Reykjavik Food Tour – Supermarket Tour & Lunch at Microbrewery

Icelandic food makes much more sense once you see it in an ordinary grocery store. This tour starts on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street, where you learn what locals buy and where Iceland’s food comes from. Then you sit down for a private lunch at a microbrewery and taste several local dishes with craft beer.

I like the practical start and the small group of no more than 12 people. I also like the chance to try foods in a relaxed setting instead of ordering an unfamiliar Icelandic dish on your own. The main drawback is the price: at $123 per person, this is not a quick snack stop. You are paying for guidance, tastings, lunch, and the private brewery setting.

Key points at a glance

• Start with a real Reykjavik grocery store: Learn about local produce, food shopping, and what Icelanders commonly eat.
• Walk along Laugavegur: The tour begins in the heart of Reykjavik, close to public transportation.
• Taste several Icelandic foods: The format lets you sample different flavors before deciding what you like.
• Lunch at a private microbrewery: The brewery is reserved for the group during the tour, giving the meal a quieter, more personal feel.
• Try local craft beer: Beer tastings are included with the food.
• Keep the group manageable: A maximum of 12 people makes questions and conversation easier.

Why a supermarket is the smartest first stop

Many food tours begin with a restaurant dish. This one begins with shelves, labels, prices, and everyday ingredients. That is a useful choice in Iceland, where food can feel unfamiliar and expensive, and where you may not know which products are local, imported, seasonal, or worth seeking out.

You meet at Dill Restaurant, at Laugavegur 59, at 11 a.m. From there, the group visits a grocery store on Laugavegur. The exact store is not specified, so you should think of this part as a guided introduction to Icelandic shopping rather than a fixed museum-style visit.

I like this approach because it gives you information you can use after the tour. You might learn what local produce is common, where food in Iceland comes from, and how Icelandic eating habits differ from those at home. That can help you choose snacks, breakfast supplies, or picnic food for the rest of your stay.

The supermarket also gives the tour a more ordinary feel. You are not only being shown polished restaurant plates. You are looking at the food people buy in daily life. For anyone curious about Iceland beyond its famous scenery, that everyday view has real value.

The grocery stop may be less exciting if you only want a fast meal or a list of famous Icelandic specialties. It is educational by design. You will spend part of the experience talking about food before sitting down to eat it.

What you learn along Laugavegur

Laugavegur is Reykjavik’s main shopping street and the starting point places you in the middle of the city. The route begins at number 59 and ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, at Laugavegur 86. Since the two addresses are on the same central street, the tour stays easy to reach and simple to fit into a day of sightseeing.

The supplied information does not name the guide, so I cannot tell you who will lead your group. What you can expect is a food-focused explanation during the shop visit, followed by a meal built around tasting and comparison.

That format matters. Icelandic cuisine is not one single dish. It includes different ingredients, textures, and levels of familiarity. Sampling several items gives you room to sort out your own preferences. You may enjoy some flavors more than others, and that is part of the point.

I would pay attention to the practical details during this stop. Notice which foods are described as common, which products are imported, and which items you could buy yourself later. If you have several days in Iceland, these lessons can save you from relying on restaurants for every meal.

The tour is also a good first or second-day activity. Early in a trip, you still have time to use what you learn. You can return to a supermarket, try a food you noticed, or order a dish with a better idea of what to expect.

The private microbrewery lunch at MicroBar Reykjavik

After the grocery visit, the group moves to a local microbrewery for lunch. The brewery is reserved exclusively for the tour during your visit, which is one of the strongest features of the experience.

A private setting changes the meal. You can ask questions without trying to speak over a busy room, and the tasting feels more organized than a casual stop at a crowded bar. It also gives the group a shared table experience, with the food and beer treated as part of one lesson.

The tour includes several Icelandic dishes and flavors. The details of the menu are not provided, so you should not book this expecting a guaranteed list of named specialties. Instead, think of the meal as a sampler that lets you try different foods and decide what suits you.

That distinction is important. Icelandic food can include bold, unfamiliar, or simply new flavors. A tasting format lowers the risk of ordering one expensive dish that you may not enjoy. You get several chances to find something appealing.

Lunch is paired with complimentary tastings of local craft brews. Again, the specific beers are not listed, so the experience is about trying local brewing rather than choosing from a known beer menu. If you drink beer, this adds another layer to the food. You can compare how the brews work with the dishes instead of treating the beer as an afterthought.

If you do not drink alcohol, the supplied details do not say whether nonalcoholic alternatives are available. I would ask the provider before booking if that matters to you. The tour’s main selling point includes beer, so this may be a weaker fit for someone who wants no alcohol at all.

