Though the onboard kitchen of Windstar’s Star Pride is notable for its international cuisine, circumnavigating Iceland allows for access to remote restaurants with local specialties hard to find anywhere else. Where else might you try minke whale? Or puffin heart? Here is a guide to the best local restaurants in each of the ports on Windstar’s Around Iceland itinerary.
Heimaey Island
Puffins outnumber people on this island, just off the coast of southwest Iceland. Fishing drives the economy here, and that is certainly reflected on the menu of the Slippurinn, one of the finest restaurants in all of Iceland. Housed in a former machine shop for ships, it overlooks the water, and the fish market is conveniently adjacent. This is the spot to try minke whale, an un-endangered breed of whale, which despite its habitat, tastes more like a tender, gamy beef than fish. Here, Chef Gisli Matthias serves it prepared with lovage and potato salad, chervil and jus. In addition to his expertise at preparing fish, Chef Matthias is an avid forager, combing the island for herbs, greens, and seaweeds to incorporate in the menu.
Seydisfjordur
Poised along the fjords of eastern Iceland, scenic Seydisfjordur is ringed with mountains full of cascading waterfalls. Just past the town’s iconic blue church, Kaffi Lara (Nordurgata 3) is where locals gather to watch futbol matches. Between cheering on the home team with a “Viking clap,” try delicacies such as Icelandic horse fillet with pepper sauce, and wash it down with one of two dozen local beers, such as the hoppy Ulfur IPA. Directly across the way lies two more notable spots. Nordic Restaurant, housed in one of Iceland’s oldest buildings, is a great place to stop for a coffee and pastry in the morning, and even better to settle in for a long lunch or dinner over dishes such as wild goose prosciutto with fennel and orange salad, dill oil and cranberries. In the house behind Nordic, on the second floor, enjoy fresh-caught sushi at Nord Austur Sushi + Bar. The arctic char, salmon and sweet shrimp all come from the surrounding waters.
Akureyri
Tucked in the north of Iceland, Akureyri is the country’s second largest urban center after Reykjavik. Also an important fishing center, one of the finest lobster soups in town can be found in, ironically, a steakhouse, T-Bone. Tip: if you borrow one of the ship’s bicycles, Netto Supermarket in the Glerartorg Mall is a short pedal away. There, load up on local cheese, cured meats and chocolate, just as we spotted Star Legend Head Chef Rohit Dimri doing.
Isafjordur
Set in the northwest of Iceland, Isafjordur is known for its music festivals and lovely, tranquil fjords. After working up an appetite kayaking the peaceful waters, enjoy a simple lunch, or the luxurious all-you-can-eat fish buffet at dinner, featuring the fresh catch of the day, whether cod, halibut or monkfish at Tjoruhusid Restaurant, but their site is not secure, so maybe we don’t put a link??) on the fjord just near the Maritime Museum. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch some live music, too.
Further into town, Edinborg Bistro Bar is the spot to try puffin heart carpaccio. If you can’t bring yourself to eat something quite so cute, then go for the shrimp and lobster salad. As it is located in the same building as the tourist information center, pick up a few brochures to browse over a meal.
grundarfjordur
In the west of Iceland, nestled between the mountains and the sea, this tiny town is flanked by vast fields of lava. It also happens to be the home to what locals hail as the best hot dog in Iceland. That’s saying a lot, as Icelanders have somewhat of an obsession with franks, so much so that some would even say that hot dogs are the country’s national dish (not the notorious fermented shark). The hot dog stand Meistarrin earned legendary status by serving a deep-fried dog made with Icelandic lamb—which is grass-fed, free-range, organic and hormone free. The go-to order is topped with onions and cheese.
Reykjavik
There is no shortage of interesting eats in Iceland’s capital city. Put Dill on the list as one of the most intriguing. Tradition and modernity meet in the quaint, wood-and-stone cottage right in the center of town. Its chef, Gunnar Gislason, has recently made headlines for leading the kitchen at Claus Meyer’s Agern in New York City (and earning three stars from the New York Times). But Dill is where chef Gislason made his name. A visit here not only shows the true essence of New Nordic cuisine to diners, it also celebrates the natural heritage and resources of Iceland. Diners can choose from 5- or 7-course menus, which may include spectacular seasonal creations such as tusk fish with kale and black garlic; potato, smoked cod roe and skyr, (the thick Icelandic version of yogurt); and beef cheek with rutabaga and angelica (a Nordic green). Be sure to make a reservation: the restaurant only seats 23, the best of which are the 3 at the bar overlooking the chefs at work.
about the author
Kathleen Squires is a food and travel writer whose work has spanned book, blog, newsprint and glossy, appearing in The Wall Street Journal, Details, Saveur, Every Day with Rachael Ray, National Geographic Traveler, Real Simple, Conde Nast Traveler and many other publications. She is the co-author of the cookbooks The Coolhaus Ice Cream Book with Natasha Case and Freya Estreller (Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin); The Quick Six Fix with Stuart O’ Keeffe (Morrow); the IACP award-winning The Journey (Alta editions); and The Book of Greens with Jenn Louis (Ten Speed Press). Kathleen was also a 2015 nominee for the IACP Bert Greene Award for Excellence in Food Journalism. In 2016, Kathleen was awarded first prize of Les Dames d’Escoffier International’s M. F. K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing. Kathleen is currently co-producing the documentary James Beard: America’s First Foodie, to air on PBS’s “American Masters” on May 19, 2017. She lives in New York City.
if you go:
Dramatic scenery and curious communities coalesce on this week-long circumnavigation of Iceland. Explore a country few people will ever visit, and go far beyond the tourist hotspots to remote fjords, raging waterfalls, and small fishing villages. Get to know the independent and creative Icelanders, and watch whales and seabirds play offshore. This is yachting at its most inventive.
In 2021, choose from five departures dates of the Around Iceland voyage in July and August, sailing 7days round-trip from Reykjavik on the all-suite Star Pride pampering just 312 guests each voyage. Look at extending your stay in Iceland with the
Comprehensive Iceland Cruise Tour, which pairs the Around Iceland voyage with three days on land exploring more of this country’s surreal landscapes.
iceland ports of call and map
