Cafe Kaja

In a country where sustainability is often discussed but not always practised, Cafe Kaja in Akranes walks the walk. This small organic cafe and zero-waste shop represents a vision of how food businesses can operate with genuine environmental consciousness, and it does so while serving excellent coffee and some of the best plant-based food outside Reykjavik.

The Cafe

The space is bright, clean, and thoughtfully designed with sustainability at its core. Mismatched vintage furniture, plants, and natural materials create an atmosphere that is warm without being precious. It feels like someone's idealistic vision of what a cafe should be, and the remarkable thing is that the vision actually works.

The coffee is organic and well prepared. The cakes -- baked in-house -- are consistently good, with several vegan options available alongside traditional recipes. A carrot cake or a dark chocolate brownie with an oat milk latte is an excellent combination that would hold its own against cafes in the capital.

The Food

Light meals lean heavily towards vegetarian and vegan options, with soups, salads, and sandwiches making up the core of the lunch offering. Ingredients are organic where possible, locally sourced where practical, and always treated with respect. The portions are modest but satisfying, and the flavours are clean and well-balanced.

The Zero-Waste Shop

The retail side of Cafe Kaja sells refillable cleaning products, organic pantry goods, reusable household items, and other eco-friendly products. It is a small but carefully curated selection that reflects the owners' commitment to reducing waste. For visitors interested in sustainable living, it is worth browsing.

The Akranes Connection

Akranes is not a tourist destination, which is part of what makes Cafe Kaja special. This cafe exists to serve its local community, and visiting it gives you a genuine glimpse of small-town Icelandic life -- the environmental awareness, the neighbourly atmosphere, and the quiet determination to do things properly.

If you are driving the west coast or passing through Akranes on your way to the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Cafe Kaja makes a worthy and restorative stop.