Interesting Icelandic Food Finds in Reykjavík
When booking our Europe trip earlier this year, Iceland Air incentivized us with incredibly affordable prices to stop over for a couple of nights. Never having been to Iceland before, this was an easy decision for us. After recovering from our inital exhaustion from traveling there, not having slept for a full night in two days, we started taking in all the goods Reykjavík has to offer. The city is rich of Scandinavian charm, beautiful people, and interesting food finds.
We located a gem of an Icelandic restaurant to feast at during our first evening (which by the way seemed to never end because it does not start getting dark until after 10 p.m). Ostabúðin, meaning “the cheese store” in Icelandic, is a cozy, little restaurant with a small menu and enormous taste. After I overcame hesitation from my side, we started with grilled minke whale served with bacon-wrapped fennel and a delightful hollandaise sauce. It was amazingly tender and flavorful; I was pleasantly surprised! Of course being at a cheese store we couldn’t resist trying some Icelandic cheeses as well. Our 3-piece platter consisted of blue, aged gouda and a soft cow’s milk cheese – all delicious. We then shared two entrees: Salted fillet of Icelandic Cod and Arctic Char – both extremely fresh and delicious, but we couldn’t finish the plates. Thus we sat out for dessert and went for a light cappuccino instead to finish off the evening.
On our second day in Reykjavík, we visited the Blue Lagoon, a tourist attraction that not even many natives have visited. It consists of a giant pool of Icelandic sea water, heated by natural geothermal energy from Iceland’s active volcanic system. We enjoyed silica mud masks, sipping on glasses of prosecco at the swim-up bar, while floating in warm water surrounded by old lava rock; it’s a breathtaking site to see and was one of the most relaxing things I have done in a while. Afterwards, we devoured a 4-course tasting meal at the onsite restaurant “Lava.” This is where I had some of the best sea scallops and it’s the first time I ate lamb and enjoyed it!
I highly recommend doing a stopover in Iceland or making it your destination. Everything about our experience here has been great other than the little bit of rain we got! We will be back for sure – next time I want to get some whale watching and puffin sighting incorporated (traveling to the center of a volcano is also on our list)! Also, if you love German cooking and baking as much as I do and want a chance to win cool kitchen gear (more high quality German WÜSTHOF knife sets coming soon!), PLEASE SUBSCRIBE below! ????
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Stacked stones along the coast called steinvarða
A “tame” breakfast at Bergsson Mathús. For the adventurous Iceland visitor, other places like Kaffi Loki serve dried fish, shark and vodka shots for breakfast! We ate there during our last morning, but I was not that brave! 😉
One the best Chai Lattes I have ever had at Kaffi Brenslan in Reykjavík
Kaffi Brenslan in Reykjavík
Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik
Assortment of Icelandic Cheeses at Ostabúðin: Blue, Aged Gouda and Soft-Ripened Cow’s Milk Cheese
Grilled Minke Whale with Bacon fennel, shallots and hollandaise sauce at Ostabúðin in Reykjavík.
Arctic Char served with celery root, potato purrée and chicken juice at Ostabúðin in Reykjavik
Salted Fillet of Icelandic Cod with potatoes, pearl onions, kohlrabi and warm dulce sauce at Ostabúðin in Reykjavik
Ostabúðin Restaurant in Reykjavík
At Sky Lounge and Bar in Reykjavik having great Icelandic beer!
At Sky Lounge and Bar in Reykjavik. This beer called Einstök was amazing!
At Sky Lounge and Bar in Reykjavik – I’m sure the view would have been even more amazing with sunny weather!
The Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik
The Blue Lagoon Steam Bath
At the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon
Silica Mud Masks at the Blue Lagoon
At the Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon
Smoked Arctic Char with Fresh Cucumber and Dill and a Horseradish Foam with Toasted Rye Crumbs at Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon
Icelandic Sea Scallops over Celery Foam with Fresh Pear and Dill at the Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon. If I had to pick, this would be my favorite course that night!
Lamb Filet and Shoulder, the standard Icelandic red meat, at Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon. First time I had this and it was delicious!
Carrot Cake with Milk Ice Cream at Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon. This was the last food we ate in Iceland (other than a quick breakfast sandwich we grabbed at the airport the morning we left. This carrot cake by far exceeded all expectations – so good!
