Eating out is great when you’re on vacation, but it’s also nice to buy the finest Icelandic ingredients to prepare a delicious home-cooked dinner. It’s easier on the wallet, and a lot of fun! Reykjavík has a couple specialty shops that are not to be missed when you’re planning a culinary evening during your stay. Check them out!
Fish – Fiskbúðin Sundlaugavegi
For fresh Icelandic fish, head to Fiskbúðin Sundlaugavegi, a small fish shop that celebrated its 70th birthday last year! Fish that is sold here, is caught fresh every day by boats sailing the Icelandic waters and processed by the shop itself. They sell their own lobster soup, plokkfiskur (a combination of fish, potatoes, onions and béchamel sauce) and Icelandic fish balls, but also fish that you can prepare yourself at home. For their plokkfiskur and fish balls, they use recipes from 1986, following an old tradition of the shop.
Address: Sundlaugavegur 12, 104 Reykjavík
Meat – Kjötbúðir
Kjötbúðir is a gourmet shop specialised in beef. They keep whole beef carcasses in big freezers, and you can buy either a whole carcass, a cut, a steak, ground beef or hamburger patties. They prepare the meat on-site and don’t use any additives. This is the place to go to buy a good steak or pure beef patty. Additionally, they sell delicious desserts. Just pay them a visit to see what’s on offer!
Address: Grensásvegur 46, 108 Reykjavík
Vegetables – Frú Lauga
Frú Lauga sells Icelandic fruits and vegetables that come straight from the farmers. Their selection changes every day based on what arrives fresh from the countryside. They also offer kombucha, a healthy drink made from fermented tea, the best olive oils from France, Italy and Spain, and several gluten-free items.
Address: Laugalækur 6, 105 Reykjavík
Bread – Brauð og co
Brauð og co is the best bakery in town! Their charming bakery shops open at 6:00 every day. They have three locations, on Frakkastígur, inside Hlemmur Mathöll and at Skeifan. Often the baked goods are still warm when they go over the counter. If you’re looking for fresh slices of bread for your dinner party, go there and buy one of their beautiful sourdough breads. What’s not to love?
Address: Frakkastígur 16, 101 Reykjavík, Fákafen 11, 104 Reykjavík, Hlemmur Mathöll, 101 Reykjavík
Side dishes – Supermarkets
A Reykjavík supermarket might not be the best place for gourmet food items, but it’s good to know a couple of places for regular food items as well! This will save money, and it’s always good to serve side dishes! Hagkaup and Krónan are the biggest supermarkets, Bónus is the cheapest option, and 10/11 is a convenience store, best only to visit for buying snacks.
Wine – Vínbúðin
If you want to pair your home-cooked dinner with wine, go to Vínbúðin, the state-owned liquor store. The alcoholic beverage industry is heavily regulated in Iceland, but there is quite a good selection in the state-owned shops. Wine experts working at Vínbúðin will help you find the right wine for your dinner party!
How much is a bottle of wine in Iceland?
Verði þér að góðu! (Enjoy your meal!)
