TOP 5 BEST COFFEE SHOPS IN REYKJAVIK

Enjoying a nice cup of coffee and a delicious piece of cake after a FUN shopping stroll in Reykjavik is very much enjoyed by Icelanders. I will do my very best to highlight my personal favorite coffee shops in Reykjavik, so you can explore the coffee culture – the local and Icelandic way!

STOFAN CAFÉ

When translating Stofan it literally means “livingroom” – and the place is decorated like ones livingroom with old and cozy furniture. It is possible both to sit and relax in comfy couches and lounge chairs, but also to sit by normal café tables. This is one of my favourite places to go for a coffee or even for a fun afternoon with friends! They have a wide selection of board games to play, books to read and free high-speed WiFi. The staff is always so friendly and with their welcoming approach and the places home-like atmosphere you are in for a treat drinking your nice cup of coffee … Maybe two, three or four cups of coffee …! Did I mention they have refill coffee? This is one of the very few places in Reykjavik they serve refill coffee and therefore a big plus, when being a huge coffee consumer! Thank God for Icelandic refill coffee culture!

They offer coffee made by trained baristas, good homemade cakes, homemade vegetarian soups, bagels, paninis and a selection of Icelandic beers on tap and in bottles. Also a variety of wines and whiskeys.

Happy hour is between 5 PM to 20 PM every day, were you can get a  large beer for 750 kr and a glass of the house wine for 950 kr.

Address: Vesturgata 3, 101 Reykjavik
Telephone: +354 546 1842
Stofan Café on Facebook
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 11 PM

CAFÉ BABALÚ

On your stroll towards our beloved Hallgrímskirkja, you will find yourself stumbling across this, by far most quirky and funky café in Reykjavik. I just love how both the outsides and the insides of this café reflects on this expression! You can find many peculiar but cozy knickknacks scattered across the coffee shops two floors – making the atmosphere of the place feeling very personal and home-like.

Café Babalú´s funny and friendly staff serve a wide selection of hot beverages, cakes, breads, soups and much more! It is a great place to hang for a couple of hours, since they too serve refill coffee and have many selected board games to choose from!

If, you are visiting Café Babalú in the summertime – make sure to secure your spot on their cozy outdoor terrace!

Address: Skólavörðustígur 22, 101 Reykjavík
Telephone: +354 555 8845
Café Babalú on Facebook
Café Babalú´s Website
Opening Hours: 11 AM – 11 PM (earlier opening hours in the summer).

JÚLÍA & JÚLÍA

Júlía Júlía is a brand new and SUPER exciting café / bakery / bar … mix! It’s in a really beautiful and historical building that used to house our National Library not too many years ago and the restaurant itself is really photogenic as well.

The owners is a brilliant young business women and her concept is to mix a fantastic bakery where everything is freshly baked in house and a bar with a good selection of wine and bubbly! How delicious does that sound?

Even though they don’t open until 10am – I really, really recommend a visit to see the beautiful building at Hverfisgata 15 and enjoy the amazing pastries!

PS. Visit Júlía Júlía in our foodie tour as it’s the first stop in our delicious morning food tour!

REYKJAVIK ROASTERS

Reykjavik Roasters has the best quality coffee you will find in Reykjavik! The coffee shop opened in 2008 and has been getting great recognition by locals and world-wide travellers for its amazing own roasted coffee and friendly atmosphere.

Besides being a coffee shop that offers a very high quality cup of coffee, Reykjavik Roasters also are very passionate about contributing to an eco-friendly and sustainable local coffee culture. For instance they buy their coffee beans directly from the coffee farmers.

The café is housed in a beautiful wooden building and decorated in a minimalistic Scandinavian style. The café is located near our beautiful and beloved Hallgrímskirkja, and is definitely worth visiting and getting your caffeine cravings covered!

After visiting this lovely coffee shop I recommend stopping by one of our and every locals favourite bakery – Brauð & Co. The bakery shop is by far one of the prettiest and most artistic buildings – luring and seducing people from the streets by its gorgeous and colorful streetart and amazing smell of freshly organic sourdough breads! Find Brauð & Co. here!

Address: Kárastígur 1, 101 Reykjavik
Telephone: +354 517 5535
Reykjavik Roasters on Facebook
Reykjavik Roasters´ Website
Opening Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 8 AM – 6PM / Sat.-Sun.: 9 AM – 6 PM

MOKKA-KAFFI

Mokka-Kaffi is the oldest coffee shop in Reykjavik and has been serving amazing coffee since 1958. It is the first coffee shop that installed an espresso machine and has been serving espresso, cappuccino and café latte ever since! Along side a mouthwatering selection of sandwiches, cakes, hot chocolate and their famous waffles!

When this coffee shop first opened, it was met with some skepticism by local Icelanders, since they did not comprehend the concept of buying a cup of coffee, when they could easily brew this themselves in their own homes. Artists, writers and philosophers supported the idea behind this coffee shop establishment – being a meeting point for coffee lovers to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the company of good friends or colleagues.

The interior of Mokka-Kaffi has not changed much since it first opened. The red carpet, vintage wood panelling, brown leathered booths and stools fill the café with such a cozy and nostalgic atmosphere, that is well worth a visit!

While visiting this café take notice on how areas on the wood panelling are actual shadows from the guests who have sat in the stalls for almost 60 years! This is such a cool and interesting point that contributes to the overall authentic and unique atmosphere in Mokka-Kaffi!

Address: Skólavördustígur 3a, 101 Reykjavik
Telephone: +354 552 1174
Mokka-Kaffi on Facebook
Mokka-Kaffi´s Website
Opening Hours: 9 AM – 6.30 PM

TE & KAFFI

Te & Kaffi is a family owned business, established in 1984 by Sigmund Dýrfjörd and Berglind Guðbrandsdóttur. The fundament and the aim of this coffee chain is to provide high quality products, interesting seasonal drinks and sustainable coffee consumption for its in total 13 diffrent coffee shops. I personally like this coffee chain, since it sometimes shares its location with Iceland´s oldest and largest bookstore – Eymundsson. Combining a nice cup of coffee, while strolling around and looking at the fun and creative products available at Eymundsson is a fun and local way of experiencing the Icelandic coffee culture!

Address: Laugavegur 77, 101 Reykjavik
Telephone: +354 527 2890
Te og Kaffi´s Website
Opening Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 AM – 22 PM / Sat.-Sun. 10 AM – 22 PM 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Text by: Kristina Daisy Rácz

I am a health nutritionist from Copenhagen and I recently moved from Denmark to Iceland. My biggest passion in life is FOOD! Even though I´m educated within this healthy food field it does not mean that I live on only carrots and water! Health is so much more and when it comes to my life philosophy regarding my food & drink intakes – I feel it is way more important to consume foods & drinks with a balance and variety rather than restricting myself from certain foods. AND naturally always drinking bucket loads of coffee – contributing to my fair share of the high coffee intake in Iceland…!