Guidebook for Reykjavik

Hilda
Guidebook for Reykjavik

Food Scene

Lovely and classy atmosphere with amazing but affordable food in 3 minutes walk from the apartment.
288 locals recommend
Snaps Bistro
1 Þórsgata
288 locals recommend
Lovely and classy atmosphere with amazing but affordable food in 3 minutes walk from the apartment.
Good brunch / lunch restaurant by day and a cozy wine bar by night. The decor is very old Reykjavík. I love it.
19 locals recommend
Tiu dropar Café
27 Laugavegur
19 locals recommend
Good brunch / lunch restaurant by day and a cozy wine bar by night. The decor is very old Reykjavík. I love it.
Lovely veggie restaurant, family owned, quiet atmosphere and great food. 5 minutes walk from the apartment. One of my favorites.
26 locals recommend
Garðurinn
37 Klapparstígur
26 locals recommend
Lovely veggie restaurant, family owned, quiet atmosphere and great food. 5 minutes walk from the apartment. One of my favorites.
Amazing, classy and wonderful for fine dining. The decor by it self is worth the visit but the food can not disappoint.
336 locals recommend
Grillmarkaðurinn
336 locals recommend
Amazing, classy and wonderful for fine dining. The decor by it self is worth the visit but the food can not disappoint.
Iceland's most famous hot dog stand. You can't leave without trying at least one. I recommend putting everything on but I always ask for a smaller than usual dose of the sauces. :)
191 locals recommend
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
1 Tryggvagata
191 locals recommend
Iceland's most famous hot dog stand. You can't leave without trying at least one. I recommend putting everything on but I always ask for a smaller than usual dose of the sauces. :)
Iceland's oldest café and it has been kept exactly like it was! Amazing. I enjoy the mokka cake, their waffles, the ham and cheese sandwich with asparagus and they have very good real hot chocolate.
75 locals recommend
Mokka Kaffi
3A Skólavörðustígur
75 locals recommend
Iceland's oldest café and it has been kept exactly like it was! Amazing. I enjoy the mokka cake, their waffles, the ham and cheese sandwich with asparagus and they have very good real hot chocolate.
Possibly my favorite place in the whole city. It's wonderful to have a cup of tea with view of the harbor while listening to old fishermen on their lunch break debating politics. Very old Reykjavík.
59 locals recommend
Kaffivagninn
10 Grandagarður
59 locals recommend
Possibly my favorite place in the whole city. It's wonderful to have a cup of tea with view of the harbor while listening to old fishermen on their lunch break debating politics. Very old Reykjavík.
A lovely book café on the second floor. Great food too and view over Laugavegur main shopping street.
28 locals recommend
Mál og Menning
28 locals recommend
A lovely book café on the second floor. Great food too and view over Laugavegur main shopping street.
Good book café where you can sit by the window while flipping through your fav mag.
34 locals recommend
Penninn Eymundsson Skólavörðustíg
11 Skólavörðustígur
34 locals recommend
Good book café where you can sit by the window while flipping through your fav mag.
Opens early and closes early. Owned by two artists, decorated by their art and visited by artsy folks. Great english breakfast but I love having pancakes with the tuna fish salad.
31 locals recommend
The Grey Cat
16a Hverfisgata
31 locals recommend
Opens early and closes early. Owned by two artists, decorated by their art and visited by artsy folks. Great english breakfast but I love having pancakes with the tuna fish salad.
This is the place to go for beers and sit in their outdoor pateo. 15 min. walk from apartment. Very popular place and they also have great food. I recommend the summer ale. Very light and fresh.
176 locals recommend
Kex Hostel Reykjavik
28 Skúlagata
176 locals recommend
This is the place to go for beers and sit in their outdoor pateo. 15 min. walk from apartment. Very popular place and they also have great food. I recommend the summer ale. Very light and fresh.
Chinese restaurant. Great chicken noodle soup with fresh ginger and chili.
Asía veitingahús
10 Laugavegur
Chinese restaurant. Great chicken noodle soup with fresh ginger and chili.
Amazing tapas restaurant. I highly recommend trying the cured lamb with licorice sauce. Pure bliss!
83 locals recommend
Tapas barinn
3b Vesturgata
83 locals recommend
Amazing tapas restaurant. I highly recommend trying the cured lamb with licorice sauce. Pure bliss!
Veeeery good pizzas.
9 locals recommend
Gamla Smiðjan
9 locals recommend
Veeeery good pizzas.
If you like coffee (I'm a tea girl), I hear this is the place to go. It's also very cozy.
245 locals recommend
Reykjavik Roasters
1 Kárastígur
245 locals recommend
If you like coffee (I'm a tea girl), I hear this is the place to go. It's also very cozy.
Good tea and coffee. I recommend the black mango tea with a splash of honey. Or the icelandic arctic thyme one.
106 locals recommend
Te & Kaffi
11 Skólavörðustígur
106 locals recommend
Good tea and coffee. I recommend the black mango tea with a splash of honey. Or the icelandic arctic thyme one.
Amazing burgers. I also recommend walking around the harbor for some great sights, stores and restaurants and a lovely atmosphere.
169 locals recommend
Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar
Geirsgötu 1 Geirsgata
169 locals recommend
Amazing burgers. I also recommend walking around the harbor for some great sights, stores and restaurants and a lovely atmosphere.
Come here and try the whale meat or lobster soup. It's a very charismatic place. The whales we hunt are not endangered and they have a much more acceptable life than our factory farmed pigs!
104 locals recommend
Sægreifinn
104 locals recommend
Come here and try the whale meat or lobster soup. It's a very charismatic place. The whales we hunt are not endangered and they have a much more acceptable life than our factory farmed pigs!
Good sushi place down by the harbor.
Sushismiðjan
3 Geirsgata
Good sushi place down by the harbor.
A great noodle place!
71 locals recommend
Noodle Station
71 locals recommend
A great noodle place!
Fine dining with emphasis on seafood.
233 locals recommend
Fiskmarkaðurinn
233 locals recommend
Fine dining with emphasis on seafood.
Good indian food.
117 locals recommend
Austur-Indíafélagið
56 Hverfisgata
117 locals recommend
Good indian food.
Indian - fast food joint. Cheaper than Austur Indíafélagið but owned by the same people.
45 locals recommend
Hraðlestin
45 locals recommend
Indian - fast food joint. Cheaper than Austur Indíafélagið but owned by the same people.
My favorite pizza slice place. Small and simple with great slices. I recommend the veggie one with peanuts. Yum!
18 locals recommend
Bankastræti
Bankastræti
18 locals recommend
My favorite pizza slice place. Small and simple with great slices. I recommend the veggie one with peanuts. Yum!

