The 13 best spots for lobster soup in Reykjavik

Fish market is a great place to have a very good meal. I've been here few times over the past years. Always good. I think with a 5 or 7 course meal the portions could be little smaller. But thats just details. Recommended for a dinner anyway. Will go again.

The food here is wonderful. The scallop appetizer (served in the shell, with smoked cod roe and champagne vinaigrette) was the best scallops I've ever had. Arctic char tartare was delicious (especially the (ash-blackened?) rice cracker!). Cod was perfectly cooked and the whipped mashed potatoes, celery/cherry salad, and cherry demi-glace made ideal accompaniments. (The cod serving was enormous and could easily have served two people.) Excellent "Marburg" gin & tonic (with cardamom and some other yumminess I don't remember), and a very nice Spanish rose, rounded out the meal. The tasting menu looks fantastic (both of my neighbors had ordered it) but they can't serve it to single diners, more's the pity! All very expensive, but more or less on par for a fine restaurant in Reykjavik.

Before leaving for Iceland, I googled food in Iceland and I was terrified about it. Let me tell you, the experience i am having is far from reality. This is absolutely delicious, everything from appetizers to the lava cake, the passion fruit, the sashimi. Everything is of a fresh never experienced before, all the flavors are on steroids here, there is no other way to explain it. We did the premium food experience, absolutely fantastic.

Exquisite food! Fresh and flavorful with beautiful presentation, one of the best meals we have had. Got the variety tartar and the fish sampler and it was divine Angela was our knowledgeable and thoughtful server. I HIGHLY recommend!

Magdalena was simply wonderful! We did the testing menu and she did an excellent job explaining all of the food and answering our questions! The food was delicious and the scallop with champagne/pickles/wasabi is a can’t miss dish!

We just walked in and we were lucky to have table available. The food was great, tarter and cod were very tasteful. Snorri served us very well! He is the best waiter we’ve met so far here in Reykjavik. Very good place to have dinner, decent and tasteful!

We ordered their premium tasting menu for three people. Most of the food was great. The yellow tail tartar was the best out of all that we ate. Beef tataki was super savory. Plenty of dessert at the end. The miso black cod was a bit of a let down. Could not taste the freshness of the fish, the sweet flavor was too overpowering. The coconut rice and the rice on the nigiri and the rolls were not cooked properly as well, they were a bit hard. The sharing concept was a good idea but the portions for three people were too little to share especially on the mains. For the price, the total food quality and portion was a bit disappointing. My expectations were high for this place and they came up a bit short. On the plus side, the staff were attentive and service was great.

Thank you for letting us very late on Sunday evening and served us food even the kitchen was about to close. All of the food was amazing, staff was super friendly, talked us through all the menu. For me Staff always define the venue, all the dishes we try was delicious plus the views outside, perfect combination. Highly recommend!

Amazingly well placed cafe with great coffee, super nice staff and awesome Icelandic breakfast, lunch and dinner options. I really could not fault it as it exceeded our expectations. And right in front of the beautiful Hallgrimskirkja. Full marks.

We had the priest coffee which was strong! I personally have never tried Brennivín and kind of regretted it since it was early in the day. We also tried the lamb soup and the Viking platter! The lamb soup was hearty and homemade vibes. The Viking platter honestly tastes just like it looks! Nothing amazing, just dried fish, rye bread, and the well-known fermented shark. The ammonia really hits you hard and an added double whammy with the Brennivín shot. Probably wouldn’t recommend this if you have stomach sensitivities! Haha, but a good experience nonetheless. My absolute favorite was the rye bread ice cream! I would totally recommend. I think hands-down best thing I tasted in Iceland.

For context, we only ordered the fermented shark and rye bread ice cream. The fermented shark is actually quite good! You have to chew it for a bit and there’s an ammonia flavor at the end, but it is actually a quite mild flavor. The rye bread ice cream is very tasty. There’s a lot of rye bread mixed in (maybe 1:1 ice cream to bread ratio lol). There’s a caramel sauce over whipped cream on top. All in all, a tasty snack! Note that the portions are small!! There’s just four tiny pieces of shark (IMO that’s enough for 4 people!) and the ice cream is one small scoops worth. Total for the two was just under 3000 ISK.

