A Taste of Iceland at Matur og Drykkur
If you want to experience traditional Icelandic cuisine with a creative modern twist, Matur og Drykkur on Grandi is the perfect place. The restaurant takes its name from one of Iceland’s most beloved cookbooks — Matur og Drykkur by Helga Sigurðardóttir — a cornerstone of Icelandic home cooking for generations.
Chef Helga Haraldsdóttir, the restaurant’s co-owner and culinary magician, has earned well-deserved praise (and even a Michelin recommendation) for her inspired interpretations of classic Icelandic dishes. The restaurant is housed in a former saltfish factory by the harbor, beautifully restored yet keeping its rustic charm. The atmosphere is cozy, the acoustics surprisingly good, and the staff genuinely warm and welcoming — Sam took great care of us throughout the evening.
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We decided to go for the 10-course tasting menu, which is offered this winter. Every dish felt like a small celebration of Icelandic ingredients — from the sea, the mountains, and the fields. Among the highlights were:
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Smoked lamb with horseradish
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Monkfish liver with dill on crispy rye crackers
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Cod fried in rye breadcrumbs with smoked butter — a clever nod to the beloved plokkfiskur
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Lamb hearts glazed with malt and seaweed
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Sago pudding with blueberries and wild thyme
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And finally, a beautiful carrot cake with dandelion and carrot ice cream
Each course began in silence and ended with a satisfied mmm — always a good sign.
Matur og Drykkur manages to do something truly special: it brings Icelandic culinary tradition into the present, without losing its soul. It’s a place to revisit familiar flavors, rediscovered in new ways. If you want to treat yourself to something authentically Icelandic yet wonderfully inventive, this restaurant should be high on your list.
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