Restaurant in Reykjavik, Iceland
A local pick over the tourist circuit.
Hverfisgata 12 is a locally regarded Reykjavik dining spot that suits a relaxed special occasion better than a high-ceremony tasting menu. Booking is easy with minimal lead time required. A practical choice for ingredient-conscious cooking in the capital without the formality of DILL or the tourist-facing pitch of the Laugavegur strip.
If you are choosing between Reykjavik's mid-range dining options for a special occasion, Hverfisgata 12 positions itself differently from the tourist-facing brasseries clustered around Laugavegur. It sits on a quieter stretch of the capital and has built a reputation among locals as a reliable spot for a considered meal rather than a quick tourist tick. Whether it earns your evening depends on what you are comparing it against.
Reykjavik's serious dining scene is small but genuinely competitive. DILL in Reykjavík sets the benchmark for ingredient-driven Nordic cooking in the capital, with sourcing from Icelandic farms and coastal producers at the core of its tasting menu. Hverfisgata 12 operates at a less formal register than DILL, which makes it a more practical choice for a date or celebratory dinner where you want quality without the full ceremony of a tasting menu format. For context, Moss in Grindavík and Friðheimar in Reykholt show how destination-driven sourcing can anchor an entire restaurant identity across Iceland. Hverfisgata 12 works within the same national ingredient logic but keeps the experience grounded and city-facing.
The venue's address on Hverfisgata places it within easy reach of Reykjavik's central hotel corridor, so it works well as a dinner anchor if you are staying centrally. For planning your wider trip, our full Reykjavik hotels guide and our full Reykjavik bars guide are useful companions. If you want to fill out the evening before or after, Bergsson Mathús is worth knowing for daytime eating nearby, and Café Loki gives you a contrasting, traditional Icelandic angle if you want to compare.
Booking is reportedly direct at Hverfisgata 12, with no significant lead time required in shoulder season. That makes it a lower-friction choice than some of the city's harder-to-book venues, and a sensible fallback if your first-choice reservation does not come through. For the full picture of where it fits in the city's dining options, see our full Reykjavik restaurants guide.
The short version: Book Hverfisgata 12 if you want a city-local atmosphere and ingredient-conscious cooking for a relaxed special occasion. If you want the full Nordic tasting menu experience, redirect to DILL. If your priority is casual and affordable, Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur and Amma Don serve different needs entirely.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hverfisgata 12 | Easy | — | |||
| Amma Don | Unknown | — | |||
| Bon Restaurant | Unknown | — | |||
| Eiriksson Brasserie | Unknown | — | |||
| Hjá Jóni | Unknown | — | |||
| Kröst | Unknown | — |
What to weigh when choosing between Hverfisgata 12 and alternatives.
Reykjavik's better mid-range restaurants generally accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice, and Hverfisgata 12 is no exception to that norm. Contact them directly before your visit to flag requirements — do not assume on the night. The address is Hverfisgata 12, 101 Reykjavik, which puts it in the city centre with easy access if you need to make arrangements in person.
For groups larger than four, check the venue's official channels and book as far ahead as possible — Reykjavik's compact dining rooms fill quickly, particularly on weekends. Hverfisgata 12 sits in the 101 Reykjavik postcode, a dense neighbourhood where tables for larger parties are always in short supply. Parties of two will have the most flexibility on timing and seating.
Book at least one to two weeks out for weekday visits; aim for two to three weeks if you are planning a weekend dinner. Reykjavik's 101 district draws both locals and visitors year-round, and mid-range restaurants in this postcode do not leave much slack for last-minute reservations. Peak summer and the northern lights season in autumn and winter tighten availability further.
Specific menu details are not confirmed in Pearl's current data for this venue, so ordering blind is a risk. The safe move: ask the staff what is running on the current menu when you arrive, and focus on dishes using Icelandic produce — lamb, Arctic fish, and dairy are consistently strong across Reykjavik's mid-range kitchens. Avoid defaulting to the safest option on the menu; this address positions itself away from the tourist-facing circuit.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
