Grillmarkaðurinn
Reykjavíkurborg, Reykjavík
Restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Grillmarkaðurinn is a sensible downtown Reykjavík dinner pick when you want a full-service evening meal rather than a casual café or quick stop. Book it for couples or small groups, especially earlier in the night if conversation matters. Cross-shop Apotek Kitchen + Bar for a livelier restaurant-bar feel and Brút if a higher-spend modern cuisine format is the priority.
About Grillmarkaðurinn
For a dinner in Reykjavík, Grillmarkaðurinn should be planned around its evening schedule. Hours start at 5:30 PM every day, so it is best treated as an evening choice rather than a daytime stop.
Plan for dinner timing with a smart-casual dress code. If you are comparing other Reykjavík options, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur or The Laundromat Cafe are names to consider as part of a broader dining plan.
Book it for dinner, not for a casual daytime meal
The published schedule is dinner-only: Mon-Thu 5:30-9:30 PM, Fri-Sat 5:30-10 PM, Sun 5:30-9:30 PM. Use that timing to plan Grillmarkaðurinn as an evening meal rather than as a lunch or daytime stop.
The safer decision frame is timing and occasion rather than value hunting. If the priority is dinner in Reykjavík with smart-casual expectations, Grillmarkaðurinn is a clear venue to consider.
Use the schedule and dress code to decide if it fits your night
Among Reykjavík choices, Grillmarkaðurinn is best considered as an evening plan. Apotek Kitchen + Bar, Humarhúsið - The Lobsterhouse, Brút are natural names to compare when deciding where to dine.
The main reason to choose Grillmarkaðurinn here is timing and fit for the occasion rather than a named dish, price point, or award claim. It is a practical pick for diners who want to plan around dinner hours in Reykjavík. For broader planning, use the full Reykjavík restaurants guide, plus the Reykjavík bars guide and Reykjavík hotels guide if the dinner is part of a longer night.
Quick reference: choose dinner, note the smart-casual dress code, cross-shop Apotek Kitchen + Bar or Brút if you are comparing Reykjavík dining plans.
Planning details
- Location
- Lækjargata 2a, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Website
- grillmarkadurinn.is
- Phone
- +354 571 7777
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Grillmarkaðurinn presents a polished, modern take on Iceland’s grilling tradition while remaining cozy and quietly elegant. It sits in Reykjavik’s oldest downtown stretch and treats local ingredients—Arctic-fed lamb, North Atlantic fish, greenhouse-grown tomatoes—as the core of its culinary argument. The kitchen’s focus on fire and sourcing gives the dining room a considered, sophisticated energy: this is food that reads as contemporary and refined but rooted in place and history. The overall effect is warm rather than flashy, a place where technique serves provenance and the grill’s presence shapes the meal.
Best For
This is a dinner destination for people who want a serious, ingredient-forward meal in Reykjavik’s central district. Positioned close to the harbour and government quarter, the restaurant is presented as upper-tier dining and suits date nights and special occasions where the grill and local produce are the main attraction. It’s a good fit for diners who appreciate thoughtful sourcing and fire-driven cooking rather than casual, quick-service formats, and who expect polished service alongside robust, locally anchored flavors.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the grill-led focus when you order: the menu highlights fire-forward proteins and Icelandic produce. Ask the staff about what’s freshest and how particular items are sourced—sourcing is central to the kitchen’s approach. Signature offerings listed in the description (Grilled Puffin, Minke Whale, Lamb Skewers) are clear examples of the house direction, so consider sampling one of the grilled proteins to experience the restaurant’s core technique and flavor profile.
Venue details
Ambiance
Stylish yet cozy atmosphere with Icelandic rocks, rich wood elements, lava rock accents, warm lighting, and an open kitchen inspired by Iceland's rugged nature.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Grilled Puffin
- Minke Whale
- Lamb Skewers
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Pick Apotek Kitchen + Bar if the group wants a central restaurant-bar atmosphere with a similar night-out feel. Pick Brút if the goal is a more expensive modern cuisine dinner and the budget can stretch.
Restaurant context
How Grillmarkaðurinn compares in Reykjavík
Grillmarkaðurinn is the safer choice when the brief is a central, full-service dinner with more structure than a casual stop. Apotek Kitchen + Bar is the closer match for diners who want a restaurant-bar mood, while Grillmarkaðurinn is better when the meal itself should be the anchor of the evening.
For seafood-focused diners, Humarhúsið - The Lobsterhouse is the more targeted cross-shop. For higher-spend modern cuisine, Brút is the sharper comparison because it is listed as €€€€ and modern cuisine. Grillmarkaðurinn works better for diners who want a polished dinner without committing to that more expensive lane.
If ease and value matter more than service rhythm, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and The Laundromat Cafe are simpler alternatives. They are not substitutes for the same occasion, but they are better fits when the night calls for speed, informality, or a lower-commitment meal.
Explore Reykjavík
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Grillmarkaðurinn guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Grillmarkaðurinn
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grillmarkaðurinn | Reykjavík | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Apotek Kitchen + Bar | Reykjavík | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Humarhúsið - The Lobsterhouse | Reykjavík | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur | Reykjavík | ; | ; | No published awards |
| The Laundromat Cafe | Reykjavík | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Brút | Reykjavík | Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #1We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 Michelin Plate |
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How Grillmarkaðurinn Reykjavík compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grillmarkaðurinn handle dietary restrictions?
Ask Grillmarkaðurinn directly before you go. If dietary needs are strict, confirm before committing to the meal.
How far ahead should I plan Grillmarkaðurinn?
Plan around dinner hours, especially for Fri and Sat, when service runs 5:30-10 PM. Mon-Thu and Sun hours are 5:30-9:30 PM.
What are alternatives to Grillmarkaðurinn in Reykjavík?
Apotek Kitchen + Bar, Brút, Humarhúsið - The Lobsterhouse, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, The Laundromat Cafe are useful Reykjavík names to compare when deciding where to dine.
What should a first-timer know about Grillmarkaðurinn?
Treat Grillmarkaðurinn as a dinner plan, not a daytime stop, because the listed hours start at 5:30 PM every day and run to 9:30 PM most nights, with service until 10 PM on Fri and Sat. It is in Reykjavík.
Is lunch or dinner better at Grillmarkaðurinn?
Dinner is the clear choice, because the schedule is dinner-only with no lunch service listed. If you want a daytime meal in Reykjavík, compare other options instead.
Is Grillmarkaðurinn good for a special occasion?
It can be a fit if you want a planned dinner in Reykjavík and the smart-casual dress code suits the evening. Hours are 5:30-9:30 PM most nights and 5:30-10 PM on Fri and Sat.
