Restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland
Serious wine list, low intimidation factor.
Amma Don holds back-to-back Star Wine List awards (2024 and 2026), making it one of Reykjavik's stronger calls if wine is part of why you're going out. It sits on central Laugavegur, books easily, and operates without the formal-dining commitment of the city's tasting-menu restaurants. A practical yes for wine-focused visitors.
Two consecutive Star Wine List awards (2024 and 2026) is the most telling number on Amma Don's record. On Laugavegur, Reykjavik's central dining and shopping corridor, that kind of repeat recognition in the wine category is rare. If you're planning a meal in the city and wine matters to you, this is one of the stronger signals available for where to book. The harder question is whether the rest of the experience justifies the trip down Laugavegur 55 — and on the evidence available, the answer leans yes, with some caveats worth knowing before you commit.
Amma Don sits in a category Pearl calls casual excellence: venues that deliver disproportionate quality relative to how formal or intimidating they feel to walk into. The Star Wine List credential, earned twice, tells you that the wine selection has been evaluated by a dedicated specialist jury and found to meet a meaningful international standard. That's not marketing language , it's a verifiable, repeated third-party assessment. For Reykjavik, where wine programs at restaurants can be variable, that distinction is worth paying attention to.
If you've visited once and focused on the food, the wine list is the thing to look harder at on a return visit. The double award suggests this is a program with some depth and consistency, not a rotating-label afterthought. Go in with a question for the staff about what they're excited about right now , that kind of engagement usually works well at venues that have invested in their wine identity.
Laugavegur is a walkable street, easy to reach from most central Reykjavik accommodation. Booking appears direct , no indication of a hard-to-secure reservation situation here, which makes Amma Don a reasonable option even if you're planning within the week. If you're building an itinerary around Reykjavik dining, check our full Reykjavik restaurants guide for how it fits alongside the city's wider dining map.
This works leading for someone who wants a genuine wine experience in a city not always known for them, without booking into a formal tasting-menu environment. If you've already eaten at DILL in Reykjavík and want something less structured, or if you're comparing against the destination-dining effort required for Moss in Grindavík, Amma Don offers a lower-friction option with credentialed wine credentials to back it up.
It's also a practical pick for a regular visitor to Reykjavik who wants to go deeper than the first visit. The repeat Star Wine List recognition suggests the program evolves , there's reason to believe the list isn't static. For a city where stalwarts like Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and Café Loki anchor the casual end of the market, Amma Don occupies a different tier , more considered, more drink-focused, without requiring the planning effort of Reykjavik's more ambitious restaurants.
Some practical context: cuisine type, price range, and opening hours aren't confirmed in Pearl's database at this time. Before booking, check current hours directly , Laugavegur venues sometimes shift seasonal schedules, particularly around Iceland's shoulder seasons. The address is Laugavegur 55, 101 Reykjavik.
For broader trip planning, Pearl's Reykjavik hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide can help you build out the rest of your stay.
See the full peer comparison below.
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Key Credential | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amma Don | Easy | Star Wine List ×2 | Wine-focused dining, casual format |
| Bon Restaurant | Moderate | Reykjavik fine dining staple | Special occasions, tasting menus |
| Eiriksson Brasserie | Easy–Moderate | Brasserie format | Groups, broader menus |
| Hjá Jóni | Easy | Local neighbourhood favourite | Relaxed, everyday dining |
Book Amma Don if wine is part of why you're going out, not just a line on the check. The double Star Wine List recognition is the clearest signal available that this program is taken seriously , and in Reykjavik, that puts it in a short list of venues worth specifically choosing for the drink experience. Easy to book, central location, no high-commitment format required. For most visitors with an interest in wine, that's a direct yes.
No dress code is confirmed in Pearl's data, and the venue's position as a casual-format wine bar on Laugavegur suggests smart casual is the right call , not formal, but not beach gear either. Reykjavik dining generally skews relaxed; you'll be comfortable in the same outfit you'd wear to a wine bar in any European city.
Wine-focused venues on Laugavegur typically work well for solo visitors , a wine list worth exploring is its own entertainment, and bar or counter seating tends to suit solo guests. Without confirmed seating details from Pearl's database, it's worth calling ahead to ask about bar availability if you're going solo.
