Here’s the thing about Reykjavik: it’s expensive, and the sooner you make peace with that, the better your trip will go. Accept it, budget accordingly, and you’ll find a food scene that genuinely surprises — rich with high-quality produce and ingredients you simply won’t find anywhere else in the world.
The city is small, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to eating well. Michelin-starred restaurants like Dill and Óx sit alongside near-perfect Indian cooking at Austur Indíafélagið, and yes, the famous hot dogs at Bæjarins Beztu are worth the detour — even if you could argue a roadside stand anywhere could pull off the same trick. The queues are part of the experience. Here’s where locals actually eat in Reykjavik.
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This guide has been refreshed by Shruthi Basappa, a restaurant critic residing in Reykjavik. At Time Out, all our travel guides are crafted by local writers who intimately understand their cities. For insights into our curation process, please refer to our editorial guidelines.
