Appreciate fine dining in Iceland

Situated in the green houses at Old Harbour, Kopar is a restaurant owned by chef Ylfa Helgadóttir and wine-expert Ásta Guðrún Óskarsdóttir. Kopar is praised for their new-wave and traditional cocktails, though others may choose to enjoy their series of cognacs and whiskies, referred to as the Icelandic Fisherman’s Collection. When it comes to food, Kopar is the first restaurant to serve Icelandic rock crab, alongside a plethora of other delicious dishes, including grilled reindeer, zucchini with chickpeas and raw Breiðafjörður scallops.

A candlelit ambience and Cordon Bleu cooking culminate at Nordic Restaurant in Seyðisfjörður. Sourcing its vegetables from Vallanes ecological farm, and its lamb from the East-Icelandic plateau, it is now among the country’s most reputable eateries. First opened in 2003 under Hotel Aldan’s management, this fine dining establishment takes inspiration from local trends while also serving its lip-smacking twist on Danish, French and Italian cuisine. The restaurant is housed in one of Iceland’s oldest shops, with the original interior still intact.

Cooked with passion, flair and zeal, Fjöruborðið offers three kinds of locally caught lobster. The sophisticated restaurant, nestled on the coastline of Stokkseyri town, is the perfect place for guests to sip on top-notch lobster bisques in a homely atmosphere decorated with marine memorabilia. Little wonder this restaurant has been critically applauded as ‘the gourmet sanctuary of the South’.

Von Mathús interweaves delicious seasonal food, a homely atmosphere and professional service with pure finesse. Most guests swear by the five-course menu, with such tantalising dishes as cured sea trout, tender ox cheek and for dessert, blood orange with white chocolate ganache, paired with selected wines. A couple-run establishment; chef Einar and manager Kristjana named their restaurant Von (Hope), in part because it seems so fitting to the general mood and ambience of Hafnarfjörður’s port area.

A 3-minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja church, this two-floor restaurant sports an open kitchen and modern decor. Kol’s Scandinavian cuisine is masterminded by one of Reykjavík’s most promising young chefs, Sævar Lárusson. Patrons can expect juicy steaks, garden-fresh salads and locally sourced seafood, best enjoyed with a fruity cocktail in hand.