Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Reykjavik’s Christmas table is far more interesting than a plate of cookies and hot chocolate. On this three-hour walk, you’ll sample smoked lamb, crisp laufabrauð, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, and several seasonal drinks while the city’s lights glow around you. The guide, Palli, has been praised for mixing useful food facts with entertaining stories.

I like the wide range of traditional dishes, especially the chance to try foods you may not order on your own. I also like the visit to the Little Christmas Store, which adds a local shopping stop and includes a small Iceland-inspired gift.

The main drawback is the price: at $173 per person, this is not a budget meal. It is also not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, so check the menu carefully before booking.

Key points to know before booking

• Smoked lamb, reindeer paté, and laufabrauð give you a broad taste of Icelandic Christmas cooking.
• Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg add both alcoholic and non-alcoholic festive drinks.
• Palli may guide the tour, bringing food background and lively stories to the walk.
• Christmas lights and city decorations are part of the setting, not just the food.
• The Little Christmas Store visit includes festive goods and a locally inspired gift.
• Warm clothing matters, since the tour runs outdoors in all weather.

Reykjavik Christmas food with a local point of view

I like food tours that explain why a dish belongs on the table, rather than simply placing samples in front of you. This experience connects each bite to Icelandic Christmas customs, giving you a better sense of what families serve during the holiday season.

The tour takes place around central Reykjavik, beginning outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop near Ingólfstorg Square. You’ll meet facing the square and the two tall stone pillars, with CenterHotel Plaza to your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a sensible place to wait if you arrive early.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The tour is conducted in English, and private groups are available if you want a more personal format.

The food is the main reason to book, but the walking route gives the outing a seasonal mood. Reykjavik’s streets are decorated with lights, and the guide points out the city’s Christmas atmosphere as you move between food stops. You should think of this as a walking meal with cultural commentary, not a formal restaurant dinner.

Smoked lamb and the flavors of an Icelandic Christmas

The tasting begins with classic Christmas foods, including smoked lamb. Icelandic smoked lamb, often called hangikjöt, has a firm texture and a strong smoky flavor. It is one of the foods most closely linked with the country’s holiday table, so it gives you an immediate connection to local tradition.

You’ll also try laufabrauð, known as leaf bread. This thin, buttery bread is cut into detailed patterns before it is fried until crisp. The designs make it look decorative, but it is meant to be eaten, often alongside savory Christmas foods.

I especially like that these first tastings cover two very different sides of Icelandic cooking. The smoked lamb is hearty and salty, while the laufabrauð is light, crisp, and buttery. If you have only tried Icelandic hot dogs, pastries, or seafood, this gives you a much better sense of the holiday menu.

The portions are tastings rather than full plates. That is useful here because the food list is long, but you should not expect to leave with the equivalent of a large restaurant meal. The value comes from variety, explanation, and access to several traditional foods in one outing.

Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, and cured fish

The next group of foods shows how varied an Icelandic Christmas spread can be. Hamborgarhrygg is a special glazed pork dish, usually served as a holiday centerpiece. Its sweet glaze gives it a different character from the smoky lamb, and the sample helps show how festive meats are prepared for Christmas.

Reindeer paté is another distinctive tasting. Reindeer is tied to northern landscapes and winter traditions, while paté gives it a smooth, savory form that differs from the sliced meats you may already know. It is one of the more unusual items on the menu and a good reason to take this tour instead of simply choosing a familiar Icelandic lunch.

You’ll also receive gravlax and pickled herring. Gravlax is cured salmon, valued for its clean, delicate taste. Pickled herring is sharper and more assertive, with a tangy flavor that can divide the table. I like this contrast because it keeps the tasting from becoming a parade of similar smoked meats.

If you are cautious about fish, herring may be the item to approach slowly. The guide can explain what you are tasting, but the flavor is still strong and unmistakable. For anyone curious about Nordic food traditions, though, it is an important part of the meal.

Three festive drinks, including malt and appelsín

The drinks make this more than a succession of food samples. You’ll taste Jólaöl, a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, along with malt and appelsín, a popular non-alcoholic holiday combination. You’ll also have Jólaglögg, a warm mulled wine with the spices associated with winter celebrations.

Malt and appelsín is especially useful for understanding Icelandic Christmas culture because it is not simply a substitute for beer. It has its own place in the season and gives you a sweet, malty, citrusy option without alcohol.

The inclusion of three different drinks also makes the tour easier to enjoy if you prefer a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. You are not limited to beer or wine, and the guide can explain the role each drink plays in the holiday season.

Since the drinks are served as part of a walking food experience, you should not treat this as a bar crawl. The emphasis is on sampling and cultural context. If you want a long evening of drinking, this is the wrong format. If you want to understand what Icelanders drink at Christmas, it works well.

Reykjavik lights and the Little Christmas Store

Between tastings, you’ll walk through central Reykjavik and see Christmas lights and decorations. The holiday setting matters because the tour is tied to a particular season. In summer, the same food would still be interesting, but it would not have the same connection to Icelandic Christmas customs.

The walk also takes you to the Little Christmas Store. This stop adds a welcome change of pace after the food tastings, with festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items. You receive a locally inspired gift as part of the experience, which gives you a small physical reminder of the tour.

