. So it might come as a surprise that Reykjavik has developed a genuinely good vegetarian and vegan dining scene — one that goes well beyond the token salad on a steakhouse menu. A combination of environmental consciousness, a young and internationally minded population, and the global plant-based movement have created space for dedicated vegan restaurants, inventive vegetarian cafes, and health-focused spots that would hold their own in Berlin or London.

The reality is that eating plant-based in Reykjavik in 2026 is not merely possible — it is enjoyable. Whether you are fully vegan, flexitarian, or simply looking for a lighter meal after days of lamb stew and hot dogs, these are the places to know.

Fully Vegan Restaurants

These spots serve entirely plant-based menus. No compromises, no "we can make it vegan if you ask" — just dedicated kitchens built around plants.

Vegan World Peace

Vegan World Peace is the restaurant that converts sceptics. The menu is entirely plant-based, but the cooking is so flavourful and satisfying that the absence of animal products barely registers. The burgers are excellent — hearty, well-seasoned, and served with proper chips. The daily specials draw on global influences, from Thai curries to Mexican bowls, and the portion sizes are generous. The space is small and colourful, the staff are passionate, and the prices are reasonable by Reykjavik standards. Mains around ISK 2,800-3,800 (EUR 18-25). If you visit one vegan restaurant in Reykjavik, make it this one.

Mama Reykjavik

Mama Reykjavik does vegan comfort food with a confidence that makes you forget you are eating in one of the world's most meat-centric countries. The menu rotates but typically includes hearty bowls, wraps, and baked goods — all made from scratch with organic ingredients where possible. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with a community feel that draws regulars back daily. The cinnamon rolls alone are worth a detour. Mains ISK 2,500-3,500 (EUR 16-23).

Loving Hut

Loving Hut is part of the international chain, but the Reykjavik branch punches above what you might expect from a franchise. The menu covers a broad range — Asian-inspired noodle dishes, burgers, wraps, and daily soups — all fully vegan and prepared with care. It is consistently good rather than spectacular, which is exactly what you want from a reliable weekday lunch option. Prices are among the most affordable for a sit-down vegan meal in the city: mains ISK 2,200-3,200 (EUR 14-21).

Kaffi Vinyl

Kaffi Vinyl is as much an experience as a restaurant. This fully vegan cafe doubles as a record shop, with vinyl lining the walls and turntables spinning throughout the day. The food is honest and unfussy — soups, stews, sandwiches, and baked goods — served in a cosy, lived-in space that feels like someone's particularly cool living room. The soup of the day with fresh bread is a reliable choice. Portions are modest but prices are fair: most items ISK 1,800-2,800 (EUR 12-18). Come for the food, stay for the music.

Vegetarian-Friendly with Great Options

Not exclusively plant-based, but these restaurants put real thought and creativity into their vegetarian and vegan dishes — they are not afterthoughts.

Spes Kitchen

Spes Kitchen is arguably the most exciting plant-forward restaurant in Reykjavik right now. The menu is seasonal and changes frequently, drawing on whatever is fresh and available — Icelandic vegetables, foraged greens, and imported ingredients used judiciously. Not everything is vegan, but the kitchen clearly prioritises plants, and the vegetarian dishes are consistently the most interesting things on the menu. The presentation is beautiful without being fussy, and the flavours are layered and surprising. Mains ISK 3,200-4,500 (EUR 21-30). Book ahead on weekends.

Floran Garden Bistro

Floran Garden Bistro occupies a bright, airy space with the kind of lush, plant-filled interior that makes Instagram accounts jealous. The menu leans heavily towards salads, grain bowls, and vegetable-forward dishes, with enough vegan options to satisfy. The setting — part garden centre, part cafe — gives it a distinctive character that sets it apart from the downtown spots. A lovely choice for a weekend brunch or a leisurely afternoon lunch. Dishes ISK 2,500-3,800 (EUR 16-25).

Cafe Gardurinn

Cafe Gardurinn is the original. This small, no-frills vegetarian cafe has been serving plant-based food in Reykjavik since long before it was fashionable. The format is simple: a daily buffet of soups, stews, salads, and grain dishes, all vegetarian with most options vegan. It does not try to be trendy or photogenic — it just serves honest, nourishing food at fair prices. The regulars have been coming for years, and the atmosphere has the unhurried warmth of a place that knows exactly what it is. Buffet lunch around ISK 2,200-2,800 (EUR 14-18). A Reykjavik institution.

If you want a broader introduction to how Reykjavik eats — including some of the vegetarian-friendly spots — a Reykjavik food tasting tour is a good way to sample multiple places in one go. Several tours now include dedicated plant-based stops.

Healthy Cafes and Juice Bars

For lighter meals, smoothie bowls, and a midday recharge between sightseeing.

Kruska Reykjavik

Kruska Reykjavik has built a loyal following around beautifully assembled bowls — acai, smoothie, grain, and salad bowls that look as good as they taste. The ingredients are fresh and the portions are satisfying without being heavy. It is the kind of place you go when you have been eating hot dogs and lamb soup for three days and your body is asking for something green. Most bowls ISK 2,200-3,200 (EUR 14-21).

Heilsudrekinn

Heilsudrekinn is Reykjavik's go-to juice bar and has been for years. Fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, wheatgrass shots, and light snacks in a clean, bright space. It is small and focused — this is not a full-meal destination, but rather the place you stop for a green juice and a protein ball between meals. Juices and smoothies ISK 1,200-2,000 (EUR 8-13).

Bioborgari

Bioborgari is technically an organic burger joint, but it deserves mention here because the veggie and vegan burger options are genuinely excellent — not sad afterthoughts designed to placate a non-meat-eating friend, but proper burgers with well-seasoned patties and good toppings. The organic ethos extends to the sides and drinks as well. A solid choice when you want something casual and satisfying. Burgers ISK 2,400-3,200 (EUR 16-21).

Tips for Plant-Based Travellers

Supermarkets. Bonus and Kronan both stock a decent range of plant-based products — plant milks, tofu, tempeh, hummus, and meat alternatives. Useful for self-catering or picnic lunches on day trips.

Labels. "Graenmetis" means vegetarian in Icelandic. "Vegan" is universally understood. Most menus in central Reykjavik are also available in English.

Outside Reykjavik. The plant-based options thin out considerably once you leave the capital. If you are driving the Ring Road, stock up on snacks and be prepared for limited menus in rural restaurants. The bigger towns — Akureyri, Vik, Husavik — will usually have at least one option, but do not expect the variety of Reykjavik.

Traditional Icelandic food. Much of it is naturally off-limits for vegans (lamb, fish, skyr), but Icelandic rye bread (rugbraud) is typically vegan and delicious, and the geothermally baked version is worth seeking out.

Cafes. Most Reykjavik coffee shops now offer oat milk and plant-based pastry options as standard. The specialty coffee scene — Reykjavik Roasters, Stofan — is well ahead of the curve here.

Tours. If you want a structured introduction to the food scene, a Reykjavik evening food tour increasingly caters to dietary requirements — ask when booking whether plant-based alternatives are available.

How We Chose

We selected restaurants based on the quality and creativity of their plant-based offerings, consistency across multiple visits, and value for money. For the fully vegan section, we focused on dedicated plant-based kitchens rather than omnivore restaurants with vegan options — those belong in the vegetarian-friendly category. We did not accept payment or complimentary meals from any restaurant listed. This guide reflects where we genuinely send plant-based friends when they visit Reykjavik.

Last updated: February 2026.