It was my first time eating traditional Icelandic food so I was really excited. The lamb soup was huge, and comforting. The meat was tender and the soup felt like home cooking (in a good way) I read Independent People earlier this year so it really did make me feel like an Icelandic Farmer in the winter. The malt tasted like a cross between Supermalt and Dr Pepper which I enjoyed but the standout by far for me was the Rye bread. It was my first time trying it but it was amazing. Have been thinking about it ever since. The staff were super friendly too and you can see Hallsgrimska from the entrance.

Great food. We say upstairs (reccomended) for the view of the church and cool mural with loki history. Great food and dessert and wonderful service. I had lamb and cod and carrots cake was just divine. Great traditional food in great location. Truly a unique little spot worth the price will go again

A nice small restaurant. This was the only place where we ate out during our stay in Iceland and we were happy with it. The lamb soup is really good and I recommend it. If possible, sit further away from the front door, otherwise you will have to endure cold air whenever someone is coming or leaving.

Absolutely loved up to the hype. Everything we ordered was well executed and packed with flavor. We got the soup, their lobster appetizer and split their famous Artic Char skillet. The skillets are 100% big enough to split between two people and we left full and happy. It gets busy and we watched them have to turn tables away because they were fully booked for the night, so if you want to go make sure to make a reservation.

This was the absolute best fish dinner we’ve ever had— and we eat and cook fish a LOT! This was our first dinner in Iceland & it set the bar high from the amazing host/manager who was attentive and fun to talk to, to our kind and happy servers and the food was perfect. We had appetizers, fish dinners, beer, dessert and coffee and honestly I’d go back again. Also the atmosphere is cozy and not loud.

Messin was one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had. They have exquisite fish options and wonderful, friendly staff. I ate the Plokkfiskur and Arctic Char, and they really were something special. The Plokkfiskur was some of the best fish I’ve ever had. The texture was brilliantly flakey, with crispy skin. There was a creaminess to the fish due to a velvety cream cheese sauce. The lemon and tomatoes provided great balance. A behemoth of delicious flavours. The arctic char was charred, smokey, sweet and fresh. The honey and almonds were a great combination and elevated the core flavours of the dish. If you are in Iceland in general, you must try Messinn. They are truly onto something spectacular. You won’t regret it, otherwise you’ll be ‘messinn-out’.

Absolutely amazing! The fish and shrimps were incredibly fresh, with a tender and bouncy texture. Every dish had its own unique flavor, and all of them were delicious. The filet of cod was especially good. I believe anyone who enjoys Southeast Asian flavors will love it!

The restaurant is beautiful. It’s highly recommended from the food tour so we came back for a full dinner. We had attic char and salmon and it wasn’t that impressive. Too much olive oil and there was nothing to write home about. The female waitress ( short hair/tattoo) took our order then never came back to check on us. We had to ask another waiter for our bill. We didn’t feel very welcomed there. Overall, not sure why this place has such a hype. Maybe they are good at PR in Instagram and YouTube ?

Lovely restaurant. We went here with the food tour and had the Arctic char and Plokkfiskur with Icelandic rye bread. The vegetarian option was also delicious.

Very high quality of food with local ingredients. Overall great experience with the food, but our service was mediocre. We loved the Arctic Char on Rye appetizer and the Plokkfiskur main.

We expected more from a Michelin guide restaurant. Even though the food was really good, the portions are borderline rude and offensively small. We paid 300€ for just dinner, because we honestly thought the wine pairing was too expensive, and left the restaurant still hungry. Staff was nice, and dishes are definitely presented very pretty. For reference, everything we ate is in the pictures. The capelin roe (first picture) is the size of my pinky, and the following 3 pictures which are the first three courses are bite size as well, for reference.

We had an absolutely fantastic experience at Matur og Drykkur in Reykjavik. The 10-course tasting menu was simply outstanding – every dish was perfectly balanced, with components that came together to create an incredible flavor journey in every bite. The wine pairing was equally impressive, with every single glass hitting the mark. For the non-alcoholic option, the sparkling teas were a brilliant alternative and just as enjoyable. Most importantly, the service was exceptional. Every single member of the team made us feel truly welcome and taken care of, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere throughout the evening. The vibe was wonderful, and we left after about two and a half hours feeling fully satisfied, extremely happy, and with memories of a night we won’t forget anytime soon. A must-visit in Reykjavik – highly recommended!

