Grillið

There are restaurants with great food and restaurants with great views. Grillið, perched on the eighth floor of the Saga Hotel in the Háskólabyggð neighbourhood, manages both with the confidence of an institution that has been doing this for decades. It is one of Reykjavik's oldest fine dining restaurants, and it remains among the most memorable.

The View

Before the food arrives, the view commands your attention. From the floor-to-ceiling windows of Grillið's dining room, Reykjavik spreads out below you — the colourful rooftops, Hallgrímskirkja rising above them all, the dark waters of Faxaflói bay, and Mount Esja standing guard on the northern horizon. On clear days, the view extends across the water to the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the glacier that crowns it. In winter, if the skies cooperate, you may even catch a glimpse of the northern lights from your table.

Grillið has made the most of this location by designing its dining room around it. Tables are arranged to maximise the view, the lighting is kept deliberately low once the sun goes down, and the overall atmosphere is one of quiet, unhurried elegance.

The Food

The kitchen at Grillið builds its menu around Icelandic seafood and prime cuts of meat, treated with classical European technique. The langoustine bisque is a long-standing favourite — deeply flavoured, silky, and generous. The grilled lamb fillet, sourced from free-range Icelandic sheep, comes with seasonal accompaniments that change throughout the year. The catch of the day, whatever it may be, is reliably excellent.

For those who want the full experience, the tasting menu offers six courses with an optional wine pairing drawn from a wine cellar that is among the most serious in Iceland. The sommelier team takes visible pleasure in matching wines to the food and explaining their choices — an interaction worth engaging with.

History and Setting

Grillið opened in the 1960s alongside the Saga Hotel and has been one of Reykjavik's go-to addresses for special occasions ever since. Business dinners, anniversary celebrations, pre-theatre meals — the restaurant has hosted them all, and the discreet professionalism of the staff reflects that history. This is a room that knows how to make an occasion feel significant.

Practical Tips

Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for window tables. When booking, it is worth specifying that you would like a view — while most tables have some sightline to the outside, the corner positions offer the most dramatic panoramas.

Grillið is open daily from 17:30, making it one of the few top-tier Reykjavik restaurants accessible seven nights a week. Business casual dress is appropriate; the atmosphere is smart without being formally restrictive.

A meal at Grillið is not the most adventurous dining experience Reykjavik has to offer — but it may well be the most complete. Great food, great wine, and a view that few restaurants anywhere in the world can match.