18 Cool Cafes In Reykjavik You Need To Check Out

 

When it comes to Icelandic food cuisine, one cannot miss Reykjavik’s food scene, with innovative spins on traditional dishes and some of the freshest fish you’ll ever have.

So, I thought I would share a guide on the best cafes in Reykavik for those maybe on the hunt for the best coffee in Reykjavik, or just somewhere to chill and enjoy great breakfast or brunch before heading out to explore the city.

I have already share tips on the best cheap places to eat in Reykjavik for those looking to reign in their budgets in Iceland.

 

Whether you are looking to splurge on a light meal or grab a quick bite or simply want to enjoy your book while slurping your warm coffee, Reykjavik cafes provide some of the finest coffee and quick bites in Iceland. Below are some of my favourite Reykjavik cafes. 

 

 

Best Cafes in Reykjavik For The Best Coffee Breakfast And Brunch

We were lucky that for our second stay in Iceland we stayed right in the heart of Reykjavik which meant that a walk into the main town could be done in minutes as it gave us access to many bakeries and coffee shops in Reykjavik, without having to drive or get a bus.

I have shared tips on the best areas to stay in Reykjavik if you need help choosing where to stay. One of my favourtite was Laundromat Cafe as I love the vibe of the cafe and all the cool maps on the walls. 

 

1.   Laundromat Café

One of the best cafes in Reykjavik to eat American and European cuisine, Laundromat Café has established itself as a leading name. Just as their name suggests, they provide an option to dine in while washing your clothes which is a unique experience in itself.

The food is delicious, with pricing as low as £11.63. The interior is well-decorated with the laundry frames all over the place. Location and opening hours: Austurstraeti 9, Reykjavik 101 and usually opens from 8:00 am till 12:00 am.

 

2.   Laekjarbrekka  

With their old historical building, Laekjarbrekka specializes in serving authentic Icelandic cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients.

Their first-class service and interior design reflecting ancient Iceland, along with their two menus: a menu showing real historical taste of Iceland and a menu for modern Icelandic cuisine. Location and opening hours: Bankastraeti 2, Reykjavik 101 and usually opens from 11:30 am till 10:00 pm.

 

3.   Cafe Loki

Located across the street from Hallgrímskirkja church in downtown Reykjavik, famous for their traditional homemade food, Café Loki takes pride in serving its customers with traditional Icelandic cuisine. Their menu includes fresh fish and delicious lamb, all homemade.

They also serve a wide variety of classic dishes and tasting platters that cover almost everything that you’ll desire, from their tasty meat soup to their delicious fermented shark.

Their prices start at £10. Location and opening hours: Lokastigur 28, Reykjavik 101 and opens from 8:00 am till 10:00 pm.

 

 

4.   Babalu Cafew

Quirky and cool, Babalu is a cozy café at Skolavordustigur, where you can have a cup of coffee, drink or have a light meal.

With their vintage, slouching chairs and large tables, Babalu makes up for a great place to enjoy your time while enjoying their delicious sweet crepes. Location and opening hours: Skolavoerdustigur 22a, Reykjavik 101 and usually closes at 10:30 pm.

 

5.   C is for Cookie

This charming little coffee shop on Tysgata 8 in the downtown Reykjavik area has a lot of tempting treats to serve you with, along with a light lunchtime in their cozy establishment.

Their food is delicious and they serve the best, creamiest hot chocolate along with, yes you got it right, with lots and lots of sweet delicious cookies.

Their menu has a lot of ham and cheese options among many other varieties of lunch items, with their prices start from £3.86. Location: at Tysgata 8, Reykjavik 101.

 

 

6.   Snap Bistro Bar

A restaurant with a lovely and inviting ambiance, Snap Bistro Bar is famous for one of the best bistros of Iceland. With their exceptionally good food and excellent service, their menu includes open sandwiches, steak béarnaise, bar snacks and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Along with their delicious menu items, the overall atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with their first-class service. The waitress was pretty much perfect English, and they help you understand the whole menu.

Their pricing starts from as low as £70 and super cozy café. Location and opening hours: Thorsgata 1, Reykjavik 101 and their timings are from 11:30 am till 11:00 pm.

 

7.   Islenski Barinn

Islenski Barinn takes pride in their Icelandic cuisine along with authentic Icelandic beer that you won’t find anywhere in the world. The atmosphere is unpretentious and their service friendly.

The interior provides with a welcome warm and the candles glow to the tables offering a cozy setting.  They have a wide range of authentic Iceland food selections on the menu, including minke whale, fermented shark, thyme cured puffin, a fish choice of the day and delicious chips, along with their pricing starting from as low as £7.72.

Location and opening hours: Ingolfsstraeti 1a, Reykjavik 101 and their timings are from 11:30 am till 01:00 am.

 

 

8.   Kaffitar

An Icelandic coffee roaster café, along with a cozy atmosphere and serves delicious pieces of bread, pastries, and cakes with their deliciously creamy coffee, Kaffitar has grown to become the dominant force in Icelandic specialty coffee.

If you are looking for the best coffee shops in Reykjavik this is one to check out. They import and roast their own coffee by directly dealing with farmers so you should expect the coffee to be the best.

