Sandholt has been a Reykjavik institution since 1920, making it one of the oldest bakeries in Iceland. It remains family-owned and operated.

What is Sandholt known for?

The sourdough bread, pastries, and croissants. The bakery also serves an excellent breakfast and light lunch menu in the upstairs cafe.

How much does breakfast at Sandholt cost?

A pastry and coffee costs ISK 1,200-1,800 (approximately €8-12). A full breakfast plate with bread, eggs, and accompaniments is approximately ISK 2,500-3,500.

What are Sandholt's hours?

Monday through Friday 07:00-18:00, weekends from 07:30. The bakery does not serve dinner.

At Laugavegur 36, right on the main street. The storefront is distinctive and easy to find.

How does Sandholt compare to Braud & Co?

Sandholt is more traditional and established, with a full cafe and lunch service. Braud & Co is more artisan-focused and specialises in sourdough pastries. Both are excellent — visit Braud & Co for croissants, Sandholt for a sit-down breakfast.

Bakery & Cafe

Sandholt

Name: Sandholt
Address: Laugavegur 36, 101 Reykjavik, IS
Telephone: +354 551 3524
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.5

4.5(2340 reviews)$$$$Mid-rangeReykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik's grand dame of bakeries — a family-run institution on Laugavegur since 1920, serving sourdough bread, pastries, and light lunches in an elegant cafe setting.

Sandholt has been baking on Laugavegur since 1920 — over a century of bread, pastries, and quiet dedication to the craft. While newer bakeries have arrived to challenge its position, Sandholt endures as an institution, offering something the newcomers cannot: the depth that comes from four generations of experience and a café setting that feels like old Reykjavik at its most elegant.

The Bakery

The ground floor is a working bakery and shop, and the aroma hits you before you reach the counter. Sourdough loaves with crackling crusts, Danish-style pastries, croissants, rye bread, and seasonal specialities fill the shelves. The bread is excellent — Sandholt takes its doughs seriously, and the results show in the depth of flavour and the quality of the crust.

The Café

Upstairs, the café serves breakfast and lunch in a bright, attractive room that overlooks Laugavegur. Breakfast is a highlight — a well-composed plate of bread, butter, eggs, smoked fish, and accompaniments that sets you up for a day of exploring. The lunch menu features soups, sandwiches, and light dishes that make good use of the bakery's bread.

Practical Tips

Come early for the best pastry selection. The café fills up for breakfast between 08:30 and 10:00, especially on weekends. Sandholt closes at 18:00 and does not serve dinner — this is a morning and midday destination. Take a sourdough loaf home for later.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Sandholt?: Sandholt has been a Reykjavik institution since 1920, making it one of the oldest bakeries in Iceland. It remains family-owned and operated.
What is Sandholt known for?: The sourdough bread, pastries, and croissants. The bakery also serves an excellent breakfast and light lunch menu in the upstairs cafe.
How much does breakfast at Sandholt cost?: A pastry and coffee costs ISK 1,200-1,800 (approximately €8-12). A full breakfast plate with bread, eggs, and accompaniments is approximately ISK 2,500-3,500.
What are Sandholt's hours?: Monday through Friday 07:00-18:00, weekends from 07:30. The bakery does not serve dinner.
Where is Sandholt?: At Laugavegur 36, right on the main street. The storefront is distinctive and easy to find.
How does Sandholt compare to Braud & Co?: Sandholt is more traditional and established, with a full cafe and lunch service. Braud & Co is more artisan-focused and specialises in sourdough pastries. Both are excellent — visit Braud & Co for croissants, Sandholt for a sit-down breakfast.