Iceland is known for its fresh seafood, usually prepared in such a way to allow the natural flavours and quality of the product to shine. Here’s our guide to some of Iceland’s best seafood restaurants.
1. Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12, Reykjavík
Fiskmarkaðurinn (The Fishmarket) is one of Iceland‘s most popular seafood restaurants. The eatery‘s signature dish is the lightly salted cod, beautifully seasoned with lime peel and served with potato puré, dried cranberries, and sweet celery salad. The dish was once removed of the restaurant’s menu, but made a quick return after countless comments from upset guests.
2. Við fjöruborðið
Eyrarbraut 3a, Stokkseyri
This lovely little restaurant sits on the oceanfront of the small village of Stokkseyri and is renowned for its langoustine dishes. The side dishes of curried couscous, cucumber salad, greens, and a tomato salad are also quite delicious.
3. Pakkhúsið
Harbour, Höfn in Hornafjörður
The restaurant opened for business in the beginning of June 2012 and is located in an old building set overlooking the Höfn’s harbour. Originally the building was used as a ware-house, later it housed a maritime museum before eventually being turned into a restaurant. The owner and head chef enjoys cooking different types of fish and experimenting with how they respond to different cooking methods.
4. Tjöruhúsið
Neðstikaupstaður, Ísafjörður
This quaint eatery is located in one of the oldest houses in Ísafjörður, which is now part of the town’s maritime museum. The restaurant serves fresh, high quality seafood and is renowned for its quirky, laid-back atmosphere.
5. Sjávarpakkhúsið
Sæbraut 2, Stykkishólmur
This beautiful dining spot is located on the harbour, overlooking the small islet “Stykkið” (The piece) that the town is named after. The restaurant serves lovely dishes made from freshly caught fish.
6. Fish and Chips
Grandi harbour area, Reykjavík
This food truck serves fish and chips by the old Reykjavík harbour (near Víkin Maritime Museum). Before opening the food truck, its owners underwent a comprehensive training course with the National Federation of Fish Friers, which works to promote and protect the interests of some 8500 fish and chip shops throughout the United Kingdom. The food truck sells proper fish and chips – the fish is bought directly from the trawler Arnar from Skagaströnd, North Iceland, while the fat for frying, the chips, mushy peas and vinegar are imported from England.
7. Matur og drykkur
Grandagarður 2, Reykjavík
The restaurant serves traditional, Icelandic dishes, but with a twist. The eatery’s signature dish is the cod’s head cooked in chicken stock with dulse and served with tasty potato salad. It’s definitely something you need to try.
8. Sjávargrillið
Skólavörðustígur 14, Reykjavík
The dining spot’s most popular dish is the salted cod and pork cheeks with mustard, bacon and carrots. The atmosphere is laid-back and the food is delicious without being too fussy.
9. Restaurant Galdur (The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft)
Höfðagata 8-10, Hólmavík
The small restaurant in the front of the Museum of Icelandic Witchcraft and Sorcery opened in 2009 and is renowned for its specialty: mussels grown in Steingrímsfjörður fjord. Curator Sigurður Atlason does much of the cooking himself and says one simply can’t go wrong when cooking with delicious products such as the Steingrímsfjörður mussels.
10. Sægreifinn
Tryggvagata, Reykjavík
The Sea Baron is a small, humble restaurant, located in an old baiting hut on the old Reykjavík harbour. The restaurant was founded by Kjartan Halldórsson, a retired fisherman and former chef for the Icelandic Coast Guard, who quickly became famous for his delicious lobster soup. While the lobster soup might be the restaurant’s specialty, the more traditional dish of fermented skate is also worth a try.
Iceland is known for its fresh seafood, usually prepared in such a way to allow the natural flavours and quality of the product to shine. Here’s our guide to some of Iceland’s best seafood restaurants.
1. Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12, Reykjavík
Fiskmarkaðurinn (The Fishmarket) is one of Iceland‘s most popular seafood restaurants. The eatery‘s signature dish is the lightly salted cod, beautifully seasoned with lime peel and served with potato puré, dried cranberries, and sweet celery salad. The dish was once removed of the restaurant’s menu, but made a quick return after countless comments from upset guests.
2. Við fjöruborðið
Eyrarbraut 3a, Stokkseyri
This lovely little restaurant sits on the oceanfront of the small village of Stokkseyri and is renowned for its langoustine dishes. The side dishes of curried couscous, cucumber salad, greens, and a tomato salad are also quite delicious.
3. Pakkhúsið
Harbour, Höfn in Hornafjörður
The restaurant opened for business in the beginning of June 2012 and is located in an old building set overlooking the Höfn’s harbour. Originally the building was used as a ware-house, later it housed a maritime museum before eventually being turned into a restaurant. The owner and head chef enjoys cooking different types of fish and experimenting with how they respond to different cooking methods.
4. Tjöruhúsið
Neðstikaupstaður, Ísafjörður
This quaint eatery is located in one of the oldest houses in Ísafjörður, which is now part of the town’s maritime museum. The restaurant serves fresh, high quality seafood and is renowned for its quirky, laid-back atmosphere.
5. Sjávarpakkhúsið
Sæbraut 2, Stykkishólmur
This beautiful dining spot is located on the harbour, overlooking the small islet “Stykkið” (The piece) that the town is named after. The restaurant serves lovely dishes made from freshly caught fish.
6. Fish and Chips
Grandi harbour area, Reykjavík
This food truck serves fish and chips by the old Reykjavík harbour (near Víkin Maritime Museum). Before opening the food truck, its owners underwent a comprehensive training course with the National Federation of Fish Friers, which works to promote and protect the interests of some 8500 fish and chip shops throughout the United Kingdom. The food truck sells proper fish and chips – the fish is bought directly from the trawler Arnar from Skagaströnd, North Iceland, while the fat for frying, the chips, mushy peas and vinegar are imported from England.
7. Matur og drykkur
Grandagarður 2, Reykjavík
The restaurant serves traditional, Icelandic dishes, but with a twist. The eatery’s signature dish is the cod’s head cooked in chicken stock with dulse and served with tasty potato salad. It’s definitely something you need to try.
8. Sjávargrillið
Skólavörðustígur 14, Reykjavík
The dining spot’s most popular dish is the salted cod and pork cheeks with mustard, bacon and carrots. The atmosphere is laid-back and the food is delicious without being too fussy.
9. Restaurant Galdur (The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft)
Höfðagata 8-10, Hólmavík
The small restaurant in the front of the Museum of Icelandic Witchcraft and Sorcery opened in 2009 and is renowned for its specialty: mussels grown in Steingrímsfjörður fjord. Curator Sigurður Atlason does much of the cooking himself and says one simply can’t go wrong when cooking with delicious products such as the Steingrímsfjörður mussels.
10. Sægreifinn
Tryggvagata, Reykjavík
The Sea Baron is a small, humble restaurant, located in an old baiting hut on the old Reykjavík harbour. The restaurant was founded by Kjartan Halldórsson, a retired fisherman and former chef for the Icelandic Coast Guard, who quickly became famous for his delicious lobster soup. While the lobster soup might be the restaurant’s specialty, the more traditional dish of fermented skate is also worth a try.
