12 Must-Visit Bakeries in Reykjavik

Curious about the best bakery in Reykjavik? Wondering where you can find the finest coffee in the capital? Look no further than BakaBaka and Braud & Co. Here is your guide to Iceland’s baking culture and the top bakeries in Reykjavik worth seeking out.

Walk almost any street in Reykjavik and you will pass a bakery. Icelanders take their freshly baked goods seriously — a warm pastry and a strong coffee is practically a morning ritual here, and the city has plenty of places to indulge that habit.

Whether you lean toward flaky French-style pastries or classic Icelandic staples, this guide covers both the contemporary spots and the old-school institutions you should not leave the capital without visiting.

Most of the bakeries on this list sit in or near the city center, so you can tick off several in a single morning on foot. If you have a rental car, it is worth venturing a little further — some of the best finds are a short drive from the main drag.

Essential Points to Note

• Reykjavik has a thriving bakery scene, from new artisan shops to historic institutions that have been feeding the city for generations.

• Standout names like Sweet Aurora and BakaBaka each bring something distinct — French patisserie on one end, beloved Icelandic classics on the other.

• Do not leave without trying kleina, snudur, vinarbraud, rye bread, and bollur if you visit in February.

• Historic bakeries such as Bernhoftsbakari and Björnsbakari have kept Iceland’s baking traditions alive through recipes passed down over generations.

• Many bakeries now cater to different dietary needs, with vegan and gluten-free options particularly common at the artisan spots.

• Prices are steeper than in most countries — fresh pastries typically run between 500 and 900 ISK — but the quality justifies it.

• Some places, like BakaBaka, shift from bakery to pizzeria and wine bar come evening, which makes them worth a second visit.

The 8 Best Modern Bakeries in Reykjavik

Reykjavik’s bakery scene changed significantly from the 2010s onward. Rising tourism brought new appetite for specialty baking, and a wave of creative bakers arrived to meet it — putting imaginative spins on the classics that locals already loved.

8. Hygge

The name says it all. Hygge — meaning that distinctly Scandinavian sense of cozy comfort — delivers on its promise with good cinnamon rolls, savory sandwiches, and Danish pastries. The coffee menu is more varied than most Icelandic bakeries, running from hot espresso drinks to iced options, which is genuinely unusual in this city.

The space has a clean Scandinavian look with outdoor seating for rare sunny days. The original Hygge is inside Grandi by Center Hotels, and in 2025 a second location opened on Baronsstigur 6, close to the buzz of Laugavegur Street and some of Reykjavik’s better restaurants.

7. Deig

Deig means “Dough,” and donuts and bagels are squarely the focus here. The kleina-style donuts have a satisfying firmness to them — lemon twist and Oreo donuts tend to be the crowd favourites. The savory bagels hold their own too, with fillings ranging from simple spreads to proper meat options.

Deig sits inside a downtown hotel alongside the popular burger joint Le Kock. The seating area leans heavily into 90s nostalgia — vintage NBA games and cartoons play in the background, which makes for an oddly enjoyable lunch atmosphere.

6. Brikk

Brikk started in Hafnarfjordur in 2017 and has since grown to four locations, including one on Hateigsvegur near Hlemmur Square. It sits somewhere between bakery and bistro — the sourdough sandwiches are as much of a draw as the pastries, and the snudur here comes in inventive flavours that reward repeat visits.

Classic cinnamon and rich salted caramel are the reliable choices, but whatever you pick, it is the kind of place where you will want to slow down and stay a while.

5. Sandholt

Sandholt has been family-owned for over a century and is now in its fourth generation of bakers. Its spot on Laugavegur Main Street puts it right in the thick of things, and the mix of locals and visitors queuing on a weekend morning tells you something about its reputation.

The menu has grown well beyond pastries — soups and sandwiches fill out the lunch offer — and there is a spacious dining room with an outdoor terrace when the weather cooperates. Guests staying at the adjacent Sand Hotel have it particularly good, with Sandholt Bakery breakfast practically on their doorstep.