What an amazing experience; tasting each menu was like reading a keen essay of every ingredients that Icelandic season has to offer. My husband and I almost had to miss this experience due to scheduling conflicts, but what a mistake that would have been. It was a perfect summary of the end of our trip to Iceland. I love to take notes and learning about the new flavors, and the staff was so accommodating and eager to teach me! Service/Staff: Hania was my absolute favorite and a gem to the restaurant's entire vibe. She taught me of so many new herbs (chervil, angelica, lovage, etc.), and let me try them along with delightful stories for each; she even told me that she often picks chervil on her way to work, which was very cool to me. I highly recommend her Chervil Gimlet! She was so considerate and made us her specialty drink that was off the menu to celebrate our anniversary- based on her first drink recipe "Pink Panther." I highly recommend asking her for it if you are fortunate to spot her during your visit. I've been to some of the finest restaurants around the world, but the service I got from Hania was the absolute pinnacle of restaurant hospitality :) She was so personable, funny, knowledgeable, and passionate! She was the one who told us that we would've made such a mistake had we cancelled our reservation, and she was absolutely right. One of our servers, Sam, was amazing and memorable as well. When I asked about the black lime, she kindly brought out a jar of lime that was dried slowly to give it a black color and rich flavors. I highly recommend asking the servers or staff on any foreign ingredients you see on the menu. They are so knowledgeable and passionate about what goes into the tasting menu. Hania told me that the staff often forage together to find the natural herbs and ingredients, so they are integral authors to the beautiful story and intent told in every bite. I would come back to Iceland for vacation or for a layover just to come back to this restaurant and to laugh and learn about new things with Hania and the rest of the staff while eating the best food I've had in Iceland. Food: Each season, the restaurant features a 10-course tasting menu. Autumn 2025 menu's appetizers featured (1) Ricotta, dulse (seaweed), and capelin roe; (2) cured halibut and angelica - this menu was amazing because it featured all the parts of the Angelica herb: seeds, pickled stems, leaves; (3) horse fillet, sea truffle, roast pumpkin seeds, and black currents; and (4) rutabaga and cheese. What was the most amazing about this selection of food was its wine pairing. It must have been so hard to curate a single glass of wine that marries all of the diverse flavors/textures together, and the selection was perfect. Entrees were filled with flavors that I hadn't tried before. The black lime with the cured egg yolk and scallops was one of my husband's favorites. The cod dish with carrots was divine; I didn't know that carrot had this diverse of texture and flavor, and the presentation of the carrot slices to mimic the fish scale was genius. Lovage/goat was a new discovery for me as well, but its pairing with the selected white wine was absolutely my favorite. Sheep/liver/pine jelly showed interesting combination with the clear pine jelly (also something I've never tried). If you visit, I absolutely recommend getting the wine pairing. They compliment and enhance the flavors so well, with some of the pairings being mind-blowing and unexpected.

We had a really lovely dinner! The food was special, beautifully explained and delicious. The atmosphere was excellent. Most of all, the glowing service and kindness of Mira was exceptional and very memorable! Cheers! Definitely check out this restaurant.

I cannot think of enough or the right words to describe how good this meal was. The dishes the Chef is producing in this kitchen are 😋!! I am now obsessed with lovage. Her ability to take something that is new to me and turn it into a dish I will dream about, applause 👏 🙌. The servers were perfect. Attentive but leaving me to enjoy each course with no interruptions. Knowledgeable but also willing to ask the Chef when I had a question about my new obsession. This is a meal I will think about for a long time after my visit is over.

Absolutely outstanding restaurant and worth every penny. The food was amazing, so varied and honestly better than most places I've eaten in London. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Iceland. With a special shout out to Sam, who's service was outstanding - they really made a great meal become outstanding with professional but also friendly service

I’m sorry, but this restaurant sucks on multiple levels. Food: The “10 courses” are actually 7. The portions are insultingly small. The flavors are unbalanced. Not a single dish stood out. It all falls flat. I left slightly hungry and very unsatisfied. Service: The timing between courses is inconsistent. Plates are served backhanded. Utensils aren’t placed, cleared, and replaced correctly. Tables aren’t wiped between courses. Water isn’t refilled. Servers don’t know the menu and really added nothing to the experience. Price: ~$200/person is outlandish for what you get (qualitatively and quantitatively). It’d be overpriced at half that, even in Iceland.

