Dining
All vegan/Vegetarian
This all vegan establishment offers warming and hearty meals from salads to flavourful dahl, juices and teas. Open from morning ‘til night this place is perfect for any meal of the day.
Asian fusion at its best. Vegan World Peace offers a large menu where anyone could find something to their liking, veganised versions of classic asian plates and even diner stables like burgers and fish and chips. The place has a large inviting dining room and fantastic prices.
Casual street-food style restaurant that offers take-away and in store dining for lunch and early dinner. Everything is made from scratch, from sandwiches to salads and the place is family-run. Great for a quick bite!
The most delicious oumph filled wraps, burgers and pitas, all of which come with fried baby-potatoes and a garlic mayo! The place is situated in Kringlan shopping mall, you can dine there or take away. The products used here are also available in many grocery stores under the brand JÖMM and the company offers catering/party service.
The same brand as Vegan World Peace. They offer all vegan asian dishes with rotating course of the day. This place is great for a quick bite. They also sell vegan speciality products on site.
A food truck parked in Skeifan shopping district. This is the best vegan junk food made for the time you really want to treat yourself to some comfort food. The brand also sells their signature sauces and holiday steak in grocery stores.
Set in the iconic Nordic House, this pop-up serves all vegetarian, mostly vegan, middle-eastern meze-style food. Regularly open for lunch with special openings in evenings announced from time to time.
Vegan options
Although most restaurants have begun to offer some vegan options, these are some of our favourites!
Matarkjallarinn - The food cellar
This hidden gem sits in a cozy cellar in the heart of Reykjavík. With live piano playing most nights and excellent food choices they always have good, well thought out vegan options in a la carte and set menus.
With a view of the Reykjavík pier, this predominantly seafood restaurant has started whipping up the yummiest vegan courses for lunch, brunch and dinner.
A burger joint with Japanese influences set in a spacious and welcoming space downtown. All the burgers can be made vegan with either a vegan “meat” patty or portobello mushrooms, oh and the fries are to die for!
Flóra Garden Bistro
Set in the beautiful Botanical gardens, the cafe/bistro is open in the spring and summer only. They have a range of vegan and vegetarian options from food to coffee.
The place for a special occasion! Sumac serves smaller plates to share with middle eastern and west african influences. There is always an array of vegan options in the ever changing seasonal menu.
Serving fresh and soul warming ramen for lunch and dinner. The eatery has four seats only but also offers takeaway (to enhance sustainability they even offer a discount if you bring your own container)! They have two delicious types of vegan ramen along with some side dishes.
The restaurant is set in the Saga Museum building. The aim is to create exceptional dining experiences using traditional icelandic recipes. The vegan options also nod to icelandic cuisine using the freshest ingredients available at any given time.
This high end restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. Offering local produce fine dining in a beautifully decorated dining room. They offer an all vegan set menu as well as a la carte options.
Café’s
In general cafe’s offer vegan options for food and a selection of plant milks for coffee drinks. There are two main chains Kaffitár and Te&Kaffi, both offer a variety of good vegan food and sweets. Here are some of our other favourites:
A few cats live and stroll around the café hence the name which translates to “The Cat Café”. The cats are all up for adoption so if guests find a special connection to one of the fur-friends they can apply to adopt. The menu includes vegan sandwiches and cakes.
This small cafe also called Emily and the cool kid offers yummy vegan bagels, cakes, cookies and any other sweets you could think of. With everything made fresh each morning this café is so worth the visit.
Café filled with plants and crystals, they offer home-made cocktails, coffees and wines. Here you can also get a taste of cakes from all-vegan cake-maker Baunin. Connected to Lúna Flórens is the small restaurant Coocoo’s Nest, they offer nice vegan options for food.
Shopping
Most, if not all, grocery stores will have a variety of vegan speciality products mixed with fresh veggies, fruits and other basics. You will find vegan brands such as Violife, Anama, Linda McCartney and Gardein in nation-wide grocery stores like Krónan and Bónus. However Iceland also has a new fantastic option for grocery shopping, Veganbúðin, which translates to “The Vegan Store”. Veganbúðin is an all vegan shop that holds grocery, cleaning products, fresh baked goods, cosmetics etc. The store is one of the largest of its kind in all of Europe and we highly recommend taking a visit.
Vonarstræti is an eco shop in the Reykjavík center. They specialise in cosmetics and home-products that are sustainable, made by small producers in an environmental manner. They are guided by the circular economy and fair trade in all purchases.
There are a few second hand clothing stored in Reykjavík, although not all clothing there is vegan, they would be considered environmentally friendly:
Spútnik Laugavegur 28, 101 Reykjavík
Gyllti Kötturinn Austurstræti 8-10, 101 Reykjavík
Fatamarkaðurinn Laugavegur 126, 105 Reykjavík
Hringekjan (Market) Þórunnartún 2, Reykjavík
As apparent it is quite easy to find great vegan options in and around Reykjavík and the list expands regularly.
