Mulakaffi
A beloved local cafeteria serving generous portions of traditional Icelandic home cooking at prices that feel like a throwback to a kinder era.
Mulakaffi is not in the tourist centre. It is not on any best-of lists compiled by travel influencers. It does not have a website that loads with drone footage and a manifesto about ingredient provenance. What it has is a room full of locals eating generous portions of traditional Icelandic food at prices that make you wonder how they stay in business.
The Food
Mulakaffi operates as a cafeteria. You walk in, pick up a tray, and choose from the daily specials displayed behind the counter. The options change daily but typically include fish, lamb, meatballs, stews, and the kind of hearty fare that Icelandic grandmothers have been cooking for generations. Every meal comes with complimentary soup, salad, and coffee -- a detail that transforms good value into extraordinary value.
The cooking is not fancy. It is not plated with tweezers or garnished with microgreens. It is home cooking, scaled up and served efficiently to a room full of people who want to eat well and get back to work. The fish is fresh, the lamb is tender, the potatoes are boiled or mashed, and the gravy is the kind that makes you reach for more bread.
The Setting
The interior is pure cafeteria: functional furniture, bright lighting, no music, and the pleasant clatter of cutlery. You will sit among taxi drivers, office workers, and tradespeople who have been eating here for years. The atmosphere is unhurried during quiet periods and brisk during the lunch rush. It is entirely without pretension, and that is refreshing.
Why Visit
Mulakaffi matters because it represents something increasingly rare in Reykjavik: a place where you can eat well for a reasonable price in the company of locals rather than tourists. The food is honest, the portions are generous, and the experience is authentically Icelandic in a way that no themed restaurant can replicate.
Practical Tips
Come for lunch on a weekday. Monday has the longest opening hours. Tuesday through Friday, the kitchen closes at 14:00, so arrive well before that. The restaurant is closed on weekends. Getting here requires a bus ride or a short drive from central Reykjavik, but the savings on your lunch bill will more than cover the fare.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of food does Mulakaffi serve?
- Traditional Icelandic cafeteria food: daily specials including fish, lamb, meatballs, and stews, with complimentary soup, salad, and coffee included with every meal.
- How much does a meal cost?
- Daily specials from ISK 1,800 to 2,800 (approximately 12-19 EUR) including soup, salad, and coffee. Among the best value in Reykjavik.
- Is Mulakaffi open on weekends?
- No. Mulakaffi is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday hours vary, with shorter hours Tuesday through Friday.
- Where is Mulakaffi?
- At Hallarmuli 1 in the 108 postal code area, east of central Reykjavik near the City Park Hotel. It is outside the tourist centre, which is part of its charm.
- Do tourists go to Mulakaffi?
- Some do, but it is primarily a locals' spot. Office workers, taxi drivers, and tradespeople form the regular clientele. That is exactly why the food is good and the prices are fair.
- Do I need a reservation?
- No. Walk in, pick up a tray, and choose your meal at the counter. It is cafeteria-style service.
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