4. Braud & Co.

Braud & Co. did a lot to kick off Reykjavik’s modern bakery boom when it opened its first location in 2016. The queues formed quickly and have not really stopped since. The original site is still the flagship, even as more branches have opened around the city.

The cinnamon buns are what most people come for — vanilla, blueberry, licorice, and more, served fresh and warm in aluminum trays. They are hard to resist, which is probably why people keep coming back.

3. 280 Bakery

280 Bakery launched in October 2025 on Klappastigur 27, founded by the original Braud & Co. team. The pedigree shows — the croissants and cinnamon rolls have already built a loyal following, and the emphasis on quality ingredients is noticeable from the first bite.

Stop in for a coffee and a pastry or grab a sandwich at lunch. It is a small, unpretentious spot that takes the baking seriously.

2. BakaBaka

BakaBaka occupies the historic site of Iceland’s very first bakery, and it wears that legacy well. During the day it functions as a café and bakery — the kleinur are the thing to order, especially straight out of the fryer. There is also a good selection of Icelandic rye bread, and brunch is worth considering if you have the time.

Come evening it transforms into an Italian restaurant, and it gets busy. Book ahead if you are planning to stay for dinner.

1. Sweet Aurora Reykjavik

Sweet Aurora sits a little off the main tourist trail, but it is absolutely worth finding. The bakery is named after both the aurora borealis and its owner, chef Aurore, and the French patisserie influence is clear throughout — macarons, eclairs, and beautifully finished pastries that would look at home in a Parisian window.

There are also Icelandic-inspired creations and a savory quiche for those who want something more substantial. Gluten-free options are available too. Every item feels considered and personal, which is exactly what you want from an owner-run place like this.

The 4 Best Traditional Bakeries in Reykjavik

Iceland’s baking history may not stretch back as far as some European countries, but the traditions that exist here are genuinely worth experiencing. These bakeries have kept old recipes alive and continue to serve them to anyone willing to look past the newer, trendier spots.

Here is where to find classic Icelandic baked goods like kleina, vinarbraud, and hjonabandssaela.

4. Bakarameistarinn

Bakarameistarinn has been at it since 1977 and has built up nine locations across the Greater Reykjavik Area — which tells you it is doing something right. The original location opens at 6:30 AM, making it one of the better options for an early start. The atmosphere is relaxed, the pastries are solid, and the sandwiches make a decent breakfast or mid-morning stop.

3. Bjornsbakari

Founded in 1905, Bjornsbakari is one of the older names still operating in Reykjavik. There are two locations in the city, and both keep a strong selection going — the snudur with chocolate or caramel glaze is a consistent favourite, and the chocolate-dipped kleina is not something you find everywhere. Vinarbraud and ciabatta sandwiches round out a menu that does traditional well without being stuck in the past.

2. Mosfellsbakari

Mosfellsbakari opened in 1982 in a small town with just a handful of residents at the time. Today there is a branch in Reykjavik, stocked with a wide range of breads and pastries. The seasonal cakes are well regarded, and the hjonabandssaela made with fresh rhubarb jam is exactly the kind of thing you will not find in most other cities.

1. Bernhoftsbakari

Bernhoftsbakari traces its roots back to 1834, which makes it not just the oldest bakery in Reykjavik but one of the oldest businesses in Iceland full stop. It is officially a landmark. The original site is now home to BakaBaka, but Bernhoftsbakari carries that history into its current location — the décor is simple, with old photographs and awards on the walls, and the selection of snudur, vinarbraud, and kleinur remains as dependable as ever. Nearly two centuries and still going.

Classic Icelandic Pastries and Bread to Try

The story of professional baking in Reykjavik starts in 1834, when Danish merchant Peter Knudtson identified a gap in the market and brought in German baker Tönnies Daniel Bernhöft to fill it. Icelanders had baked simple bread at home long before that, but Bernhöft’s arrival marked the beginning of a real bakery culture. Nearly 200 years later, that culture is in good shape.

