world on how to prepare them. The result is a meltingpot of different influences. For instance, one of the most established restaurants in Reykjavík is Tapas barinn, a tapas restaurant, but their most popular dish is cured Icelandic lamb in a liquorice sauce. Icelandic lamb and seafood are some of the best you’ll ever taste, so be sure to try them at least once while you’re here. Langoustine, or Icelandic lobster, is another thing most Icelandic restaurants have on their menu and it is some of the most delicate and delicious seafood you’ll ever taste! Recently, restaurants like Dill and Matur og Drykkur, inspired by the new Nordic cuisine, have been making waves in the Icelandic restaurant scene, experimenting with unconventional Icelandic ingredients and rediscovering forgotten methods of cooking. In 2017, Dill was even honoured with Iceland’s first Michelin star! Don’t be surprised to see unfamiliar ingredients on menus, such as whale, puffin, horse or even reindeer.
LIGHT MEALS For less formal meals, there’s plenty of nice restaurants in Reykjavík that won’t break the bank but still serve delicious food. The city centre has a high concentration of bistros, cafés and gastropubs serving sandwiches, salads, soups and other delights, perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Even though Iceland is famous for its lack of McDonald’s, we still have fast food chains, such as Subway, Domino’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as a few of our own. Hamborgarabúllan restaurants serve great burgers and Serrano sells delicious Ice-Mex food, to name a few. Lemon, a juice and sandwich place and Local, a chain of salad bars, are perfect if you’re looking for healthier options. Finally, Iceland has great sushi restaurants in varying price ranges, which is perfect, as this is one of the few places in the world that rivals Japan for access to fresh fish.
RESTAURANT ETIQUET TE OF REYKJAVÍK • Reservations are recommended, especially for fine dining, and during weekends and the summer season. • In bistros and cafés, reservations aren’t necessary, or even possible in some places, but it never hurts to ask, especially for larger groups. • Tipping is not the custom in Iceland and there is no service fee. If you want to reward exceptional service financially, that’s fine and no one will be offended, but it’s not required. • Icelandic tap water is not only safe; it tastes the same or even better than bottled water.
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• In Iceland, dinnertime is usually around 19:00 or 20:00. Upscale restaurant kitchens are usually open from 18:00 to 22:00 or 23:00 and a little later on the weekends, although some are open even longer.