If you’re heading to Iceland and want one place that covers every craving — affordable, varied, and genuinely good — Hlemmur Mathöll is it. Reykjavík’s first food hall opened in August 2017 and hasn’t looked back since.
I’ve had plenty of time to work my way through almost every one of its ten vendors, and the hall’s motto — “All kinds of food, for all kinds of people” — really does hold up. Mexican, Vietnamese, Danish, Italian, traditional Icelandic: it’s all here. So is freshly baked sourdough, single-origin coffee, organic vegetables, and liquid-nitrogen ice cream, all inside a beautifully converted old bus terminal.
The hall is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., though individual vendors keep their own hours. Brauð & Co and Micro Roast Te & Kaffi open early at 8 a.m., while most of the food stalls get going from 11 a.m. The bakery closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays; other spots run as late as 11 p.m.
Here’s what each vendor has going for it.
Header photo by Arthur Lawrence.
Brauð & Co Bakery
Photo by Arthur Lawrence.
I’ll say it plainly: Brauð & Co makes some of the best cinnamon buns in Europe. Their original shop at Frakkastígur 16 has been drawing queues since 2016, and the Hlemmur Mathöll location — opened on June 17, 2017, Iceland’s independence day — has settled in just as comfortably.
The focus is organic sourdough and inventive buns. Rhubarb and liquorice is one combination they’ve played with; whatever they try next will probably work just as well. They’ve also started making pizza. I haven’t tried it yet, but the smell alone is persuasive.
Pro tip: If you prefer to avoid the wait at their original location around noon, Hlemmur is a fantastic alternative!
Opening hours: Daily from 08:00 to 18:00.
Borðið
Photo from Hlemmur Mathöll Instagram page.
Borðið — “The Table” — started as a Mediterranean gourmet shop and bistro in West Reykjavík in 2016. It’s a family-run place that pairs Nordic produce with Mediterranean flavours, pulling in ideas from American and French baking along the way.
Zero-waste practices and organic, locally-sourced ingredients fit naturally with Hlemmur Mathöll’s overall ethos. The charcuterie platter is worth lingering over, and the fried gnocchi is the kind of comfort food you didn’t know you needed until it’s in front of you.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 22:00.
Ísleifur heppni
Photo by Zoe Sarsanedas.
My go-to for ice cream in Reykjavík, and the competition is real. What sets Ísleifur heppni apart is the texture — liquid nitrogen churned right in front of you produces something impossibly smooth, no icy crystals anywhere.
I’m generally more of a savoury person, but their flavour combinations make it hard to walk past. A standout was a waffle ice cream cake using fresh waffles from Brauð & Co next door. What comes next is anyone’s guess, which is half the fun.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 22:00.
Micro Roast Te & Kaffi
Photo by Zoe Sarsanedas.
Te og Kaffi has been a favourite local coffee chain for years. They roast their own beans and source fair-trade coffee from around the world, so serious coffee drinkers will feel at home. I’m not much of a coffee person myself, but their chai latte and hot chocolate are both excellent.
If you care about where your beans come from and want to try something a bit different, this is worth the stop.
Opening hours: Daily from 08:00 to 22:00.
Skál!
Photo by Zoe Sarsanedas.
My personal favourite in the hall. Skál! manages to deliver something that feels like proper fine dining in the middle of a casual food court, and it pulls it off without any fuss. Even a simple plate of cauliflower with spicy mayo comes across as considered and precise.
The menu is from renowned chef Gísli Matthías, known for Matur & Drykkur and Slippurinn. Icelandic ingredients sit alongside international flavours in ways that actually make sense — charred Icelandic charr with blood orange ceviche, for example. The cocktail list is strong too, with Icelandic birch products among the more unusual options behind the bar.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:30 to 23:00.
La Poblana
Photo from Hlemmur Mathöll Instagram page.
Reykjavík’s Mexican scene is small enough that any decent addition matters, and La Poblana is a decent addition. You can grab a quick burrito or go for soft tortillas stuffed with chicken, beef, or a plant-based option. Every hot sauce is made in-house, so there’s a good range of heat to choose from.
The menu could be broader — fish tacos and quesadillas would be welcome — but daily specials and festive menus keep things from getting stale.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 21:00.
Kröst
Photo by Zoe Sarsanedas.
Kröst was created specifically for the food hall. It focuses on grilled meats, fish, and vegetables, and its Kröstí burger has been mentioned in the same breath as Reykjavík’s top five. Weekly specials rotate through things like smoky bacon-wrapped fish and lamb ribs, so there’s usually something worth trying beyond the regular menu.
The cheese and charcuterie platters are made for sharing — pair one with prosecco or a red wine and you’ve got a relaxed evening sorted.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 23:00.
Banh Mí
Photo from Hlemmur Mathöll Instagram page.
Simple, quick, and very good. Banh Mí does Vietnamese food, and if you haven’t had a proper bánh mì sandwich before, this is a fine place to start. The summer rolls with peanut sauce are worth ordering alongside, and a bowl of Phó on a grey Icelandic afternoon is hard to beat.
Opening hours: Daily from 11:00 to 22:00.
Jómfrúin Scandinavian Kitchen
Photo by Zoe Sarsanedas.
Jómfrúin has been part of Reykjavík’s food scene since 1996, and it’s earned its longevity. The speciality is traditional Danish smørrebrød — open sandwiches on rye or white bread, piled with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and put together with real care.
Think of it as Scandinavian tapas. Order a few, take your time, and consider a glass of wine or a shot of Aquavit alongside. It works.
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 18:00; Friday to Saturday from 11:00 to 21:00.
Rabbar Barinn
Photo by Arthur Lawrence.
The name is a play on Icelandic, and the concept is just as local: organic vegetables, potted herbs, fresh basil plants, and a bring-your-own-container policy to cut down on waste. For those without a kitchen, Rabbar Barinn also sells prepared food — soups, and what has become something of a local favourite, the lobster and bacon sandwich.
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday from 11:00 to 19:00; Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 to 20:00.
What Makes Hlemmur Food Hall Exciting?
The vendors don’t operate in isolation. They share ingredients and ideas: Brauð & Co supplies bread for sandwiches at Rabbar Barinn, and fresh produce moves between stalls, feeding into menus across the hall. That kind of collaboration shows up in the food.
The space itself encourages it too. Communal tables mean you’re sitting alongside people eating from completely different vendors, which makes for a relaxed, sociable atmosphere. Pop-up events, seasonal markets, and themed days come and go throughout the year, pulling in both locals and visitors.
Live music and vendor-led special occasions have turned Hlemmur Mathöll into something beyond a place to eat — it’s become a genuine social spot. Whether you’re after a cocktail, a quick lunch, or a long family dinner, the hall handles all of it.
At its core, Hlemmur Mathöll captures a lot of what makes Reykjavík’s food culture worth paying attention to: quality ingredients, real variety, and a room that feels alive. It’s well worth making time for on any visit.
