Best Gluten-Free Restaurants and Cafes in Reykjavik
Words by
Jon Magnusson
Finding the best gluten free restaurants in Reykjavik has changed dramatically over the past decade. When I first moved to this city in 2012, eating out without wheat meant a sad salad and a long explanation to a confused waiter. Now, a growing awareness of coeliac disease and broader dietary awareness means that dedicated gluten free kitchens, honest menu labels, and knowledgeable staff are part of the everyday dining experience. I have eaten my way through most of what Laugavegur and the surrounding streets have to offer, and I can tell you that the gluten free dining scene here is no longer an afterthought. It is taken seriously.
1. Gluten Free Cafes Reykjavik: Found Laugavegur
Found Laugavegur
Located right on Laugavegur, the main shopping and restaurant artery of downtown Reykjavik, Found has become one of the city's most dedicated spots for wheat free dining Reykjavik visitors can trust completely. The entire kitchen operates gluten free, which removes the cross contamination anxiety that coeliac travellers know all too well. The interior is clean and modern, with pale wood and open sightlines into the preparation area, so you can see exactly how seriously they handle things.
What to Order: The cinnamon buns are genuinely remarkable. They are dense, spiced generously, and finished with a sweet glaze that holds together without any of the gummy texture that plagues many gluten free pastries. I also recommend the daily soup, usually a smooth root vegetable or a hearty pea soup, served with thick slices of their house made gluten free bread.
Best Time: Arrive between 2:00 and 3:00 PM on a weekday. By then the lunch rush has cleared, and you will have your pick of window seats with views of the foot traffic on Laugavegur. Weekends get crowded starting at noon, and the small space fills quickly.
The Vibe: Neat, unpretentious, and calm. It feels like a local neighbourhood spot rather than a tourist destination, even though tourists pass by constantly. One honest complaint is that seating is limited, so larger groups will struggle unless they come early or are willing to wait.
Local Tip: Found sources several of its ingredients from organic Icelandic farms. If you ask the staff, they are happy to tell you where the eggs and root vegetables come from. This kind of transparency is common in Reykjavik's food culture, where the short supply line between producer and plate is a point of genuine pride.
2. Coeliac Friendly Reykjavik: Hlemmur Mathöll
Hlemmur Mathöll
The Hlemmur Mathöll food hall sits at the eastern end of Laugavegur, right on the square of the same name that has been a bus hub and gathering point since the mid twentieth century. After a careful renovation, the hall re opened in 2017 and became one of the best places in central Reykjavik to eat affordably without sacrificing quality. For anyone looking at gluten free restaurants in Reykjavik, this food hall is essential because multiple vendors offer gluten free options and several make it their core focus.
What to See and Taste: Walk the entire hall first before committing. Among the stalls, you will find Thai street food vendors, Icelandic comfort food counters, and a Mexican inspired stand, several of which flag gluten free dishes clearly on their boards. The Thai curry stall is a personal favourite, with rice based dishes that are naturally free of wheat. Lab Reykjavik, one of the resident vendors, also marks allergens transparently and has a good lunch bowl selection.
Best Time: Weekday lunch hours, ideally 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Icelandic lunch culture is earlier than many visitors expect, and the hall starts getting congested after 12:30 with locals from nearby offices. On Saturday evenings, the hall takes on a more social atmosphere with local musicians sometimes performing nearby.
The Vibe: Loud, communal, and wonderfully messy. You sit at shared tables, and the noise level can surprise you during peak hours. It is the opposite of a quiet fine dining experience, but that is the point. The only real drawback is that if you visit during the lunch rush, service at some stalls slows down noticeably and wait times can stretch to fifteen or twenty minutes.
Local Tip: Hlemmur Mathöll is minutes from the Hlemmur bus station, which connects to multiple city and regional routes. If you are taking a day trip to the Golden Circle or heading up to Hallgrímskirkja after eating, the transport connections here are some of the best in the city.
