Discover Reykjavik's Best Vegan Restaurants: A Plant-Based Food Guide to Iceland's Capital
Looking to explore the land of fire and ice while staying true to your plant-based lifestyle? Reykjavik, Iceland's vibrant capital, has grown to a more vegan friendly destination over the years. From cozy cafés serving warming soups to innovative restaurants crafting Nordic-inspired plant-based delicacies, there is plenty of great spots to choose from!
Must-Visit Vegan Restaurants in Reykjavik
Kaffi Vínyl
This hip vinyl record shop-turned-restaurant is Reykjavik's first 100% vegan restaurant, founded by music lovers who wanted to combine their passion for vinyl and plant-based cuisine. The walls are lined with carefully curated records that customers can browse while dining, creating an unique atmosphere that's both nostalgic and contemporary. Their rotating menu features comfort food classics with an Icelandic twist, and the restaurant regularly hosts local DJs for evening events.
Location: Hverfisgata 76
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: Weekend brunch menu and organic wine selection
Special Features: Record store browsing, live DJ sessions, outdoor seating in summer
Mama Reykjavik
The creation of Chef María Ingibjörg, Mama brings global plant-based cuisine to Reykjavik with a distinctly Icelandic twist. The restaurant's cozy interior feels like dining in someone's home, complete with family photos and vintage Icelandic cookbook collections. María sources ingredients from her own greenhouse during summer months.
Location: Laugavegur 2
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: Daily curry special, homemade kombucha, weekend "family-style" sharing platters
Special Features: Cookbook exchange corner, family recipe workshops, seasonal greenhouse tours
Vegan World Peace
Founded by Buddhist practitioner and chef Nara Lee, this restaurant embodies the principle that peace begins on your plate. The space features calm, minimalist décor with touches of Icelandic design, creating a serene dining atmosphere. Their kitchen team works closely with local organic farmers to source seasonal ingredients, and they offer cooking workshops during the slower winter months.
Location: Bergstaðastræti 13
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: The Peace Bowl (a nourishing combination of local grains, roasted vegetables, and house-made fermented foods) and their famous chocolate cake made with Icelandic sea salt
Special Features: Monthly cooking workshops, meditation corner, cookbook collection
Plantan Kaffihus
Opened in 2021 by sisters María and Anna Jónsdóttir, Plantan has quickly become a community hub for Reykjavik's vegan scene. The café's interior features reclaimed furniture and local art, with all dishes served on vintage plates collected from Icelandic homes. They work with a local mushroom farm to create their popular mushroom-based dishes and collaborate with other vegan businesses to host monthly market events.
Location: Tryggvagata 22
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: House-made pastries, specialty coffee drinks, and their innovative mushroom "seafood" dishes
Special Features: Zero-waste shop corner, local art exhibitions, monthly vegan market
Chickpea
Located in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, Chickpea was started by Middle Eastern chef Mahmoud Saad, who brings authentic family recipes passed down through generations and veganized them for modern diners. The restaurant's warm, spice-scented atmosphere transports you from Iceland to a vibrant Middle Eastern market.
Location: Laugavegur 59
Price Range: $$ Must-Try: Classic falafel plate, hummus bowl, and their secret-recipe spicy sauce
Special Features: Spice shop, cooking classes, weekend mezze brunch
Vegan-Friendly Restaurants with Excellent Options
Kaffihúsið Garðurinn - Ecstasy's Heart-Garden
One of Reykjavik's longest-running vegetarian restaurants, Garðurinn has been serving the community since 1999. Founded by meditation teacher Jónína Ósk, the restaurant reflects her philosophy that food should nourish both body and soul. The peaceful garden setting features plants grown in their own greenhouse.
Location: Klapparstígur 37
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: Daily soup, their famous carrot cake (vegan version available), and seasonal greenhouse salads
Special Features: Meditation classes, cookbook library, indoor garden
Svarta Kaffið
A cozy spot that revolutionized Reykjavik's soup scene with their iconic bread bowls. The owners, siblings Björn and Bryndís, every day they offer a meat option and a veggie option. The restaurant's rustic interior features wooden tables made from reclaimed fishing boats.
Location: Laugavegur 54
Price Range: $$
Must-Try: Soup in homemade bread bowl. Every day there is 1 meat option and 1 veggie option
Special Features: Bread-making workshops, local beer selection, cozy fireplace
Kopar
Under the direction of head chef Ylfa Helgadóttir, this harbor location in a historic building offers stunning views of the Northern Lights during winter months. They have a seven-course vegan tasting menu (4900 ISK) option and it is a journey through Icelandic cuisine with seasonal ingredients, featuring dishes like:
Grilled local mushrooms with pine needle oil
Barley risotto with foraged herbs
Caramelized rutabaga with vanilla and thyme
Birch ice cream with crowberry sauce Each course can be paired with organic wines or local craft beverages.
Location: Geirsgata 3
Price Range: $$$
Must-Try: Vegan tasting menu option (reserve 24 hours in advance), harbor view seating
Special Features: Wine pairing option, seasonal tasting menus, cooking demonstrations
Reykjavik Chips
Started by Belgian-Icelandic couple Marc and Sigríður, Reykjavik Chips brings Belgian fry-making techniques to Iceland by double-frying their potatoes in high-quality vegetable oil. The casual, street-food style spot features fun potato-themed artwork by local artists.
Location: Vitastígur 10
Price Range: $
Must-Try: Large cone of chips as well as their vegan burger.
Special Features: Late-night hours, local art, sauce-making workshops
Brauð & Co
This artisanal bakery, started by master baker Ágúst Einþórsson, brings traditional Icelandic baking methods to pastries. Vegan friendly, the building's iconic street art exterior makes it impossible to miss. Inside, bakers work in an open kitchen, hand-crafting each item using organic ingredients and sourdough cultures that have been maintained for decades.
Location: Frakkastígur 16
Price Range: $
Must-Try: Vegan cinnamon rolls (available daily before noon), sourdough bread, weekend-only special pastries
Te & Kaffi
Iceland's leading coffee chain has a fascinating history dating back to 1984 when coffee connoisseurs Berglind and Harald started roasting their own beans. Each location features unique Icelandic design elements and works with local artists for their cup designs.
Multiple Locations
Price Range: $
Must-Try: House-roasted coffee beans, seasonal drinks
