Is Iceland Vegan-Friendly? Yes! Here’s What You Need to Know
Iceland is considered by many to be a vegan-friendly European destination. That is true to some extent – you’ll definitely never go hungry, whether you’re looking for a vegan restaurant in Reykjavik or you need a quick pick-me-up while traveling through the country’s vast, dramatic landscapes.
Reykjavik isn’t quite a vegan heaven like some other European capitals, such as London, Berlin, or Vienna. There’s only a handful of 100% vegan restaurants in the city, and as the traditional cuisine was almost devoid of fresh produce until the 20th century, you can’t expect much in terms of local dishes to try.
What does make Reykjavik – and much of the rest of Iceland – a good destination for vegans in the 21st century is the widespread availability of vegan food. Almost every non-vegan establishment will have at least a couple of marked vegan options on its menu, and this even includes gas station cafés in the middle of nowhere.
And let’s face it – you’re not going to Iceland for a vegan gastronomical adventure, right? You’re going to experience the country’s unique wonders of nature, soak in the thermal pools, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the northern lights. You can easily do all that without having to stress over what you’re going to eat as a vegan, and you’ll probably even enjoy most of the food along the way.
Good to Know:
Vegan food in Reykjavik
On my trip to Iceland, I based myself in Reykjavik and took various day tours (and night tours!) out of the city. This meant that I got to taste a lot of the vegan food the city has to offer. Let’s start with the 100% vegan places, shall we?
100% vegan restaurants and cafés in Reykjavik
Plantan Kaffihús
This cozy little vegan café was close to my accommodation, so I stopped by a few times. Here you’ll find sandwiches, savory pastries, breakfast bowls, soup of the day, and an impressive array of cakes.
I especially liked the tofu BLT and the knotted pastries – the fillings change every day, but the cheese and bacon one was particularly good. The apple-almond-cinnamon cake was absolutely divine.
Pro tip: Plantan Kaffihús is right across the street from Sundhöll, Reykjavik’s oldest public swimming pool. After you have lunch at Plantan, it’s definitely worth spending a lovely, relaxing afternoon soaking in the thermal pools and hot tubs. It’s also very inexpensive compared to the more touristy spots like Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon.
Mama
Mama is definitely unique, not only in Reykjavik’s vegan scene, but as a vegan restaurant in general. The menu is quite small and centered around four stews: a lentil dahl, a Mexican chilli, a curry, and a West African stew. Each stew comes in a large bowl with rice and various toppings, and you can order a side of garlic naan which complements the stews really well. You can also find a few appetizers and desserts on offer.
I’m usually not that big on stews, but I got the West African one – potatoes, tomatoes, and other veggies in a rich peanut butter sauce – and it was delicious, especially with the garlic naan. The vegan cheesecake titled “Orgasm” was… okay, but less than orgasmic.
What I didn’t like that much was that I was seated on the upper level, which featured tiny, knee-height tables, and hunching over a table while trying not to drip on your clothes is an extremely awkward and uncomfortable way to eat stew. Mama is quite expensive even by Reykjavik standards, and while the food is very good, I would have expected a better user experience.
Loving Hut
There are two Loving Huts in Reykjavik.
I am not a big fan of Loving Hut, for reasons I won’t go into today.
One of the Loving Huts was just a couple of minutes away from my accommodation, so I went there a couple of times.
I am still not a big fan of Loving Hut.
What I tried: the first time, I got the steamed dumplings which came in a puddle of water on a plate (which leads me to believe they were boiled, not steamed), and the pho, which was as oily as it was flavorless, but it became edible after I poured in a bunch of soy sauce and Sriracha.
The second time I did a bit better: the dumpling soup wasn’t bad, and the chow mein was oily, but not untasty.
Vegan-friendly restaurants and cafés in Reykjavik
This is by no means a comprehensive list of vegan-friendly restaurants in Iceland’s capital – as mentioned, you can find vegan options just about anywhere. These are some of the places I tried and liked.
Kemuri
Okay, I absolutely LOVED this place and I think it was the best meal I had in Iceland. Unfortunately, it was on my last day in Reykjavik – otherwise, I probably would have gone back at least a couple times.
Kemuri serves handmade Polish dumplings (there are also some soups). The fillings change every day, and at least half are vegan. I tried the sauerkraut filling, which also has mushrooms and plums in it, and the smoked tofu and potato. You can order dumpling combos in different sizes, and they come with a little salad, gherkins, and oat-based sour cream that tastes just like the real thing.
Wake and Bake
Note: This place used to be called ‘Emilie and the Cool Kids’. From what I can see online, it looks like the menu hasn’t changed.
