The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

Reykjavik’s Christmas food is far more than cookies and hot chocolate. Over three hours, you walk from the lively center to several food stops, tasting smoked lamb, leaf bread, reindeer paté, gravlax, herring, and festive drinks while your guide explains the customs behind each dish. Palli, Paul, and Einar are among the guides who have led this experience, and storytelling is a major part of the evening.

I like the way the tour links food with Icelandic folklore, especially the sometimes frightening Christmas tales. I also like the all-inclusive format, since the $173 price covers the guide, food, drinks, and a small local gift. The main caution is value: one stop may offer only a very small sample, and the exact foods or drinks can vary. On Christmas Day, a nearby Christmas market may also be closed.

Key points to know before you book

• Expect a three-hour walking meal through central Reykjavik, with several short walks between food stops.
• Taste classic Christmas foods, including smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, gravlax, pickled herring, and reindeer paté.
• Try three seasonal drinks, Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg, with hot cocoa available instead of mulled wine if requested.
• Hear Icelandic Christmas stories, including folklore with a darker, more alarming edge.
• Visit the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur, then take home a locally inspired gift.
• Tell the operator about dietary needs before the tour, since adjustments are possible when arranged in advance.

Why Icelandic Christmas food makes a good Reykjavik introduction

Icelandic holiday food gives you a quick lesson in the country itself. Preserving meat and fish was once a practical need in a cold climate, and those methods still shape the Christmas table. Smoked lamb brings a strong, savory flavor. Gravlax shows the gentler side of preserved fish, while pickled herring offers a sharper bite.

You will not simply sit down for one large meal. The food comes in stages as you walk through central Reykjavik. That keeps the evening moving and lets you see the Christmas lights, streets, and squares between tastings.

The format also suits a first night in town. You get a basic map of central Reykjavik, a few local dishes, and a guide who can explain what you are eating. I would not treat this as a full restaurant meal at one address. Think of it as a guided tasting route with enough food to leave you satisfied.

Starting at Hlöllabátar by Ingólfstorg Square

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right, and the covered area with benches and tables gives you somewhere to wait.

You should arrive five minutes early and wait outside the hotel area, not inside. Your guide generally wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That detail matters in a busy square, especially when winter darkness and coats make it harder to spot someone.

The first walk takes about 10 minutes. That is not a long distance, but Reykjavik weather can make a short walk feel longer. Wear warm layers, a rainproof outer layer, and shoes that handle wet pavement. The tour stays on foot, so this is not the best choice if you want a seated food event or a vehicle-based outing.

First tastings: smoked lamb and Icelandic holiday staples

The first food stop introduces the hearty side of Christmas in Iceland. Smoked lamb is one of the key dishes, with a firm texture and a pronounced smoky flavor. If you normally prefer mild meats, this may be the most assertive dish of the night, but it is also one of the clearest examples of Icelandic festive cooking.

You may also taste laufabrauð, or leaf bread. This thin, buttery bread is cut into delicate patterns before frying, giving it a crisp texture and a pleasant richness. The decoration is part of the charm. It is not just bread on a plate, but a food tied to holiday preparation and family tradition.

The guide adds context as you eat. That turns a small serving into something more useful than a quick sample. You learn why these foods belong on the Christmas table and how Icelanders balance preserved, smoked, sweet, and fried flavors during the holiday season.

A short walk to more traditional dishes

After another 10-minute walk, the next stop expands the meal. Special glazed Hamborgarhrygg, a holiday pork dish, brings a sweeter and more familiar note after the smoky lamb. The glaze helps explain why Icelandic Christmas meals are not limited to salty preserved foods.

Reindeer paté is another distinctive tasting. It gives you a chance to try a game-based dish in a small portion rather than committing to a full plate. Gravlax brings cured salmon with a clean, seasoned flavor, while pickled herring adds acidity and a strong maritime character.

I like this range because you can compare the foods instead of tasting several versions of the same thing. You move from lamb to pork, game, salmon, and herring. The spread reflects both Iceland’s access to seafood and its long tradition of preserving meat.

There is a practical drawback here. The portions are tastings, not restaurant servings, and one stop has been described as offering only a very small spoonful. The complete route includes plenty of food, but you should not expect every sample to feel generous.

Christmas drinks, from Jólaöl to warm cocoa

The drink tastings help break up the heavier food. Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, while malt and appelsín is a popular non-alcoholic holiday drink. The latter combines malt with orange soda, creating a sweet, malty flavor that is unusual if you have never tried it.

Jólaglögg, or mulled wine, adds warm spice and suits a cold evening walk. If you prefer not to have wine, you can request hot cocoa instead. Tell the operator when you book or before the tour, rather than waiting until the last moment.

These drinks are valuable because they show how Icelandic holiday customs work beyond the main dishes. You also get a non-alcoholic option without being left with plain water or an afterthought.

The exact food and drink lineup can vary. A previous participant expected laufabrauð and mulled wine but did not receive them, so I would treat the published menu as a guide rather than an absolute promise. If a particular item is the main reason you want to book, confirm it in advance.