An unforgettable dinner at Grillmarkaðurinn! We went for the 8-course tasting menu and every dish was a masterpiece – beautifully presented, bursting with flavour, and Michelin-quality. For my husband’s birthday, we got complimentary champagne and a dessert with a light fountain – such a lovely touch! Special thanks to our amazing waitress, Raquel, who went above and beyond and made the evening even more special. A true credit to the restaurant. Yes, it’s pricey, but this is Iceland – and the quality, creativity, and service make it worth every krona.

This is rated as the best restaurant in Reykjavík and no doubt it’s the most upscale restaurant in town. I had vegan steak which was unbelievably good. The service was amazing. She made us feel like home. I came here to celebrate my birthday. She surprised me with champagne and sweets. Just wonderful. Also the ambience is so romantic. This is a place where you definitely want to try at least one time especially if you come here for any celebration or… maybe… proposal. I highly recommend this place and will definitely come back again.

The best meal I've ever had. The restaurant is beautiful with highly attentive staff who explain the best way to eat your chosen dishes and what best accompanies them. The food was absolutely exquisite and the portions were much bigger than I thought they'd be. Can honestly say this is the best food I've ever eaten.

Upscale restaurant with beautiful decoration. Excellent menu with plenty of unique selection. Food overall was good. Expect to paid a higher price from this premium location.

On our final day in Iceland, we went to this place. We were fortunate to get a table for two, but I’d suggest making a reservation. We tried the 6-course tasting menu, which was a fantastic way to sample a variety of Icelandic dishes. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and the restaurant’s interior was truly a masterpiece—it had such an aesthetic vibe.

23-10-25 Amazing restaurant, the manager Paul was very professional. Gave us drinks on the house, due to the wait for our table. They were fantastic. Love the food here! I had the salmon. A bit pricey for the little condiments. I attended the location again the 24, and the portion sizes of the salmon, presentation, drinks were diffident from the day previous day. Staff also didn't know what was available as for bread, and Tabasco... he had to ask a fellow waitress. When we received the bread it was dry and the waiter said that was all available, but miraculously they "found" more. I all, I would return to this location.

Visited on our honeymoon and had one of the best meals of our life. Goran made sure we were absolutely taken care of and we will never forget it. Compliments to the chef, the whale, lamb and reindeer were all five stars. Would gladly recommend to friends and family and would be honored to come back!

Very pleasantly surprised! We spent there three hours without even knowing. Volcano show (both) as well as aurora show are incredible. Lots of other interactive stuff. And oh yes, the ice cave. We also enjoyed good cup of coffee in the cafe.

Perlan is a charming and educational place to learn about Iceland. While the building looks quite large from the outside, the exhibits inside feel more medium-sized, perfect for a visit that lasts a few hours to half a day. It's interactive, with engaging exhibitions and a great planetarium experience. There’s also a café and restaurant, and the rooftop offers beautiful panoramic views of Reykjavik. The only downside wasn’t the venue itself, but some visitors who disregarded the clearly stated rules, like not using phones or cameras in certain exhibits, even after staff reminders. That said, it’s definitely worth a visit, just remember to be respectful and follow the rules!

A very impressive and modern museum! There’s a lot of interesting information about Iceland’s volcanoes, glaciers, icebergs, and natural wonders, all presented in an interactive and engaging way. Some of the immersive videos are truly stunning. One of the highlights is the simulation ride where you stand on a platform surrounded by screens and experience what it’s like to travel through a volcano and witness an eruption — very exciting and well done. Another must-see is the ice cave made of real ice and snow, which gives a unique sense of what it’s like inside a glacier. Overall, a great mix of education and entertainment, perfect for both adults and children. Definitely worth a visit while in Reykjavík!

We received a free entry voucher with our welcome pack from our holiday operator so used it on the last evening on our recent trip to Iceland and we were glad we did. The museum offers various exhibitions all of which are very well presented by and informative. Loved the them all but especially the 'new' lava show that takes you on a journey in to the heart of a volcano and shoots you out with an eruption, not to be missed if you get the chance to visit

GREAT ! Fantastic museum with lava show and new interactive lava show so fun we did it twice. Watch the northern lights in the planetarium. Fantastic ice cave is good fun. Only down side quite hard to find when walking as not sign posted and it's still dark at 9.30 am in November. Definitely worth going x

We came here after a recommendation from our city walking tour guide. We’re so glad we did. This museum is really well thought out. It gives in depth information on the history of Iceland, volcanoes and glaciers. Took me back to my A level geography lessons! The exhibitions are great; inside the volcano, the ice cave and the northern lights planetarium. Highly recommend all of them. Views from the upper platform are so good with the snowy mountains in the distance. Staff are lovely. Parking is free and toilets were clean. Thanks for having us :)

If you go to Reykjavík make sure to include this on your itinerary! Wonderful views across the city from the revolving cafe, impressive immersive experiences - The Northern Lights and (the new) Into to the Volcano - really stood out. If you are lucky you might also see a rabbit or two who live in ‘centrally heated’ burrows in the surrounding forest.

