Let us tell you about Reykjavík’s newest restaurants, bars, hangouts, and more. This month: La Primavera, Hagavagninn, Hotel Holt Restaurant, and Möndlubásinn.
La Primavera
One of Reykjavík’s long-lost loves has returned! Inside the Marshall Restaurant at Grandagarður 20, Italian-Icelandic restaurant La Primavera is taking over the kitchen for a limited time. La Primavera was a popular restaurant from 1993 until 2011, famous for their lobster pasta. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the restaurant, they open their doors again until January 31, 2019. Since both the Marshall Restaurant and La Primavera are run by the same chef, the revival is not completely out of the blue. Expect fresh traditional Italian food prepared with the best Icelandic ingredients.
Hagavagninn
At the beginning of November, former food truck Hagavagninn opened its doors again after being renovated into a small burger joint. They’re still located in West Reykjavík, very close to Vesturbæjarlaug swimming pool. Describing themselves as a “place that serves good burgers,” they have been a local favourite for a long time. Next to three different burgers (that can be made vegan), they also serve fries, hot wings, and ice cream. The perfect spot for grabbing some decently-priced comfort food after soaking in a hot tub.
Hotel Holt Restaurant
Hotel Holt, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Reykjavík, opened their new hotel restaurant December 1. Along with dinner, they offer a predinner in-house art walk through the hotel’s gallery, including a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. The restaurant offers two- or three-course set menus with seasonally-inspired dishes. Their focal point will be Icelandic fish and meat, but vegan options are also available. They offer special Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus, which will be presented on their website soon. Availability will be limited, so be sure to reserve a table on time.
Möndlubásinn – roasted almonds
Möndlubásinn is the jolt of Christmas spirit everyone needs. During Advent, the roasted almond sellers set up shop wherever and whenever they can, but you can often find them on the corner of Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur in downtown Reykjavík. Just follow the delicious scent of cinnamon sugar. They’re not exactly new in town, as they’ve been warming the hearts and bellies of Icelanders every Christmas season since 2010, but they are always a welcome sight (and smell!) each December.