3. Gluten Free Dining Reykjavik: Gló
Gló
Gló operates on Laugavegur and has been a vegetarian and health conscious dining staple in Reykjavik since well before the current wave of dietary awareness. What makes Gló stand out for wheat free dining Reykjavik travellers is the raw and warming buffet concept: you pick from a rotating selection of dishes, many of which are clearly marked gluten free, and pay by weight. The kitchen staff are experienced with allergen questions and will walk you through safe options.
What to Eat: The raw vegetable dishes are outstanding, particularly the spiralised beetroot and zucchini options. For something hotter, the daily soup rotation often includes gluten free Thai inspired broths and hearty vegetable stews. Their fermented tonic drinks, made in house, are worth trying even if you are initially skeptical about kombucha style beverages.
Best Time: Early dinner, around 5:30 PM on a weekday. This is before the after work crowd arrives and when the buffet selection is at its most complete. By 6:30 or 7:00 PM, popular dishes may be running low.
The Vibe: Bright, health oriented, and busy without feeling chaotic. The colours on the plates are vivid, and the atmosphere encourages a slower pace of eating. One small complaint is that the dining room gets cold near the entrance when doors open frequently in winter, so choose a seat further inside if you are visiting between November and March.
Local Tip: Gló has quietly influenced a generation of Reykjavik chefs who trained or staged in their kitchen. When you notice the emphasis on fermentation and vegetable forward cooking at newer restaurants across the city, Gló's philosophy is part of that lineage. Mentioning the restaurant to any local chef will almost always get a nod of respect.
4. Coeliac Friendly Reykjavik: Kaffi Vinyl
Kaffi Vinyl
Kaffi Vinyl is a record shop and cafe on Laugavegur that many first time visitors walk right past. Beneath the shelves of vinyl and the low hum of a working record player, the cafe section offers a small but thoughtfully prepared menu with gluten free options clearly indicated. It is one of the cosiest spots in the city for anyone who wants to combine decent food with a genuine piece of Reykjavik's music culture.
What to Order: The soup of the day is almost always gluten free and comes with gluten free bread. The coffee is strong and well made, and their chai is a good non coffee alternative. If you are visiting on an afternoon when the kitchen is serving food, do not skip the soup regardless of how plain the description sounds on the menu. The portions are generous and the quality is consistent.
Best Time: Late afternoon, around 3:00 PM, when the shop is quiet and you can browse the vinyl bins at your own pace. The experience is more about the atmosphere than speed, and you will want to linger.
The Vibe: Warm, eccentric, and personal. The owner knows the collection inside out and might play something that changes the way you think about Icelandic music. It is the kind of place that has zero corporate energy, which in Reykjavik's increasingly polished centre feels increasingly rare. The only downside is limited food availability on some days, as the kitchen does not always serve during late afternoon or evening hours. It is worth checking their current hours before visiting.
Local Tip: Ask the staff about the playlists they curate. Kaffi Vinyl connects directly to Reykjavik's identity as a city where music is not a hobby but a cultural backbone. The same spirit that produced Bjork and Sigur Rós lives in small places like this, where a Tuesday afternoon spent flipping through records over a bowl of soup feels like the most Icelandic thing you could possibly do.
5. Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Reykjavik: Messinn
Messinn
Messinn operates in the eastern part of downtown Reykjavik, near Hverfisgata, and has built a reputation on hearty, traditional Icelandic comfort food with generous portions. While not entirely gluten free, Messinn is notable among gluten free restaurants in Reykjavik for its straightforward approach to allergen information. Staff are trained to identify wheat free options on the menu, and the kitchen takes cross contamination seriously, which matters to anyone with coeliac disease.
What to Order: The lamb soup is the signature dish and comes in a cast iron pan with a deep, smoky broth. It is a filling meal on its own, especially when the wind is howling outside, which in Reykjavik is most months of the year. Ask your server to confirm which sides are gluten free on the day of your visit, as the kitchen sometimes adjusts accompaniments.
Best Time: Dinner on a weekday evening, ideally around 7:00 PM. Messinn is popular with locals, and without a reservation you could face a wait on Friday and Saturday evenings. Arriving a bit later in the week gives you a more relaxed experience.