A must visit if you’re in Reykjavik! The bread soup bowls were delicious and so authentic and fresh. You cannot go wrong with the simplicity of this place - they simply ask you if you want meat or vegetarian. We went vegetarian and we were lucky to have an amazing cauliflower soup - I believe the options change everyday which makes it an exciting surprise. The place was also super cosy and the service was very quick. I recommend having one bowl per person for a filling, hearty dinner although I did see some people sharing. I cannot wait to go back one day!

Svarta Kaffið is a popular soup restaurant located on Laugavegur Street in downtown Reykjavík. Its specialty is the “bread bowl soup,” where hot soup is served inside a hollowed-out round loaf of bread. We ordered the beef and lamb soup and the vegetable soup separately (each priced at 3,100 ISK). Since soup is the only item on the menu, it took about ten seconds for our order to arrive — the fastest serving time I’ve ever experienced in a restaurant in my life. The soup was rich and flavorful, and breaking pieces of the bread to eat with it made for a unique experience. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere; when we visited around 7 p.m., it was almost full, but the turnover seemed quick, so even if you have to wait, you’ll likely get a table soon.

We had the golden combo soup served in bread, paired with their local beer. Absolutely delicious! 🍺🥣 The best part — The soup was refillable once

It is said to have the best soup in Iceland, but I noticed that many restaurants here also claim to be the best in something. I have not tried other soup places, but this one did not feel particularly outstanding. The soup was good, but not something I would come back for. One nice thing is that you can get a refill, so you will definitely leave full. The price is also reasonable by Icelandic standards. Overall, nothing special, but still better than eating supermarket food.

We came here for our first dinner in Reykjavik, and I liked it so much we came back a second time. They are supposed to have different soups every day with one vegetarian and one meat each day. They appear to usually be cream based. The bread bowl isn't unique to this place, but it's their specialty and they make sure you know what you're there for when you come in. This isn't really a restaurant with a menu, you come for the soup... And the bowl. We got the Golden Combo both times, I stuck with the vegtarian both times, and my husband got the meat. I tried his and both times they were good. A little similar in taste, but I was still happy to have gone with vegetarian. The Gull beer was good and went well with the soup. They don't advertise this (as far as I know) but you can get a refill on your soupl, just bring your board and bowl to the counter and ask. The trick is to not dig in too much to the bottom and sides your bowl on the first go. By the time you get a second helping of soup and it's time to eat the bowl... You're full. Another tip for eating the bowl, don't scrape everything out of it just the liquid, then squish the sides flat (push them flat towards the center) and eat like a sandwich. That way the bread you eat has some flavour and you're not just eating crust. I loved the hearty meal and it feels like a home cooked dinner. It's especially perfect after a long day of cold hikes and glacier climbing. Other restaurants have a bread bowl soup, but I'd wager that Svarta does it best.

One of the best comfort spots in Reykjavik. Supremely speedy service, great atmosphere, staff are friendly and hilarious. Would 100% recommend coming here to eat on a chilly evening!

Delicious soup. Really quick service and can refill. 40 pounds for two, might have to wait outside if it’s busy inside. 1 veggie option and 1 meat option. Not many tables for 4, so would have to wait longer if your a bigger group potentially. But overall a great experience, would recommend!

This place has delicious Icelandic foods in a warm, relaxing atmosphere. We enjoyed trying the lamb, shank and reindeer burger. We also tried a small portion of whale just to say we did, it was not too bad, but wouldn’t be my first choice either. They do offer the fermented shark here, but we weren’t feeling quite brave enough to try that. We enjoyed the atmosphere in this place, it did not have the loud music you might expect at a place like this at home, rather the only music came from a real piano that some folks were playing.

