Restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland
Old harbour setting, low booking pressure.
Höfnin sits on Geirsgata in Reykjavik's Old Harbour area and books easily — a practical choice when the city's more competitive tables are full. It suits travellers who want a reliable harbour-side dinner without weeks of advance planning. For higher-stakes occasions, Bon Restaurant or DILL are stronger calls, but Höfnin holds its own as a low-friction option in a walkable central location.
Getting a table at Höfnin is not the obstacle it is at, say, DILL in Reykjavík — booking here is direct, and that accessibility is part of the case for going. Positioned on Geirsgata 7 in central Reykjavik, Höfnin sits close to the old harbour, which shapes both its setting and its identity. If you are planning a meal in the capital and want a reliable dinner without the advance planning required at Reykjavik's more competitive tables, this is a reasonable call.
Höfnin's harbour-adjacent address puts it in a part of Reykjavik that rewards visitors who want proximity to the water without paying the premium that some Old Harbour spots command. The restaurant draws a crowd that spans travellers and locals, which in a city of Reykjavik's size tends to be a reasonable indicator that a place holds up to repeat visits. For food and travel enthusiasts who have already worked through the obvious names on the Reykjavik dining circuit — or who want a lower-stakes evening before or after a bigger-ticket meal at somewhere like Moss in Grindavík , Höfnin offers a middle path that does not require a special occasion to justify.
On the drinks side, the bar program at a harbour-positioned Reykjavik restaurant of this type typically leans into Icelandic spirits and seasonal ingredients , though specific cocktail details are not confirmed in our data, and we would not speculate on the menu. What is worth noting for explorer-minded diners is that Reykjavik's cocktail scene has matured considerably, and venues at this location tier increasingly treat their bar as a genuine draw rather than an afterthought. Check current offerings directly before visiting if the drinks program is a deciding factor for your booking. For a broader picture of what the city is doing on that front, our full Reykjavik bars guide covers the category in depth.
Reykjavik dining in the current season brings its own considerations. Winter months concentrate the city's visitors around the Northern Lights window, which pushes demand at the most-talked-about restaurants. Höfnin's easier booking profile means it absorbs some of that overflow, but it also means you are likely to be dining alongside a mix of short-stay tourists and longer-term visitors rather than a predominantly local room. That is not a reason to skip it , it is just useful context for setting expectations.
For travellers building an Iceland itinerary that extends beyond the capital, pairing a Höfnin dinner with lunch at Friðheimar in Reykholt or a meal at Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri gives a more complete read on what Icelandic dining looks like outside the capital. Within the city, Bergsson Mathús handles daytime eating well, and Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur remains the low-cost benchmark for Icelandic street food. See our full Reykjavik restaurants guide for the complete picture.
Reservations: Easy to book , no weeks-in-advance planning required, though confirming ahead for dinner is sensible during peak tourist periods. Location: Geirsgata 7, 101 Reykjavík , central, walkable from most downtown accommodation. Dress: Smart casual is the safe call for a harbour-area dinner in Reykjavik. Budget: Specific pricing is not confirmed in our data , check current menus directly. For hotel options nearby, see our full Reykjavik hotels guide.
See the comparison section below for how Höfnin stacks up against Reykjavik peers including Amma Don, Bon Restaurant, and Brút.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Höfnin Restaurant | — | ||
| Amma Don | — | ||
| Bon Restaurant | — | ||
| Eiriksson Brasserie | — | ||
| Hjá Jóni | — | ||
| Kröst | — |
Side-by-side comparison to help you decide where to book.
Höfnin is located at Geirsgata 7 in Reykjavik's old harbour district, which gives it a genuine sense of place that central tourist-strip restaurants in the city often lack. Booking pressure is low compared to Reykjavik's most contested tables, so a few days' notice is typically enough. Go in expecting a harbour-area meal rather than a high-concept tasting experience — it suits visitors who want context alongside their food.
The harbour district location at Geirsgata 7 makes it an easy solo stop, particularly if you are already exploring that part of the city. Booking ease means you are not committing far in advance, which suits flexible solo itineraries. Check whether bar seating is available when you book, as that tends to work better for solo diners than a full table reservation.
A few days' notice is generally sufficient — Höfnin does not carry the wait-list pressure of Reykjavik's most in-demand restaurants. That said, if you are visiting during peak summer season when tourist numbers in the Capital Region spike, booking a week out removes any uncertainty. Same-day availability is plausible outside high season.
Specific menu details are not confirmed in our data, so we cannot point to individual dishes. What we can say is that harbour-district restaurants in Reykjavik have generally oriented around Icelandic seafood, which aligns with the location. Ask staff what is fresh on the day — that is reliably the right call at any harbour-adjacent venue in Iceland.
Bar seating availability at Höfnin is not confirmed in our data. check the venue's official channels at Geirsgata 7 or check when making your reservation. If bar dining is a priority, it is worth asking upfront rather than assuming — Reykjavik restaurants vary considerably on this point.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
