Restaurants in Reykjavik Iceland Menus: Prices & Tips

Iceland’s reputation for pricey dining can blindside first-time visitors. This guide breaks down what’s actually on the menu, what you’ll pay, and how to stretch a food budget without resorting to gas station sandwiches.

Lunch special at Rok: 3,990 ISK for two dishes · Dinner tasting at Kol: 16,990 ISK per person · Kol wine pairing: 12,990 ISK for 5 glasses · TripAdvisor top restaurants: 10 best listed

These benchmark prices from Reykjavik’s most-visited venues illustrate the dining cost spectrum.

Do restaurants in Iceland have English menus?

Tourist-facing restaurants in Reykjavik overwhelmingly provide English menus. Most mid-range and fine-dining spots — including names like Kol and Rok — publish English versions directly on their websites. English is standard in menus, signage, and staff interactions throughout the capital’s dining scene.

Availability in Reykjavik spots

• Fine-dining venues like Kol and Rok list full English menus online with prices in ISK
• Street food halls including Grandi Mathöll use bilingual signage and English ordering boards
• TripAdvisor’s top-rated moderately-priced restaurants — including Swirl And Roll (5.0 rating) and Mama Reykjavik (4.9 rating) — provide English menus on request (TripAdvisor)

Navigation for English speakers

• Download menus before visiting to compare prices in calm surroundings
• Ask staff for the English version at any mid-range restaurant — they expect this
• Food apps and tourism portals like Guide to Iceland host cached versions of restaurant menus

What is the average cost of a meal in Reykjavík?

The cost spectrum in Reykjavik runs wider than most visitors expect. At the low end, Baejarins Beztu Pylsur serves hot dogs for 820 ISK ($6). At the high end, Kol’s tasting menu starts at 16,990 ISK per person before wine pairings add another 12,990 ISK for five glasses. Between those extremes lies the bulk of everyday dining.

Lunch vs dinner pricing

• A casual lunch at Grandi Mathöll costs around 2,500 ISK ($18) per meal (Guide to Iceland)
• Krua Thai near Hallgrimskirkja offers Pad Thai and curries at approximately 3,400 ISK ($24) with Chicken Panang curry at 1,690 ISK ($15) (The Boho Chica)
• Dinner at Caruso — an Italian option — ranges 2,100–3,500 ISK ($15–$25) for lunch mains (Guide to Iceland)
• Hlöllabátar subs and burgers cost 950–1,150 ISK (under $10) with regular sandwiches at 600–800 ISK (Adventures.is)

Examples from top restaurants

• Rok lunch offer: two dishes for 3,990 ISK, with beef or lamb upgrade for +300 ISK
• Kol dinner: 16,990 ISK per person for the tasting menu, wine pairing an additional 12,990 ISK
• The Deli serves pizza slices and pasta combos for $12–$16 USD with daily specials from 2pm–5pm (Like the Drum)

How to eat cheaply in Reykjavík?

Cheap eats in Reykjavik do exist — visitors just need to know where to look. Street food halls, late-night shawarma counters, and convenience-store sandwiches anchor the budget end of the market. The strategy is timing and location: head to Grandi Mathöll for variety, or stick to the downtown harbor area where competition keeps prices lower.

Affordable restaurant picks

• Baejarins Beztu Pylsur: 820 ISK hot dog, Reykjavik’s cheapest sit-down meal option since 1937
• Grandi Mathöll: Street food hall opened 2017, meals around 2,500 ISK with vegan and vegetarian options available (Guide to Iceland)
• 101 Reykjavik Street Food: Unlimited soup refills including lamb soup, seafood soup, and traditional Icelandic dishes at reasonable prices
• Mandi: Shawarma, falafel, and hummus as a late-night favorite downtown
• IKEA Bistro: Swedish meatballs for 1,200–1,700 ISK, hot dogs at 345 ISK — the cheapest hot dog in Reykjavik by verified price

Budget meal strategies

• Target lunch specials rather than dinner — most mid-range spots offer 11:30am–1:30pm deals
• Seek unlimited soup refills at spots like 101 Reykjavik Street Food, which specializes in Kjötsúpa (grandma meat soup), lobster soup, and noodle soups with free refills (101 Reykjavik Street Food)
• Skip beverages — water is free, but alcoholic drinks double or triple the bill quickly
• Use convenience stores (10–15 USD sandwiches) only as a last resort

What is a typical dinner in Iceland?