I would not book the experience solely for the shopping stop. The store is an extra feature, not the main attraction, and the information provided does not promise a large shopping selection or a specific gift. Still, it makes the route feel more complete and gives you a chance to look at Icelandic seasonal goods.

This is also a useful stop if you want a modest souvenir without spending time searching shops on your own. You can browse, ask questions, and continue with the tour rather than planning a separate shopping outing.

The guide makes the difference

Food tours depend heavily on the person leading them. Palli has been praised for being entertaining and for sharing additional stories beyond the basic menu explanations. That detail matters because a list of ingredients is not enough to fill three hours.

Your guide explains the history and cultural meaning of each dish and drink. You’ll hear why certain foods appear at Christmas, how they fit into Icelandic celebrations, and what makes the drinks seasonal. The conversations are part of the meal, so you should allow time for questions.

The tour is conducted in English. A private group option is available if you want to keep the discussion focused on your own interests or travel with your own party. The standard group size is not specified, so you should ask when booking if group size is important to you.

A strong guide also helps with unfamiliar flavors. Reindeer paté, pickled herring, and gravlax may be new to you, and a little context can make the tasting more enjoyable. Palli’s role appears to be especially valuable for people who want stories as well as food.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is an expensive three-hour activity. You are paying for a guided walk, several food tastings, multiple drinks, a Christmas-themed route, a store visit, a gift, and the convenience of having the day’s food choices organized for you.

The price makes more sense if you value explanation and variety. Buying every item separately could be difficult, especially because some are seasonal foods rather than everyday café offerings. You also avoid guessing what to order and gain a guide who can explain the difference between dishes.

Still, I would not call it a bargain. The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off, and it is not a full restaurant meal. You should arrive expecting a series of tastings, not breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the usual sense.

If you are mainly looking for the cheapest way to eat in Reykjavik, spend your money elsewhere. If you want a seasonal food lesson, a guided city walk, and a chance to try several Icelandic Christmas specialties in one afternoon, the cost is easier to justify.

The tour received an overall rating of 4.8 from five ratings. One booking from Germany described the food and guide as very good but called the price somewhat high. That is a fair way to view it: the experience can be excellent value for the right interest, but the cost deserves attention before you reserve.

Who should book this Christmas food tour?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy trying unfamiliar foods and want a clear introduction to Icelandic Christmas customs. It suits couples, families with older children who are open to new flavors, and visitors who want a planned activity during the holiday season.

It is also a good choice if you want to combine food with sightseeing. The Christmas lights and decorations provide a seasonal backdrop, while the guide’s explanations give structure to a walk through central Reykjavik.

You should think twice if you are vegan or vegetarian. The tour is specifically listed as unsuitable for both, and the menu centers on lamb, pork, reindeer, salmon, herring, and other animal products.

If you have allergies or other dietary restrictions, tell the operator when booking. Specific needs can be accommodated when the team has advance notice, but you should not wait until the meeting point to raise an important allergy.

The tour can accommodate wheelchairs, but you should still mention your needs when booking so the operator can prepare appropriately. Since the tour runs outdoors in all weather, comfort depends on clothing as much as on mobility.

What to wear for three hours outside

Reykjavik weather can change quickly, and this tour operates in all weather conditions. Wear warm layers, a weatherproof outer layer, and comfortable walking shoes.

Do not dress only for the indoor tasting stops. You will be walking between locations and spending time outside near the city’s decorations. Cold hands, wet shoes, or a thin jacket can take the pleasure out of a food tour before the second tasting.

Smoking is not allowed during the activity. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not included, so plan your own way to the meeting point and back to your accommodation.

The meeting area is easy to identify if you use the two tall stone pillars and Ingólfstorg Square as landmarks. Arrive with enough time to find the covered waiting area outside Hlöllabátar.

Booking flexibility and timing

The activity lasts three hours, with starting times available according to the date you choose. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you keep your plans flexible.

Those policies are useful in Reykjavik, where weather and holiday schedules can affect your day. I would still avoid placing the tour too close to an airport transfer or another fixed booking, since the experience is a walking route rather than a quick meal.

Book early if your visit falls around Christmas and you have limited free time. The activity is seasonal in character, and private groups are available if you want a more tailored arrangement.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Icelandic food, Christmas traditions, and guided city walks all appeal to you. The strongest parts are the variety of dishes, the festive drinks, Palli’s entertaining style, and the chance to see Reykjavik decorated for the season.

Skip it if you want a low-cost meal, a long sit-down dinner, or a vegetarian menu. At $173, the tour asks you to pay for context and variety, not just calories. For the right person, that makes it a memorable introduction to Icelandic Christmas cooking. For everyone else, the price may feel too steep for three hours of tasting portions.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavik Christmas food tour?

The tour lasts three hours.

What food is included?

You can taste smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

What drinks are included?

The tasting includes Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine.

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No. The experience is listed as unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet outside Hlöllabátar Sandwich Shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

Can dietary restrictions or allergies be accommodated?

Yes, the operator asks you to provide details about dietary restrictions or allergies when booking so the experience can be adjusted.