3 Frakkar

Verdict

3 Frakkar is the right booking if you want classic Icelandic seafood without the tasting-menu price tag. Run by chef Úlfar Eysteinsson and ranked #380 in Opinionated About Dining's Casual Europe list for 2024 (with a Recommended nod in 2023), this Baldursgata address has earned its place as one of Reykjavík's most consistent neighbourhood seafood restaurants. It is not where you go for Nordic-creative theatrics; that's DILL or ÓX. 3 Frakkar is where you go when you want well-executed traditional cooking at a price that won't require a second mortgage.

The Experience

3 Frakkar translates roughly as "Three Overcoats," and the room has always leaned into a certain cosy, unhurried register. This is a special-occasion restaurant for people who measure a good evening by the quality of what arrives on the plate rather than by how many courses are staged across it. The kitchen focuses on Icelandic seafood; the kind of cooking that puts direct, honest flavour ahead of architectural presentation. If you are looking for a progression of small, composed dishes with theatrical pacing, book elsewhere. If you want something that delivers on the promise of Iceland's seafood without the formality of a set tasting menu, this is a strong case.

For a celebratory dinner, the dinner service suits better than lunch, it runs later on Fridays and Saturdays (until 10:30 pm), giving a more relaxed, evening-out tempo. Saturday dinner in particular is the format to book for a date or small group celebration: no lunch service means the kitchen and floor staff are entirely focused on the dinner sitting, the room takes on a different character than a weekday lunchtime visit.

Compared to the €€€€ tier that dominates Reykjavík's fine-dining conversation, Matur og Drykkur, Brút, Hosiló, 3 Frakkar sits at a more accessible price point, making it a sensible first move if you want to anchor a Reykjavík dining itinerary around Icelandic product without committing every meal to the top-tier spend. It also carries more culinary credibility than the tourist-facing seafood restaurants along the harbour strip.

Ideal time to visit

Dinner on Friday or Saturday is the optimal window. The kitchen stays open until 10:30 pm on those nights, which means you can arrive after 8 pm without the mid-evening rush pressure you sometimes feel at restaurants with a hard 10 pm close. If you are visiting Reykjavík in winter, which accounts for most international arrivals chasing the northern lights, the dinner-only Saturday format means you can spend the day outside and come in for a proper sit-down meal without restructuring your itinerary around a lunchtime slot.

Weekday lunch is a practical option if your afternoon is free and you want a quieter room. The lunch service runs Monday through Friday, 11:30 am to 2 pm, which is short enough that arrival around noon is sensible if you want full menu availability and relaxed service. Sunday dinner (6–10 pm) is a reasonable fallback, though Saturday has a slightly longer service window.

Awards & Recognition

3 Frakkar holds a 2024 ranking of #380 on the Opinionated About Dining Casual Europe list, following a Recommended listing in 2023. OAD Casual Europe recognition reflects consistent, repeat-visitor quality rather than one-time critical spectacle, it is the kind of credential that signals reliability. Chef Úlfar Eysteinsson has been the consistent figure behind the kitchen throughout.

Booking & Practical Details

Booking difficulty at 3 Frakkar is rated Easy. You do not need to plan weeks ahead the way you would for ÓX or a tasting-menu slot at DILL, but for Friday and Saturday dinner, especially during the peak summer and northern-lights seasons, booking a few days in advance is the sensible call. Weekday lunch is the most accessible slot if you are arriving without a reservation. The restaurant is at Baldursgata 14, 101 Reykjavík.

Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30 am–2 pm and 6–10 pm; Fri 11:30 am–2 pm and 6–10:30 pm; Sat 6–10:30 pm; Sun 6–10 pm.

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Also Worth Considering in Iceland

If you are building a wider Iceland dining itinerary, Moss in Grindavík is worth the trip for a more dramatic setting, while Friðheimar in Reykholt is a completely different experience, a greenhouse tomato farm restaurant that is genuinely interesting for a day trip. In Akureyri, Strikið is the comparable benchmark. For international seafood comparisons, Angler in London and Alici on the Amalfi Coast occupy a similar quality register but at significantly higher price points.

Browse our full Reykjavík restaurants guide, hotels in Reykjavík, bars in Reykjavík, and experiences in Reykjavík for the full picture.