Local Icelandic specialties include fresh fish soup, roasted lamb and reindeer, lobster, and langoustines. On harsh winter days, cozy up to fresh cakes and coffee in a small cafe in a tiny village. Here are some of the best places to experience a local taste of Iceland’s East Fjords.
In between delicious meals, be sure to visit the many scenic stops between Egilsstadir and Vik.
Restaurants and Cafes in Egilsstaðir
Eldhúsið Restaurant at Lake Hotel Egilsstadir (Gistihúsið)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Restaurant Eldhúsið, located at the Gistihúsið Lake Hotel, serves only the freshest traditional meals made in a contemporary style with locally-sourced organic ingredients. The chefs use only the top quality, seasonal ingredients found in the East Fjords, including dairy and meat from the farm next door. The most popular item on the menu is “Farm Food Direct”, a three-course meal.
Hours:
- Breakfast: 7 am - 10 am
- Lunch: 11:30 am - 5 pm
- Dinner: 6 pm - 10 pm
Cafe Nielsen
Lunch, Dinner
Located in Egilsstaðir‘s oldest houses (and one of the most beautiful), this family run restaurant has been delighting guests for 20 years. Experience local Icelandic cuisine of reindeer, fresh fish, lamb, lobster, soups, and vegetarian options in a traditional house setting.
Hours:
- Mon-Tue: 11am - 6pm
- Wed-Fri: 11 am- 10pm
- Sat: 12pm - 10pm
- Sun: closed
Restaurants and Cafes in Borgarfjörður Eystri
Álfacafé
The friendly Álfacafé in Bakkagerði is a friendly local hangout and the main place in town to eat or drink. Try the fish soup and flatbreads for larger meals, or cakes, waffles, coffee, hot chocolate or other drinks for a snack.
Open from May until mid-October
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Restaurants and Cafes in Seydisfjordur
Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
This local, neighborhood bar is a great place to spend some time while in Seydisfjordur, to meet the locals, enjoy a nice meal, and try some of the local beers (20 Local beers, including “El Grillo”, specially made for this bar). The town is small, and the people are friendly and gather here in the evenings to talk and relax at the end of the day. Try In the summer, the fire up the barbecue in the back. Ask the bartender for stories of Lara, a local legend for whom the bar is named.
Hours:
- Sun-Thur: 11:30am - 1am
- Fri-Sat: 11:30am - 3:30am
Nordic Restaurant
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Coffee
This Nordic Restaurant finds influences in French, Danish, and Italian cuisines in addition to the traditional Icelandic dishes. The fresh fish is caught each day from local fisherman, and vegetables and lab are also locally sourced. At lunch, you can find a buffet spread and enjoy delicious pastries, cakes, and coffee at all times of the day.
hotelaldan.is/nordic-restaurant
Skaftfell Bistro
Late Lunch, Dinner
Skaftfell Bistro is located a little past the harbor and offers delicious pizzas, cakes, sweets, coffee, beer, and wine.
Austurvegur 42 710 Seyðisfjörður
Hours:
- Mon - Fri: 3pm - 9pm
- Sat - Sun: 2pm - 9pm
Restaurants and Cafes in Djúpivogur
Restaurant Framtíð
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You can find this cozy restaurant in the original 1904 building of the Framtíð Hotel, near the Djúpivogur harbor. Look out the window and you can watch the fishing boats bob in the water and look out towards the mountains in the distance across the fjord. The specialty (and most popular dish) is the fresh catch of the day, which may be cod, trout, halibut, haddock, or redfish. They also offer an assortment of appetizers and other main courses such as roast lamb and langoustines.
Hours:
Summer season (June - August)
- Breakfast: 7am-9:30am
- Lunch: 12pm-3pm
- Dinner: 6pm-9pm
Winter season (September - May)
- Breakfast: 8am - 9:30am
- Lunch: 12pm - 2pm
- Dinner: 6pm - 8:30pm
Langabúð Cafe
Lunch, Coffee
If you are looking for a light meal, snack, or coffee, head to Langabúð cafe. The Cafe is in the oldest building in Djupivogur (1790), which is also home to a cultural center and museum where you can learn more about the life of a local artist and the area. In the cafe, you can enjoy soups, bread, smoked salmon and lamb, coffee, and cakes. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options, as well as local Icelandic beers.
Restaurants and Cafes in Höfn
Pakkhus Restaurant
Lunch, Dinner
This new restaurant is located by the Höfn Harbor in a converted warehouse building. Here you can enjoy delicious fresh seafood locally caught, such as fish, lobsters, and langoustines (most popular), fish soup, lamb, salted cod, duck & pork, and even langoustine pizza. If you still have room, try a taste of the delicious Skyr Volcano for dessert. Try the local beer, Vatnajökull, made from the water of the local glaciers.
Hours: Daily from 12pm - 9pm