What the three-hour format gives you

The advertised length is about two to three hours, while the itinerary describes the Reykjavik portion as three hours. The 11 a.m. start makes it a late-morning activity that runs into lunch, leaving the afternoon open for museums, shops, or other city plans.

I like this timing. You are not giving up a full day, but you still have enough room for two distinct parts: the grocery lesson and the brewery meal. A rushed food stop would not give the first part much purpose. Three hours allows time to talk, taste, and move between locations without turning the tour into a marathon.

You should keep your schedule slightly flexible afterward. The official duration is approximate, and a food experience with conversation can take a little longer than a strict restaurant reservation. Do not place an important timed activity immediately after it unless you have allowed a cushion.

The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, at Laugavegur 86. That is helpful if you want to continue exploring central Reykjavik on foot. It is also useful for anyone who prefers an activity with a clear endpoint rather than being taken far outside town.

Is $123 a fair price?

At $123 per person, this is a premium food activity. The value depends on what you want from a meal.

If you compare the price with buying lunch alone, it may look high. You are not simply paying for food. The cost also covers the guided grocery visit, explanations of Icelandic food culture, several tastings, local craft beer, and lunch in a space reserved for the group. For someone who wants context and sampling, that package is easier to justify.

The best value comes from the combination. A restaurant can give you one meal. A grocery store can show you products. This tour links the two, then adds beer and a private setting. You leave with both a meal and a better sense of how to approach food in Iceland.

Still, this may not be the right choice for a budget-conscious visitor who is happy to eat casually. You can spend less by choosing your own supermarket lunch or ordering one dish at a local restaurant. You are paying extra for guidance, variety, and the chance to ask questions.

I would also consider how adventurous you are with food. If you want to sample several Icelandic flavors but feel unsure about ordering them alone, the price buys some peace of mind. If you already know Icelandic cuisine well, the grocery lesson may add less value.

The strongest part: learning what you like

The most useful idea here is simple: try several foods before deciding what deserves a place on your own menu. Icelandic cooking may include ingredients and preparations you have not encountered, and personal taste matters more than a checklist of famous dishes.

The food tasting is not framed as a challenge. You are not expected to like everything. You are given a chance to notice what works for you. That makes the experience friendlier for cautious eaters and more useful for curious ones.

I also like that the tour links food to place. The grocery store shows you what is sold in everyday life. The brewery gives you a social setting for tasting. Together, the stops create a clearer picture of Icelandic eating than a single plate at a restaurant would.

One particularly strong point is the idea behind the tour itself. It would have been useful on an earlier Iceland trip, especially for someone who wanted to understand food choices rather than simply order from a menu. That practical quality is what gives the experience its appeal.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik food tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time visitors who want an introduction to Icelandic food
• Curious eaters who prefer tasting several dishes over choosing one meal
• Beer drinkers interested in local craft brews
• Couples and small groups who like guided conversation
• Visitors staying in central Reykjavik
• People who want a short activity that leaves the afternoon free

It may be less suitable if you want a full-day food expedition, a detailed list of named dishes before booking, or a tour focused only on restaurants. It may also be a poor match if you do not drink beer and cannot confirm suitable alternatives.

Most travelers can participate, and the tour is near public transportation. The group limit of 12 is a practical advantage, though the experience still depends on meeting the minimum number required for the tour to operate.

Booking details that matter

You receive confirmation when you book, and the ticket is mobile, so you do not need a printed voucher. Meet at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, at 11 a.m. The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, Laugavegur 86.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, you will not receive a refund, and changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses local Icelandic time, so check your booking carefully if you are arranging several activities close together.

The experience requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a guided introduction to Icelandic food, prefer tasting several dishes to gambling on one, and like the idea of pairing lunch with local beer. The grocery stop is the special touch. It turns a meal into a practical lesson you can use for the rest of your stay.

Skip it if your main goal is a cheap lunch, a full-day culinary trip, or a guaranteed menu of specific Icelandic specialties. At $123, the value rests on the explanations, variety, private brewery setting, and included beer.

For most first-time visitors with room in the budget, I think it is a smart way to get oriented. Start with the grocery shelves, ask plenty of questions, and treat the meal as a tasting session rather than a test. You will come away knowing more about what to order, what to buy, and which Icelandic flavors are worth pursuing.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 11 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, Laugavegur 86, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two to three hours. The itinerary describes the Reykjavik activity as three hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The experience includes lunch at a local microbrewery, along with several Icelandic dishes and flavors.

Is beer included?

Yes. Complimentary tastings of local craft brews are included.