Cafe Amour

Not every cafe in Reykjavik needs to be on Laugavegur. Some of the best coffee experiences in the city are found on quieter streets, in places that locals frequent and tourists rarely discover. Cafe Amour is one such place -- a small, thoughtfully run cafe that rewards those who wander slightly off the beaten path.

The Coffee

The coffee here is well made, with good beans and careful preparation. It is not trying to compete with Reykjavik's specialty coffee heavyweights, but what it does, it does with care and consistency. A flat white arrives at the right temperature with the right texture. An espresso has proper crema and no bitterness. These are small things, but they matter.

The Cakes

The homemade cakes are a genuine highlight. Baked in-house and changing daily, they range from classic chocolate cake to lighter fruit-based creations. The carrot cake, when available, is particularly good -- moist, well-spiced, and topped with cream cheese frosting that strikes the right balance between sweet and tangy.

The display is never enormous -- this is a small operation -- but what is available is always fresh and always worth ordering.

The Space

Cafe Amour is compact and cosy. A handful of tables, warm lighting, and a decor that feels personal rather than commercial. It is the kind of place where the owner knows the regulars by name and where the Wi-Fi password is given with a smile rather than printed on a laminated card.

The location on the eastern stretch of Hverfisgata means it avoids the foot traffic that makes some downtown cafes feel hectic. You can sit here for an hour with a book and a coffee and nobody will hurry you along.

Who Is It For?

Cafe Amour is for anyone who values quiet over buzz, quality over spectacle, and authenticity over Instagram appeal. It will not change your life, but it will give you a perfectly pleasant hour in a city that sometimes moves faster than you want it to. On a cold Reykjavik morning, that is more than enough.