While Prohibition may have spurred speakeasy bars in America, Iceland is no stranger to restrictions on alcohol. A strange mixture of puritanical views combined with high taxes and control over access meant that even beer was banned in the country until as recently as 1989. Inspired by chef Þráinn Freyr’s grandmother, who was fondly called Ammadon (amma is grandmother in Icelandic), Amma Don sits a whole level under Laugavegur, the main shopping street, but its restaurant Óx is something to shout about, with delicate small plates, presented beautifully and paired with fantastic wines.

Run by award-winning chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson, this exclusive fine-dining venue opened in 2018 as an annex of sister restaurant Sumac. Now in a new location along the road, it’s been a largely word-of-mouth sensation ever since, thanks to an innovative 20-course degustation menu paired with excellent wines, craft beers and local liquors. The team has also opened a neighbouring speakeasy-style cocktail bar called Amma Don.

Michelin-starred ÓX restaurant is a speakeasy-style, chef's table experience led by Vigfússon, tucked behind the chef’s other restaurant, Sumac Grill + Drinks. “Their 14-course with wine pairing menu is likely to be the best culinary experience you'll have while in Iceland,” Connolly says. “Make sure to book far in advance as they are rarely available last minute.

Be prepared to give up all control when you walk into the intimate space that is the 11-seat, Michelin-starred ÓX. The 12-course tasting menu is a surprise, but just give in to the experience and let the chefs introduce you to the freshest Icelandic ingredients you can experience.

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Exclusivity is highly prized in the fine dining scene, so discerning gourmands will most certainly want to secure one of the 17 seats in the exceptional surroundings of Michelin-starred ÓX. From the moment you step press the buzzer to be let into chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson’s intimate restaurant, you embark on a culinary journey that is nothing short of extraordinary. Eating here is an immersive experience, the dinner party to end all dinner parties. The intense flavours, exquisitely crafted dishes and the sense of privilege that comes from being one of those fortunate enough to dine here make the eye-wateringly high price worth paying.

If you’re solo traveling and want to make friends while in town (or you just want an unforgettable Michelin-starred meal) stop by ÓX, founded and headed by two renowned Icelandic chefs: Thrainn Freyr Vigfússon and Georg Arnar Holdórsson, respectively. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its communal nature: Only 11 people can be seated at once, bringing together groups of strangers and quickly turning them into friends. Enjoy a multi-course meal with carefully-selected wine pairings and get to know other diners, both local and foreign, while indulging your taste buds.

A certified hidden gem of downtown Reykjavík, ÓX is a restaurant within a restaurant, boasting a mysterious culinary adventure that allows you to taste your way through Iceland. Perhaps the most exclusive establishment in Reykjavík, ÓX has a single table with 11 seats wrapping around an open kitchen where the chef prepares the 12 courses of the night. This once in a lifetime dining experience includes simple yet sophisticated food presentations and an ever-changing menu with drink pairings for each course.

It’s a completely unique experience and if I had to put my money on it, I’d say that it will be the next in the city to receive a Michelin star. The 11-seat counter wraps around an open kitchen and sits in the back of Sumac. Because all guests start their tasting menu at the same time, the chefs can create dishes to be shared and encourage interaction, such as a whole saddle of lamb served with indigenous herbs or whole-grilled monkfish with a creamy birch and mussel sauce.

Chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson has opened a speakeasy-style restaurant in the back of his more casual restaurant, Sümac. Because the kitchen originates from Vigfusson’s grandfather’s ancient farmhouse, the space immediately makes you feel at home. It’s a delightful contrast to the exquisite presentation of the tasting menu in this fine dining restaurant, where the rustic cabinetry and equipment have been relocated.

Hidden within Sumac, Óx offers an exclusive, intimate experience that feels like dining in a chef’s private kitchen. The decor is sleek, with subtle Icelandic influences, allowing the focus to remain on the artfully prepared dishes. Chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfússon’s tasting menu is a sensory journey through Iceland, featuring standouts like reindeer tartare and smoked Arctic char.

If you're looking for something very special and memorable while staying in Iceland, a night at ÓX definitely fits the bill. This exclusive restaurant only seats 16 people a night and has a set menu created by chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson that takes you on an epic journey through Iceland while delighting your senses. To learn more, you can read our review of ÓX Restaurant.

Perhaps Reykjavik’s most exclusive dining experience, Óx seats just 11 guests around a chef’s counter hidden within another restaurant (Sumac). The multi-course experience feels like dining in someone’s home, with chefs explaining each dish’s story and ingredients. The menu changes regularly but always showcases hyperlocal and often overlooked Icelandic ingredients.

Only 17 covers at a time can be catered for at Michelin-starred ÓX in Reykjavík. Chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson is at the helm, and the restaurant offers tasting menus to take you on a culinary journey comprising multiple courses. Though the food is refined, it’s a laid-back experience, where you take a pew at the counter before tucking into a kitchen table feast.

A really special dining experience in a beautiful old Icelandic kitchen. There is room for just 11 diners, and you’ll be seated around the chef as he prepares your plates and awakens your senses. Eating here is an Icelandic adventure of another sort, with incredible ingredients, textures and flavour combinations making their way onto the plate.

This 11-seat restaurant has become Reykjavík’s most sought after dining experience, described as a “journey” rather than a meal, in which guests watch and interact with the chef throughout. The food on offer is Icelandic with a twist and diners eat the set menu together around the same table. Dinner starts at 7PM and reservations are essential.

To find Michelin-starred Óx, seek out the subterranean speakeasy, Amma Don. Whisper the password through the intercom, and the gates reveal a mid-century lounge replicating an Icelandic living room from the ‘70s. This vibe is precisely the intent of chef Thráinn Freyr Vigfússon who sourced furniture from his grandmother’s house for the setting.

What this tiny restaurant lacks in space (it hosts only 17 diners per night), it makes up for in experience. Guests start by ringing the bell at a speakeasy-style door before being led to a ’70s-inspired lounge for champagne and amuse-bouches. One standout bite features a crackly choux filled with duck egg cream and topped with Rossini Caviar.

Restaurant ÓX is a small, speakeasy-style restaurant from chef Thrainn Freyr Vigfusson, tucked away in the back of a cocktail bar. The interior at ÓX is no bigger than the seventeen-seat counter it houses. The space instantly makes you feel at home – that’s because the kitchen is originally from Vigfusson’s grandfather’s old farmhouse.

Óx provides an intimate dining experience with a limited number of seats, allowing for personalized attention and a focus on each guest’s culinary preferences. The restaurant offers seasonal tasting menus that showcase the best of Iceland’s ingredients. Each dish is a masterpiece, offering a tantalizing array of flavors and textures.

This Michelin Star restaurant is incredibly popular, but it’s also very well hidden despite being located on Reykjavík’s most popular street. With only 16 seats available, it’s important to book well in advance to secure your spot. But trust me, it’s worth the effort to experience the exquisite cuisine and intimate atmosphere at ÓX.

Michelin stars are incredibly respected in Iceland, with only 2 places holding it. Óx is the other incredibly revered Michelin-star restaurant in Reykjavik, a seat at which will cost you 54,000 ISK. With just 11 seats in total, you’ll need to search well in advance to be in with a chance of eating here.