29 Best Restaurants in North Iceland, Iceland

Glaumbær's cozy tea room is an unforgettable stop, particularly after a meander around the historical grounds. Either get their soup, cakes, and coffee buffet or just order something á la carte. Their traditional pancakes are particularly drool-worthy, as is the homemade rhubarb jam.

An attention-attracting Viking ship decked out with colorful shields acts like a visual ringmaster for this fabulous Hauganes restaurant, drumming up business for their fishy fare. Tasty seafood dishes and baccalá (salted codfish)–themed meals star on the menu alongside the seaside views. If you're lucky, you might just see a whale in the distance. 

The fresh flavors of Icelandic seafood and lamb feature in several superb dishes served at Báran, a welcoming bar and restaurant where the prices are affordable and the quality is high. Its harborside location adds atmospheric charm to the welcoming candlelit interior, where old historical annals, some dating back to the 19th century, have been incorporated into the decor. Standouts on the menu include several tasty modern classics with pizza and pasta dishes, but the Báran burger, dubbed as the best in Iceland, is always a winning choice.

Located inside the Fosshotel Húsavík, this beautifully designed restaurant is a convenient place for guests to dine, although you don't need to be a guest to eat here. While their main menu offers traditional first rate Icelandic fare, they also have pizzas and great burgers. 

For a true chocolate high, visit Frida—aka the chocolate temptress of the north—who sells exceptional handmade chocolates in her delightful coffee shop. The decor is stylish, from the cartoon-covered walls of the bathroom to all the featured works of art, but the chocolates are the star attractions here, with some surprising flavors like blue cheese and beer.

There is a glorious jumble of vintage ski wear, old leather saddles, and other knickknacks to engage your curiosity in this small-town café, which is just as charming as the children’s story it’s named after: The Brothers From Bakki. The famous local storybook (about three brothers who build a house with no windows and tried to carry sunshine into the house using their hats) makes for a great read while you wait for your order. Look out for the marvelous wooden sculpture of former President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson by local artist Dagur Óskarsson.

Located within the 1238 Battle of Iceland museum, this restaurant not only serves some delightful fare but also acts as Skagafjörður's premier concert venue, bringing both famous and small-time artists to play in the remote countryside. They also have a small store with gifts and souvenirs. 

The quiet enclave of Húsavík found worldwide fame in 2020 with the release of the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, which told the dramatic tale of two Húsavík musicians who dream of winning the famous contest. Named after a song from the film, this themed café pays homage to the hit in a delightfully cheesy manner.

Glorious in its haphazardness, this welcoming café is also a bar and gallery exhibiting and selling various paintings, handicrafts, knitwear, and a selection of homemade jams and preserves. It’s a happy blend of old, upcycled, and new, featuring lots of driftwood and an entire wall dedicated to a quirky collection of teapots, pans, and kitchenware.

Reserve a table at this restaurant run by award-winning Moroccan chef Jaouad Hbib, who arrived at this remote northern town in 2016. The menu changes every few weeks and often features local ingredients.

Seashells, driftwood, and nautical knickknacks are cleverly incorporated in this well-designed space, where large windows overlook the bay. Here you can dine on some hearty seafood dishes while enjoying a spot of whale-watching; humpbacks and killer whales are often seen breaching in the bay. 

Fine dining enhanced by glorious views over the marina and fjord create a memorable experience at Sunna. Standouts on the menu include the lamb fillet and pan-fried cod, but save some room for the white chocolate mousse, a sweet, tangy dessert with lime pear that fizzes delightfully on your tongue. The prices are surprisingly affordable, given the exceptional quality: a three-course meal is ISK 7,990.

Those who appreciate dairy will love this place, which serves super-fresh whole milk and cream to go with your coffee and delicious (although ridiculously overpriced) home-baked cakes. The café has big windows with such satisfying views of the lush surroundings that you might be tempted to stay for the free refills (filter coffee only). There’s also a menu of farm–to–table dishes, a souvenir shop, and a viewing window into the cowshed.

