Cafes in Iceland

Skool Beans is a speciality coffee cafe housed in a converted school bus in Vík, on Iceland's south coast. The bus came from the former US air base that closed in the early 2000s and was renovated over a couple of years before opening on 1 August 2020. It was the first school-bus cafe in Iceland and operates as a micro-roaster, tea lab, and chocolate mixologist, with a log-burning stove inside and a resident cat, Jeff. Set back from the main road against the old sea cliffs beneath Katla volcano, it sits beside a nine-hole golf course, with lupins in summer and fulmars on the cliffs year-round. The cafe closes December to March. HOURS Wednesday - Friday: 9AM–3PM Saturday - Sunday: 9AM–5PM (closed Mondays & Tuesdays)

Kaktus Espressobar is a small coffee shop located in central Reykjavik that serves espresso drinks and light pastries in a casual, minimalist setting. The café is known for its quality coffee and straightforward Nordic aesthetic, appealing to locals looking for a quick caffeine fix or a quiet place to work. Travelers passing through Reykjavik often stop here for reliable coffee and a glimpse of how Icelanders do their everyday café culture.

Faxi Bakery is a small café and bakery in South Iceland known for fresh bread, pastries, and coffee made with care. The spot attracts travelers passing through the region who want a proper break from the Ring Road, with locals appreciating the quality of their baked goods and simple food offerings. It's the kind of place where you can grab something warm and freshly made rather than settling for a convenience store option.

A small neighborhood shop in Reykjavik selling groceries, household essentials, and local goods. It serves the surrounding residential area with everyday items and is the kind of place locals stop in for milk, bread, or supplies without needing to visit a large supermarket. Like many Icelandic convenience stores, it's a practical stop for both residents and visitors exploring the quieter streets of the capital.

Café Loki sits on a quiet side street near Hallgrímskirkja and serves traditional Icelandic food in a casual, unpretentious setting. The menu focuses on local dishes like rye bread soup, fish stew, and lamb—straightforward fare made with Icelandic ingredients. It's a good spot if you want to taste what locals actually eat without the fuss or inflated prices of fancier restaurants downtown.

American SchoolBus Cafe is a coffee shop in a converted American school bus in Hella, on Iceland's south coast. The bus originally carried schoolchildren in Pennsylvania before being shipped to Europe, where owner Alex found it in his hometown in Romania. He restored it there over about a year, keeping the original school bus seats and decorating the interior around American nostalgia, 80s pop culture, and midcentury design, then shipped it via Rotterdam to Reykjavík and drove it to Hella. The menu focuses on Italian espresso, hot drinks, and a few pastries, since counter space limits what can be prepared. The cafe stays open year-round, including through the winter.

Svarta kaffið only serves soups in a bread bowl. Each day there are two options — one meat, one vegetarian — and that's the whole menu. Finish the soup, then eat the bowl.

Krepjavík is a cafe which sells Crepes! You can add chocolate, bananas and more to them

Lemon sells a ton of smoothies and sandwiches

One of the coffee shops in Dalvík. Inside it you can see a giant statue of our previous president!

Starbucks in central Reykjavik is a reliable spot for coffee and familiar pastries if you're craving American-style café culture. Located in the heart of the city, it's convenient for a quick caffeine fix between sightseeing, though many locals prefer the independent Icelandic coffee roasters scattered throughout town. You'll find the usual menu of espresso drinks, Frappuccinos, and sandwiches alongside a small selection of local items.

Greenhouse café in Reykjavík’s Botanical Garden, Laugardalur. Enjoy coffee, homemade cakes, soups, and brunch surrounded by lush plants — a warm, leafy escape on any day, rain or shine.

A typical, unpretentious Icelandic neighbourhood café in the Grandi old-harbour district, Café Retró keeps things simple: homemade cakes, soups and sandwiches alongside good coffee, served in a plain, cosy interior with a marine-industrial backdrop. It sits among the baiting sheds and fish factories that have been reborn as galleries, ice-cream parlours and museums, making it a low-key local stop rather than a tourist showpiece. The vibe is relaxed and everyday — the kind of place workers and residents drift into for an inexpensive lunch

Fjallsárlón Frost is a small café positioned near the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon in southeast Iceland, serving as a convenient stop for visitors exploring this lesser-known sister glacial lake to the famous Jökulsárlón. The café offers hot drinks and light refreshments while you take in views of icebergs floating in the lagoon and the surrounding mountains, making it an ideal place to warm up between walks around the water's edge.

Te & Kaffi is a cozy neighborhood cafe in central Reykjavik known for its strong coffee, fresh pastries, and relaxed atmosphere where locals linger over newspapers and laptops. The space has an unpretentious charm with wooden furnishings and large windows, making it a good spot to escape the weather and watch the city go by. It's a reliable choice if you want an authentic cafe experience without the tourist crowds of the main thoroughfare.

Joe & The Juice is a casual café chain with a Reykjavik location that serves fresh juices, smoothies, sandwiches, and coffee in a relaxed, contemporary setting. Known for quality ingredients and quick service, it's a popular spot for locals grabbing a quick breakfast or lunch between work. The vibe is unpretentious and modern—good if you want something reliable and fresh without the tourist atmosphere of some downtown cafés.