Their breakfast and brunch are to die for. They operate five cafes and two bakeries and their opening hours are from 07:30 am till 06:00 pm.

 

9. Kaffi Solon

An awesome place to meet up with people in a great atmosphere, with amazingly delicious food and soul-soothing drinks, Kaffi Solon is a perfect place to dine in. they shine brightly with their wide range of specialty in American, European, Scandinavian and International fusion. Kaffi Solon offers a great variety of small courses, salads, hamburgers, sandwiches, steaks, and fresh fish. Their menu prices start from £7.72. Location and opening hours: Bankastraeti 7a, Reykjavik 101 and they open their café at 11:00 am and closes at 11:45 pm.

 

 

10. Cafe Haiti

Café Haiti serves its customers one of the finest coffee in all of Reykjavik. Just as their name suggests, their coffee beans come all the way from Haiti and them roast in-house to preserve the premium freshness of the coffee beans.

Their menu includes delicious cakes, pastries, fish soup, specialized Haitian chicken dish, the Icelandic plokkfiskur with rye bread and a variety of pies. Their menu starts from £10.00.  Location and opening hours: Geirsgata 7b, Reykjavik 101.

 

11. Glaetan Bookcafe

Looking for an amazing place with a cozy environment with a wide range of delicious food, in order to read your book in a calm and warm manner?

Then look no further than Glaetan Bookcafe as they are one of the best book cafes in town. With their freshly-baked muffins, pastries and cakes along with their delicious café are a perfect go with books.

Their bookshelf is also worthy enough of your attention. Location and opening hours: Laugavegur 18, Reykjavik.

 

 

12. Hresso

Hresso is one of the leading names in Reykjavik as a café, bar, and bistro. With their good ambiance and atmosphere, they specialized in burgers and pizza.

Their desserts are also unusually delicious and serve as an excellent partner with a warm and soothing coffee cup. The café turns into a nightclub in evenings, adding to the enjoyment. Location and opening hours: Austurstraeti 20, Reykjavik 101 and opens from 11:00 am till 11:00 pm.

 

13. Cafe Paris

Located at the heart of Reykjavik, Cafe Paris has a spacious and intimate establishment with its first-class service and bistro-style meals.

Each item on their menu is made by using fresh local products. With their amazing service and delicious food, Cafe Paris is a must-visit place to enjoy your summer stay in Iceland.

Location and opening hours: Austurstraeti 14, Reykjavik 101 and opens from 08:30 am till 12:00 am.

 

14. Idno

Idno, with their quirky venue by the Tjornin pond, is a café with such a wide menu where everyone will find something to their liking. With their amazingly delicious brunch along with their warm coffee, to a hearty lunch and an after-work drink, Idno is a place for ultimate relaxation.

Their menu starts from £4.65. Location and opening hours: Vonarstraeti 3, Reykjavik 101, with timings from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.

 

 

15. Prikid

Tasty burgers, delicious beer, best in town French fries and lighter on pockets, Prikio with all its perks is an awesome place to dine-in and socialize.

Being one of the Reykjavik’s oldest joints, Prikid serves amazingly delicious coffee along with a wide arrange of food items. Their main course starts from £161.62. Location and opening hours: Bankastraeti 12, Reykjavik 101. They open from 08:00 am till 04:30 am.

 

16. Svarta Kaffio

A family-owned tiny soup café in the heart of Reykjavik, they serve delicious lunch, dinner, coffee, and drinks. The owners of Svarta Kaffio takes pride in their first and the original “soup in bread” creation.

With their cozy atmosphere and chill environment, you’ll get to enjoy their unique and delicious soup. They provide two options for soup, bowl or bread bowl.

Their prices start from £6.21. Location and opening hours: at Laugavegi 54, Reykjavik 101 and they open their shop at 11:30 am till 01:00 am.

 

17. Sufistinn

With a warm environment and their first-class service, Sufistinn serve premium Arabica coffee beans and import raw coffee from over 17 different countries.

They do in-house roasting of coffee beans to make sure their customers get only the best coffee in town. Their establishment has big windows that provide a unique view of Bernhoftstorfa, being airy and bright.

Location and opening hours: Strandgata 9, Hafnarfjordur and opens from 08:00 am till 11:00 pm.

 

 

18. Mimisbar

With a discreet and top-notch establishment, Mimisbar is a perfect bar to enjoy yours after-work drinks or early morning coffee.

They offer exotic blend of tastes in food and drink. They honor the Icelandic cuisine by creating and selecting menu items made from local ingredients.

Their menu prices start from £8.53. Location and opening hours: Hagatorg, 107 Reykjavík and usually opens from 12:00 pm till 12:00 am

 

Have you been to Iceland? Heading to Iceland? Let me know in the comments below which one of the Reykjavik cafes above are you likely to check out?

 

Want more Iceland travel tips? Also read:

• Why Summer Is The Best Time To Visit Iceland
• What To Pack For Iceland
• Must-Have Thermals For A Trip To Iceland
• Top Tips For Visiting Blue Lagoon
• Things To Do In Vik
• Where To Stay In Reykjavik

 

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