The Kitchen
1 / 10

Apotek Restaurant

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Housed in a historic Reykjavik pharmacy, Apotek offers a sophisticated dining experience with unique Icelandic flavors and artful cocktails.

Highlights

Highlights

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From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

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The Kitchen

Apotek Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Housed in a historic Reykjavik pharmacy, Apotek offers a sophisticated dining experience with unique Icelandic flavors and artful cocktails.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Absolutely outstanding experience! One of the best meals I’ve ever had."

TIP

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant is very popular.

Tasting Menu Adventure

Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey, featuring various fish and meat preparations.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 10PM

Cuisine

Modern European, Icelandic

Price

$$$

Phone

+354 551 0011

Address

Austurstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Unique Icelandic Flavors

Unique Icelandic Flavors

Experience Iceland's unique taste journey with adventurous dishes like puffin and horse meat, prepared with culinary artistry.

Artistic Cocktails

Artistic Cocktails

Sip on creatively crafted cocktails made with locally sourced ingredients in a cozy and sophisticated lounge setting.

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Exquisite Presentation

Exquisite Presentation

Savor beautifully presented dishes like Duck with Waffle and Tuna, where every plate is a work of art.

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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Last day in Iceland, so sad 😢 But it was an incredible experience - full of ups and downs. Truly unforgettable. 🥰😍 📍Apotek restaurant at Reykjavik #travel #iceland #roadtrip #reykjavik #fyp
@aylero6
98 likes • 737 views

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant is very popular.

Tasting Menu Adventure

Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey, featuring various fish and meat preparations.

📍From 1930 to 1999, there was a pharmacy here. The new owner, who bought the building and opened a restaurant, decided not to change the name of the sign... preserving the historical value and attracting visitors with the unusual design of the restaurant. I ordered myself a huge steak 🥩 not at all pharmacy-sized..😋 and a delicious dessert with a chocolate restaurant logo. #reykjavik #iceland #rest...
@veselushka_174..11
303 likes • 39.5K views
where to eat in Reykjavik ⬇️⬇️ Reykjavik is filled with great restaurants! Here are my favorites: 🐟Icelandic: - Old Iceland - Íslenski barinn - Apotek Lemmy 🍔Burgers: - Yuzu - Hamborgarabúlla Tómasar 🍝Grazie Trattoria 🌮La Poblana 🍕Reykjavik Pizzeria 🥂Duck & Rose (aperitivo) ☕️Reykjavik Roasters 🍦Valdi’s 🗺️🥂 follow @backpacksandbubbly_ for travel inspo and tips on where to stay, what to do & fi...
@backpacksandbubbly_
60 likes • 3.2K views

Don't Miss the Bread

The warm bread served with truffle butter and salt is an outstanding starter that's a must-try.

Go Early if No Reservation

If you don't have a reservation, arrive early, as lines can form by the time you finish your meal.

### Legenda para TikTok: 🇮🇸 Explorando Reykjavik? Não perca esses pontos gastronômicos! 🍴✨ 1. Apotek - Experimente pratos gourmet em um ambiente sofisticado. 🌟 2. Valdís- Os melhores sorvetes da Islândia, para adoçar seu dia. 🍦 3. Reykjavik Chips - Batatas fritas crocantes com molhos incríveis! 🍟 4. @BaejarinsBeztuPylsur - O icônico cachorro-quente islandês que é pura delícia! 🌭 📌 Salve este vídeo...
@rumosolo
1 likes • 68 views

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead

Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant is very popular.

Tasting Menu Adventure

Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey, featuring various fish and meat preparations.

Don't Miss the Bread

The warm bread served with truffle butter and salt is an outstanding starter that's a must-try.

Go Early if No Reservation

If you don't have a reservation, arrive early, as lines can form by the time you finish your meal.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Apotek Restaurant offers a highly acclaimed dining experience with exceptional food, service, and ambiance. Diners rave about the creative and flavorful dishes, elegant presentation, and extensive cocktail menu. While most experiences are flawless, a few mention minor issues like slightly salty fish or the need for table tidying between courses.

