Livin’ On A Prayer At Sæta Svínið
It’s difficult to pinpoint when, or how, the emergence of the gastropub happened in Iceland. If memory serves, it was way before Iceland became a major tourist destination. But t
Spice It Up: A Sichuan Stroll At Fönix Veitingahús
While America and most parts of the world are seeing regional Chinese cuisine grow and thrive, in Iceland the stereotypical fried meat drowning in sweet and sour sauce is still [&h
Pizza Will Never Betray You: Eldofninn Reviewed
It’s a cold night. The mind races. You think about pizza, the only friend who hasn’t betrayed you. If that is the case, your best friend might be Eldofninn, a […]
Mai Thai Bistro: The Rookie of the “Thai Triangle”
The Hlemmur area in downtown Reykjavík has for recent years been the supreme destination of Thai food lovers. It has been the home of the “Boonchang-empire,” with the best Tha
Hlemmur Mathöll: Iceland’s New Food Hall Opens Its Doors
The highly anticipated Hlemmur Mathöll opened its doors this summer, promising to be a food hall that showcases “all kinds of food, for all kinds of people.” Several setbacks
Sumac Grill: Paris of the East, in the North
There has historically been a real lack of culinary institutions in Iceland representing the northern parts of Africa and the Middle East. Save for a few fast food places—those w
New In Town: Hlemmur Mathöll
Hlemmur station, at the top of Hverfisgata, has long been a dark, slightly unsavoury space where people hide from the winter elements and wait for the bus. Having undergone a [&hel
Iceland’s Food Revolution: Foraging, Feasting, And Reinventing The Past
Ragnar Eiríksson leans through the metal railing of Reykjavík’s Danish embassy, grasping at a bush on the other side. He clips off the tip of a berry-laden branch with a [&hell
Heeeeere’s Jamie: A Visit To Jamie’s Italian
When ‘The Naked Chef’ first aired on the telly, the intention was that it’d encourage ‘blokes’ to step up in the kitchen. Whether that worked or not, Jamie Oliver did [&h
The Crafty Crustaceans of Höfn
“Langoustines Are the New Foie Gras,” exclaimed a recent Bon Appétit article, and langoustine certainly fits the bill as a new, obscure luxury ingredient to elevate your food
‘Tis The (Tourist) Season: 101 Harbor Restaurant Cashes In
It would have been very difficult to foresee the Reykjavík harbour area growing into a thriving melting pot of restaurants, cafés, bars, craft stores and galleries in a timespan
Go To The Bar And Give It A Smakk
I remember vividly the revelation of reading Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Kitchen Confidential’, and how those “Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” are easily relatable in almo
Artisanal Italian Cheese, Now A Reykjavík Reality
If you have had the pleasure of tearing into the mozzarella with pickled tomatoes at Mat Bar, or the egg yolk ravioli with ricotta at the Marshall House Restaurant, or […]
Transcending Pylsu Sushi in Seyðisfjörður
For a self-confessed sushi aficionado, sushi in Reykjavik leaves me underwhelmed and, on occasion, angry. The only thing worse than cheap, bad sushi is expensive bad sushi. “Pyls
Entering A Microcosm: An Impulse Visit To Gæðingur
Wondering where to get a beer in Sauðárkrókur, North Iceland, my travelling companion and I catch a resident who directs us to the only bar in town, Microbar. The name […
The Vegan Safe Haven: Kaffi Vínyl Brings The Revolution
Kaffi Vínyl is a hip and stylish café/bar/restaurant located in the gritty upper part of Hverfisgata. Although fairly new to the culinary scene in Iceland, this establishment has
Surf & Earth: Rosenberg Is Reborn As A Sanctuary For The restaurant Scene
Entering Rosenberg, I’m greeted with mannequin heads salvaged from the recently closed hair salon next door, which closed down last month. They also brought over the chairs, tabl
The Classless Society Of The First Icelandic Diner: Lunch On The Harbour At Kaffivagnin
Reykjavík’s old harbour area Grandi has gone through a rapid transformation in recent years, with new restaurants and bars popping up almost every month, it seems. Art galleries
New In Town: Hyalin French Deli
With its signature dark blue walls and precisely stacked shelves, HYALIN is a shop made of dreams. From amber-coloured honey and vintage-looking cookie boxes to immaculate tea cups
The Waiting Room: Good And Bad Surprises At Von Mathús
It is hard to decry the ills of tourism when one can today find great cafés and restaurants even in municipalities outside of Reykjavík—something that was unheard of even just
Matartíminn Magical Mystery Meal: Dill & Solfin Tour The Arctic Island Palate
Matartíminn is a series of pop-up events orchestrated by Dill, Iceland’s first Michelin star restaurant, and Kex Hostel. Each event takes place in a new and non-traditional loca