Floran Garden Bistro

Eating in a greenhouse surrounded by 5,000 species of plants, with bees humming through open flowers and the smell of fresh earth mixing with baking bread -- this is what Floran offers, and it is unlike any other dining experience in Reykjavik.

The Setting

The Reykjavik Botanical Gardens are one of the city's most underappreciated treasures. Established in 1961, they occupy a generous plot in the Laugardalur area, and in summer they explode into life with native Icelandic plants, imported species, and themed garden sections. Floran sits at the heart of this greenery, its cafe space flowing into the plant collections and creating the sensation of eating inside a living greenhouse.

The tables are arranged among the plants, some under glass, some in the open air. The effect is enchanting -- warm, peaceful, and entirely removed from the city that sits just beyond the garden walls. On a sunny Reykjavik day, there is no more pleasant place to eat lunch.

The Food

The menu is light, seasonal, and sympathetic to the setting. Soups are made fresh, with vegetable options that reflect what the season provides. Salads are crisp and colourful. Sandwiches are well-constructed with quality ingredients. Nothing is overly ambitious, and that is appropriate -- the garden is the star, and the food supports the experience rather than competing with it.

The cakes, however, deserve special recognition. Baked on-site and displayed with casual temptation, they are consistently excellent. The carrot cake is moist and warmly spiced. The chocolate cake is rich without being heavy. A slice with a cup of Floran's good coffee is one of the genuine treats of a Reykjavik summer.

When to Visit

Summer is the obvious answer -- the gardens are at their peak, the cafe is fully operational, and eating outdoors among the flowers is the whole point. A visit to Floran combines beautifully with a walk through the gardens, making for a peaceful morning or afternoon away from the tourist-heavy city centre.

The Botanical Gardens are free to enter, and a bus from downtown takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, the walk through Laugardalur is pleasant and passes the geothermally heated swimming pool -- another Reykjavik essential.