The weekend scene at the 101 reflects the hotel’s stylish decor; dress to impress and be prepared to drop around $20 for a cocktail. The many cozy seating nooks and gas fireplace make this a romantic spot.

This is the place to go for a truly traditional Icelandic meal.  Since opening in 1989, this small, family-run restaurant has been popular with locals and tourists alike. The décor is a bit kitschy (mounted fish and game heads on the walls) and the food is authentic, as opposed to the reimagined nouvelle Icelandic cuisine served in many of Reykjavík’s trendy restaurants. Adventurous eaters will find their shark and puffin dishes here.

Note: Book ahead to be sure to get one of the 44 seats.  Lunch is a better deal than dinner.

Set in the former apothecary from which it takes its name, this buzzy new restaurant right in the heart of Reykjavik pays homage to its history with a cocktail menu divided into categories: painkillers, stimulants, tranquilizers and placebos. The menu features a mix of Nordic cuisine with specialties like small plates of mink whale and ling as well as international standards like dry-aged rib eye and salmon. During the day, there is a wonderful pastry counter in the front of the restaurant serving French pastries including macaroons and eclairs.

With its neon-lit bar and clusters of tables, B5 is a good place to start a night on the town. A DJ spins on the weekends, and the crowd is a mix of young professionals and affluent locals. B5 is transformed into a nightclub in the wee hours, but on a recent trip we left too early (1:30 A.M.) to witness the switch.

This small stand on Reykjavík’s waterfront with the intimidating name—it simply means “best hot dogs in town”—is popular with both locals and visitors (Bill Clinton is one of its most famous customers). If you order “eina mid öllu,” you get the works, including raw and fried onions, ketchup, may, sweet relish and mustard. It’s a convenient and quick stop during Reykjavík sightseeing, especially if you’re traveling with kids.

Perfect for morning treats or afternoon snacks, Brauð & Co. is a must-try bakery for handmade pastries (don’t miss the cinnamon rolls), breads and soft pretzels. Guests can sample some of the delicious treats while watching the bakers in action.

A purveyor of New Nordic cuisine (local, seasonal), Dill offers an elevated approach to traditional Icelandic fare. Dinner may be a seven-course affair with wine pairing, while the lunch menu could include a hearty fish stew or meatballs with a twist. In 2017, Dill became the first restaurant in Iceland to be awarded a Michelin star.

At first glance, this family-run café may seem like a regular place to get gelato and crepes, but step inside to discover the quirks that make this a local gem. Meaning “fire and ice,” Eldur & Is is run by a bubbly barista, a local artist whose surreal paintings are displayed in a cozy nook. The café features a piano, Baroque furniture and hanging mosaic lamps. Crepes are made with gluten-friendly spelt and creatively plated. There’s also a long list of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and the gelato comes in a colorful variety of flavors.

Set in an historic building from 1884, the Fish Company is known for its charming atmosphere and seriously innovative food. The stone cellar dining room has a cozy feeling with whimsical modern touches like copper lanterns that resemble organ pipes and windows panes from a Lutheran church above the bar (tables are set out on the terrace in the summer as well). The owner and chef Larus Gunnar celebrates Icelandic ingredients and a global sensibility with each course named after a different country, using its key ingredient to signify its inspiration (the Japan Rice starter, for instance, is mixed sushi). Fiji Coconut is a boiled fish soup with langoustine, grilled monkfish, coconut jelly and seaweed. France Truffle is a poached egg served in a potato nest with truffle puree, green asparagus and fried wild mushrooms. Make sure to save room for the desserts, including the Egypt Blood Orange, a pyramid of white chocolate and blood orange parfait served with salt caramel, orange leaf and caramel sand.

A Hamburg tradition, the Sunday morning fish market opens at 5am and sells the freshest catches until 10am. Revelers from nearby St Pauli (known for its many music clubs as well as red light district) often spill down to the waterfront market after a night out for fish sandwiches and coffee.

This rustic seaside restaurant, in the charming historic fishing village Stokkseyri, has communal wood tables and a menu on a green chalkboard. You order the house special—lobster—by the pound and simply prepared: grilled in butter and served with bread, different sauces and salads. During the warmer summer months, guests can dine outside on a patio that overlooks the expansive Atlantic. Open daily for dinner and weekends for lunch and dinner.

This large loft-like restaurant near Reykjavík’s port has a hip, industrial-chic vibe and is furnished with lightwood tables, white chairs, and colorful lamps. The menu features traditional local cuisine served in small, shareable portions—Icelandic tapas.  The bar serves a good selection of local beers and offers a happy hour everyday between 5–7pm.

Don’t leave the Golden Triangle without visiting Fridheimer, a charming, family-run farm and restaurant.  Hydroponic tomatoes are grown year round, along with grapes and cucumbers, in a modern greenhouse. The menu boasts tomato-focused dishes, such as tomato soup, homemade pasta sauce, tomato ice cream and an impressive selection of tomato-based cocktails (including four bloody mary variations).