"It was extremely delicious. We order set of 3 pieces. And it was tasty and very nice looking. The portions were big, so we even haven’t managed to finish our main course. We were celebrating our anniversary, and the restaurant gifted us with two glasses of Champaign which was very nice. We were there at Friday evening and it was full, atmosphere was very nice as well"

Tatiana Vlasova

"Ambience:
Very well design venue. Dim lighting, dark brown furniture , very elegant and sophisticated. The seats were extremely comfortable . Loved how romantic the ambience was.
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Food:
Very flavorful. The food was extremely delicious and the combination of flavors and ingredients were very creative. The plates were artistically designed and well presented. It was truly a fine dining experience in terms of taste and quality. It appeared to me that there was a lot of inspiration from other cuisines mixed with the local cuisine which made the food even more interesting. There was a touch of Mediterranean cuisine infused with every dish which not only did not affect the authenticity of the dish itself but added another complexity and color to it which I found very amusing.
⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

Service:
Excellent. There were plenty of staff on the floor attending the guests. Unlike what we have experienced with other restaurants in Iceland, where there weren’t enough team members attending the guests,this place had the right ratio and the staff were all very warm and were fully focused on the guest experience which was great to see.
⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

Overall:
Highly recommend it!"

Mashiyaneh Htm

"The tasting menu was a delight - smoked puffin! Lamb tartar! A nice selection of seared fish and meats. A great restaurant in a great location with friendly staff. I just wish the table were tidied up between courses- there was bread crumbs and lamb tartar bits all over my side of the table, but maybe I’m just a messy eater 😆 highly recommend coming here!!"

Harrison C

What People Like

Incredible, flavorful food
Spectacular and attentive service
Beautiful and romantic ambiance

What People Dislike

Occasional saltiness in fish dishes
Minor table tidiness between courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is very popular, especially on weekend evenings. Arrive early if you don't have one.

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Standout dishes include the beef carpaccio, rack of lamb, duck with waffle, and various seafood preparations like trout.

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Yes, they offer a 7-course tasting menu for a culinary journey and are known for their creative cocktails inspired by the pharmacy theme.

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Yes, vegetarian options are available on the menu, including a 'Vegan' section.

Google Review

The restaurant has a sophisticated and elegant ambiance with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and a romantic atmosphere, reflecting its history as a pharmacy.

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Absolutely! Apotek is renowned for its award-winning mixologists who create unique, medicinally-themed cocktails using local ingredients.

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This cozy restaurant and bar is open all day with an amazing selection of European gastropub food with an Icelandic twist. Located on a busy corner street downtown, this place is hard to miss with its large windows full of eclectic remnants of its former days as a pharmacy (apotek means pharmacy in Icelandic). With an extensive cocktail menu, including locally sourced ingredients such as dill, Estragon, and pepper mixed with Icelandic liquor, you can’t go wrong.

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The menu at Apotek is much the same as those at other upscale spots in Reykjavík—tons of fish, some sort of take on a tasting menu of traditional dishes (often with whale and puffin), and a few turf additions here and there—but the care and attention to detail is obvious here. It's a great splurge for those looking to get in one last memorable meal before heading home.

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Austurstræti 16, Capital Region 101, Reykjavík, Icelandhttp://apotekrestaurant.is/. Though Apotek is a restaurant serving up delicious small plates and main courses — like sea trout on a Himalayan salt block or char-grilled beef tenderloin — you absolutely can’t miss having a drink in Apotek’s cozy lounge. Apotek serves arguably the best cocktails in any of the Reykjavik bars, with creative concoctions like the “Dillagin” (Dill-infused gin, mango liqueur, lime juice, sugar, and bitters) and “Rodaberg” (G-wine gin, elderflower liqueur, pink grapefruit juice, lime juice, sugar, strawberry puree, egg white, thyme).

