Reykjavík Grapevine - 24.05.2019, Blaðsíða 40

Food With A View
Picturesque eateries for summer nights
Words: The Grapevine Dining Dpt. Photo: Art Bicnick
Being a good restaurant is, of course,
about more than just food. There are
many things to take into account,
not least the dining environment.
Now that the long nights and late
sunsets of the Icelandic summer are
here, these are some Reykjavík eat-
eries with views to dine for.
Grillið
Saga Hotel, Hagatorg
If you’re thirsty for that finesse and
nothing short of Reykjavík’s finest
seasonal Nordic restaurant will do,
then Grillið is your girl. You will
soon learn why Grillið has been the
fine dining boot camp for most of
Reykjavík’s restaurant corps for
decades. Lounge under a dome set
with zodiac signs, soaking up a wi-
descreen city view, while a waiter
whispers sweet nothings in your
ear about Tuscan wines, spherifi-
cation and dried kelp. You won’t un-
derstand half of it—but who cares
when there’s a symphony of flavour
playing in your mouth. RE
IÐNÓ
Vonarstræti 3
IÐNÓ is the beautiful, storied, old-
school theatre that sits on the bank
of Tjörnin. A music and arts venue
by night, the café serves a variety of
snacks, finger foods, and more sub-
stantial portions, from hearty fish
‘n’ chips to deep-fried dumplings,
vegan soups, and sandwiches. Best
of all? You can dine on the terrace,
looking over the glittering water. JR
Kopar
Geirsgata 3
Few restaurants have a harbourside
location quite like Kopar, where
most of the seating looks out over
the water. Picturesque and intimate,
the former warehouse has a cosy
ambience—the upper-floor window
seats frame unobstructed views of
the harbour and Harpa. House cock-
tails are of the colourful and fruity
bent, and the seafood appetisers
are local and fresh. They’re open for
lunch, so you don’t have to fret if the
best tables are taken for dinner. SB
Kolabrautin
Harpa, Austurbakki 2
Nestled in a high corner of the Har-
pa concert hall, Kolabrautin wins
points for the sheer grandeur of the
location. Harpa’s distinctive geo-
metric windows wrap around the
entire space, offering views of the
Old Harbour and Grandi, Faxaflói,
and Esja. The service is impeccable,
the cocktails are good, and the tra-
ditional dishes have comfort food
appeal with fine dining plating. JR
Sky Bar & Restaurant
Centerhotel Arnarhvoll
One of the most spectacular views in
town belongs to Sky Bar & Restau-
rant on the 8th floor of Centerhotel
Arnarhvoll. The menu offers famil-
iar Icelandic dishes of fish, seafood
and lamb, but it’s really the room
and the wrap-around balcony you’re
coming for—at sunset, light floods
in through the huge windows, and
you can see Harpa, and all the way
to Snæfellsjökull. A dreamy place to
spend a summer evening. JR
Út í bláinn
Perlan
For a view over the Reykjavík sky-
line that includes the iconic Hall-
grímskirkja, Perlan is the place to
be. The glass dome atop the wooded
Öskjuhlíð hill is home to the Won-
ders of Iceland museum, a plane-
tarium, and Út í Bláinn restaurant,
serving up delicious bites and a 360º
view. By day, there’s a lunch menu
for museum-goers, with a scrump-
tious vegan burger, and more; come
evening, the restaurant rotates—
everybody gets the best seat in the
house!—while the kitchen serves
date-night-worthy dishes. CF
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FISH panS
icelandic "plokkfiskur"
Onion, garlic, potatoes,
celery, lime, white wine,
cream and butter
1,950 isk

arcTic cHar
Honey, almonds, cherry–
tomatoes, lemon and butter
2,200 isk
redfisH
Chili, celery root, sour cream,
corn, lemon and cream
2,200 isk
plaice
Tomatoes, capers, parsley,
lemon and butter
2,200 isk
salmon (lacTose–free)
Parsnip, broccoli, cashews,
coconut oil, chili and lemon
2,200 isk
our fisH pans are always served
wiTH buTTer–fried icelandic
poTaToes & fresH salad
any pans
for
luncH?
lækjargaTa 6b, 101 rvk · 546 0095 · messinn@messinn.com
B E S T T H A I F O O D 2 0 1 9
ALSO BEST : 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
BEST GOD DAMM RESTAURANT 2011 TOP TEN : BEST RESTAURANTS IN ICELAND
DV. 17.06.11
banthai
R E S T A U R A N T
w w w . b a n t h a i . i s
r e a s o n a b l e p r i c e s
always been the best from the reviews in our local people and local newspaper.
there's a reason why we get an award every once a year
many famous people are regulars here
tel : 5522-444, 692-0564 banthai@banthai.is
Ban Thai is not “fast food” restaurant
food made fresh from scratch, it‘s not pre-made, every meal take some time to cook
L a u g a v e g u r 130 , R e y k j a v í k