Was ours first time trying island food, so we went directly for shark, whale and dry fish… We ordered Skonsa með langreyði and Hákarl (6 bitar) & harðfiskur með smjöri - you need to know that shark could smell very strong- and both dishes were really good!! Whale meat is soft and tasty and dry fish is salty and tasty too. Place is nice and is located a few blocks from the main church. Prices, like all Iceland, high… but really worth it

Small restaurant in the center of town with lots of atmosphere and a really good menu. Even if you don't feel adventurous and try the fermented shark or whale meat, you will find a bunch of great options. We had the fish pie (delicious!), a burger (fantastic!) and some of the dogs, which were also great. My personal favourite was the Popped cod skin. Staff was friendly and very quick. Great beer selection, too. Absolute recommendation!

We have decided to go for some traditional islandic food and this place didn’t disappoint. However, it didn’t give the very Wow factor either. My favorite is actually the platter. 4 different types of delicacies - the whale, the smoked salmon (my absolute favorite)… it came with some tuna salad and the different cheese to pair with. Lamb shank is good but not wow. The dried fish of the day dish is also good but just kind the same as fish fish you get everywhere else in Europe. The reindeer burger was good, I love the Smokey flavored of it. Beer was good!

Small restaurant in the heart of Reykjavik with a fantastic menu and great atmosphere. My wife and I tried dried fish skin, fermented shark, and Brennivin. Our waiter was super helpful explaining to us how to eat the fish skin by dipping it in butter, how many times to chew the shark to release the flavor, and sharing some stories of how his mother would make the same dishes for him growing up. We also tried the lobster dog, essentially lobster loaded into a hotdog bun! Everything was delicious, although I was a much bigger fan of the shark than Kellie! Next time we're in Iceland this is at the top of our list to try again!

For a famous bar, this place was pleasantly surprising. The servers were really nice, attentive and would explain details. I had the fermented shark, dried fish, puffin and the whale meat. I also had delicious popped cod skin (which was like a pork crackling). All of them were top class. I was really surprised by fermented shark, it was like fat with a chewy bit. The whale was like beef

Food well coocked, Meat soup and Fish soup really tasty and well prepared with good amount of fish/meat inside. Chicken with potatos a bit too rosty so not the preferred dish of our child but service was great, atmosfere relaxed and food tasty and nice to see. I racomend this place and I hope to have a chance to try other recipes!

Visited Sæta Svínið Gastropub for dinner on July 14th, 2025, around 6pm, and had a fantastic experience. We walked in without a reservation and were seated right away, which was a nice surprise. We started with the olives as a snack, then ordered the grilled salmon and the Sæta Svínið burger (no bun). Everything was seasoned perfectly. The salmon was especially flavorful, with a great blend of sauce and veggies, and the burger—with its crispy fries—was just as satisfying. The vibe of the place was local and authentic, not overly upscale but welcoming and full of character. There was a beam in the center of the room covered in stapled dollar bills, and we enjoyed a view of townspeople relaxing outside while kids skateboarded nearby. It really felt like a slice of Icelandic everyday life. Service was warm and friendly throughout, and I honestly didn’t see any downsides. It’s more of a laid-back bar atmosphere than a fine dining spot—but that’s part of its charm. I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to experience great Icelandic food and culture in a relaxed setting. Solid 4 out of 5 stars.

We came for the lamb shank, it was delicious. Great choice of local draft beer, cosy atmosphere with many locals, also families. Great music. Had great time, our waiter Ella was very friendly and professional. Would return anytime!

This was our third visit and again we were not disappointed. It meets our expectations for a good gastro pub. It is a good place to sit out in the warmer months (our first visit was in April 22’) and nice and cozy in late November. We ordered the ling fish (cod relative) which my wife loved and I ordered the chef’s lamb stew which I wolfed down. Both were savory and served hot. They have a nice selection of beverages and libations to include holiday beers (Jola or “Yule”). We also ordered the deep fried cauliflower (perfect pub grub). The staff was attentive while the chef was well organized and on point (he kept the servers hoping!). The pub is warm and cozy (very hygge) and fully decorated for the holidays. The outside “Viking long house “ building is nicely lit. The location to old city center is an added benefit besides easy to get to while strolling the city. A final note on music many of the establishments have picked easy listening rock/pop (a lot of 70s/80s) and Svinid has followed this pattern. We of course would recommend a visit.

