Kol Restaurant
Reykjavíkurborg, Reykjavík
Restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Kol Restaurant is a practical Reykjavík pick for a central lunch or dinner, especially when the meal needs to feel polished without being hard to arrange. Book it for a date, business dinner, or celebration where flexibility matters; compare with Sümac or Skál if a clearer cuisine identity is the priority.
About Kol Restaurant
Kol Restaurant is a Reykjavík restaurant with daily lunch and dinner hours. It is a practical option to consider when the plan depends on basics: the venue is in Reykjavík, the dress code is smart casual, and hours run every day from 11:30 AM–2:30 PM and again in the evening.
Expect a straightforward planning choice rather than a restaurant defined here by cuisine, price range, awards, chef, signature dishes, seat count, or detailed service format. Choose it because the published schedule is convenient for planning.
Book it for hours and a smart-casual setting
Kol Restaurant's clearest planning advantage is its schedule. It serves lunch daily from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, then dinner from 5 PM, closing at 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. That makes it useful for travelers or local diners comparing Reykjavík options by timing.
If you are deciding between other dining choices, compare the practical details rather than assuming a specific style. Sümac, Skál, Snaps Bistro, Smakkbarinn, and Salka Valka eldhús/kitchen are other Reykjavík names to check against your preferred timing, setting, and booking needs. For a broader scan of the city, use our full Reykjavík restaurants guide.
Who should book, and who should look elsewhere
Book Kol Restaurant if you want a Reykjavík restaurant with daily lunch and dinner hours and a smart-casual dress code. Look elsewhere, or compare more options, if you need details on cuisine, price, chef background, signature dishes, dietary accommodations, take-out, delivery, or awards before choosing.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM · Tuesday: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
- Location
- Skólavörðustígur 40, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- kolrestaurant.is
- Phone
- +3545177474
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Kol sits up the hill on Skólavörðustígur in a quieter stretch of Reykjavik, and its service and dining rooms reflect that sense of intention. The restaurant reads as intimate and sophisticated: menus and courses are calibrated rather than casual, and the kitchen’s technical ambition and ingredient discipline give the room a restrained, considered energy. Sunlit summer evenings and the surrounding design-studio neighborhood lend a quietly charming backdrop, so arriving here feels deliberate. The overall effect is a modern, elegant space that rewards slow conversation and attention to the meal rather than hurried, incidental dining.
Best For
Kol is best experienced for a thoughtful dinner where pacing matters. It occupies a middle ground between casual neighborhood spots and full tasting‑menu spectacle, making it a reliable pick for date nights, special occasions or small group dinners that want focus without formality. The setting (on a quieter, upper stretch of Skólavörðustígur) encourages lingering. Expect service that supports a multi-stage meal and an atmosphere that favors conversation and careful tasting over background clamor, so plan for time rather than a quick in‑and‑out.
Ordering Tips
Ordering at Kol benefits from the same deliberation that shapes the restaurant: leave time between courses and resist the impulse to rush. The menu highlights seasonality and preservation techniques, so balance selections between raw, fermented and grilled preparations. Work the signatures (beef fillet, lamb shoulder, grilled langoustine and beef carpaccio) into a meal to sample both the kitchen’s refined technique and its handling of Icelandic ingredients. Ask the server about pacing and suggested progressions so dishes arrive in stages that showcase contrasts of texture and flavor.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, stylish, and moody atmosphere with designer Tom Dixon furniture, open kitchen, and a blend of modern Icelandic and international design on two floors.
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
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Craft cocktails
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- beef fillet
- lamb shoulder
- grilled langoustine
- beef carpaccio
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- Skólavörðustígur 40, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
- Tuesday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
- Wednesday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
- Thursday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
- Friday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–11 PM
- Saturday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–11 PM
- Sunday
- 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–10 PM
Location
Skólavörðustígur 40, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland · Directions
Also consider
Where to look if you do not book Kol Restaurant
Choose Sümac if the group wants a clearer cuisine direction and accepts a €€€€ spend. Choose Skál if the meal should feel more casual and food-led rather than occasion-driven.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Reykjavík
Kol Restaurant is the safer choice for a polished city-centre meal when booking ease and broad occasion fit matter. Sümac is the clearer splurge if the group specifically wants Middle Eastern cooking and is comfortable with a €€€€ price tier. Kol is more useful when the brief is less cuisine-specific: a date, business dinner, or visitor-friendly dinner that should feel organized without demanding too much planning.
Skál is the better cross-shop for diners who want a more casual, food-led Reykjavík meal rather than a conventional restaurant setting. Snaps Bistro and Smakkbarinn are worth checking if atmosphere and price comfort matter more than a formal-feeling occasion. Salka Valka eldhús/kitchen is the practical alternative when the group wants something lower-pressure.
Sümac's €€€€ signal makes the spend expectation clearer upfront. For booking difficulty, Kol is the easier recommendation: it has daily lunch and dinner service, which gives more fallback windows than a dinner-only or tightly scheduled venue.
Explore Reykjavík
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Kol Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Kol Restaurant
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kol Restaurant | Reykjavík | No published awards | ||
| Salka Valka eldhús/kitchen | Reykjavík | No published awards | ||
| Skál | Reykjavík | No published awards | ||
| Snaps Bistro | Reykjavík | No published awards | ||
| Smakkbarinn | Reykjavík | No published awards | ||
| Sümac | Reykjavík | Middle Eastern | €€€€ | Star Wine Lists 2026Michelin Guide Nordic Countries 20262026 White Guide Nordic Restaurants - Fine Level2025 Michelin Plate |
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How Kol Restaurant Reykjavík compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kol Restaurant good for a special occasion?
It may suit a planned meal in Reykjavík if daily lunch and dinner hours and a smart-casual dress code fit the occasion.
What are alternatives to Kol Restaurant in Reykjavík?
Other Reykjavík options to compare include Salka Valka eldhús/kitchen, Snaps Bistro, Skál, Smakkbarinn, and Sümac.
Is Kol Restaurant good for solo dining?
It is open for lunch and dinner daily, so solo diners should check current availability and seating details before going.
Is lunch or dinner better at Kol Restaurant?
Both lunch and dinner are served daily. Lunch is 11:30 AM–2:30 PM every day; dinner runs 5–10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 5–11 PM Friday and Saturday. Choose the service that best fits your schedule.
