Hlemmur Mathöll

Who Should Book Hlemmur Mathöll — and When

If you are visiting Reykjavik and want to eat like a local without committing to a single sit-down restaurant, Hlemmur Mathöll is the right call. Positioned at Laugavegur 107, this food hall format works leading for explorers who want to graze across Iceland's food culture in one visit — solo travellers, couples doing a quick city stop, or groups that can't agree on a single cuisine. It is not the place for a formal dinner or a special occasion meal; for that, DILL in Reykjavík or Bon Restaurant will serve you better.

The Venue

Hlemmur Mathöll occupies the old Hlemmur bus terminal , a wide, airy building that opens into a communal hall lined with vendor stalls. The visual is immediately legible: long shared tables run down the centre, vendors ring the perimeter, and the atmosphere shifts noticeably between seasons. In the dark winter months, when Iceland's short daylight hours push locals indoors earlier, the hall fills up quickly in the early evening and takes on a warmer, more convivial energy. In summer, the midnight sun means foot traffic stays high later into the night, and the crowd skews toward international visitors arriving off walking tours of Laugavegur. Knowing which season you are visiting matters because the hall's tone, crowd, and even the vendor mix can change. Summer is louder and busier; winter offers a slightly more local feel.

For food-focused travellers who have already explored Iceland's more regional dining , places like Friðheimar in Reykholt or Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri , Hlemmur functions as a useful urban contrast: less about a single Icelandic ingredient or tradition, more about sampling the city's contemporary food scene in one pass. It is part of the same shift in Reykjavik's food identity that has made venues like Bergsson Mathús and Brút popular stops on the Laugavegur corridor.

Practical Details

Booking is not required , walk-in is the standard approach, and the hall is designed for it. This makes Hlemmur one of the easiest food stops in Reykjavik to plan around, especially if your itinerary is subject to change based on weather or tour timing. Pricing will vary by vendor, but food hall formats in Reykjavik generally run at mid-range levels by local standards, which still means above-average cost by international comparison. Come at opening or early afternoon if you want more space; the communal tables fill during the dinner window. For a quick reference: no reservation needed, located on Laugavegur 107, leading visited outside peak dinner hours if you prefer a quieter experience.

If you are building out your Reykjavik trip, see our full Reykjavik restaurants guide, our full Reykjavik bars guide, and our full Reykjavik experiences guide for broader context. For hotels, our full Reykjavik hotels guide covers the main options near Laugavegur.

How It Compares

Against Reykjavik's sit-down options, Hlemmur Mathöll occupies a different tier entirely , it is a grazing venue, not a full-service restaurant. Amma Don and Bon Restaurant are the right comparisons if you want a proper dinner with table service and a focused kitchen. Hlemmur wins on flexibility and accessibility: no reservation, multiple options under one roof, and a format that works for groups who can't settle on a single direction.

For value relative to other Reykjavik dining, Hlemmur is competitive in the middle market. It will not match the depth of a place like DILL for Icelandic ingredients or technique, and it lacks the neighbourhood character of Hjá Jóni, which suits a more local, relaxed dinner format. But if your group includes picky eaters, or you have just arrived and want to get a quick read on what Reykjavik's food scene looks like, Hlemmur is the lowest-friction option on Laugavegur.

Against the comparison set specifically: Eiriksson Brasserie and Kröst are better picks for a structured meal with a coherent menu. Choose Hlemmur when the priority is low commitment, group flexibility, or simply experiencing the hall's seasonal atmosphere as part of a walking day through the city.

FAQ

What should I order at Hlemmur Mathöll?

• Because Hlemmur Mathöll is a multi-vendor food hall rather than a single kitchen, there is no single menu to reference. The vendor mix can shift across seasons, which means the strongest options available in winter may differ from what is prominent in summer. The practical approach is to walk the full hall on arrival before committing , see which stalls are operating that day, check what is prepared fresh versus pre-made, and prioritise vendors with visible kitchen activity. For a more structured introduction to Icelandic ingredients and cooking technique, DILL or Moss in Grindavík will give you a clearer single-kitchen perspective.

Can Hlemmur Mathöll accommodate groups?

• Yes, and it is arguably better suited to groups than most individual restaurants in Reykjavik. The shared table format means parties of varying sizes can seat together without needing a private room or advance arrangement. Groups with mixed dietary preferences benefit most from the multi-vendor layout since each person can order independently. No reservation is needed regardless of group size. For groups that want a more formal, unified dining experience, Bon Restaurant or Amma Don are worth considering instead , but expect to book ahead, particularly in the summer high season.

Also on Laugavegur and worth including in any food-focused day: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur for Iceland's most referenced hot dog, and Nesjavallavirkjun in Selfoss if you are extending your trip beyond the capital. For a broader Nordic food hall reference point outside Iceland, the format here shares some DNA with the communal dining approach used at venues like Lazy Bear in San Francisco , though the execution and scale are quite different. And for travellers mapping the full range of Icelandic dining from north to south, Strikið in Akureyri rounds out the picture outside Reykjavik.