Best Breakfast Places in Reykjavik

Author Ian Fleming once said: Hope makes a good breakfast. Eat plenty of it.

And we agree and also endorse the idea of eating a good breakfast. A hearty breakfast makes a great start to a good day. But where are the best breakfast places in Reykjavik? You’re in luck; you do not have to look any further because we have made a list! The list is in no particular order, they all have their special something!

Grái kötturinn

Opened in 1997, this is the quintessential breakfast place in Iceland. It is simply open between 8 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The name means the Gray Cat and refers to an old Icelandic saying. If you linger around the same place for a long time and frequently, then you are like a grey cat to that place.

The bread and pancakes are baked in-house, and their tuna salad and hummus. Offering a wide variety of breakfasts, from The Truck (a full American breakfast) to bagels, most people will find something to their liking on the menu. There are both vegan and vegetarian options as well. This is definitely one of the best breakfast places in Reykjavik.

Address: Hverfisgata 16a, 101 Reykjavik 
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 08:00 – 14:30 (kitchen closes at 14:00)
Website: Grái kötturinn

Sandholt

One of Iceland’s oldest bakeries. It opened in 1920 in an old timber house, but soon the owners built a new and bigger house – the one it is in now. The bakery has been in the same family this whole time and is one of the most popular in the city. The bakers aren’t afraid to think out of the box and develop new loaves of bread. Additionally, they make their own ice cream and assorted chocolates.

The bakery offers a variety of sandwiches, salads and, of course, cakes and pastries.

Address: Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 07:30 – 18:00
Website: Sandholt

Kaffivagninn Grandagarði

This is another one of those old restaurants/coffee houses in Reykjavík. Opened in 1935 near where Bæjarins Beztu is now. It originally was just a truck with a body. Then in the 1950s, it moved to Grandagarður, where it is now. The house has gotten bigger through the years, but it’s always as popular.

The breakfast is between 08:00 and 11:00 every weekday and 09:00 – 11:00 during weekends. The breakfast at Kaffivagninn is honest; toast, porridge, scrambled eggs, bacon and eggs, grilled sandwiches, etc. Kaffivagninn is also a great place to get lunch.

Address: Grandagarður 10, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:00 – 16:00, Saturday – Sunday 09:00 – 16:00
Website: Kaffivagninn

Laundromat Café

Laundromat Café was first opened in Copenhagen by a few Icelanders. Due to its popularity, it was also decided to open a branch in Reykjavik. Since then, it has been one of Reykjavik’s most popular breakfast restaurants and coffee houses. It is very family-friendly, with a play area downstairs as well as a fully functional self-service laundromat.

Laundromat Café offers a variety of breakfasts, from pancakes and acaí bowls to full breakfasts with eggs, bacon, and potatoes.

Address: Austurstræti 9, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday from 09:00 – 21:00. Thursday-Friday: 09:00-22:00. Saturday: 10:00-22:00. Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Website: Laundromat Café

Café Loki

Loki is renowned for its excellent cuisine, specializing in authentic Icelandic home-style dishes. The restaurant spans two floors, boasting a prime location at the intersection of Lokastígur and Njarðargata. It’s conveniently situated right across from the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, making it a perfect spot for both locals and tourists seeking a taste of traditional Icelandic flavours.

They offer a variety of Icelandic dishes and tasting platters as well as pastries. We recommend you try the unique Rye bread ice cream for dessert!

Address: Lokastígur 28, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 09:00 – 22:00
Website: Café Loki

Kaffihús Vesturbæjar

Kaffihús Vesturbæjar opened a few years ago in the heart of Reykjavik’s west side, right across the street from Vesturbæjarsundlaug Swimming Pool. This bistro-bar-café is a great place to stop on your walk around Reykjavik, especially if you’re going to the swimming pool (which is popular among locals).

It is possible to order breakfast between 08:30 and 11:00 in the morning. They offer yoghurts, chia porridge, regular porridge, French and avocado toast, etc. For a place outside the city centre, this is one of the best breakfast places in Reykjavik.

If you’re also going to the swimming pool, it opens at 06:30 in the morning.

Address: Melhagi 20, 107 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:00 – 23:00, Saturday – Sunday 09:00 – 23:00
Website: Kaffihús Vesturbæjar

Emelie and the Cool Kids

This small coffee house on the corner of Hverfisgata and Barónsstígur has some of the best bagels in town. Sometimes the best thing to get in the morning is a bagel and coffee, with a cookie for dessert.

The coffee house was originally opened in Nice, France, in 2007. The Reykjavik branch opened in 2017, the first one outside of the French Riviera.

Address: Hverfisgata 98, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
Website: Emilie and the Cool Kids

Reykjavik Roasters

Reykjavik Roasters is, first and foremost, a great coffee house. They opened in 2008 and import their own coffee beans and roast them. The cozy atmosphere of their coffee houses and great locations makes this a great spot to have breakfast before a busy day.

They are in three locations: Ásmundasalur art museum near Hallgrímskirkja, their original location on Kárastígur and Brautarholt.

Freyjugata 41 (Ásmundasalur Art Gallery): Weekdays: 08:00 – 17:00. Saturdays: 09:00 – 17:00. Sundays: 09:00 – 17:00
Kárastígur 1: Weekdays: 8:00 – 17:00. Saturdays: 08:00 – 17:00. Sundays: 08:00 – 17:00
Brautarholt 2: Weekdays: 8:00 – 17:00. Saturdays: 08:00 – 17:00. Sundays: 08:00 – 17:00

Website: Reykjavik Roasters

Kaffitár

Kaffitár, which opened in 1990, is one of Iceland’s oldest coffee house chains, but that doesn’t mean they’re bland. They make their own coffee and have a selection of sandwiches, bagels, cakes, and pastries. Environmentalism is important to Kaffitár, and the company has been awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.

They have a morning offer: latte or cappuccino with bread or bagel and cheese and jam until 11:00.

Addresses:

Reykjavik University: Monday – Friday 08:00-15:00
Höfðatorg: Monday – Friday 7:30 -16:00. Weekends 10:00-16:00
Kringlan Shopping Mall: Monday – Friday 9:30 – 18:30. Saturday 10:30 – 18:00. Sunday 11:30- 17:00.
Stórhöfði: Monday – Friday 08:00-17:00. Saturday – Sunday 09:00-16:00.

Website: Kaffitár

Slippbarinn

Slippbarinn in Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina by the old Reykjavik Harbour has a great breakfast buffet open to everyone, not only hotel guests. The buffet costs 3000 ISK and is free for children under five. 6–12-year-olds get 50% off. It is one of the few places where you can get a breakfast buffet, so this is one of the best breakfast places in Reykjavik.

Address: Mýrargata 2, 101 Reykjavik
Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 15:00 – 23:00, Friday – Saturday 15:00 – 24:00. Breakfast is served every day between 07:00 – 10:00
Website: Slippbarinn

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