Cuisine and restaurants in Reykjavik
Iceland is widely known for its sky-high prices. The restaurants of the northernmost capital of the world confirm this in full measure. But if you set a goal not to starve to death and not spend all your savings on food, there are economical options here too.
According to wholevehicles, there are a lot of food in Reykjavik: here you can make a gastronomic journey to Europe, Asia, and Africa. For more economical meals, we can recommend, first of all, Thai food, for example, noodles with meat or chicken, the portions are usually decent. There are also inexpensive sushi restaurants. Another budget option is local fast food. At Nonnabiti, you can buy an impressive Icelandic lamb sandwich for 8-10 EUR. It is impossible not to try the famous Icelandic hot dogs. The Bæjarins beztu van is proud that even Bill Clinton ate his sausages in dough.
The set of dishes traditional for Iceland is determined by its geographical location. Imports to this distant country have always been expensive, so local chefs made do with what could be caught in the sea and grown in northern conditions. Most of the dishes consist of fish, meat and milk, many of which are quite exotic. For example, “hakarl” or “haukarl”. It is prepared like this: first, the shark meat is kept in containers with gravel, and then it is dumped on hooks. They say that you should definitely try it, but in no case should you smell it before you put it in your mouth. Another dish that may make the unprepared gourmet shudder is boiled sheep’s head. It is brought on a plate boiled whole, with eyes, ears and teeth.
Other dishes include fried puffin breasts, black blood lamb pudding, whale steak, fur seal meat, a variety of fish and lamb in any form, including a dish of pressed sheep testicles. The local drink “skyr” is a bit like yogurt. As a dessert, it is combined with ice cream, fruit and jam.
The average price tag for a lunch in an inexpensive restaurant starts from 30 EUR, a dinner in a good restaurant in the city center can easily cost 100 EUR per person.
Entertainment and attractions
Reykjavik is famous for its northern nature, ocean coast, mountain peaks and thermal pools, the most famous of which is the Blue Lagoon. However, there are many man-made sights here. Near the port rises the concert hall “Kharpa” – the second tallest building in the city, whose architecture evokes associations with the distant future. At 600 m from it, on a platform slightly protruding towards the ocean, stands the famous symbol of the city – the monument “Sunny Wanderer”, resembling the skeleton of an ancient Viking ship. Of the religious sites, the most interesting are the futuristic Lutheran Church of Hallgrimskirkja and the Catholic Cathedral of Landakotskirkjain neo-gothic style.
For fans of the Beatles, a trip to Videy Island is mandatory, where Yoko Ono erected an unusual monument in memory of her beloved husband John Lennon. The Imagine the World Tower looks especially beautiful in the dark, when rays of blue light hit the sky high against the background of the northern lights.
And in the afternoon you can look into the Arbaeyarsafn Folklore Museum, where an extensive exposition dedicated to the history, architecture, traditions and customs of Iceland is housed in 30 open-air buildings.
Those who want to admire the views of Reykjavik from above and at the same time see one of the most unusual cultural and entertainment spaces in the world should visit the Perlan Center. It is equipped in a huge city boiler house, which even now processes the water of thermal springs into energy. There are concert halls, shops and a wax exhibition nearby. The structure is crowned with a glass dome, where there is an observation tower and a revolving restaurant with the best views of the city and surroundings.
Where to go with children
The Reykjavik Family park and Zoo amusement park will delight you with unusual wooden structures and attractions, and in the zoo you can pet goats, horses, sheep and other farm animals (Mulavegur 2, 104). And in the Laugardalur Park (Engjavegur, 104) you can walk along beautiful paths, look at exotic plants and feed the ducks swimming in the lake.
A great place for a family holiday is the modern water park Lagafellslaug in Mosfellsbaer with a colorful children’s pool and extreme slides for adults (Laekjarhlid, 1a). The park is located in the open air and is open only during the warm months, while the Laugardalslaug water entertainment center welcomes guests all year round. There are water slides, pools of different sizes and shapes, spacious terraces, relaxation areas and hydromassage.
Where to recharge your drive
The vibrant nightlife of Reykjavik starts on Friday evenings and stretches all weekend. NASA, Pravda and other world-class nightclubs offer enchanting entertainment programs and fun until the morning.
Fashionable youth from Europe flies here for the weekend to really “light up” in the clubs, despite the high price of alcohol.
You can take a break from nightlife on bike rides or on a jeep safari through the most beautiful surroundings of Reykjavik. For lovers of water extreme sports, rafting and kayaking are available, and those who know how to ride a horse (or would like to learn it) are waiting for the Islenski Hesturinn equestrian center
