Matarkjallarinn
Reykjavíkurborg, Reykjavík
Restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Matarkjallarinn is a practical downtown Reykjavík pick when you want a composed sit-down meal without turning dinner into a high-ceremony booking. Cross-shop it with Fish Company or Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market for a more seafood-led plan, with The Laundromat Cafe if the group needs something easier and more casual.
About Matarkjallarinn
For a Reykjavík meal plan, Matarkjallarinn is in Reykjavík, operates Tuesday through Saturday, lists a smart-casual dress code. It is best to confirm menu specifics, pricing, booking policies, service format, dietary accommodations directly with the venue before you go.
A practical Reykjavík option when the schedule matters
Matarkjallarinn is easiest to evaluate by its hours. It is closed on Monday and Sunday; open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday; and open for dinner on Saturday. If you are comparing it with another venue for a looser daytime plan, The Laundromat Cafe is worth checking separately. If you are deciding among dinner choices, compare Matarkjallarinn with Fish Company, Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market, Hjá Jóni, or Lóla based on the current details each venue publishes.
Use Matarkjallarinn in an itinerary by matching it to the confirmed service windows and confirming the current menu and reservation details through the restaurant's own channels.
Who should choose it, who should trade sideways
Choose it when the schedule fits your Reykjavík plans and a smart-casual dress code suits the occasion. Trade sideways if you need a venue with clearly documented details on price, menu structure, dietary handling, or a specific dining style before committing. For a broader scan before committing, use Our full Reykjavík restaurants guide, then compare the details for other dining rooms against the exact occasion.
For travelers building a wider Iceland food route, keep Matarkjallarinn in the Reykjavík portion of the plan and compare other destinations separately. If this is part of a longer dining comparison outside Iceland, keep those restaurants in a separate category rather than treating them as direct peers for a Reykjavík meal.
Planning details
- Location
- Aðalstræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
- Website
- matarkjallarinn.is
- Phone
- +354 558 0000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Matarkjallarinn leans hard into Aðalstræti's historical gravity. The restaurant occupies an address that sits atop an active civic narrative — a street threaded through the Settlement Exhibition and lined with buildings that absorb archaeological weight into their character. Rather than chasing the tourist bustle of Laugavegur, this spot reads as a serious, locally minded destination: quieter, measured, and anchored in place. The writing frames the kitchen and dining room as part of Reykjavík's ascendant premium tier, so the overall impression is refined and classic, rooted in the past while presenting contemporary Scandinavian cooking with restraint.
Best For
This is a go-to when you want a destination meal in Reykjavík's more considered register. The profile skews toward evening dining and special occasions: guests come looking for an experience that locals recognize and recommend rather than a quick tourist stop. Matarkjallarinn suits date nights and celebrations where atmosphere matters — a quieter room, a sense of history underfoot, and a kitchen that trades on Icelandic terroir and North Atlantic tradition. Groups seeking a memorable, well-paced dinner service will also find the setting appropriate for marking an occasion.
Ordering Tips
Menus in this part of Reykjavík emphasize local ingredients and New Nordic technique, and the text calls out geothermal agriculture alongside North Atlantic staples like lamb, cod, and skyr. When you dine here, prioritize dishes that highlight seasonal Icelandic produce and native seafood preparations, and ask staff about sourcing and current specialties. Framing requests around local producers or the day's best catch will align you with the kitchen’s strengths without presuming a specific format such as a tasting menu.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and elegant atmosphere in a historic cellar with live dinner music creating a soulful dining experience.
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
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Fish Company, Notable alternative
- Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market, Notable alternative
- Hjá Jóni, Notable alternative
- The Laundromat Cafe, Notable alternative
- Lóla, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in Reykjavík
Choose Matarkjallarinn when the priority is a central, flexible dinner that can carry a mixed group. Fish Company and Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market are the more obvious cross-shops for diners who want a seafood-forward Reykjavík night; they make more sense when the meal itself is the main event rather than one part of a packed city day.
Hjá Jóni is the alternative to check if the group wants a different room feel and a dinner that reads more intimate. The Laundromat Cafe is not a like-for-like dinner substitute, but it is the better answer for casual daytime plans, families, or travelers who do not want a formal-feeling meal.
Lóla is the sideways option when ambiance matters as much as the plate and the group wants a livelier Reykjavík choice. For value, the decision should come down to occasion: Matarkjallarinn for a proper central dinner, The Laundromat Cafe for low-pressure ease, Fish Company or Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market when seafood is the reason for booking.
Explore Reykjavík
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Matarkjallarinn guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Matarkjallarinn
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Matarkjallarinn | Reykjavík | No published awards |
| Fish Company | Reykjavík | No published awards |
| Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market | Reykjavík | No published awards |
| Hjá Jóni | Reykjavík | Star Wine Lists 2026 |
| The Laundromat Cafe | Reykjavík | No published awards |
| Lóla | Reykjavík | No published awards |
How Matarkjallarinn Reykjavík compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Matarkjallarinn?
It is a Reykjavík venue with limited service days: closed Sunday and Monday, with lunch and dinner Tuesday to Friday and dinner only on Saturday. The dress code is smart casual. For another dinner comparison, Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market is one option to check separately.
Is Matarkjallarinn good for a special occasion?
It may work if the schedule and smart-casual dress code fit your occasion. Confirm details about atmosphere, pricing, menu format, or special-occasion services directly before committing. Fish Company or Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market are other options to compare.
Is lunch or dinner better at Matarkjallarinn?
That depends on your schedule. Matarkjallarinn serves lunch Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, dinner Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 10 PM, Friday from 5 to 10:30 PM, Saturday from 5 to 10:30 PM. It is closed Sunday and Monday. If you want another option to compare, Hjá Jóni is one to check.
What are alternatives to compare with Matarkjallarinn?
Fish Company, Fiskmarkaðurinn / Fish Market, Hjá Jóni, Lóla, The Laundromat Cafe are options to compare with Matarkjallarinn. Check each venue's current hours, menu, booking details before deciding.
Can Matarkjallarinn accommodate groups?
Contact Matarkjallarinn directly with your party size and preferred time, note that the venue is closed Sunday and Monday. If your group is comparing options, The Laundromat Cafe is another venue to check.
