Best food stops around Iceland

Iceland is sparsely populated, and when driving around the country there may be at least an hour between each small town or a gas station. So if you want to avoid just having hot dogs, burgers or deepfried food at gas stations for lunch and dinner, you might want to plan some of your food stops in advance.

Iceland’s cuisine is mostly made up of fresh seafood and delicious lamb, but recent years have also seen a surge in locally grown herbs and vegetables. Here I list some of the best restaurants and cafés in Iceland to taste local cuisine, outside of the capital region. Some may be a little hard on your wallet, but others are more reasonably priced. You’ll need your own transport to get to these gems as tours generally don’t visit them, but they are oh-so-worth-it!

Fresh sushi at Austur Sushi Bar.

Here they are presented in a location order – driving the circle of Iceland anti-clockwise.

GOLDEN CIRCLE TREATS

If you are driving the Golden Circle, there are a number of locations to check out for dinner or lunch, all coming at an affordable price. At Efstidalur II by Lake Laugavatn you can choose between locally made quality ice-cream, burgers or steaks.

At nearby greenhouse Friðheimar you’ll be surprised at how many dishes can be made using just cucumber and tomatoes. They are most famous for their tomato soup and freshly baked bread with cucumber salsa, but you can also get a tasty pasta dish and finish up with tomato ice-cream. And these guys make the best Bloody Mary in the country, both virgin ones and the stronger kind.

Bloody Mary at Friðheimar

In the small town of Flúðir, you’ll find the most surprising selection of food, at the Ethiopian restaurant Minilik. The staff and kitchen are small, consisting only of an Ethiopian lady that does all the cooking, and her husband who waits on tables, so you need to be patient, but the food is exotic and excellent, with spicy meat stews served with a sourdough Enjera bread. It’s also the perfect choice for vegetarians and coffee lovers due to their extensive vegetarian or fasting menu and newly ground Ethiopian coffee. If you’re tired of Icelandic seafood, or just want to try something entirely different, then Minilik is a fun surprise.

Tomatoes everywhere at Friðheimar.

SOUTH COAST DELIGHTS

Although some locals may consider the Blue Lagoon somewhat of a tourist trap, you can’t argue with the Lava Restaurant situated there being one of the best dining options in the country.

Traveling east, people pass through the town of Selfoss where you’ll find the popular Tryggvaskáli Restaurant, that focuses on local ingredients from nearby farms and mixes together Icelandic and foreign cuisine.

If you head to the town of Stokkseyri on the south coast, you’ll be rewarded with some of Iceland’s best langoustine at Fjöruborðið, (it translates to The Seashore). Langoustine is Iceland’s version of lobster, much smaller than the one visitors might be used to but all the more tastier.

Just a short boat ride away from Iceland’s mainland lie the stunning Westman Islands where you’ll find another gourmet seafood restaurant that shouldn’t be missed: Slippurinn. This family-run restaurant offers an extremely seasonal menu which changes weekly. You can be sure that the food is fresh, sustainable and local, and they follow both the philosophy of Slow Food and New Nordic Cuisine.

THE REMOTE HIDDEN GEMS OF EAST ICELAND

If you haven’t had enough langoustine, there’s the town of Höfn in southeast Iceland, the country’s langoustine capital. Pakkhúsið and Humarhöfnin both offer tasty and locally caught langoustine. As they don’t take reservations at peak times and are situated right next to each other, you can stroll between the two and pick the one that has a free table!

Pakkhúsið Restaurant in Höfn.

In the tiny town of Djúpivogur, you’ll find a pleasantly surprising menu at Hotel Framtíð. You can’t go wrong with the seafood, but they also present a delicious French onion soup. The hotel itself dates back to 1904 and has a stunning view over the harbor right beside it.

For a big surprise, there’s a high-quality sushi restaurant located as far from the capital as possible. Arguably the best sushi to be found in Iceland is in Norð Austur Sushi Bar in the small but artistic town of Seyðisfjörður in east Iceland. This fashionable and sleek restaurant uses the freshest fish available for its modern, mouthwatering sushi. For the ultimate treat, go for the 8-course omakase. Note that this restaurant is only open during the summertime.

A chef at Norð Austur Sushi Bar puts the final touch on one of their sublime dishes.

The East of Iceland also presents some of the best cakes in the country! Just head over to the cake buffet at Klausturkaffi at Skriðuklaustur, not far from the town of Egilsstaðir. Where, for a very decent price, you can stuff your face with waffles, cakes, Icelandic pastries, savory treats, coffee and hot chocolate.

Seyðisfjörður in East Iceland.

NORTH ICELAND DELICACIES

Vogafjós aka The Cowshed Café by Lake Mývatn in North Iceland has some of the best food in the area. While the hamburger might be steeply priced, it’s one hell of a tasty bite! Alternatively, go for the meat soup or the rack of lamb. This is very much a farm-to-table restaurant, as it is effectively inside a barn. You can see the cows and buy locally-made knitwear and other goodies at their shop.

The Cowshed Café

Head to the capital of the North, Akureyri, to find a selection of restaurants of all types and prices. If your budget allows, then the best place for a fancy dinner is Rub23, another one of Iceland’s best sushi restaurants.

In the picturesque village of Siglufjörður you’ll find several contestants for the best food stop. However, our personal favorite is Hannes Boy, where you can have a great dish or fish of the day for a reasonable price. Like in many other restaurants around the country, the seafood is key.

If you just want a burger, then Hvammstangi’s Sjávarborg is a charming little surprise. Their choice of hamburgers includes seafood, lamb and vegan burgers. Also, there are lovely lobster soups, salmon tartar and fish of the day on the menu.

WESTFJORDS AND WEST ICELAND

Iceland’s best fish restaurant is quite possibly Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður. Here you’ll get a buffet of all kinds of fish for a very reasonable price, both at lunch and dinner time in a very amicable and inviting environment.

Guests at Tjöruhúsið in Ísafjörður.

In the fjord of Breiðafjörður, you’ll come upon the peaceful Flatey Island, accessible by the ferry Baldur. Although a bit pricey, you won’t regret having some seafood at Hotel Flatey (not to be confused with the excellent pizzas at Flatey Pizzeria in Reykjavík). It’s the only restaurant on the small island, and this restaurant alone makes it worth relaxing there for a few hours.

Flatey Island, accessible by the ferry Baldur.

And finally, in the small village of Rif, you’ll come across my favorite seafood soup in the country (besides my mother’s recipe, of course). Kaffihús Gamla Rif, or simply Café Rif, dishes up super soups, with a slightly spicy tomato base and delicious accompanying bread. If you still have space, you can always opt for delicious cake for dessert.

Now you are all set for a foodie road trip around Iceland. Bon appetit!