Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

Some culinary institutions earn their reputation through stars and tasting menus. Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur earned its through decades of consistently excellent hot dogs served from a small kiosk near Reykjavik's harbour. Since 1937, this tiny stand has been one of the most visited spots in all of Iceland — and once you've had one, you'll understand why.

A Reykjavik Institution Since 1937

The name translates from Icelandic as "the best hot dogs in town" — a claim that, by most accounts, holds up. Bæjarins Beztu was founded by Guðrún Ingimundardóttir in 1937 at its original location on Tryggvagata, just steps from the old harbour. It has operated continuously ever since, surviving economic booms and crashes, changing ownership, and the steady march of culinary trends that have come and gone around it. Today they have expanded to 13 locations across Iceland, but the Tryggvagata stand remains the one to visit.

What has kept it thriving is simple: the product is genuinely excellent, the price is right, and there is something deeply satisfying about eating something this good while standing outdoors with the North Atlantic wind at your back.

What Makes These Hot Dogs Special

The Icelandic pylsa is not quite like hot dogs elsewhere. The sausage itself is made from a blend of lamb, pork, and beef — the lamb being the key differentiator, giving it a slightly richer, more complex flavour than the all-pork or all-beef versions common in mainland Europe. The casing has a satisfying snap. The bun is soft and slightly sweet.

The condiments are where things get interesting. Your options include mustard (brown and sweet), ketchup, remoulade, and raw or crispy fried onions. The full combination is a balance of sweet, tangy, and savoury that works remarkably well.

How to Order

Learn two words before you arrive: "ein með öllu" — pronounced roughly "ayn meth öt-lu" — meaning "one with everything." This is the default order for locals and the correct way to experience Bæjarins Beztu for the first time. It gets you the sausage with sweet mustard, ketchup, remoulade, raw onion, and crispy onion.

If you have strong feelings about any particular topping, the staff are accustomed to custom orders and will accommodate you cheerfully.

Famous Visitors

In 2004, then-US President Bill Clinton stopped at Bæjarins Beztu during a visit to Iceland. He ordered one with mustard only — and since then, ordering a hot dog with just mustard has been known locally as ordering a "Clinton." The stand still references this visit, and it remains one of the most-cited celebrity hot dog moments in history.

Practical Tips

The Tryggvagata stand is open daily from 09:00 and stays open until 01:00 on most nights, with extended hours until 06:00 on Friday and Saturday. There is no seating — this is street food in the purest sense. Dress for the weather, which in Reykjavik can mean anything at any time of year. A single pylsa costs around ISK 600–700, making it one of the few genuine bargains left in Iceland's otherwise expensive food landscape.

Go once for the experience. Go again because it's that good.