The back story
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Area guide
Miðborg: the back story
Postcode 101: Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, Hallgrímskirkja on the hill, Austurvöllur, Kvosin and the Tjörnin pond.
Area guide · Reykjavík
Miðborg: Our Favourites
Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, Hallgrímskirkja, Austurvöllur and the Tjörnin pond, with DILL and ÓX.
What's onThis week in Reykjavík
What to see and do
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Tower 73 m
Hallgrímskirkja
The largest church in Iceland, rising 73 metres over the city: climb the tower for the view, and hear the great Klais organ.
Hallgrímstorg 1, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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The national collection
National Gallery of Iceland
The national art museum: Icelandic and foreign art of the 19th and 20th centuries, by the Tjörnin pond.
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Thursdays to 22:00
Hafnarhús (Reykjavík Art Museum)
The Reykjavík Art Museum’s harbour house: contemporary art in a former warehouse on Tryggvagata.
Tryggvagata 17, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Þjóðleikhúsið
The National Theatre of Iceland
The national stage on Hverfisgata, now also home of the new national opera.
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In the centre
Tjörnin and Hljómskálagarður
The city pond, its birds and the park beside it, between City Hall and the National Gallery.
Where to eat
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One MICHELIN Star
DILL
Creative Icelandic cooking on Laugavegur: One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.
Laugavegur 59, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
ÓX
A small creative counter on Laugavegur: One MICHELIN Star in the 2026 guide.
Laugavegur 55, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Hosiló
Modern cooking on Hverfisgata.
Hverfisgata 12, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Sümac
Middle Eastern cooking over the grill on Laugavegur.
Laugavegur 28, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
OTO
Fusion cooking on Hverfisgata.
Hverfisgata 44, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Lóla
Italian cooking on Tryggvagata.
Tryggvagata 11, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Classic Reykjavík
Grillmarkaðurinn
Icelandic produce from the farms, cooked over charcoal, on Lækjargata.
Lækjargata 2A, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Classic Reykjavík
Messinn
Fresh Icelandic fish served in the pan, on Lækjargata.
Lækjargata 6b, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Classic Reykjavík
Snaps Bistro
A French–Danish bistro and bar on Óðinstorg, with brunch every day.
Óðinstorg, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Classic Reykjavík
Apotek Kitchen & Bar
The bar-restaurant of Apótek Hotel, in the old pharmacy on Austurstræti.
Austurstræti 16, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Classic Reykjavík
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Iceland’s most famous hot-dog stand, since 1937: lamb hot dogs “with everything”.
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Kárastígur and Brautarholt
Reykjavík Roasters
The city’s speciality roaster, with cafés on Kárastígur by Hallgrímskirkja and on Brautarholt.
Kárastígur 1, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Sourdough daily
Sandholt
The Laugavegur bakery, with sourdough baked every day and food from Icelandic classics to brunch.
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Since 2016
Brauð & Co
The sourdough bakery that began in 2016 in the painted house on Frakkastígur.
Frakkastígur 16, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
Bars
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Since 1993
Kaffibarinn
The little red house on Bergstaðastræti: a café and bar since 1993, and the city’s best-known late-night room.
Bergstaðastræti 1, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Since 2014
Kaldi Bar
Twelve beers on tap and 93 gins, on Laugavegur since 2014; enter from Klapparstígur.
Laugavegur 20b, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
Shopping
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Since 1977
The Handknitting Association of Iceland
Hand-knitted lopapeysa sweaters of Icelandic wool, since 1977.
Skólavörðustígur 19, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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By the harbour
Hafnartorg
The new quarter of shops and restaurants between the old centre and the harbour.
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Weekends
Kolaportið
The weekend flea market by the harbour, with a food hall of Icelandic delicacies.
Where to stay
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Since 1930
Hotel Borg
Iceland’s first luxury hotel, on Austurvöllur since 1930: Art Deco rooms, a spa and a Tower Suite over the old centre.
Pósthússtræti 11, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Postcode 101
101 Hotel
A design hotel of 38 rooms on Hverfisgata, named after the old centre’s postcode.
Hverfisgata 10, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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A pharmacy of 1917
Apótek Hotel
A boutique hotel of 45 rooms in the old pharmacy on Austurstræti, a building of 1917 by Guðjón Samúelsson.
Austurstræti 16, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Since 1965
Hotel Holt
The art hotel of Reykjavík: 42 classic rooms and, in its own words, Iceland’s largest private art collection.
Bergstaðastræti 37, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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A house of 1900
Kvosin Downtown Hotel
Twenty-four rooms in a building from 1900, in the old Kvosin quarter.
Kirkjutorg 4, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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On Laugavegur
Sand Hotel
A boutique hotel on Laugavegur, a short walk from Hallgrímskirkja.
Laugavegur 34, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Eighteen rooms
Ion City
ION’s small city hotel on Laugavegur, sister to the ION Adventure Hotel at Nesjavellir.
Laugavegur 28, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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On Lækjargata
Hotel Reykjavík Saga
An Íslandshótel by the Tjörnin pond, with 130 rooms.
Lækjargata 12, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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Þingholt
Thingholt by Center Hotels
A boutique hotel on Þingholtsstræti, in the old Þingholt quarter.
Þingholtsstræti 3-5, 101 ReykjavíkExplore View on map
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