The Ultimate Reykjavik Food & Bar Crawl (On a Budget... Kind Of) -

If you’ve ever dreamed you would eat your way through Reykjavík while questioning every life decision as you hand over your credit card, welcome to the club. On my trips to Iceland, I set out on a noble mission: taste as much food and drink as my bank account (and pants) would allow.

Here’s the thing about Icelandic dining: it’s expensive. Like, “should I sell a kidney for this grilled cheese?” expensive. Don’t expect to spend less than $20 for even a small meal at a restaurant. The good news? The food is usually so good you’ll forgive the price. The better news? Grocery stores like Bonus are totally normal-priced, so you can buy a loaf of bread and peanut butter as a backup plan if you ever want to cry-eat in your hostel room between splurges. (Been there. No shame.)

But we’re not here to be practical. We’re here to talk about the glorious places I ate and drank my way through in Reykjavík — the hits, the hidden gems, and the occasional gas station sandwich that changed my life.

🌭 Baejarins Beztu Pylsur — The Hot Dog That Converted Me

Listen. I don’t even like lamb. It’s just not my thing. But Iceland’s most famous hot dog stand? It broke me.
Baejarins Beztu Pylsur is legendary, and now I understand why. It’s small, it’s unassuming, and it serves hot dogs that taste like they were blessed by Odin himself. There’s something about that combination of crispy onions, sweet mustard, and mystery magic that makes you instantly forget you’re standing in the cold spending money on tube meat.

Pro tip: Order it with “the works” — you’re in Iceland, calories don’t count here. (They might, but let’s not speak it into existence.) And if you cannot for whatever reason get to the stand in Reykjavik, there is one in the airport.. so no excuses!

🍩 Brauð & Co — The Pastry Cult I Will Gladly Join

Brauð & Co is what happens if a bakery and happiness had a baby. The smell hits you before you even walk in the door and then suddenly you’re on a sugar bender, shoving krónur at the cashier and wondering how you just bought three pastries for “later” that you know full well won’t survive the next ten minutes.

The caramel rolls are my personal religion now. They’re gooey, soft, and so perfectly sweet they could convince anyone to forgive their enemies or finally text their ex “it’s fine, I forgive you.” (Don’t actually do that. Just get another caramel roll instead.)

🍦 Omnom Ice Cream Shop — Unicorn Energy

Omnom is an Icelandic chocolate brand, and their little ice cream shop is pure joy wrapped in sprinkles. I got the Unicornsundae — pastel, sparkly, and possibly made of dreams. It was whimsical, delicious, and made me feel like a child again, except with adult money and no shame.

If you’re feeling down, just walk in here and stare at the rainbow toppings until happiness accidentally happens to you.

🌮 La Poblana — Nacho Average Snack

Yes, I flew to Iceland and got Mexican food. And you know what? No regrets.
The Nachos Tres Salsas were the warm, cheesy hug I didn’t know I needed after hours of walking around in the cold. Flavorful, colorful, and cheesy enough to make me want to propose to them. 10/10 would eat again.

🍔 Reykjavík Chips — Not Just Chips

Reykjavík Chips sounds like a place that just sells fries. And it does, but also… they had a cheeseburger. And fries that are the kind of golden crispy perfection that make you want to write poetry. It’s casual, it’s comforting, and it’s the perfect spot when you realize you’ve spent your entire day budget on a caramel roll and a souvenir keychain and need something hearty to anchor your soul.

🧀 Le Kock — Comfort Food Overload

Le Kock is where I learned what happiness tastes like. I got the grilled cheese, potatoes, and tomato soup, and let me tell you: it was enough food to feed two people, but I heroically accepted the challenge solo.

This place is cozy and modern and feels like the kind of restaurant where you could run into a Viking who just got back from conquering and now craves carbs. The name makes me giggle too.

🍲 Svarta Kaffid — Soup That Slaps

I will dream about this soup until the end of time. Svarta Kaffid is famous for serving soup of the day in a bread bowl, and on the day I visited it was some sort of magical potato concoction. Warm, savory, and served in a bowl of bread? It’s basically a weighted blanket for your insides.

Bonus: you can eat the bowl when you’re done, which is great if you’re hungry and also slightly unhinged (hi, it’s me).

🥐 Almar Bakari — Cinnamon Roll Heaven

This bakery is a gem located on the way to Selfoss. I had a cinnamon roll that made me want to learn Icelandic just so I could properly thank the baker. Everything in the case looked incredible, so if you want to black out and accidentally spend $40 on pastries, this is your spot. No judgment. Only applause.

