Eating Your Way Across Reykjavik

Reykjavik — which doubles as the home port for Iceland ProCruises — offers an amazing array of places (and foods) to eat during your sojourn in the Icelandic capital. These are some of our favorite new eateries:

Nostra Restaurant

The “experiential” fine dining at Nostra includes four, six and eight-plate set menus as well as vegetarian and vegan options. A socially responsible establishment, the restaurant sources its ingredients locally to provide diners with a genuine Icelandic “farm to fork” experience.

Nostra’s seasonal tasting menus change often but could include dishes like grilled cucumber and house-dried goat heart, followed by cured plaice with pickled green strawberries or duck with endive, nasturtium, hazelnuts, honey and vinegar, topped off with grilled pineapple, rum and red chili pepper meringue. Located on the first floor of a small shopping center on Laugavegur. Nostra, 59 Laugavegur, Reykjavík 101. reservations@nostrarestaurant.is

Jamie’s Italian

If you’re looking for dishes that are a tad closer to what you munch at home, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has opened his first Icelandic eatery. Jamie’s Italian, located in the heart of downtown Reykjavik on the ground floor of the Hotel Borg, is an international brassière open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features antipasti, artisan pizzas, pasta bowls, risotto, fresh salads and grills. Pósthússtræti 11, Reykjavík 101. jamiesitalian@jamiesitalian.is

Braud & Co

Just celebrating its second anniversary this month, Braud & Co has quickly leaped to the top of the list of Icelandic artisan bakeries. They advertise no special opening hours – just “early.” So if you are feeling jet-lagged, make your way to the graffiti-covered building at Frakkastígur 16 (just off Laugavegur) for the most amazing organic sourdough bread, sesame pretzels or even a pain au chocolat. It’s always a hive of activity inside, as owner Ágúst Einþórsson has designed it specially so that customers and bakers are in close proximity so you can witness the baking process and ask questions. Braud & Co also has locations at Fákafen 11, 104 Reykjavík and in the eclectic Hlemmur Food Hall at. http://www.braudogco.is

Hlemmur Food Hall (Hlemmur Mathöll)

Inspired by the great food halls of Europe, this new age food hall (open daily from 8 am to 10 pm) houses ten delicious vendors and a variety of eats from around the world. There’s Taqueria la Poblana for Mexican, Bánh Mí for Vietnamese sandwiches, and Danish smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) at Jómfrúin. An experimental bar and restaurant called SKÁL! focuses on foraged Icelandic ingredients and local traditions. Soups, sandwiches and juices can be had at Rabbar Barinn while Kröst specializes in fine French wines, cured meats, and various grilled delicacies. As the name suggests, Micro Roast Te & Kaffi is tea and coffee bar, while Ísleifur serves fresh ice cream. Laugavegur 107, 105 Reykjavík. www.hlemmurmatholl.is/english/

Friðheimar

About an hour’s drive from downtown Reykjavik (and well worth the trip) is Friðheimar. Tomatoes rule at this rustic restaurant near Iceland’s famous geyser fields, so much so that you actually dine in the greenhouse surrounded by four different varieties of tomato vines. On any given day the menu might include tomato soup, ravioli with homemade pasta sauce, or grilled tortillas with tomato, basil and mozzarella. Among the desserts are green-tomato and apple pie, cheesecake with green-tomato, cinnamon and lime jam, and of course tomato ice cream. Washed it all down with tomato schnapps served in a hollowed-out tomato, or a “Healthy Mary” cocktail fashioned from green tomato, lime, honey and ginger, served chilled with sparkling water. Open daily from 12 pm to 4pm. Bláskógabyggð, IS-801, Selfoss. fridheimar@fridheimar.is