Kaffi Torg

Every city needs a cafe that sits right at the centre of things, where the coffee is decent, the seats face outward, and the primary entertainment is watching the world pass by. In Reykjavik, Kaffi Torg fills that role nicely. Positioned on Austurstræti, steps from the city's main square, it is the kind of place you end up at repeatedly during a visit -- not because it is extraordinary, but because it is convenient, reliable, and perfectly positioned.

The Location

This is the real selling point. Austurstræti connects to Austurvöllur, the grassy square in front of the parliament building that serves as Reykjavik's unofficial outdoor living room. From a window seat or a pavement table at Kaffi Torg, you have a front-row view of Reykjavik life: tourists consulting maps, locals hurrying to meetings, protestors occasionally gathering outside the Althing, and the general unhurried parade of a small capital going about its business.

The Food and Drink

Kaffi Torg serves the kind of food that a well-run cafe should: sandwiches, soups, salads, and light meals that are well-prepared without being ambitious. The sandwiches use good bread and fresh fillings. The soup of the day is usually warming and satisfying. Nothing will surprise you, but nothing will disappoint you either.

The coffee is solid. Not the best in Reykjavik -- that honour goes to the specialist roasters -- but consistently good and served in generous portions. As the day progresses, the cafe transitions into more of a bar, with beer and wine joining the menu. On Friday and Saturday nights it stays open until 01:00, catching the energy of Reykjavik's famously late nightlife scene.

The Atmosphere

Casual, busy, and central. Kaffi Torg attracts a mix of tourists and locals, which gives it a pleasant buzz throughout the day. Mornings are quieter, good for reading or working. Afternoons pick up as shoppers and sightseers drop in for coffee. Evenings bring a livelier crowd, particularly on weekends.

Who Should Go

Kaffi Torg is not a destination cafe -- nobody flies to Iceland specifically to drink coffee here. But it is an excellent default option when you find yourself in the city centre, need a coffee and a bite, and do not want to spend twenty minutes searching for something more specific. It does what a city-centre cafe should do, and it does it well.