Bergmal Bistro & Bar

Harpa Concert Hall is one of Reykjavik's most striking buildings, a shimmering glass honeycomb perched on the harbour front. Bergmal Bistro & Bar occupies the ground floor, which means you get the architecture without the concert ticket -- and food that takes Icelandic ingredients seriously.

The Food

Bergmal's menu is built around a single commitment: everything is Icelandic-grown or Icelandic-harvested. No imported olive oil, no foreign cheeses, no out-of-season vegetables flown in from southern Europe. What arrives on the plate comes from the land or the sea around you. It is a constraint that forces creativity, and the kitchen handles it well.

The fish dishes are the strongest offerings. Fresh catch prepared with seasonal accompaniments, clean flavours, and the kind of simplicity that only works when your ingredients are genuinely good. The lamb is reliable. The vegetable dishes, while limited by Icelandic agriculture, show imagination. This is not fine dining, nor does it try to be -- it is thoughtful bistro food with a clear identity.

The Setting

The ground floor of Harpa is all glass and light. During the long summer days, the harbour and mountains beyond fill the dining room with a sense of openness that few restaurants can match. In winter, the interplay of interior warmth and exterior darkness creates a different kind of atmosphere -- intimate and sheltered.

The space works equally well for a casual lunch, a pre-concert dinner, or drinks during happy hour. The bar area is comfortable without being cramped, and the daily happy hour between four and six in the afternoon draws a mix of locals and visitors.

Practical Tips

If you are attending a concert or event at Harpa, Bergmal is the obvious choice for dinner beforehand. Book a table to avoid disappointment on busy nights. For lunch, walk-ins are rarely a problem. The happy hour is genuine value by Reykjavik standards -- Icelandic craft beer and house wine at prices that do not make your eyes water.

The location also makes Bergmal a natural starting or ending point for a harbour walk. From here, the Old Harbour, Grandi food hall, and the whale watching departures are all within easy walking distance.