Cubanos

There is something appealingly improbable about eating Cuban food in a harbour district just below the Arctic Circle. Cubanos, perched on the second floor of a building on Grandagarður in Reykjavik's growing harbour dining quarter, embraces that improbability with warmth and colour, serving Caribbean-inspired food in a city more accustomed to dried fish and lamb soup.

The Food

The menu draws from Cuban culinary traditions without claiming strict authenticity -- this is Cuban food filtered through an Icelandic lens, and it works better than you might expect. Slow-cooked pork is tender and properly seasoned, the rice and beans are comforting and well balanced, and the plantains add a sweetness that cuts through the heartier dishes.

The Cuban sandwich is the menu's most portable item and perhaps its best: pressed bread, roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. Simple, satisfying, and well executed. The salads are fresh and generously portioned, offering a lighter alternative for those who want Caribbean flavour without the heaviness.

The Drinks

Rum cocktails are the natural accompaniment, and Cubanos leans into this with a menu of mojitos, daiquiris, and rum-based creations that bring a touch of Havana to the North Atlantic. The mojitos are properly made -- fresh mint, good rum, and the right balance of sweet and sour -- and they pair well with the food.

The Setting

Grandagarður has evolved into one of Reykjavik's most interesting dining streets, and Cubanos benefits from the foot traffic and creative energy of the area. The restaurant's interior is bright and cheerful, with the kind of tropical-inspired decor that commits to its theme without becoming kitsch. The second-floor location provides views over the harbour area and adds a sense of discovery to the visit.

Harbour District Dining

The area around Grandagarður and the Grandi food hall has become a dining destination in its own right, and Cubanos contributes to the diversity that makes it worth exploring. If you have already visited the Grandi Matholl, the Maritime Museum, or the Whales of Iceland exhibition, Cubanos is within easy walking distance and provides something genuinely different from the Nordic-focused restaurants that dominate elsewhere.

Worth Knowing

Lunch offers the best value, with specials that bring the price down to very reasonable levels. Evening visits are more relaxed and the cocktail menu comes into its own. The harbour area is about a fifteen-minute walk from Laugavegur, and the route passes through some of Reykjavik's most photogenic streets.