The Importance of Planning for Christmas Dining in Iceland
When December 24 and 25 arrive, Reykjavík goes quiet. Most shops and supermarkets close, and a large number of restaurants do the same. Locals tend to spend the day at home, gathered around a long Christmas table.
The traditional spread usually includes ham (smoked lamb), potatoes in white sauce, peas, and the decorative flatbread laufabrauð. Because home cooking is so central to how Icelanders celebrate, your dining options shrink considerably — especially on Christmas Eve. The restaurants that do stay open fill up fast. Showing up at 6 PM on December 24 hoping to find a table is a gamble you’ll probably lose. Pick a place in advance, check their holiday hours, and book — for December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1 alike.
Notable Restaurants Open During Christmas
The list of places open over the holidays shifts from year to year, but several restaurants have made a habit of welcoming guests through the festive period. Always check current hours and book directly.
Classic and Icelandic-inspired Dining
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Pharmacy: Set inside a former pharmacy in downtown Reykjavík, this place does modern Scandinavian food and cocktails well. It typically opens on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve, with special menus for each.
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Smart Sector: A hotel restaurant with creative Nordic cooking. It’s been known to run set seatings across several key dates — December 24–26 and December 31–January 1.
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Autumn: Another hotel restaurant, this one focused on fresh Icelandic produce and seasonal menus in a setting that’s polished without feeling stiff.
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At Joni’s: An elegantly styled venue near Austurvöllur, housed in the Iceland Parliament Hotel. The kitchen focuses on modern Icelandic cuisine, and the wine and cocktail list is serious — a good fit if you’re staying in the downtown area.
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Loa: On Laugavegur, this spot takes Icelandic ingredients and nudges them in a Mediterranean direction. It’s relaxed rather than formal, but the food holds up.
Each of these gives you a genuine sense of Icelandic flavours and a bit of holiday indulgence.
International Comfort and Casual Dining
Not everyone wants a formal dinner over Christmas — sometimes a burger or a bowl of pasta is exactly right.
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Caruso: A cozy Italian spot in the city center with a reputation for generous holiday hours. It’s often open on December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1, serving pasta, pizza, and the rest of the classics.
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Bastard Brew & Food: A gastropub and microbrewery doing burgers, bar snacks, and house-brewed beer. Recent listings suggest it stays open right through the holiday period — good news if you want something low-key.
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Hard Rock Café Reykjavík: On Lækjargata in the city center, the usual American comfort food and rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere — familiar and reliable if that’s what you’re after.
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Shanghai Restaurant: A downtown staple with generous portions and classic Cantonese cooking in an unpretentious setting.
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Snaps Bistro: A French-Nordic bistro by Óðinstorg, famous for its glasshouse-style dining room. Locals love it for seafood and brunch, and it works just as well for a full dinner with company.
New Year’s Eve Specials
If you’re in Reykjavík for New Year’s Eve, you’ll find plenty of restaurants running festive menus with fixed arrival times. Jörgensen Kitchen & Bar, Monkeys Food & Wine, The Mountain Woman, and Snaps Bistro have all focused on special December 31 dinners in recent years.
Most will offer a set menu with a specified seating time — which actually works well if you want a proper meal before heading out to watch the city’s fireworks and bonfires at midnight.
Practical Tips for Dining in Reykjavík During Christmas
A bit of preparation goes a long way. Here’s what to keep in mind:
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Reserve Early—Really Early: Icelanders book their Christmas and New Year’s tables weeks or even months ahead. As soon as your travel plans are set, sort your reservation.
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Verify Opening Hours: Hours shift from year to year. Check the Iceland Highlights Christmas restaurant overview, the “Restaurant Opening Hours” by What’s On, or go straight to each restaurant’s website and social media for up-to-date information.
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Look for Set Menus: Many places drop the full à la carte over the holidays and run a Christmas or New Year’s Eve menu instead — usually built around lamb, seafood, and game, priced per person.
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Notify Dietary Needs: Vegan and vegetarian options have grown significantly across Reykjavík, but it’s still worth flagging any dietary requirements when you book rather than on the night.
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Plan for Shop Closures: Grocery stores close on December 25, and they shut early on December 24 and 31. If you’re cooking for yourself, stock up beforehand — and keep a restaurant booking as a back-up either way.
Enjoying Reykjavík’s Festive Atmosphere
Christmas in Reykjavík is about more than eating. Between meals, it’s worth wandering the decorated streets, stopping by the ice rink and Christmas market at Ingólfstorg, and taking a moment to look at the lights around Austurvöllur and Hallgrímskirkja — they’re genuinely beautiful on a dark winter evening.
If you want a local’s take on the stories behind the traditions and the lights, a Reykjavík Christmas walking tour with a knowledgeable guide is a good way to spend an hour or two — and it’ll work up an appetite for the meal ahead.
Final Thoughts
Eating out in Reykjavík over Christmas is completely doable — you just need to plan ahead. Decide what kind of meal you’re after, whether that’s a casual pub dinner, Italian comfort food, proper Icelandic cuisine, or a New Year’s celebration. Then check the holiday hours, book your table, and you’re sorted.
After that, all that’s left is to sit back, raise a glass, and enjoy a very Icelandic Merry Christmas! 🎄✨
