Von Mathús-Bar
Hafnarfjörður, Hafnarfjor Ur
Restaurant in Hafnarfjor Ur, Iceland
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Von Mathús-Bar is a practical Hafnarfjörður pick when staying local matters more than chasing a Reykjavík destination dinner. It is strongest for couples, small groups, and low-friction celebration meals; compare with DILL Restaurant for ambition, 3 Frakkar for seafood, and Café Loki for a more casual Icelandic option.
About Von Mathús-Bar
Von Mathús-Bar is a Hafnarfjor Ur venue with opening hours for lunch on select weekdays and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday. It is best considered when staying or meeting in Hafnarfjor Ur and you want to keep the plan local. If you are comparing it with dining elsewhere, treat those as separate planning choices rather than direct substitutes.
A Hafnarfjor Ur choice for keeping the evening local
The useful way to judge this venue is as a Hafnarfjor Ur option with a casual dress code and a defined weekly schedule. It is closed on Monday, opens for lunch Tuesday through Friday, and opens for dinner Wednesday through Sunday. If the meal needs to be compared with broader Iceland dining options, DILL Restaurant can be a separate reference point; 3 Frakkar is another comparison venue to consider.
For a special occasion, keep the recommendation practical: choose this when the location and schedule fit the plan. Choose it for the local setting and straightforward schedule rather than for awards, chef-led tasting structure, or named signature dishes. A casual venue in Hafnarfjor Ur with lunch and dinner hours on specific days is the clearest planning case.
Who should choose it over other dining plans
Consider Von Mathús-Bar when Hafnarfjor Ur is the convenient base. The clearest planning points are its casual dress code and hours: lunch Tuesday to Friday, dinner Wednesday to Sunday, and closure on Monday.
If this venue does not fit the plan, keep the alternatives practical. Three coats and Holt Restaurant can be considered as separate comparison venues, while Café Loki is another option to compare outside the immediate Von Mathús-Bar plan. For broader planning around Hafnarfjor Ur, use the relevant city guides and confirm current details directly with each venue.
Planning details
- Location
- Strandgata 75, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
- Website
- vonmathus.is
- Phone
- +354 583 6000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Von Mathús-Bar reads like a neighbourhood anchor rather than a destination theatre. It sits on Strandgata in Hafnarfjörður, a working harbour road with an unpolished, lived-in character. The tone is relaxed and quietly confident: conversations are more likely to be about the day's catch than about critics' menus. There is a friendly, approachable quality to how the bar is described, grounded in local ingredient rhythms and the harbour town’s long-standing buildings, making it feel like a discreet, dependable stop for people who know the area.
Best For
Von Mathús-Bar is best encountered in the evening, when its seafood-led menu and bar setting come into focus. The address on the harbour road makes it an easy after-work or neighbourhood dinner option for locals and visitors staying outside central Reykjavík. Because the venue prioritises a local register over theatrical tasting-menu presentation, it suits relaxed dinners where freshness and provenance matter more than formality. Travellers who take the short bus ride from Reykjavík find a quieter counterpoint to the capital’s buzzy dining strip: a place that rewards people looking for straightforward seafood and a sense of place.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the seafood highlights and the place’s casual, local approach. The signature tiger prawn tacos and the fish of the day are explicit callouts and good starting points for a first visit; ordering the day's fish showcases the venue’s connection to nearby waters. The lamb tartar, also listed as a signature, offers a non-seafood option that signals the kitchen’s willingness to balance local meat and fish. Share a couple of plates to get a broad sense of the menu and mirror the friendly, neighbourhood-style dining.
Venue details
Ambiance
Rustic-modern design with a fun, comfortable vibe perfect for chatting over cocktails and fresh harbor views.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
- Kitchen
- Seasonal
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Cocktails
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- tiger prawn tacos
- fish of the day
- lamb tartar
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Strandgata 75, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to look if this does not fit
If the group wants a more ambitious Reykjavík dinner, start with DILL Restaurant. If the brief is seafood rather than Hafnarfjörður convenience, compare against 3 Frakkar.
For a more casual Icelandic meal, Café Loki is the cleaner backup. For broader Iceland planning, useful cross-shops include 3 Frakkar in Reykjavík, Chef's Table at Moss Restaurant in Iceland, Blue Lagoon in Grindavík, Friðheimar in Reykholt, Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri, Rangá Restaurant in Hella, Klaustur Restaurant in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Bautinn in Akureyri, All Meals Included- Chef in Olafsfjördur, Malai-Thai in Keflavik, and Nesjavallavirkjun in Selfoss.
Outside Iceland, Pearl readers comparing compact, casual-leaning formats may also save Jōdo Saké Bar in Los Angeles and Onigiri Time in Pasadena.
Restaurant context
How it compares for Hafnarfjörður diners
Choose Von Mathús-Bar when the plan is anchored in Hafnarfjörður and convenience is part of the value. DILL Restaurant is the better fit for a higher-ambition Reykjavík dinner, while 3 Frakkar is the clearer seafood-led comparison.
Three coats and Holt Restaurant make more sense when ambiance and a more formal city dinner are the point. Café Loki is the easier casual alternative if the group wants Icelandic food without framing the meal as a celebration.
For value, the main trade is time: staying local keeps the evening simpler, while the Reykjavík peers give a wider spread of dining formats. If the meal is the centerpiece, look to DILL Restaurant or 3 Frakkar. If the evening is about a smooth Hafnarfjörður plan, Von Mathús-Bar is the more practical choice.
Explore Hafnarfjor Ur
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Von Mathús-Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Von Mathús-Bar
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Von Mathús-Bar | Hafnarfjor Ur | , | No published awards |
| DILL Restaurant | Reykjavík | , | No published awards |
| 3 Frakkar | Reykjavík | Seafood | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #3802023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| Three coats | Reykjavík | , | No published awards |
| Holt Restaurant | Reykjavík | , | No published awards |
| Café Loki | Reykjavík | , | No published awards |
How Von Mathús-Bar Hafnarfjor Ur compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Von Mathús-Bar?
Plan around the published schedule: closed Monday; lunch Tuesday to Friday; dinner Wednesday to Sunday, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday. If you are choosing between this and DILL Restaurant, Von Mathús-Bar is the Hafnarfjor Ur option.
What should I wear to Von Mathús-Bar?
The dress code is casual. The venue is in Hafnarfjor Ur. If you were comparing with Café Loki or 3 Frakkar, confirm each venue's current guidance separately.
Is lunch or dinner better at Von Mathús-Bar?
That depends on the timing of your plan. Lunch is listed Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner is listed Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday until 9:30 PM, and Sunday from 5 to 9 PM. For a different kind of dining comparison, DILL Restaurant is another venue to consider.
Is Von Mathús-Bar good for a special occasion?
It can be considered for a special occasion if Hafnarfjor Ur is the right location and the casual dress code fits the tone of the evening. Plan based on location and hours rather than formal formats, awards, set menus, or signature dishes. Holt Restaurant is another comparison venue for a different plan.
What are alternatives to Von Mathús-Bar in Hafnarfjor Ur?
Within Hafnarfjor Ur, consider other local dining options generically and verify current details before booking. For comparison outside that immediate plan, DILL Restaurant, 3 Frakkar, Café Loki, Three coats, and Holt Restaurant are venues to research separately. Von Mathús-Bar remains the named Hafnarfjor Ur option here.