The Vibe: Rustic and warm, almost aggressively so. The wooden interiors and cast iron presentation make it feel like you are being fed in someone's living room. This is intentional and very much in the Icelandic tradition of communal, unpretentious eating. One honest critique is that sweetness levels in some of the side dishes border on dessert territory, which not everyone appreciates with savoury mains.
Local Tip: Messinn's focus on traditional Icelandic ingredients is not just a marketing angle. The restaurant has long relationships with Icelandic lamb producers and fishermen, reflected in the quality of the ingredients. If a local in Reykjavik is craving comfort food that tastes like home, Messinn is very often where they go. You are sharing actual Icelandic food culture here, not a tourist version of it.
6. Gluten Free Cafes Reykjavik: Reykjavik Roasters
Reykjavik Roasters
Reykjavik Roasters has multiple locations in the city, with one of the main ones just off Laugavegur. Known primarily as one of Reykjavik's best specialty coffee houses, they also offer a small food menu with several gluten free options. The staff are knowledgeable about ingredients, and the cafe culture here means you can sit for as long as you like without pressure to move on.
What to Drink: Pour over coffee is the specialty, prepared with single origin beans and real care. The single origin options rotate regularly, and the barista will explain the flavour profile if you ask. For food, the gluten free toast options are well made and come with quality toppings like avocado or local smoked fish.
Best Time: Mid morning on a weekday, around 10:00 AM. This is after the espresso rush from people grabbing a quick cup before work and before the tourist brunch crowd arrives. The atmosphere is calm enough to work or read.
The Vibe: Sleek but friendly. It bridges the gap between a serious coffee roastery and a neighbourhood cafe. One thing to note is that pricing is on the higher end, which is typical for Reykjavik but still worth acknowledging if you are budgeting for a longer trip.
Local Tip: Reykjavik's coffee culture is deeply rooted, and after a decline in the twentieth century driven by Iceland's historical preference for tea and the effects of rationing, local roasters like this one helped revive specialty coffee in the city. Sitting in this cafe and paying attention to the care behind the pour connects you to a very specific chapter of Reykjavik's recent cultural history.
7. Wheat Free Dining Reykjavik: Prikið
Prikið
Prikið sits on Bankastræti, in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, and has been a fixture of the city's casual dining scene for years. It functions as both a diner and a late night hangout, with a menu that includes several gluten free items that are clearly marked. When the rest of the city's restaurants close, Prikið stays open, making it one of the most practical options for wheat free dining Reykjavik visitors need late at night.
What to Order: The fish and chips are the main attraction, and the kitchen offers a gluten free version of the chips on request, though you should always confirm preparation details with your server if you have coeliac disease. The pancakes are another popular choice, available in sweet or savoury preparations.
Best Time: Late evening, after 10:00 PM. This is when the crowd shifts from families and office workers to night owls and weekend revellers. The energy is cheerful and loud, and the pace is unhurried.
The Vibe: Retro diner interiors with red vinyl booths and a jukebox aesthetic. It feels like a place that has existed through multiple waves of Reykjavik's cultural evolution, and each era has left a mark on the walls and the spirit of the place. The only genuine drawback is that during the late weekend rush, service becomes noticeably slower, and orders can arrive out of sequence. Patience helps, along with a good attitude toward people watching.
Local Tip: Prikið has a long history as a gathering point for artists, musicians, and writers. In a city as small as Reykjavik, a diner that stays open late becomes part of the social infrastructure, not just a place to eat. On any given night, you might share a neighbouring table with someone who works in television production, or with a band that played their first gig at a club three streets away.
8. Coeliac Friendly Reykjavik: Café Babalú
Café Babalú
Café Babalú is tucked away on a small street that runs between Skólavörðustígur and the hill leading up to Hallgrímskirkja. It is one of the most atmospheric cafes in Reykjavik, with mismatched furniture, local art on the walls, and a sense of creative disorder that feels genuinely lived in. The menu includes gluten free options, and the staff are accustomed to dietary questions.