Icelandic dinner menus typically split between tradition and modern interpretation. Lamb appears in some form on nearly every menu — whether grilled lamb chops, slow-cooked kjötsúpa, or lamb-based street food. Fish and seafood round out the native options, while upscale spots like Kol add charred Icelandic preparations to their tasting sequence.

Traditional Icelandic dishes

• Kjötsúpa (Icelandic meat soup) — a lamb-and-vegetable broth served with bread, found at 101 Reykjavik Street Food and Café Babalu
• Lamb chops — breaded lamb chops alongside fish cakes, burgers, and steaks as listed on Guide to Iceland
• Seafood soup and lobster soup — available at Saegreifinn (lobster soup with bread over $12, fish skewers from $16) (Like the Drum)
• Icelandic fish and chips — Reykjavik Fish at Tryggvagata 8 serves this classic

Modern Reykjavik takes

• Kol’s tasting menu features charred Icelandic lamb and seafood in a contemporary format at 16,990 ISK per person
• Lamb Street Food combines Icelandic lamb with Middle Eastern spices on flatbreads for a fusion approach
• Grandi Mathöll hosts international vendors alongside traditional Icelandic options in a casual food hall setting

How much does a pint of beer cost in Iceland?

Beer in Reykjavik runs expensive compared to most European capitals. Restaurant prices typically start around $8–$12 for a domestic draft, with imports and craft options pushing higher. Happy hour deals exist but are less common than in other Nordic cities. The actual price varies enough by venue that calling ahead or checking menus online remains the best strategy.

Beer pricing overview

• Domestic draft beer in restaurants typically ranges $8–$12 per pint
• Import beers and craft options add $3–$6 to domestic pricing
• Happy hour can shave 20–30% off drink prices at participating bars, usually 4pm–7pm
• Bars charge more than restaurants — expect $10–$16 for draft beer at downtown pubs

Where to find deals

• Restaurant lunch menus occasionally include beer at reduced prices as a package deal
• Grocery stores sell beer and spirits at state-run Vínbúðin for significantly less than bars
• Kol’s wine pairing (5 glasses for 12,990 ISK) offers an alternative to beer at fine-dining venues

Dining out in Iceland is notoriously expensive. There’s no getting around it.

— Simply Awesome Trips (Travel Blog)

How to read Reykjavik restaurant menus

Navigating menus in Reykjavik requires understanding a few patterns. Most restaurants list prices in ISK with USD equivalents on tourist-facing websites. Portion sizes tend to be generous by European standards. Tipping is not expected — service charge is typically included — but rounding up for good service is appreciated.

• Check for lunch specials sections — these often fall below 4,000 ISK for two dishes
• Look for set-menu or tasting options at fine-dining venues — these are usually cheaper than ordering à la carte
• Note the daily specials board (often near the entrance) — these frequently offer better value than printed menus
• Ask about free refills on soups if eating at spots like 101 Reykjavik Street Food — this stretches a meal significantly

101 Reykjavik Street Food is convenient and flavourful food for a reasonable price.

— 101 Reykjavik Street Food (Restaurant Official)

Summary

Reykjavik’s restaurant scene rewards visitors who do basic homework before arriving. Baejarins Beztu Pylsur’s 820 ISK hot dog proves that iconic and cheap can coexist, while Kol’s 16,990 ISK tasting menu shows where the money goes for elevated experiences. English menus are standard at tourist-facing venues, though budget spots vary. Savvy visitors who eat early, target daily specials, and save fine dining for one intentional evening will get the most value from Reykjavik’s dining budget.