VOX Brasserie & Bar at Hilton Reykjavik Nordica

Hotel restaurants in Iceland tend to fall into one of two camps: forgettable buffets that exist purely for tired travellers, or genuinely ambitious kitchens that happen to sit inside a hotel. VOX Brasserie & Bar at the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica falls firmly into the second category, and has done so consistently for years.

What to Expect

The dining room is spacious and modern, anchored by an open kitchen that lets you watch the brigade at work. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light during Iceland's long summer evenings, and the atmosphere strikes a comfortable balance between polished and relaxed. You will see business diners in suits alongside families and tourists in hiking gear, and nobody looks out of place.

The service reflects the Hilton standard -- professional, attentive, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu. Waitstaff can talk you through sourcing and preparation without reading from a script, which speaks to a kitchen that takes its ingredients seriously.

The Menu

VOX builds its menu around Icelandic produce, and does so with more creativity than you might expect from a hotel brasserie. Starters might include smoked Arctic char with horseradish cream, or a seasonal soup made from whatever the kitchen has sourced that week. Main courses lean towards the classics done well: pan-seared cod with brown butter, slow-cooked lamb shank, or a well-executed steak from Icelandic beef.

The wine list is respectable, leaning European with a decent selection by the glass. The cocktail menu is worth exploring too, particularly if you are interested in drinks that incorporate Icelandic ingredients like birch syrup or crowberries.

Breakfast deserves special mention. The morning buffet is one of the more impressive hotel breakfasts in Reykjavik, with smoked salmon, herring, freshly baked Icelandic rye bread, local cheeses, and the kind of skyr selection that reminds you why this Icelandic dairy product has conquered the world.

Practical Tips

VOX sits outside the immediate downtown core, which works in its favour. You avoid the tourist-heavy pricing of Laugavegur restaurants while getting food that is every bit as good -- and often better. The Hilton is on Sudurlandsbraut, easily reached by bus from the city centre or a straightforward drive with free hotel parking.

Reservations are recommended for dinner, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings, though walk-ins can usually be accommodated at the bar. For lunch, you can generally grab a table without booking.

If you are staying at the Hilton, VOX makes the decision to eat in-house an easy one. If you are not, it is worth the short trip east of downtown for a polished meal without the price tag of Reykjavik's fine-dining establishments.