There are a couple of vegan bagel sandwiches on the menu at Wake and Bake, but what really surprised me was the array of vegan baked goods – almost all options were marked with a little ‘v’ and everything looked delicious. This is a great place for a nice breakfast or lunch, especially if you’re not in a rush, as the service is a bit slow (but friendly!).
Kattakaffihusid
They’ve got cats. They’ve got plenty of vegan options on the menu. They even have vegan waffles. What more could you possibly want?
On a more serious note, I was happy to see that Kattakaffihusid takes good care of its resident felines, with an inner gate so they can’t run outside, and clear rules posted on the wall to make sure visitors don’t badger them.
Now, even though this is a post about food, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t share some photos of the cats. (Need more cats? Check out my Cats of Mykonos photo gallery.)
The Laundromat Café
As mentioned in my post about vegan breakfasts from around the world, The Laundromat Café might be the only place in Reykjavik where you can order a vegan brunch platter. I didn’t see much else vegan on the menu (I’ve read that you can veganize some of the burgers), but the brunch was really good. I also liked the decor and the atmosphere.
Braud & Co.
Braud & Co. is a well-known bakery in Reykjavik, which is famous for its cinnamon rolls, and also looks pretty cool (if you’ve been following, you know I’m a sucker for colorful street art). Vegan cinnamon rolls are available, and sometimes you might find other vegan pastries as well.
Is it okay to say I wasn’t blown away by the vegan cinnamon roll? It’s cool that they offer it and it wasn’t bad, but it was just a bit stale and I’ve definitely had better vegan ones. Still, you might want to swing by Braud & Co. just so you can say you’ve been there.
Vegan shopping in Reykjavik
While Reykjavik doesn’t have any all-vegan grocery stores or delis, you can find plenty of vegan products at regular supermarkets. I did my shopping at a branch of 10/11 that was near my accommodation. It wasn’t huge, but it had lots of frozen vegan products, vegan cheese (mostly Violife), sweets, and fresh produce.
What’s really nice to see is that most vegan products – including bread, candy, and more – have a vegan symbol right on their packaging, so you don’t have to waste time reading lists of ingredients.
Another great find was Vínberið, a chocolate and candy store on Laugavegur, which has a nice little vegan section. You’ll see some imports and some local products, like some amazing licorice-cream-filled chocolate. I really need to get my hands on some more of that.
Map of the vegan and vegan-friendly spots in Reykjavik
Here are all the places mentioned in this post. Don’t be afraid to wander around and explore – you just might find some more vegan-friendly gems. If you stumble across anything good, let me know in the comments!
Vegan food outside of Reykjavik
When traveling outside of Reykjavik, it’s not likely you’ll find any 100% vegan restaurants, but you definitely won’t go hungry or have to settle for a bag of chips. Some options are better than others, but there’s always something marked vegan. Here are some of my findings.
Vegan food on the Golden Circle tour
On the day I went on the Golden Circle tour, the vegan options at Geysir Center were kind of a bummer… the only main course marked vegan was the ‘Vegan Salad,’ made up of only four ingredients. The dressing wasn’t vegan and there was no vegan spread for the bread roll. The vegan apple pie was a nice surprise, though.
If you’re lucky, your Golden Circle tour might stop for lunch somewhere where they have better options. And of course, if you’re self-driving, the world’s your oyster (just don’t eat it).
Vegan food on the South Coast tour (Vik)
That said, the vegan options at the stops on my South Coast tour were actually decent. We had one gas station stop and two in Vik – one on the way to Glacier Lagoon and another on the way back.
Vegan food at Keflavik Airport
At Keflavik Airport, much like the rest of Iceland, vegan food is easy to find. I had a really good burger with fries at Yuzu Burger, and, regrettably, took this falafel wrap as a snack for the plane. I usually have a strict rule about eating falafel outside the Middle East (seriously, just don’t do it), but this wrap was just all over the place and at some point I started thinking maybe I wanted it. I did not.
FAQs: Vegan food in Iceland
Yes, Iceland is very accommodating for vegans. In Reykjavik, you’ll find several vegan and vegetarian restaurants, as well as mainstream eateries offering clearly labeled vegan options. Even in more remote regions, supermarkets and gas stations often stock vegan-friendly products.
Yes, tofu is available in Iceland. Supermarkets in Reykjavik and other towns typically stock tofu and other plant-based protein options. Availability may be more limited in rural areas, so it’s advisable to plan accordingly if you’re traveling outside urban centers.
Absolutely. Reykjavik boasts a variety of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, along with numerous establishments that offer vegan options. The city’s dining scene is diverse and accommodating, making it a great destination for vegan travelers.
Not at all – eating vegetarian in Iceland is very easy. Most restaurants offer vegetarian dishes, and supermarkets carry a range of plant-based products.