🍳 Grai Kotturinn — The Brunch That Ruined Me

If you’re a brunch person, go here immediately.
I ordered The Truck and it was basically every breakfast food I love on one plate. Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast — all of it cooked to perfection. I left full, happy, and deeply questioning how I could move into the restaurant permanently.

A (Very) Brief Foray Into Icelandic Cuisine

Now, it wouldn’t be a proper trip recap if I didn’t at least pretend to be adventurous with the local cuisine. Iceland is known for some… let’s say unique culinary traditions. There’s the infamous fermented shark—or as I like to call it, “instant regret in cube form.” It’s considered a local delicacy, but the smell alone could probably clear a room faster than a fire drill. I took one look at it and thought, absolutely not—my taste buds deserve better.

Then there’s lamb soup, which is hearty, warm, and probably the perfect thing to eat while you stare out over a windswept fjord pretending you’re in a Nordic saga. There’s also dark rye bread, traditionally baked by burying it in geothermal ground until it’s dense, sweet, and toasty (basically a loaf of edible Icelandic magic). And of course, fresh seafood is everywhere, which is fantastic… if you’re someone who enjoys fish and not someone like me who politely smiles at fish and then changes the subject.

The one thing I did get on board with? Skyr. This thick, creamy Icelandic yogurt became my daily obsession—like Greek yogurt’s cooler, Viking cousin. I may or may not have stuffed a few extra cups in my bag for “later” (a.k.a. five minutes after buying them).

⛽ Gas Station Food — The Plot Twist Hero

Okay. Hear me out. In America, “gas station food” means regret and possibly salmonella.
In Iceland, it means delicious, fresh sandwiches that taste like something your cool Icelandic grandma would make. My favorite? The Kjúklingur and egg (chicken and egg) sandwich. It’s simple, fresh, and absolutely perfect when you don’t want to eat out but also don’t want to eat your third instant ramen in the hostel kitchen.

I will die on this hill: Icelandic gas station food is elite.

🍻 Bar Hopping: Reykjavík Edition

After eating my weight in bread and cheese, it was only natural to go find some drinks. If there’s one thing Reykjavík does well (besides making you question your finances), it’s cozy, quirky bars that are perfect for meeting locals, listening to music, or just defrosting your soul.

Here’s where I sipped, sang, and occasionally danced like nobody was watching (they were definitely watching).

🍀 The Irishman Pub — My Soulmate

This is hands-down my favorite bar in Reykjavík. It’s warm, welcoming, and filled with the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. They often have live music — just a person and their guitar pouring their heart out — and if you’re lucky (like I was), you might even catch an impromptu performance from the Esja Men’s Choir.

They were singing gorgeous acapella tunes and I’m not ashamed to admit I teared up into my beer. Magical. 100/10. Would move in if they’d let me.

🇬🇧 The English Pub — Busy & Brilliant

The English Pub is a lively spot with live music and a weekend crowd that knows how to party. It’s fun, it’s loud, and if you ever see Alexander Aron on the schedule, cancel all your other plans. He’s insanely talented and has the kind of voice that makes you want to follow your dreams… or at least order another round.

🇺🇸 American Bar — Because Apparently I Can’t Escape

Yes, I traveled all the way to Iceland to end up in an American bar. In my defense: it was chill, laid-back, and had a solid sports bar vibe. Sometimes you just want to watch a game, drink something familiar, and pretend you’re not in a country where beer costs more than your first car.

🍺 Litli Dubliner — Tiny Bar, Big Fun

This cute little pub had some of the most fun bartenders I met in Iceland, plus a solid mix of locals and tourists just looking for a good time. The drinks were strong, the laughs were plenty, and it felt like one of those bars where you accidentally stay for five hours without realizing it.

🤘 Lemmy — Next Time, It’s On

I didn’t make it to Lemmy this trip, but it’s top of my list for next time. It’s Reykjavík’s rock and metal bar, and since I am a rock girl at heart, I know I’ll be in heaven there. I’ll report back once I’ve headbanged my way through their drink menu.

💸 Final Thoughts (and Budget Tears)

Eating and drinking in Reykjavík is pricey, yes — but it’s also some of the best food and vibes you’ll find anywhere.From gas station sandwiches to unicorn ice cream, from soup in a bread bowl to impromptu choir serenades in pubs, it’s worth every króna.

My advice? Budget generously, eat shamelessly, and drink responsibly-ish. Iceland will feed your soul (and your Instagram) even as it drains your wallet — and honestly? Totally worth it.