We had a great dinner here. We came on Saturday, around 5pm and place was not very crowded. My friend ordered a rib eye steak and I had a burger. Burger was amazing, brioche was soft and buttery. Meat was exceptional, medium rare just like I like it. It came with a side of kind of sweet pickles and lots of waffle fries. My friend’s steak was very delicious, also medium rare, meat inside was tender, soft and pink. On the outside if was perfectly grilled. I would definitely come back and highly recommend!

This place was really great - I did the whole “Icelandic Journey” tasting menu for lunch and had a blast. While expensive ($143 USD with two additional drinks), it was well worth it to try all the different stuff that you won’t find anywhere else. All the dishes were well presented, tasty, and the service was really excellent explaining what each thing was. I really enjoyed the brennivin, ling, cheesecake, and puffin. I would not do this tasting menu if you are just looking for a normal meal, but if you’re wanting to try something new this place does not disappoint, and I would go back for some of the individual dishes that I liked the most. Ambiance is pretty cool too, with comfortable bar and table seating inside, and a great outdoor seating area for when the weather is nice. They also have a great beer selection and I would recommend the place for a quick drink as well!

What a cosy place. Great for drinks as well as dinner. I had my first christmas beer and I highly recommend it if you like beer. The lamb on flat bread is so good.

Food was incredible! I had the lamb shoulder and the only thing better was the service. Our waitress was Disa and she couldn’t have been more accommodating and friendly. Would really recommend to anyone

Exceptional experience from this restaurant. All the waiters and the sushi bar staff were super kind, the sushi was out of this world, the main courses are delicious, and the atmosphere was amazing. Get their Lax, Firefly, and Surf n’ Turf sushi’s, since all of those were amazing. The grilled lamb was so, so good as a main entree dish. We loved the music playing around and seeing everyone having a great time. The cake with the fiery candle on it was a perfect dessert to end the night in Reykjavik. All in all, this was an INCREDIBLE sushi restaurant experience and I HIGHLY recommend this spot to anyone! We LOVED it!!!

Super Atmosphere !!! Good location. Food is also good but price is quite high. But busy in dinner time. It could be waiting for long for food or service. With P1 and P2 parking area.

Definitely one of the best sushi bars i have been to. Found the smoked puffin very interesting and also tried the firefly dish as well as the laxa nigiri. Great ambience and one can sit at the bar and watch the preparations. Friendly service.

Best sushi we had in Reykjavik! We ordered their Wednesday special sushi boat and everything was amazingly delicious. For desert we had the happy marriage rhubarb, also delicious. Staff was very welcoming and friendly. Would recommend anyone to try it out.

This place is a gem. It’s in downtown Reykjavik area close to many other attractions/shops/restaurants/cafes. We made no reservation but the hostess allowed us an hour time slot to dine in. Once inside, the place offers a cozy, intimate, and upscale vibe. We ordered the spider sushi roll and the Icelandic roll which they serve on a platter in the geographical shape of Iceland! Both rolls were delicious and a hefty portion. We were satisfied with the service, taste, and overall experience. The items are on the pricier end but from the looks of it, this place delivers that high end quality/service.

We love going to Sushi Social and come atleast once a month. I would recommend the Surf and Turf Maki, Beef Tenderloin with truffle garden potatoes, and Caramel fudge. I find that the tables are too close with each other which could sometimes be a struggle to get in and out of your seat but overall would still recommend the place.

Very nice experience, good quality of food and good service, a bit expensive but also it is fine dining. Cocktails were alright and dessert so and so but sushi is great. Highly recommend it 👌

Love the place aesthetically and good service but the fish of the day is bad. Everything boiled from fish to potatoes which were soggy. Carrots undercooked. I hope it improves as I’d be willing to one day try again as I like the location.

Unfortunately, the restaurant staff could use some hospitality training. I sat down around 1 pm with my laptop and a small pastry I’d bought elsewhere, planning to order a coffee. Even though the restaurant was completely empty, I was immediately asked to leave. In the end, I decided not to stay or order anything — that’s not the kind of attitude guests expect in a hotel restaurant. If people were actually dining, I’d understand, but when it’s empty, this kind of behavior just feels unwelcoming.

The staff at Slippbarinn are so friendly and accommodating. I had an early bus (not enough time to do the whole buffet), so I asked for something to go and the host explained that since it was buffet only, I could just grab a pastry on the house. Not to mention the pastry was delicious! It’s a great atmosphere and I would definitely recommend Slippbarinn and the Reykjavík Marina hotel.

