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Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital city. Iceland is often associated with its natural beauty, and rightly so, but you may not have realized that this city boasts a fantastic culinary culture. Using a lot of lamb, fish, and langoustine, you’ll also find a few unexpected options along the way. Do yourself a favor and try these foods and drinks:

Hot Dogs at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur

No, we’re not joking—hot dogs are an Icelandic favorite. In Iceland the links are made from a lamb, pork, and beef blend, and the toppings are a little different from the typical American offerings. Order a hot dog with ‘the works’ and you’ll get ketchup, sweet mustard, fried and raw onions, and a tasty remoulade sauce. Make sure you get your hot dogs at Jaejarins Beztu Pylsur, which translates to ‘Best Hot Dog in Town’. This stand is a local favorite so there are usually long lines, but the line moves fast.

Langoustine at Grillmarkadurinn

When you see ‘langoustine’ on a Reykjavik menu, think lobster. Langoustine is distinct from the common lobster, however, being much smaller in size. Their small size does not diminish their tastiness though, and you can find langoustine dishes all over Iceland. Head over to Grillmarkadurinn, or Grill Market, and try the langoustine tails. Accompanied by crispy brioche, scallop, and shrimp in champagne sauce, this is the perfect way to experience langoustine.

Brennivin

If you’re looking for a drink in Reykjavik, you have to try Iceland’s national liquor, Brennivin. It’s a clear, unsweetened schnapps, though by American standards it’s considered an aquavit. Made with fermented grain or potato mash and flavored with caraway, it has much less sugar than most American schnapps, and tastes more like vodka. Give it a shot!

Lobster Soup at Saegreifinn

Lobster soup is another Icelandic classic, creamy and flavorful. You have to try it at Saegreifinn, which claims to have the best lobster soup around. The soup is rich and bursting with flavor, made with fresh lobster caught nearby. It’ll be accompanied by delicious bread and butter, which is perfect for dipping.

Tasting Menu at Fiskmarkadurinn

Reykjavik isn’t just home to the Grill Market—it’s also home to the Fish Market, ‘Fiskmarkadurinn’. This is the place to go if you want to try a wide range of the city’s seafood offerings. Go for the tasting menu, 9 courses of delicious fish, shrimp, langoustine, and sushi dishes. If you’re looking for a fine dining experience that gives you an ample selection to choose from, don’t skip Fiskmarkadurinn.

Icelandic Meat Soup

Icelandic Meat Soup is an Icelandic classic, hearty and flavorful. It’s perfect for a cold day, providing delicious lamb, vegetables, rice, and herbs. It’s a rich combination, and very filling. It’s also pretty common, so you should be able to find it in most eateries you come across.

Reykjavik Fish & Chips at Kaffivagninn

Reykjavik is a coastal city, so it’s no surprise that fish & chips is a popular dish. Fishing is Iceland’s largest industry, so you’ll find fish dishes all over the place. Kaffivagninn, a restaurant founded in 1935, consistently offers fantastic fish & chips in large portions. You can get three fried fillets, dipping sauces, and fries, as well as soup, salad, a dinner roll, and unlimited coffee! Kaffivagninn also has the benefit of being located on the harbor, not downtown, so it feels like you’re getting a more genuine Reykjavik experience.

Lamb Sirloin at KOL

Lamb is a staple of Icelandic cuisine, used in everything from hot dogs to soups. It’s an incredibly tender and flavorful meat, so it’s a great addition to just about every dish they put it in. If you want lamb front and center, however, you have to try the Lamb Sirloin at KOL. Accompanied by blueberry polenta, root vegetable puree, salsify, pistachio crumble, 20 month-aged Tindur cheese, red onion compote, and lamb glaze, it’s an incredible offering you’ll never forget.

Smoked Puffin at Tapas Barinn

There aren’t that many places in the world where you can sample puffin, so don’t miss your chance. You can find it at many different restaurants, and it’s usually smoked and served with some kind of sauce. If you have reservations about it, try it at Tapas Barinn, which serves Icelandic specialties as tapas. Their Icelandic Feast is especially noteworthy, and it features Smoked Puffin in Blueberry Brennevin sauce. Give it a shot!

Skyr Yogurt

If you’re looking for a sweet treat, try Skyr Yogurt. Using locally-sourced skim milk and Original Icelandic Skyr Cultures, Skyr makes low fat yogurt that is thick, creamy, and very popular. Skyr Yogurt can now be found all over the world, but why not try it at its hometown?

If your organization is planning to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland for an executive meeting or incentive, contact Gavel International.

This article was last updated on September 21, 2022

Jim Bozzelli
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