Axelsbakari Cafe and Bakery

Axelsbakari is the kind of bakery that every town should have but few actually do: family-run, consistent, unpretentious, and producing baked goods that people genuinely look forward to eating. Operating from the Linduhus building in Akureyri since 1996, Axel Gunnar Vatnsdal and Margret Baldvinsdottir have built a business that is woven into the fabric of daily life in North Iceland's capital.

The Baking

Everything is baked fresh on-site, and the range covers all the essentials. Traditional Icelandic pastries sit alongside international influences, and the quality is consistently high. The bread is excellent -- the sort that makes you realise how mediocre most commercial bread actually is. Cakes are displayed behind the counter and are as good as they look.

Beyond the sweet baking, Axelsbakari serves proper soups, hot and cold sandwiches, and freshly squeezed juice. The soup changes daily and is always warming and well-seasoned -- the kind of food that makes perfect sense in a northern town where the weather can turn in minutes.

The Experience

This is not a trendy, design-forward cafe. It is a bakery, and it looks like one. The decor is functional, the seating is comfortable without being Instagram-worthy, and the focus is entirely on the quality of what is baked and served. There is an honesty to this approach that is refreshing, and the loyal local clientele suggests that substance wins over style in Akureyri.

The staff are friendly in the understated Icelandic way -- helpful without being performative, efficient without being rushed. You order, you sit, and within minutes you are eating something that was baked that morning by people who have been doing this for nearly three decades.

Why Visit

If you are in Akureyri, Axelsbakari offers one of the best breakfasts in town. The early opening time -- seven in the morning, even on Saturdays -- means you can fuel up properly before heading out to explore North Iceland. A good coffee and a fresh pastry here costs a fraction of a hotel breakfast and tastes considerably better.

Practical Tips

Located a short walk from central Akureyri. Arrive early for the best selection. The soups are available from late morning and make an excellent light lunch. Takeaway is available if you want to stock up on bread and pastries for the road.