The stories are as important as the food

Your guide does more than move the group from restaurant to restaurant. The tour includes stories about Icelandic Christmas traditions, including tales that can be strange or genuinely frightening. This gives the evening a stronger sense of place than a simple food crawl.

I especially like this part of the experience because Icelandic folklore is not always soft and sugary. Christmas stories can include warnings, odd characters, and a darker sense of humor. The contrast works well with the bright lights and festive decorations outside.

Guides such as Palli, Paul, and Einar have received especially warm praise for their storytelling, friendliness, and ability to manage the food stops. Palli was described as a great storyteller with a strong presence, while Paul also took group photos among the Christmas decorations. Einar handled an allergy accommodation well and shared plenty of information about Icelandic customs.

That does not mean every tour will feel identical. The guide shapes the evening, and each person will tell the stories in a different way. Still, the guide is central to the experience, so this is a good choice if you enjoy conversation and local explanation more than a quiet meal.

A stop at the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur

The route includes the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur, one of the city center’s main shopping streets. You can browse seasonal decorations, handmade goods, and other holiday items while keeping the food theme going.

This stop gives the tour a different pace. After several tastings, you get time to look rather than eat. It also adds a souvenir element without making the whole experience feel like a shopping trip. A locally inspired gift is included, which is a pleasant extra if you want a small reminder of Reykjavik.

Pay attention to the date you choose. A Christmas market in the area was closed on Christmas Day, which disappointed one person who had booked partly for that reason. The tour itself may still operate, but seasonal shops and markets can have special holiday hours. If the store or market is essential to your plans, check the opening details for your date.

How much walking and food you should expect

The listed route includes several walks of about 10 minutes, one shorter five-minute walk, and multiple food stops. The food portions are spread over roughly two and a half hours, rather than served all at once.

That pacing works well for most people because you are not sitting through a long formal dinner. You get a chance to digest as you move. The tradeoff is that winter conditions matter. Reykjavik can be cold, wet, windy, or icy, so bring weather-appropriate clothing and shoes.

The route is in central Reykjavik, but the experience is still an active walking tour. If you have limited mobility or strongly prefer indoor dining, you should ask the operator about the walking demands before booking. The supplied details do not promise a fully accessible route.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is not a cheap way to eat in Reykjavik. Iceland is expensive, and the price includes several food stops, drinks, a guide, a gift, and three hours of local interpretation. For someone who wants an organized evening and would otherwise struggle to choose Icelandic dishes, those extras can make the cost easier to justify.

The value depends on what you want. If you see the tour as dinner plus a walking tour plus cultural storytelling, it offers a reasonable bundle. If you judge it only by the amount of food on each plate, the price may feel high, especially when one tasting is very small.

I would also factor in the guide. A strong guide can turn unfamiliar foods into a memorable evening, while a less engaging presentation would leave you paying mainly for samples. The positive experiences with Palli, Paul, and Einar suggest that the human side is a major part of what you are buying.

This is a better use of money for a first visit, a Christmas trip, or an evening when you want everything arranged. If you already know Reykjavik’s restaurants and prefer ordering full portions at your own pace, you may find better food value by dining independently.

Dietary needs and booking details

The operator can accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you must provide the information before the tour. Do not assume that a last-minute request can be handled at every stop. Include clear details when booking.

The tour is in English and runs for three hours. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times depend on availability, so check the date and time before you commit.

Bring weather-appropriate clothing. The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, facing Ingólfstorg Square, and you should arrive five minutes early. Look for the guide’s light blue jacket.

Who should book this Christmas food tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a friendly introduction to Icelandic holiday cooking, enjoy walking between stops, and like your meal served with stories. It suits first-time visitors, couples, small groups, and anyone who wants to try reindeer, herring, smoked lamb, and other foods without planning several restaurants alone.

It is also useful for visitors who want a Christmas-themed activity beyond sightseeing. The lights, decorations, shop visit, drinks, and folklore give the evening a clear seasonal character.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a large, formal meal or strict control over the menu. The portions are tastings, the food lineup can change, and the value may feel weak if you focus only on quantity. I would also check holiday opening hours if you are going on December 25.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a guided taste of Icelandic Christmas culture, not simply a dinner. The combination of smoked lamb, laufabrauð, seafood, reindeer, seasonal drinks, folklore, and central Reykjavik walks makes it a useful three-hour introduction.

At $173, I would book it for the storytelling, variety, and convenience rather than for the largest meal possible. Tell the operator about allergies, bring warm clothing, and confirm the holiday schedule for your date. If those details suit you, this is a festive and practical way to understand what Icelanders eat and talk about at Christmas.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour?

The tour lasts three hours.

Where does the tour meet?

It meets outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive five minutes before the scheduled starting time and wait outside CenterHotel Plaza, not inside.

What food is included?

The tour includes Christmas specialties such as smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring. Exact items can vary.

What drinks are included?

Drinks may include Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine. You can request hot cocoa instead of Jólaglögg.

Is the Little Christmas Store included?

Yes. The route includes a visit to the Little Christmas Store on Laugavegur, with festive decorations, crafts, seasonal goods, and a locally inspired gift.

Can dietary restrictions and allergies be accommodated?

The operator tries to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, but you must provide the details before the tour.

What language is the tour in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.