Taking a bespoke approach to your Iceland holiday pays dividends. Booking our private tours enables you to tailor-make an itinerary of the highest quality. Food should be an important component of that process. The opportunity to visit gourmet restaurants which layer traditional Icelandic cuisine with modern culinary innovation is one that any self-respecting foodie will want to embrace.
In this guide, we explore the culinary treasures found throughout the country, from celebrated dining venues in Reykjavik to lesser-known gourmet spots in the countryside. Some have garnered the attention of the reviewers who compile the prestigious Michelin guide, but others simply concentrate on exceptional dishes created with passion and skill.
What is Fine Dining in Iceland and How Does it Differ from Good Food?
Fine dining almost always equates to an elevated foodie experience. Typically, dishes will reflect impeccable attention to detail, not only in the ingredients used but also in the way they are presented and garnished. Menus are usually seasonal and increasingly reflect a commitment to sustainability.
Service is well thought out. Often, the chef will personally present each dish to their audience, explaining the thought processes that went into its creation. It’s as much an example of culinary art as a meal. The importance of the right wine pairing shouldn’t be underestimated; often, as much thought goes into the drinks that accompany each course as the food itself, so leaving your choices to the experts makes a lot of sense if you are to bring out the best in the flavour profile of a dish.
As befits something special, the surroundings in which you eat are also sophisticated and elegant, mirroring the food and adding to the general upscale ambience. The end result should be a multi-sensory experience that’s memorable for all the right reasons. Some fine dining establishments have a chef’s table which represents the best seat in the house.
Other restaurants might serve food that is equally tasty, sometimes with a unique slant, but it’s usually the overall picture that defines whether somewhere would be classed as a fine dining restaurant or not. Nevertheless, there are some restaurants across Iceland which have an excellent reputation for their food, even those in relatively humble surroundings with more basic décor. These include Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri, Rub23 in Akureyri, Suður in Vik and Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður.
Where to Find The Best Restaurants in Iceland
The Best Fine-Dining Restaurants in Reykjavik
Dill
You might argue that Dill, located on Laugavegur in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, led the way for fine dining. It was certainly the first restaurant in Iceland to receive the coveted Michelin star. The focus is on what the Icelandic countryside and surrounding ocean can provide, taking traditional ingredients and presenting them in a totally original way.
Sustainability is at the heart of Dill’s provision. One of its guiding principles is that they try to use as much of each raw ingredient as they possibly can, keeping food miles as low as possible. This results in an adventurous menu that pushes boundaries, provokes discussion and challenges conventional wisdoms.
ÓX
Exclusivity is highly prized in the fine dining scene, so discerning gourmands will most certainly want to secure one of the 17 seats in the exceptional surroundings of Michelin-starred ÓX. From the moment you step press the buzzer to be let into chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson’s intimate restaurant, you embark on a culinary journey that is nothing short of extraordinary.
Eating here is an immersive experience, the dinner party to end all dinner parties. The intense flavours, exquisitely crafted dishes and the sense of privilege that comes from being one of those fortunate enough to dine here make the eye-wateringly high price worth paying. Simple ingredients are transformed in these expert hands into complex, mouthwatering taste sensations.
Matur og Drykkur
This cozy, rustic eatery earns a mention in the Michelin guide though no star. No matter: the food here is worthy of any superlative or accolade you care to throw at it and the dishes here will deliver one of the most memorable meals of your stay. Located in a century-old former salt fish factory it shares with the Saga Museum, it’s slightly off the beaten track but worth the detour.
Inspiration comes in the form of old recipe books; these classics are updated and given a contemporary twist. A six-course tasting menu centres on local produce, including farm-supplied ingredients and foraged wild herbs and seaweed. Expect imaginative offerings such as with scallop with trout roe and guillemot egg, lamb with chervil chutney or halibut with buttermilk and lovage
Brút
Celebrate seafood at its best in the casual yet sophisticated setting of the Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel. Begin with a plate of oysters or Icelandic lumpfish caviar served with potatoes and crème fraiche. Push your culinary boundaries as you move on to cod tongues or Icelandic sea snails before a classic main course of Arctic char or lemon sole accompanied by local blueberries.
This is fine dining at its most relaxed. The on-trend industrial vibe coupled with such deceptively simple yet delicious dishes will delight even the pickiest foodie. If you can’t make a dinner reservation work for your schedule then opt instead for brunch, which promises “bottomless mimosas and a bloody good time”.
Other excellent restaurants worth seeking out in the Icelandic capital
TIDES
You’d expect a splendid hotel such as the Edition to house a fine dining restaurant and it does, in the shape of TIDES. Opt for the tempting à la carte selection or let the chef take the lead with an exciting four-course tasting menu. Whatever your picks, simple cooking techniques enable the ingredients to shine.
Fiskmarkadurinn
Japan meets Iceland at this upscale eatery in downtown Reykjavik. To get the best from Fiskmarkadurinn, round up a group of friends and choose a six- or seven-course tasting menu curated by Hrefna Sætran and the Fish Market Team. Dishes are brought to the table for all to share as opposed to being served individually adding to the convivial atmosphere.
