A Culinary Journey Through Reykjavik: Gluten and Dairy-Free Delights
Before my trip to Iceland, I’ll admit I was nervous about the food. A quick online search painted a bleak picture: bread, Minke whale, and prices that could make a Viking wince. I packed a box of Clif Bars and a loaf of bread, bracing for two weeks of sad hostel meals. The loaf didn’t even make it to Iceland — my middle-seat neighbour took care of that somewhere over the Atlantic.
The worry evaporated pretty much the moment I landed. Iceland is remote and expensive, yes, but it’s also a surprisingly serious food destination — especially if you’re after fresh produce. The geothermal greenhouses are no joke: this frigid island is actually Europe’s largest banana exporter. Somehow that still catches people off guard.
With a population of just 328,000, Iceland punches well above its weight in a lot of ways — Nobel Laureates per capita, happiness rankings, English fluency. That last one matters enormously when you’re trying to explain a gluten intolerance at a restaurant counter in a country whose language takes years to get right.
Landing at KEF, the first familiar sight was Joe & the Juice right there in the terminal. Small comfort, but a comfort. The Flybus ride into Reykjavik had that particular buzz of arriving somewhere that feels genuinely foreign — in the best possible way. I dropped my backpack at Kex Hostel and walked straight to Hallgrimskirkja, where a latte and a Clif Bar became my first proper Reykjavik meal, consumed with a view worth every Instagram cliché.
Walking tours are how I always start a new city, and Reykjavik’s didn’t disappoint. Our guide was Audur — the writer behind the popular blog “I Heart Reykjavik.” She turned out to be something of a local celebrity, and it emerged mid-tour that she’s related to Björk. In a country this small, those connections are everywhere, which apparently inspired a dating app specifically designed to stop people accidentally falling for a cousin.
After the tour I cornered Audur with questions about eating around my allergies without destroying my budget. She was reassuring: traditional Icelandic food leans heavily on bread and meat, but awareness of dietary restrictions has grown, and the city has genuinely good options. Between her tips and a lot of cooking in the hostel kitchen, I ate well for two weeks.
Eating In: Crafting My Own Meals
Losing that loaf of Rudi’s bread stung less once Audur pointed me toward Bonus — Iceland’s answer to a budget supermarket — and Heilsuhusid, a small organic market that turned out to be a real find. Bonus was where I loaded up on vegetables, nuts, and local meat without spending a fortune. Heilsuhusid had a solid range of gluten-free products and even a juice bar. Cooking at the hostel kept money free for day trips, and having food I’d made myself meant I could eat on the road without stressing about ingredients.
Dining Out: A Taste of Iceland
For anyone who’d rather eat out — or just wants to know where to go when the hostel kitchen is busy — here’s what actually worked for me in Reykjavik:
Glo (Laugavegur 20b, 101 Reykjavik): Audur’s first recommendation, and she was right. Glo does organic, healthy food in a clean, unfussy space that somehow reminds you of Ikea in the best possible way. I went back several times.
Fish and More (Skólavörðustígur 23, 101 Reykjavik): If you eat fish, go here. The seafood is fresh and the fish soup is genuinely special — I had it more than once.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Tryggvatagata 1, 101 Reykjavik): The famous Reykjavik hot dog stand, using lamb rather than beef or pork. Honestly, it was fine rather than life-changing for me, but the people I was travelling with were obsessed.
Kex Hostel (Skúlagata 28, 101 Reykjavik): More of a social space than a dining destination for someone with dietary restrictions, but the atmosphere is great for meeting other travellers. The bacon-wrapped dates were hard to resist.
Fish Market (Aðalstræti 12, 101 Reykjavik): My favourite meal in Reykjavik, full stop. The tasting menu is not cheap, but the quality is there. Book ahead — it fills up fast.
Tapas Bar (Vesturgata 3b, 101 Reykjavik): Did I eat Minke whale and Icelandic foal here? Possibly. The staff were helpful about allergies and the tapas tasting menu is a good way to try a lot of Icelandic flavours in one sitting.
Reykjavik Chips (Vitastígur 10, Reykjavík): Casual, good fries, great dipping sauces — and genuinely gluten-free and dairy-free friendly.
Coffee Vinyl (Hverfisgata 76, Reykjavík): Coffee, vinyl records, soy milk on request. A very easy place to spend an afternoon.
Blue Lagoon’s Lava Restaurant (240 Grindavik | Blue Lagoon, Grindavik): Eating here while surrounded by that landscape is an experience in itself. The premium package brought food discounts, the portions were generous, and the gluten-free options were genuinely good rather than an afterthought.
Final Recommendations
Though time limited my culinary explorations, other gluten-free and dairy-free-friendly establishments worth mentioning include Kitchen Eldhus, Sushi Bar, and Laundromat.
For an extensive list of gluten-free dining options across Iceland, The Coeliac Plate has you covered.
As always, buen camino on your travels!