Everything Else

The National Theater. One of the most beautiful houses in town. The plays are in Icelandic but I recommend going there just to look at the building.
Þjóðleikhúsið
The National Theater. One of the most beautiful houses in town. The plays are in Icelandic but I recommend going there just to look at the building.
Go swimming here in the amazing Sundhöllin (swim palace) by architect Guðjón Samúelsson. 10 min walk from apartment. Even the changing rooms look great!
484 locals recommend
Sundhöllin
45a Barónsstígur
484 locals recommend
Go swimming here in the amazing Sundhöllin (swim palace) by architect Guðjón Samúelsson. 10 min walk from apartment. Even the changing rooms look great!

Sightseeing

Church of Hallgrímur. 2 minutes from the apartment. Great beautiful building by Guðjón Samúelsson and don't miss visiting the tower with a view over the city.
743 locals recommend
Hallgrimskirkja
743 locals recommend
Church of Hallgrímur. 2 minutes from the apartment. Great beautiful building by Guðjón Samúelsson and don't miss visiting the tower with a view over the city.
Reykvikian's favorite park for hanging out in the sun. Also the home of the Icelandic parliament.
84 locals recommend
Austurvöllur
101 Pósthússtræti
84 locals recommend
Reykvikian's favorite park for hanging out in the sun. Also the home of the Icelandic parliament.
I don't mean to tell you about the Macland store but the lovely park behind it. Very shabby chic and one of Reykvikians favorite summer hangout spots. Expect live music and lovely atmosphere.
6 locals recommend
Macland Laugavegi
6 locals recommend
I don't mean to tell you about the Macland store but the lovely park behind it. Very shabby chic and one of Reykvikians favorite summer hangout spots. Expect live music and lovely atmosphere.
It is lovely to wander around in this old graveyard and feel the history in the surroundings.
Kirkjugarðsstígur
Kirkjugarðsstígur
It is lovely to wander around in this old graveyard and feel the history in the surroundings.
A wonderful neighbourhood in the old town. Go here for a stroll between Garðastræti and Aðalstræti. It will not take long but it's worth it.
Mjóstræti
Mjóstræti
A wonderful neighbourhood in the old town. Go here for a stroll between Garðastræti and Aðalstræti. It will not take long but it's worth it.