Fish and lamb are the name of the game at this casual eatery, which is perfect for a filling dinner after a day of sightseeing. Despite its humble exterior, the cooking here is expert. Make sure to leave room for some cake for dessert. 

The chef here is a supporter of the sustainable food movement and sources almost all supplies from local Icelandic farmers. All the veggies, salads, and berries are picked from the greenhouses next door. They serve breakfast and dinner and are open all day for light refreshments.

If you're exhausted after a long day of driving between all the wonders of the Mývatn region, Daddi has you covered. This small hole-in-the-wall pizza place is a local favorite and offers quick delectable bites. If you're brave, order the one with smoked trout on it. 

This attractive old harborside restaurant made mainly of driftwood serves some of the heartiest meals in town, featuring a blend of burgers and pasta with an emphasis on seafood and traditional Icelandic dishes. It can get lively under the low beams of the nautical-inspired tavern, especially when there’s live music playing. 

There’s a lively, old-fashioned tavern vibe going on at this “Old Farm,” where you can enjoy a cold beer and a pub lunch in the comfort of one of their velvet-upholstered, vintage wooden chairs. The menu features a range of popular classics like burgers and fish and chips, with a few local specials thrown in like Icelandic flatbread and meat soup.

There’s an unusual ensemble of Asian and Mexican dishes at the Hard Wok Cafe, with a few international fast food favorites like pizza and burgers thrown into the mix. While you wait for your meal you'll hear '80s classics and get to appreciate framed quotes by the likes of Captain Jack Sparrow and Bob Marley.

You don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine here, and as the only place for miles where you can get a decent sit-down meal, you should book well in advance. The menu features lots of Icelandic dishes boasting the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients from the so-called “Skagafjörður food chest.” The decor is modern and inviting.

At Kaffi Klara, you can fill up on hearty traditional Icelandic food with langoustine pizzas and open-face sandwiches. It's owned by avid foragers, so it’s highly likely that a tasty harvest of blueberries and other fruits of the land could be flavoring your food. In case you are tempted to stay in town a little, the owners also offer comfortable and stylish guesthouse accommodation at Kaffi Klara Gistihús and  "the Hero Experience” courses where you can learn how to cook traditional Icelandic meals.

This appealing restaurant set in a historic town building from 1890 offers a menu of traditional Icelandic dishes with a variety of international favorites, including pizza, pasta, and a grill menu with burgers. If you can't decide what to order, the fish of the day is always a star.

Even if you aren't hungry, a trip to this eatery—located in the so-bright-you-can't-miss-it red house right on the Siglufjörður harbor—isn't a wasted one, thanks to its spectacular views. But if you are hungry, the pizzas are filling and the cakes are sweet. 

The terrific views of Stakhólstjörn pond and the Skútistðagígur pseudocraters are reason enough to visit this no-frills café, but the homemade fare comes in at a close second. Along with their delightful meat soup and cakes, they also offer a cozy selection of souvenirs and beer brewed onsite.

Named after the arctic tern, Krían is the only restaurant on the island. They serve simple traditional Icelandic dishes and standard international favorites like hamburgers; it's also one of the few places in Iceland where you can try puffin. The restaurant operates in tandem with the ferry and the airport and is always open for visitors.

A port in any weather, this lovely little bakery-cum-café on the main street has great coffee and lots of tasty pastries and cakes. They also serve daily delicious soups and a variety of ready-made sandwiches.

Located next to a swimming pool, Teni Restaurant & Café is an appealing café where you can fill up on traditional Icelandic dishes or something a little more exotic from Ethiopia, where the owner and chef are from. Portions can be generous here—particularly for Iceland—so arrive hungry. While opting for the Ethiopian fare is highly recommended, their pizzas are also total standouts.

This charming harborside restaurant is open daily during the summer and by appointment throughout the rest of the year. Using locally grown ingredients, this restaurant serves popular fish dishes, a soup of the day, burgers, and a selection of cakes.