Where to eat & drink
in Grandi.

15 addresses where Grandi actually eats.

Grandi means sourdough pizza and Omnom chocolate. Reykjavik Roasters on Kárastígur pulls the best single-origin filter in Iceland - worth the short walk from the harbor. After dark, Slippbarinn makes some of the best cocktails in Iceland while the North Atlantic wind howls against the windows.

Three sides of eat & drink

Where to start in Grandi.

15 eat & drink venues

Across Grandi.

Open in Maps →

15 addresses across restaurants, bars, and cafes - all in Grandi.

Best restaurants in Grandi.

Grandi eats like a working harbor that learned to cook. Grandagarður alone gives you Flatey's 60-second Neapolitan pies, Grandi Mathöll's stalls inside an old fish factory, and Matur og Drykkur turning saltfish-era recipes Michelin-worthy next door to the Saga Museum. Kaffivagninn has been feeding dockworkers since 1935, and still does.

Best bars in Grandi.

Grandi's bar scene runs on beer, not cocktails. ÆGIR 101 pours the brewery's own lineup straight from the source, and Slippbarinn holds down the harbor edge for anything stirred or shaken. The rest of the list sits downtown on Laugavegur and around - close enough to walk after a pizza on Grandagarður.

Best cafes in Grandi.

Coffee in Grandi means the harbor outpost, not the Kárastígur original - Reykjavík Röst pours inside an 1800s baiting shed where fishermen once rigged their lines. For pastries on Grandagarður, Hygge handles the morning walk. The rest of the city's better cafés sit a short stroll east in 101.

Practical info

Eating & drinking, practically.

Do I need a reservation at restaurants in Grandi?
For dinner at the harbour-front seafood spots and tasting-menu places, yes - book a day or two ahead in summer, longer for Friday and Saturday. Lunch and casual spots like the food hall and bakeries are walk-in. Sunday brunch fills up; reserve by Friday. Most restaurants take bookings online in English.
What's the tipping culture at restaurants in Iceland?
Service is included and wages are high, so a tip isn't expected, but for a good sit-down dinner rounding up or adding around 10 percent is an increasingly common gesture, and card terminals often prompt for it. Bars and cafes just get a round-up, and nothing is needed at the counter.
Are restaurants in Reykjavik cash-only or do they take cards?
Iceland is effectively cashless. Every restaurant, bar, food truck, and bakery in Grandi takes cards, and contactless via phone works everywhere. You can spend a full trip without touching an ISK note. Bring a card with no foreign transaction fees - prices are high and surcharges add up quickly.
What time do restaurants close in Grandi?
Kitchens in Grandi typically close earlier than central Reykjavik. Lunch spots wind down by 16:00, and most dinner restaurants take last orders between 21:00 and 22:00. The harbour area empties after dinner since it's largely industrial. For later eating or drinks, head back toward the main downtown strip about a 15-minute walk away.
Is there a dress code at restaurants and bars in Grandi?
None. Icelanders dress casually even at high-end tasting menus - jeans, sneakers, and a wool sweater are normal at the priciest seats in town. Bring a warm layer regardless of season since the harbour gets windy and many spaces have outdoor or semi-outdoor areas. Smart-casual is overdressing here.
Are there vegan or vegetarian options in Grandi?
Yes. Reykjavik has one of the highest per-capita vegan scenes in the Nordics, and Grandi reflects that. Most restaurants flag vegan dishes clearly on menus, and the area's food hall has dedicated plant-based stalls. Even seafood-focused kitchens keep at least one full vegan main. Bakeries usually offer vegan pastries and oat-milk coffee as standard.
Is tap water safe to drink in Reykjavik?
Tap water in Reykjavik is among the cleanest on earth - unfiltered glacial water, free, and better than anything bottled. Restaurants serve it on request at no charge. Don't buy bottled water; locals find it absurd. The faint sulfur smell in hot taps is from geothermal heating and harmless, but use the cold tap for drinking.
What's the late-night food scene in Grandi?
Limited. Grandi shuts down after dinner service, with few options past 22:00. For late-night food, walk or taxi to the downtown core where hot dog stands, pizza windows, and kebab shops run until 04:00 or later on weekends. The classic post-bar move is a pylsur with everything, available near the old harbour entrance.

Last updated

Up next

Where to stay.

Three hotels worth booking in Grandi.

Or

Where to do & shop.

Galleries, parks, and independent shops in Grandi.

← Back to the Reykjavik hub
The dispatch

Stay in the loop.

New cities, updated guides, and travel tips for the neighborhoods worth visiting. Join the list.