Alongside the usual European staples, Icelandic bakeries offer a handful of local specialties that are genuinely distinct. Here are the ones worth trying.

Kleina

Kleina is a deep-fried pastry — crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and twisted into a shape that helps it cook evenly. You will find it in almost every bakery in the country, and for good reason: the earliest known recipes date to the 18th century, and Icelanders have never really stopped eating them.

In many Scandinavian countries kleina is a Christmas treat, but in Iceland it is a year-round thing, usually eaten alongside a hot drink. Try it with a caramel dip at Sæta Svínið if you get the chance — it is a good combination.

Snudur

Think of the snudur as Iceland’s answer to the cinnamon roll, though it is more about the glaze than the spice. The dough is thick and fluffy, and the topping comes in various flavors — classic pink icing, chocolate, and caramel being the most common. A cold glass of milk alongside it is the traditional pairing, and it works.

Vinarbraud

The name translates as “Vienna bread,” though vinarbraud is really an Icelandic take on Danish pastry. It is rectangular, filled with custard, and has a satisfying crunch from the topping. At gatherings it is often sliced thin and shared — most bakeries also sell half portions, which is handy if you just want a taste without committing to a full piece.

Hjonabandssaela (Happy Marriage Cake)

The name means “Marital Bliss,” and this oat-and-jam cake is one of those simple things done very well. It typically uses rhubarb jam — rhubarb grows abundantly in Iceland — and the buttery, crumbly crust balances the sweetness of the filling nicely. There are theories that it evolved from the Linzer torte, but whatever its origins, it has become something distinctly Icelandic.

Rugbraud (Rye Bread)

Rye bread exists across Europe, but Iceland’s version has a method behind it that is uniquely its own. Traditionally the dough was buried near geothermal hot springs and left to cook slowly overnight, producing a dense, dark, slightly sweet loaf. Most bakers use conventional ovens now, but the character of the bread has not changed much — serve it with butter or local fish and it makes perfect sense.

Bollur (Cream Puffs)

Bollur are cream puffs filled with whipped cream and finished with chocolate, and they get their big moment every February on “Bun Day.” On that day, bakeries around the city sell them by the trayful and families often bake them at home too. Variations with jam or salted caramel exist, but the classic whipped cream version is the one to start with.

Hungry for More?

If you want to go deeper into Icelandic food culture, one of our curated food tours is a good way to do it — you will cover a lot more ground with a local guide who knows where to go.

Bakeries in Reykjavik FAQs

A few practical answers to common questions about visiting bakeries in Reykjavik.

Are Reykjavik’s bakeries open early in the morning?

Yes, many bakeries open as early as 7 AM, perfect for grabbing a fresh pastry and coffee to start your day of exploration.

Do Reykjavik bakeries offer gluten-free or vegan options?

Although many traditional pastries include gluten and dairy, bakeries like Sandholt and Braud & Co. provide delicious gluten-free and vegan treats.

Can I find traditional Icelandic rye bread (rugbraud) in these bakeries?

Definitely! Most bakeries, particularly those focusing on traditional recipes, sell rugbraud, a dense bread usually paired with butter or seafood.

Are Reykjavik bakeries expensive?

Prices tend to be higher than in many other countries due to living costs, with pastries typically costing around 4 to 7 USD (500 to 900 ISK).

Do bakeries in Reykjavik accept cash, or is card payment preferred?

All bakeries accept card payments, making transactions seamless for visitors.

Can I bring Icelandic pastries home as souvenirs?

Some pastries, such as kleina and rugbraud, travel well and can be packed for souvenirs. However, be sure to verify airline regulations regarding food transportation.

Take a Bite of Icelandic Sweets

Reykjavik rewards slow walkers. Pick up a warm cinnamon bun or something flaky from a display case and just wander — the streets are pleasant and the bakeries are never far apart.

The places on this list are a solid starting point, but half the fun is stumbling onto something yourself. Take your time with it, and your palate will thank you.

Which bakery piques your interest? Did we leave anything out? Share your favorite spots in Reykjavik’s baking scene in the comments below!