Reykjavik, Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm

[Delhiwala]

I am just back from a two-week trip (with four family members who love good food) to Reykjavik, Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm. We had some genuinely great meals in each place. The following places are well worth trying (assuming that you can afford expensive meals). Be sure to make reservations in advance at these places if possible.

Reykjavik:
Laekjarbrekka
Bankastraeti 2
Tel: [phone]. Website: www.laekjarbrekka.is
Outstanding food and friendly service. Excellent menu choices. The Lobster Feast fixed menu was particularly good. This restaurant has a traditional atmosphere and is located in an old house near central Reykjavik.

Sjavarkjallarinn
Aðalstræti 2
Tel: [phone]. Website: www.sjavarkjallarinn.is
Outstanding food and efficient service in a very innovative restaurant. Some of the menu combinations seem a bit odd (salmon with a chocolate sauce), but all the dishes were genuinely excellent. This restaurant has a very modern atmosphere and is located in a cellar in a building in central Reykjavik. It is a bit hard to find (but well worth the effort).

Oslo:
If you like restaurants that have an elegant 19th century atmosphere, be sure to try these two places (both of which are only a very short walk from the National Theater):
Grand Café
Grand Hotel
Karl Johansgate 31
Tel: [phone] Website: www.grand.no
Ibsen ate here almost every day and so can you. Excellent food and elegant service. Nice buffet in the summer. Try to get a table with a good view of the street.

Theatercafeen
Hotel Continental
Stortingsgate 24
Tel: [phone] Website www.hotel-continental.no
Elegant Viennese-style café, with elegant food and live piano music.

Copenhagen:
Krogs Fiskerestaurant
Gammel Strand 38
Tel: [phone] Website: www.krogs.dk
Excellent and elegant fish and shellfish only restaurant overlooking one of Copenhagen’s most beautiful canals. The service is professional but a bit pretentious.

Stockholm:

Grand Veranda Restaurant
Grand Hotel
Sodra Blasieholmshamnen 8
Tel: [phone] Website www.grandhotel.se
The smorgasbord (which is served every night and also in the summer at lunchtime on weekends) is truly outstanding and memorable. It would be shame to visit Sweden and not have a great smorgasbord.

Bistro Ruby
Österlånggatan 14
Old Town (Gamla Stan
)Tel: [phone]
Moderately priced bistro in the Old Town with excellent food and convivial crowd. A fun place to go, but not particularly romantic. Very generous portions.

[Delhiwala]

If you go to Copenhagen, be sure to go to Ida Davidsen for lunch. The place is not that expensive, and serves a wide variety of wonderful (and very attractive) open faced sandwiches that taste wonderful. Be sure to make a reservation in advance (you can make reservations on their web site), or you probably will be turned away at the door.

Restaurant Ida Davidsen
Store Kongensgade 70
DK-1264 Copenhagen K
Tel: [phone] Website www.idadavidsen.dk

[Tatum]

Great report back Delhiwala. Did you have any other great food experiences in Reykjavik worth booking in advance?

[Delhiwala]

Nope - the only great food experiences that I had in Reykavik were Laekjarbrekka and Sjavarkjallarinn, both of which I very highly recommend. Be sure to book reservations at these two places in advance.

By the way, Reykavik is well worth visiting, especially if you can get outside of town a bit by car (or tour bus) to see the nearby sites.

[viperlush]

If those where the only great food experiences that you had in Reykavik, did you have any memorable worst food experiences? I will be there for a few days in August and I'm in the process of choosing restaurants and tours. Thanks!

[Delhiwala]

I did not eat anything bad in Reykavik - sorry (but good for me).
Be sure to visit the Blue Lagoon (a bit commercialized but well worth doing - bring a swim suit) and also take the all day (and very beautiful) Golden Circle tour. Also, try to find a place to stay within walking distance of the center of town (i.e., the City Hall).