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It helps that this sophisticated kitchen and bar is located at one of Reykjavík’s most picturesque Art Nouveau corners. It also doesn’t hurt that the mixologists – who call themselves 'pharmacists', a nod to Apótek’s original use as a medicinal apothecary – are award-winning and prone to prescribe elixirs such as the tableside mimosa service. Order a crispy duck confit served with waffles, or any manner of their signature Eggs Benny, from lobster to lamb, and smoked trout.

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Spend the day hiking, climbing, or whatever you need to do to work up an appetite to consume generous portions of delicious food at one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik. Apotek (which translates to pharmacy) was home to Reykjavíkurapotek from 1930 to 1999 and is now an elegantly decorated restaurant space complete with backlit pharmacy bottles. The 7-course tasting menu is always a hit with meat and seafood dishes followed by a beautifully presented dessert.

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You will likely have a hard time believing this due to the majestic and impressive interior of the building, but this restaurant & bar is situated in an old pharmacy – Apotek means pharmacy in Icelandic. The building was designed by the same architect as the one who did Hallgrímskirkja church and later redecorated to the A-class standard it holds today!. But, onto their cocktails.

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For something a bit more European, Apótek restaurant is a great choice. The word Apótek means “pharmacy”, and you´ll see an interesting play on that in the menu where the cocktails are categorized as painkillers, stimulants etc. In the beautiful corner house where you find Apótek, there used to be a pharmacy from 1930-1999, hence the name.

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Apotek is in an old pharmacy turned into a restaurant with an interior that I fell in love with. Being called “Apotek” is a nod to the old pharmacy, but you’ll also see some other quirky features that keep that theme going. Here you’ll find Icelandic cuisine, but also other European dishes, and for some reason, an Argentinean grill.

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Our lovely concierge at the hotel recommended we go to Apotek Restaurant (which interestingly means pharmacy in Icelandic). So we went down and tried it out, and LOVED it, especially as the bill came out to about £30 each for a 3-course meal and in Icelandic terms that’s cheap as chips!. Here are a few shots from what we had:

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Argentine Head Chef Carlos Gimenez brings his experience from El Bulli to Apotek, creating modern dishes using fresh Icelandic ingredients. The menu is a mix of Icelandic and European cuisine and also has an Argentine grill. Apotek also offers afternoon tea daily, as well as a special oyster menu on Thursday evenings.

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I tried to book Tapas Barinn and Apotek restaurant that are both highly recommended for gluten free but they were fully booked for the Saturday night so you do need to book in advance if you fancy either of those!. Messinn turned out really well for us though as we both like seafood and the meal was incredible.

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When you’re really looking to treat yourself (and why not, you’re in Iceland!) Apotek is a fabulous option. Apotek offers an original, decadent cocktail menu for when you need a bit of warmth on a cool day. They offer small plates in addition to full entrees.

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Here you’ll want to try the rack of lamb, tiger shrimp salad, salmon or meat platter. Otherwise you can’t go wrong with any of the three cuts of lamb they offer daily. On Sundays they host a traditional lamb roast that’s served to the table family style.

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Some of my favorite places for a nice dinner out include the fish market, Apotek and Kopar. And last but not least, you guys get off the beaten path. If you are experiencing Iceland in a romantic way, you’re going to want to get away from the crowd.

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The Apotek Restaurant offers diners a smart-casual dining experience. They serve the most delicious dishes that range from brunch and afternoon tea to dinner. Dishes consist of both local as well as more traditional food.

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You can spend some time with the menu but what you get is not important; it's all amazing. My personal favorite is the lamb rump steak. Austurstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

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Apótek Restaurant, so named for the old pharmacy (or apothecary) that was housed there from 1930 to 1999. Today, it's a premium restaurant in the heart of the old town o...

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You can�t go wrong with Sj�vargrilli� for seafood, Apotek for cutting-edge European cuisine, or H�fnin for new takes on hearty Icelandic classics.

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