Isbudin Herdis

Iceland and ice cream have a love affair that confounds visitors and delights locals. While tourists bundle into down jackets against the wind, Icelanders queue happily for scoops of the stuff in the dead of January. Isbudin Herdis, perched on the slope of Skolavörðustígur near Hallgrimskirkja, is one of the city's finest expressions of this national obsession.

The Ice Cream

Everything here is made in-house, and you can taste the difference. The gelato is dense, smooth, and intensely flavoured -- nothing like the airy, oversweet confections that pass for ice cream in lesser establishments. Classic flavours like chocolate and vanilla are executed with precision, while more adventurous offerings might include Icelandic liquorice, skyr and blueberry, or seasonal fruit combinations.

The vegan ice cream deserves special praise. In a category where "dairy-free" often means "flavour-free," Isbudin Herdis manages to produce vegan gelato that is genuinely delicious. The texture is right, the flavour is full, and you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference in a blind tasting. There are always sugar-free options available too.

Beyond the Scoops

The shop also serves coffee, cakes, and doughnuts. The doughnuts are particularly good -- fresh, light, and not overly sweet. They make a fine companion to a cup of coffee on a cold afternoon. But let us be honest: you are here for the ice cream, and the ice cream is why you will come back.

The Location

Skolavörðustígur is one of Reykjavik's most photogenic streets, climbing steeply from the city centre up to the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church. Isbudin Herdis sits along this route, making it a natural stop during the walk up or down. The shop is small, with limited indoor seating, but on a good day the pavement outside fills with people eating cones and watching the world go by.

When to Go

Anytime. Seriously. The Icelandic approach to ice cream recognises no season, and neither should you. A scoop of salted caramel gelato tastes just as good in a February snowstorm as it does in July sunshine -- arguably better, because the contrast between the cold treat and the cold air has a peculiar magic to it.

Practical Notes

Prices are gentle by Reykjavik standards. The shop opens at noon daily, stays open until 21:00 on most nights and 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. No reservations needed, obviously. Cards are accepted, and the queue moves quickly.