What to Order: The carrot cake is a standout, rich and moist with a cream cheese style frosting that holds together well. The coffee is solid, and the hot chocolate is thick enough to qualify as a dessert. For a savoury option, the daily soup is usually gluten free and comes with bread that can be swapped for a gluten free alternative on request.
Best Time: Mid afternoon, around 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The cafe is quieter then, and you can claim one of the window seats that look out toward the church. Mornings are busier with locals grabbing coffee before heading up the hill.
The Vibe: Bohemian and unhurried. It is the kind of place where someone might be sketching in a notebook at the next table, or where a conversation about a local art exhibition drifts across the room. The only complaint I have is that the Wi Fi can be unreliable, particularly near the back corner of the cafe, so do not count on it for any urgent work.
Local Tip: Café Babalú sits in the shadow of Hallgrímskirkja, the iconic church designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and completed in 1986. The neighbourhood around the church has long been a magnet for artists and creatives, and this cafe is part of that ecosystem. After eating here, walk up to the church and then continue along Skólavörðustígur, which is lined with small galleries and independent shops that most tourists never find.
When to Go and What to Know
Reykjavik's restaurant scene operates on Icelandic time, which means lunch is typically served from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and dinner from 6:00 PM onward. Many smaller cafes close by 6:00 or 7:00 PM, so if you are planning a late meal, confirm hours in advance. Winter months, from November through February, bring limited daylight and harsh weather, which means indoor dining becomes even more important and reservations are more strongly recommended. Summer offers long daylight hours and a more relaxed pace, but also brings the highest tourist numbers, which can mean longer waits at popular spots.
For coeliac travellers, the good news is that Icelandic food labelling regulations are strict, and most restaurants are accustomed to allergen questions. However, always communicate your needs clearly, especially at places that are not entirely gluten free. The phrase "ég er með sveppaeitrun" (I have a gluten allergy) is useful to know, though most restaurant staff in central Reykjavik speak fluent English.
Budget wise, expect to pay between 2,500 and 4,500 ISK for a main course at a mid range restaurant, and between 600 and 1,200 ISK for a coffee and pastry at a cafe. Reykjavik is not a cheap city, but the quality of ingredients and the care in preparation generally justify the prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in Reykjavik safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
The tap water in Reykjavik comes from natural springs and is among the cleanest in the world. It is completely safe to drink straight from the tap, and no filtration is needed. Many locals will tell you it tastes better than bottled water, and restaurants routinely serve tap water without being asked.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Reykjavik is famous for?
Skyr is the most iconic Icelandic food product, a thick, high protein cultured dairy product similar to yogurt but technically a cheese. It is widely available in Reykjavik supermarkets and restaurants, often served with berries or cream. Brennivín, a caraway flavoured spirit sometimes called "Black Death," is the traditional Icelandic spirit, though it is an acquired taste.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Reykjavik?
Very easy. Reykjavik has one of the highest concentrations of vegetarian and vegan restaurants per capita in Europe. Dedicated plant based restaurants exist across the city centre, and most non vegetarian restaurants include at least one or two clearly marked vegan options on their menus. The awareness of dietary preferences is high, and staff are generally well informed.
Is Reykjavik expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget in Reykjavik runs approximately 25,000 to 35,000 ISK per person, covering two restaurant meals, coffee, and local transport. A main course at a mid-range restaurant costs 2,500 to 4,500 ISK, a coffee runs 600 to 1,200 ISK, and a domestic bus ticket is 550 ISK. Accommodation is the largest variable, with mid-range hotels averaging 20,000 to 35,000 ISK per night for a double room.
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Reykjavik?
There are no formal dress codes at restaurants or cafes in Reykjavik. Casual clothing is acceptable everywhere, including at higher end restaurants, though very formal wear would look out of place. The main cultural etiquette to observe is removing shoes when entering someone's home, which is standard practice. Tipping is not expected or customary in Iceland, as service charges are included in listed prices.
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