Holt Restaurant

Hotel Holt has occupied a quiet stretch of Bergstadastraeti since the 1960s, and its restaurant has been producing refined cuisine for nearly as long. In a city where new restaurants open and close with seasonal regularity, Holt's longevity speaks to something substantial: a commitment to quality that has outlasted trends, economic upheavals, and the complete transformation of Reykjavik's dining scene around it.

The Food

The kitchen at Holt works with Icelandic ingredients at their finest. Lamb from highland farms, seafood from the day's catch, wild herbs and berries from the Icelandic countryside, and dairy products with a richness that reflects the quality of Icelandic pastures. These ingredients are treated with the precision and respect that fine dining demands — nothing is overwrought, nothing is wasted, and every element on the plate earns its place.

The tasting menu is the definitive way to experience Holt. Courses progress from delicate starters through increasingly substantial dishes, with the kitchen demonstrating its range and technique at each stage. The Arctic char — a recurring highlight — is prepared with a lightness that lets the quality of the fish speak. The lamb, when it appears, is handled with the understanding that Icelandic lamb needs enhancement, not transformation.

A la carte dining is equally accomplished, though the tasting menu offers the fuller picture of what the kitchen can achieve.

The Wine

The wine cellar at Holt is legendary by Icelandic standards and impressive by any measure. Built over decades, the collection runs deep through French regions — Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone — and extends into Italy, Spain, and beyond. The sommelier is knowledgeable and attentive, and the wine pairings with the tasting menu are carefully considered rather than formulaic.

The Art

Dining at Holt means eating surrounded by one of Iceland's most significant private art collections. Works by Johannes Kjarval, Asgrimur Jonsson, and other pillars of Icelandic art hang throughout the hotel and restaurant. The combination of fine food and fine art creates an atmosphere of cultured elegance that few restaurants in Iceland can match.

The Setting

The dining room is intimate, refined, and designed for the kind of meal that takes its time. Service is polished without being stiff — attentive, knowledgeable, and paced to the rhythm of the table rather than the kitchen. The Bergstadastraeti location is residential and quiet, a deliberate remove from the bustle of Laugavegur.

Practical Tips

Reservations are required — this is not a walk-in restaurant. Book several days ahead, longer during peak summer season. Dinner only, from 18:00. Dress code is smart casual at minimum. The tasting menu with wine pairing is the full experience and should be budgeted accordingly. For a special occasion dinner in Reykjavik, Holt is one of the finest choices in the city.