Drinks & Nightlife

A bar, breakfast place (a bit sleazy) and a café. I would go there late night on saturdays or fridays to dance to some hip hop. Not recommended for non-hiphop-lovers.
109 locals recommend
Prikið
12 Bankastræti
109 locals recommend
A bar, breakfast place (a bit sleazy) and a café. I would go there late night on saturdays or fridays to dance to some hip hop. Not recommended for non-hiphop-lovers.
A classic bar. Not much to say but their happy hour lasts longer than anywhere else in Reykjavík. Can have good music.
19 locals recommend
Boston Reykjavik
28b Laugavegur
19 locals recommend
A classic bar. Not much to say but their happy hour lasts longer than anywhere else in Reykjavík. Can have good music.
A bar. Can be real nice. Can be not so nice.
240 locals recommend
Kaffibarinn
240 locals recommend
A bar. Can be real nice. Can be not so nice.
Go here for a lovely cocktail hour between 17 and 19 in the spirit of old Reykjavík. The bar is decorated with sketches and paintings by Iceland's beloved artist, Jóhannes Kjarval.
29 locals recommend
Hotel Holt
37 Bergstaðastræti
29 locals recommend
Go here for a lovely cocktail hour between 17 and 19 in the spirit of old Reykjavík. The bar is decorated with sketches and paintings by Iceland's beloved artist, Jóhannes Kjarval.

Arts & Culture

A very good art gallery in an impressive and interesting building.
350 locals recommend
Reykjavik Art Museum Hafnarhus
17 Tryggvagata
350 locals recommend
A very good art gallery in an impressive and interesting building.
A good art gallery in one of my favorite buildings in Reykjavík by Högna Sigurðardóttir. The park surrounding it is also good for some sunny day picnics.
276 locals recommend
Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir
24 Flókagata
276 locals recommend
A good art gallery in one of my favorite buildings in Reykjavík by Högna Sigurðardóttir. The park surrounding it is also good for some sunny day picnics.
Great art gallery and the café there is lovely!
166 locals recommend
National Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Islands)
166 locals recommend
Great art gallery and the café there is lovely!
A lovely maritime museum. If you can have a look inside the old coast guard ship, Óðinn, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful.
70 locals recommend
Reykjavik Maritime Museum
8 Grandagarður
70 locals recommend
A lovely maritime museum. If you can have a look inside the old coast guard ship, Óðinn, I highly recommend it. It's beautiful.
The sculpture garden of Einar Jónsson. Very beautiful and close to the apartment.
140 locals recommend
Einar Jónsson Museum
51 Njarðargata
140 locals recommend
The sculpture garden of Einar Jónsson. Very beautiful and close to the apartment.
A cinema focusing on independent films.
122 locals recommend
Bíó Paradís
54 Hverfisgata
122 locals recommend
A cinema focusing on independent films.
The settlement museum! Wonderful place with pieces of icelandic history. A must see in my opinion.
168 locals recommend
Árbær Open Air Museum
Kistuhylur
168 locals recommend
The settlement museum! Wonderful place with pieces of icelandic history. A must see in my opinion.

Shopping

The Reykjavík flea market. It's a bit weird but definitely a must visit. I recommend buying Steinbítur dried fish there (dip in butter!) and in spring time some cliff bird eggs from the Westfjords.
183 locals recommend
kolaportid
183 locals recommend
The Reykjavík flea market. It's a bit weird but definitely a must visit. I recommend buying Steinbítur dried fish there (dip in butter!) and in spring time some cliff bird eggs from the Westfjords.
High end fashion in Reykjavík.
22 locals recommend
KronKron
63 Laugavegur
22 locals recommend
High end fashion in Reykjavík.
Comics!
57 locals recommend
hverfisgata 12
12 Hverfisgata
57 locals recommend
Comics!
A lovely antique store. It is a bit pricey but worth the visit.
Vesturgata 3
5 Vesturgata
A lovely antique store. It is a bit pricey but worth the visit.

Essentials

Icelandic farmers market - shop specializing in organic produce. Great one!
Óðinsgata
Óðinsgata
Icelandic farmers market - shop specializing in organic produce. Great one!
A small grocery shop to get what's missing for your dinner. Too expensive maybe for bulk buying but great for small purchases. Open till 23.
149 locals recommend
Krambúð
42 Skólavörðustígur
149 locals recommend
A small grocery shop to get what's missing for your dinner. Too expensive maybe for bulk buying but great for small purchases. Open till 23.
Cheap supermarket. Not great but rather cheap compared to others.
25 locals recommend
Hallveigarstigur
Hallveigarstigur
25 locals recommend
Cheap supermarket. Not great but rather cheap compared to others.