Bar seating isn't confirmed in Pearl's data. Given the venue's wine bar positioning and its central Laugavegur address, bar seating is plausible but not guaranteed. Contact the venue directly before visiting if bar dining is important to your plan.
It depends on what the occasion calls for. If you want wine to be the centrepiece and the atmosphere to feel considered without being formal, Amma Don's Star Wine List credentials make it a credible pick. For a more structured fine dining experience with full tasting menus, Bon Restaurant or DILL may be stronger fits for celebratory dinners.
For fine dining with more structure, DILL is Reykjavik's most decorated option. Bon Restaurant works for a formal dinner without DILL's booking challenge. For something more casual and neighbourhood-driven, Hjá Jóni is the better call. If you're deciding purely on wine credentials, Amma Don's double Star Wine List recognition puts it ahead of most Reykjavik alternatives in that specific category.
Specific dietary accommodation details aren't available in Pearl's database. Contact the venue directly before booking if you have restrictions , that's the only reliable way to confirm. Most Reykjavik restaurants at this level are generally accommodating, but it's worth verifying rather than assuming.
Lead with the wine list. The Star Wine List recognition (awarded in both 2024 and 2026) is what differentiates Amma Don from other casual Laugavegur options. It's easy to book and centrally located, so the barrier to entry is low. Go in ready to engage with the wine selection , that's where the value sits. Check current hours before visiting, as seasonal scheduling in Reykjavik can vary.
Specific menu details aren't confirmed in Pearl's database, so recommending dishes by name would be guesswork. What the data does confirm: the wine program is the reason to be here. Ask the team what they're pouring right now and let that lead the visit. For venues with this level of wine-list investment, staff recommendations are usually the fastest route to the leading glass in the room.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amma Don | Star Wine List (2026); Star Wine List (2024) | — | |
| Bon Restaurant | — | ||
| Eiriksson Brasserie | — | ||
| Hjá Jóni | — | ||
| Kröst | — | ||
| Monkeys | — |
A quick look at how Amma Don measures up.
Dress casually but put in some effort. Laugavegur is Reykjavik's main social strip, and venues along it tend to attract a put-together crowd without enforcing formality. Nothing in Amma Don's profile suggests a dress code, so clean, everyday clothes work. Avoid showing up in full hiking gear if you care about fitting the room.
Yes. A wine-focused venue with Star Wine List recognition twice over is exactly the format that works for solo visits — you can focus on what's in the glass without managing group dynamics. Laugavegur 55 is central and walkable, making it an easy stop on a solo evening in Reykjavik rather than a destination requiring coordination.
Current seating configuration isn't confirmed in Pearl's data, so check directly before assuming bar seats are available. That said, Star Wine List-recognised venues in this size category typically have counter or bar seating oriented around the wine program. Contact Amma Don via Laugavegur 55, 101 Reykjavik to confirm before you go.
It depends on what kind of occasion. Amma Don suits a celebration where wine is the point — an anniversary for a couple who drinks well, or a birthday dinner for someone who'd rather have a great bottle than a formal tasting menu. For a high-ceremony occasion requiring a set menu and private room, the venue profile doesn't confirm that setup is available.
Kröst is the comparison to make if you want a more structured dining format alongside strong drinks. Bon Restaurant is worth considering if food ambition matters as much as the wine. Hjá Jóni skews more neighbourhood and casual. Monkeys and Eiriksson Brasserie cover different ground — Monkeys trends younger and livelier, Eiriksson Brasserie sits closer to brasserie-style comfort dining.
Cuisine type and menu details aren't confirmed in Pearl's database, so there's no reliable way to assess dietary accommodation from here. Call or message ahead using the address at Laugavegur 55, 101 Reykjavik to confirm what the kitchen can accommodate. Don't assume flexibility without checking — Reykjavik kitchens vary widely on this.
The clearest signal on record is two Star Wine List awards, in 2024 and 2026 — that tells you the wine program is the reason to come, not incidental to it. Amma Don sits on Laugavegur, Reykjavik's busiest dining street, so foot traffic is high and walk-in availability may be tighter than it looks. Price range isn't confirmed in Pearl's data, so go in prepared for a wine-led bill rather than a bargain stop.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