In addition to the restaurant, there is an outdoor ring where the farmer’s children perform horse shows in the summer. A visit here is a great way to experience a local farm and learn about the Icelandic horse.

This homey, family-run restaurant just off the Ring Road is the epitome of farm-to-table dining –the beef on the menu comes from the cows in the barn next door (which you can visit), the vegetables are grown in the garden out back, and the chef bakes his own bread from wheat and barley sourced from neighboring farms. Meaning “the old cowhouse,” Gamla Fjosio serves comfort food like Icelandic meat soup, steak sandwiches, and one of the best burgers I’ve ever had.

Smack dab in the middle of the city, Grill Market provides a swanky setting for a memorable night on the town. The restaurant, which is tucked away slightly off the main drag, has a bar on the lower level that serves wine by the glass and cocktails starting at 5pm and a main dining room on the ground level, whose low-lighting and sultry décor favors brown tones in a variety of textures (wood, leather, rattan.)  The kitchen sources ingredients fresh from the farm and so the menu changes according to what is in season.  Adventurous eaters can go for the Grillmarket tasting menu, but it is also possible to order à la carte. As the name implies, there are lots of grilled options: chicken, lamb, salmon, and even lobster.

If you are passing through the picturesque tiny town of Vik at mealtime, skip the fast food joint at the main gas station and continue down the main road towards the residential part of town where better fare and atmosphere can be enjoyed at Halldórskaffi.  Though nothing fancy, this country-style dining room is charming and the burgers and soups will provide energy for a hike along Vik’s extraordinary black sand beach.

The Vatnajökull region, along Iceland’s southeastern shore, is known for its ice lagoon tours and puffin tours. Surprisingly, there are no fine dining options (or luxury accommodations) near this natural attractions. But if you have traveled this far east and are looking for a satisfying meal, the restaurant at the Hótel Smyrlabjörg is a good bet.  Set on the grounds of a fully operational family-run farm, the restaurant serves simple fare made with farm-fresh ingredients.

Note:  Should you need a place to stay in the Vatnajökull region, Smyrlabjörg offers comfortable, recently renovated suites in the main building.

A fun place for drinks and comfort food (burgers) where you can also sample unusual local delicacies like fermented shark.  The latter is best washed down with a shot of brennivín—an Icelandic spirit that literally translates as “burning wine” and tastes like caraway seeds.

The oldest operating restaurant in Iceland, this historic establishment is situated right along Reykjavik's waterfront and originated as a watering hole for seamen and locals. Unlike the rest of Reykjavik, it is not hipster-cool but homey in its atmosphere and cuisine.

Facing out onto Reykjavík’s port, Kopar’s brasserie-style dining room serves up delicately prepared dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.  The young chef/owner honed her skills at Reykjavík’s perennial favorite Fish Market before venturing out on her own.  The menu at Kopar offers traditional Icelandic dishes reimagined with unexpected touches and accompaniments like oven-baked Catfish with pistachios, green kale and cauliflower.

This large and colorfully decorated restaurant features a diner-style menu (burgers, sandwiches, salads) and does a particularly nice breakfast/brunch that ranges from healthy (granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit) to indulgent (spiced sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, grilled tomato, and Stóri Dímon cheese.) Casual and fun, this is a great place to come read the paper (or peruse your guidebook) over a cup of coffee or a beer.  The vibe is relaxed, welcoming, and very family-friendly.  There is even a children’s playroom.

Reykjavík’s oldest coffee shop, which opened in 1958, is located on a serene downtown side street and makes a wonderful pit stop to refuel over coffee and pastries. The leather booth seating attracts students and creative types who while away the afternoon over hot chocolates and marzipan-covered cakes. Go for the Mokka, a rectangular pastry with a cream-and-jam filling and a chocolate glaze, or freshly made waffles served with whipped cream and fresh berries. Open daily.

Located on Laugavegur, one of the most popular streets in Reykjavik, Nostra offers experiential dining at its finest. The tasting menus incorporate local, seasonal ingredients and feel innovative and artful, featuring unique dishes like seared cod with lobster sauce and lardo. Guests can choose from four-, six- or eight-course tasting menus and also have the option of crafting a menu around specific preferences, like vegetarian, pescatarian or vegan diets. The cocktail menu is comprised of infused alcohols and syrups made daily.

The restaurant of the Hótel Rangá, located on the southern shore (a forty-five-minute drive from Reykjavík), looks rustic but the sophisticated dishes feature Iceland’s best homegrown ingredients, like fish and lamb. The specialty, fish soup, is not to be missed; it’s a flavorful, Asian-influenced hot stew made with monkfish, salmon and shrimp. Equally tasty is an appetizer of smoked trout and ceviche. If you’re sightseeing in the south, where you can tour the Skogár Museum and glacial waterfalls, this is a nice spot for lunch. Call ahead for reservations.

A  trendy cocktail bar and restaurant located right across the street from Hallgrimskirkja (iconic Lutheran church), ROK offers a relaxed scene, high quality food and drink and an industrial but cozy interior housed within a classically Icelandic grass-roofed structure.