Not sure if my cousin’s wife asked for a private room or staged a polite coup in Icelandic. Either way, we got one — and honestly, it felt like VIP treatment. The staff rolled with it like pros and set us up with a beautiful spread of breads, cheeses, and meats that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Service was spot on — friendly, efficient, and accommodating. Five stars, no hesitation.

We had a pretty good experience at this cocktail bar and restaurant. We called in a reservation which is always good. We were greeted right away, but just from observing you could see they were having issues with service. Many tables looking to order or for tabs. We stayed. The host was a champ, stepping up getting things started. Craft cocktails were creative, tasty and eye-catching. We had the fresh fish in a pan and steak sandwich, both great selections. The fish did was fresh and exceptional. Our guests had burgers. They were good but had had spicier sauce on them not noted on the menu. It worked out. Overall a good experience but no real great connection to the place or staff. This place is located down by the water in Reykjavik downtown.

We love the fish of the day in pan which is the cod that day, and the seafood soup with shrimp scallops. Cosmopolitan is quite ok, the dessert chocolate cake is even better than expectation as normally it would be so sweet but not for this one. Not 5 stars just because of the price, and the waiter didn’t remind that the hotel guest can have 10% off.

Fancy and tasty cocktails. It's definitely worth visiting for something to drink. We will be back to taste the food. Service is professional and attentive. Recommended

I came here just after arriving in town, a little jet lagged and very hungry. I got the soup in a bread bowl and had three servings - tomato, lamb and seafood. I liked them all, but I preferred them in the order listed. Next time I would probably get a regular bowl with bread on the side, because with each serving the structural integrity of the bread bowl deteriorated. The free waffles were a nice touch!

If you are on a budget in Iceland, then this place is a good spot to come for a meal - though I would probably only come once. They offer three types of soup: lamb, tomato and seafood, and a few other items. Soup appears to be what most people order, and you can get unlimited free refills of any of them so you can try all three if you want. They are pretty watery so don't expect a stew-like consistency. Personally I didn't like the seafood one - there weren't any "pieces" of seafood in it, it was only broth. The lamb was the heartiest with chunks of lamb, carrots and potatoes. The tomato was much what you would expect from tomato soup. The atmosphere is cool - the servers are nice enough and the place is bright and comfortable. You don't feel any pressure to move on in a hurry. Free waffles with chocolate sauce and free water are a bonus. Now that I've been and know what to expect, I won't come again but it's worth at least one visit for a reasonably-priced meal in Reykjavik which are few and far between!

Excellent soup. I had the lamb soup several times, it never disappointed. You also got free refills. You always walked out satisfied and full. Added bonus....FREE WAFFLES with blueberry jam.

Icelandic Street Food offers a genuine taste of local cuisine, but my experience began on a slightly confusing note. When I arrived, I didn’t immediately feel welcomed — perhaps due to the restaurant being very crowded and the staff visibly overwhelmed. While understandable, this initial lack of clarity made the arrival feel a bit disorganized. Once seated, however, the experience improved considerably. We tried all three soups — tomato, fish, and lamb — and every one of them was excellent. The flavours were authentic, hearty, and comforting, and the price–quality ratio is truly outstanding. It’s clear that the soups are the highlight of the menu. The complimentary waffles are a nice gesture, but I feel this part of the service could benefit from a small upgrade. With only sugar or a single type of jam available, the topping options felt quite limited. Offering a slightly wider selection would elevate this detail and make the experience more in line with the generosity shown in the rest of the meal. Overall, despite a somewhat confusing start, Icelandic Street Food is a great place to get introduced to Icelandic gastronomy. The quality of the soups alone makes the visit worthwhile, and with a few adjustments in the reception and waffle offerings, the restaurant could deliver an even more welcoming and complete experience.

The food was great. We ordered a sheep soup and a shellfish soup, both served in bread bowls. Each was around 3,000 ISK, and you can refill as many times as you want. Both soups tasted amazing and were perfect for the cold weather. The only small downside was that the bread was a bit cold, so the first round of soup cooled down quite fast. But on the second round, when everything was nice and hot, it was really comforting and delicious.

This restaurant provides refillable soup for guests with only one-time payment. The shell fish and lamb are amazing. Staff are very warm and kind, a good place for someone who visits Iceland with limited budget.

Quaint little joint that serves local soups with bread or a bread bowl. Soups are free refill. If you have 10+ bowls, your picture goes on the wall of fame. Highly recommend the the lamb soup and the fish stew.