Fiskfélagið
You’ll find Fiskfélagið (The Fish Company) in the 19th century Zimsen House, once a shop and now an elegant fine dining restaurant. Chef Lárus Gunnar Jónasson serves up delicious dishes such as reindeer carpaccio, plaice and scallops with golden beets, tender beef tenderloin, a palate-cleansing sorrel sorbet and a decadent chocolate mousse as part of his Around the World tasting menu.
Fine Dining Beyond Reykjavik
Moss
Moss is situated at the Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes peninsula. Its name reflects its surroundings, referencing the moss that covers the lava beyond its window. With chef Aggi Sverrisson at the helm, it received a Michelin star in 2023. His inventive approach and encyclopaedic knowledge of Icelandic ingredients has pushed this restaurant to the forefront of the culinary scene despite its position outside the capital.
The cuisine at Moss expertly fuses traditional Icelandic ingredients with Asian flair and flavours. The menu is responsive to seasonal changes, but expect to see quintessentially Icelandic anchor ingredients such as cod, langoustines and lamb. For the ultimate treat, book the Kitchen’s table, where your own private chef will prepare each course in front of you.
Randulff’s Sjóhús
Randulff’s Sea House opens seasonally in Eskifjörður, East Iceland. Summer visitors will be delighted by the historic setting; the restaurant occupies a building constructed by a Norwegian called Peter Randulff in 1890, who used it for processing the herring catch. Fully restored and given a new lease of life, the place has changed little compared to how it would have looked a hundred years ago.
The exquisitely presented food is equally grounded in its surroundings. Starters include dishes such as shark carpaccio and Icelandic lamb soup. Diners can follow these with reindeer served pan-fried or as meatballs, and salmon caught in the nearby fjord. This place is at the rustic end of the fine dining spectrum, but won’t disappoint.
Practical Advice for Travellers Wishing to Enjoy Fine Dining in Iceland
For most travellers, eating at a fine dining establishment is a special treat, which is perhaps a reason for its importance while they’re away. That does mean that often, diners find themselves in unfamiliar territory. We’ve put together some practical advice and tips for anyone who’s planning to enjoy a meal at one of the best restaurants in Iceland during their trip.
Booking a Table
The most sought after fine dining restaurants can be booked out months in advance. If you’re only going to be in Reykjavik for a few days, then you’ll need to be organised to ensure you aren’t disappointed. Often there are multiple sittings; choose the latest one if you don’t wish to be rushed as early tables will need to be cleared to make space for the next set of covers.
Some fine dining restaurants operate wait lists, which are worth signing up for if you’ve not managed to secure a reservation; hotel concierges might also be able to help. Plans change and unexpected events might lead to a table becoming available at the last minute. Another strategy that works in some cases is to eat at lunchtime, or in some restaurants you might be able to eat at the bar, particularly if you’re solo or travelling as a couple.
Dress Code
If visiting a fine dining restaurant is a special treat for you, then you’ll expect to dress for the occasion. Even if it doesn’t result in you being turned away, rocking up in sweatpants or other equally casual attire isn’t going to endear you to your fellow diners. In any case, making an effort is likely to make the experience more memorable.
Expectations vary between Iceland’s restaurants, but smart casual rather than formal garb is most likely to be what you’re aiming for. That said, if the weather’s inclement, you might find that other diners have dressed for the conditions outside rather than indoors and will be more casual than you might anticipate. If in doubt, call ahead or send a message via email or social media which should put your mind at rest.
Tasting Menus
Often in fine dining restaurants in Iceland – as elsewhere – what you’re served changes frequently. That’s especially the case where the restaurant is keen to use seasonal local produce which might not be available year-round. The big benefit of a tasting menu, however, is that the portions are small to enable a wide range of dishes to be served. If one isn’t quite to your liking then the next may be more palatable.
If you’re a committed foodie but have a fussy eater in your party, you may wish to do some homework. For instance, you might care to seek out the latest reviews, particularly on sites where the uploading of photographs is encouraged. You should be able to get a rough idea of the type of dishes you’ll be experiencing and figure out whether that restaurant’s going to work for you.
Special Diets
Whether a restaurant can accommodate special dietary requirements or not depends a great deal on the individual proprietor. In Iceland, restaurants that offer an a la carte selection are usually able to tweak dishes to remove troublesome ingredients. You’ll also find vegetarian or vegan dishes on the menu in most of the best restaurants in Iceland.
However, where places work to a strict tasting menu, it doesn’t always follow that there’ll be a number of choices as those dining will all be given the same experience. Often, if the place doesn’t offer alternatives, it will be clearly communicated – usually via the website. If in doubt, call or message ahead to ensure that you won’t be unpleasantly surprised.
Immersive experiences make an overseas trip really special and food is the ideal medium. Dining at the best restaurants in Reykjavik or further afield in Iceland makes a fitting end to the day if you’ve chosen from our wide variety of private tours. Luxury comes in all forms, so don’t leave it off your plate!
