Reykjavík Grapevine - 01.06.2022, Page 10

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Best of Reykjavík 2022
10 BEST OF REYKJAVÍK 2022
Dining
Iceland's not cheap, so it had better be good
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Best Coffeehouse
Reykjavík Roasters
Ásmundarsalur, Freyjugata 41
Despite living on a tiny island in the North Atlantic, far from the
homelands of Rubiaceae (that’s coffee plants to you non-nerds), Ice-
landers sure love their coffee. This is perhaps best demonstrated by
the dominance of Reykjavík Roasters, with their numerous locations
around the capital. This ubiquity is no bad thing, however. As you’d
expect from the name, RR roasts their own beans and makes a mean
cup of joe, as well as serving up some tasty baked goods. In addi-
tion, the cafes are cosy and quaintly decorated, without veering into
twee-territory.
Newcomer
Hygge Coffee & Microbakery
Seljavegur 2
Hygge embraces its namesakes spirit
and is indeed a cosy, neighbourhood
coffee shop with earthy interiors and a
Zen vibe. There are ceramic pieces by
Birgitte Munck made even better with
their selection of baked goods by Sand-
holt alumni Þórey Lóvisa. Expect good
coffee, a broad choice of teas—we are
suckers for their cold Matcha latte (it’s
not on the menu, but if you ask nicely,
they may just oblige)—and housemade
kombuchas. With several comfortable
nooks, it’s also a great space to work
from.
Runner-Up
Kaktus Espressobar
Vitastígur 12
Unsurprisingly, given the name, the in-
terior of Kaktus is full of various plants
and succulents—but don’t expect the
service to be prickly. This cosy cafe is
the perfect spot to meet a friend for a
chilled catch up, or settle in with your
laptop for a productive work session.
The soups and sandwiches are also
great and very reasonably priced.
Previous Winners
2021: Reykjavík Roasters
2020: Reykjavík Roasters
2019: Bismút
Best Sushi
Fiskmarkaðurinn
Aðalstræti 12
Fiskmarkaðurinn has been treating
Reykjavík to an Icelandic spin on sushi
for over a decade. While we may have
a love-hate relationship with ‘Icelandic
pylsu sushi’, Fiskmarkaðurinn delivers a
wonderful iteration in its ‘Volcano Lan-
goustine roll’—a salmon and cucumber
maki roll with langoustine tartare,
and just the right sprinkle of shichimi
togarashi. Stick to the sashimi on the
rocks—with all its dramatic flair—and
the sushi, and you’ll be a happy camper.
Runner-Up
Fiskfélagið
Vesturgata 2a
This restaurant may not boast an
extensive sushi menu, but what they
do, they do with utmost care. Especially
popular during lunch, they offer a ‘little’
and ‘big’ sushi platter (also a myste-
riously named ‘French sushi’; what do
the French have to do with sushi?) that
is ideal for a business or languorous
lunch alike.
Runner-down
Sushi Social
Þingholtsstræti 5
Sushi Social may have no qualms in
borrowing freely from more estab-
lished institutions abroad. What they
do get right however is the local love
for sushi, presented in a hyper-local
format. During pop-ups and guest chef
appearances, they dish out delectable
Japanese treats. We still haven't recov-
ered from the magic of the fresh toro
nigiri with sancho pepper from a cou-
ple years ago. On the regular turntable
however is Icelandic sushi in all its glory
or as they cheekily call it, ‘juicy sushi’.
Go on, admit it, it may not be traditional,
but it sure is tasty.
Previous Winners
2021: Sushi Social
2020: Sushi Social/Osushi
2019: Fiskmarkaðurinn
Best Vegan Meal
SONO matseljur
Sæmundargata 11
Sono overlooks a wild-flower meadow
and a spectacular view of the Reykjavík
skyline. Languorous and idyllic, the
menu too is shaped for slow savouring.
The chefs look beyond Iceland for inspi-
ration, while still showcasing seasonal,
local produce in all its colourful glory.
Foraged herbs, berries, fruits, stems
and flowers all feature on the menu,
resulting in a fun affair that serves as
a reminder that good vegan food goes
beyond batter fried cauliflower.
Runner-Up
Vegan World Peace
Aðalstræti 2
“This is great casual dining, at throw
away prices,” gushed one of our panel-
lists. And we agree. No dish seems to be
priced over 2,500 ISK at this all-vegan
restaurant. Mock-meats act as protein
in a menu that is full of hearty bowls
of soups, stir fried noodles and vegan
versions of popular Vietnamese and
Thai dishes.
Newcomer
Hnoss
Harpa, Austurbakki 2
Chef Fanney Dora—of the famed
‘smoked carrot’ dish’ at Skál—has
opened her first restaurant at Harpa
concert hall. Hnoss is a delightful show-
case of the big, bold flavours that we’ve
come to expect from Fanney. Hnoss
rightfully treats vegetables (often
sourced locally) as the stars they are;
the falafel salad and the spice-laced
lentil dishes in particular are moreish
and toothsome. Weekend brunches
have something for everyone—don’t
forget a bottle of crisp Piper Heidsick
to wash it all down.
Previous Winners
2021: SONO Matseljur
2020: Mat Bar
2019: Sumac