Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Reykjavik’s Christmas table is much more than cookies and hot chocolate. On this three-hour walk, you can try smoked lamb, crisp leaf bread, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, and several seasonal drinks while your guide explains what each means in Icelandic holiday life. I like the mix of serious food tasting and a stroll through Christmas lights, and I like the stop at the Little Christmas Store, where you receive a small local gift.

The food is the main reason to book, but the setting gives it extra charm. Guide Palli has been praised for mixing useful information with entertainment, making the meal feel like a conversation rather than a string of samples. The main consideration is price: at $173 per person, this is a costly three-hour outing, and it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Key points to know before booking

• Smoked lamb and laufabrauð lead the tasting: You will try two classic Icelandic Christmas foods with very different textures and flavors.
• Reindeer paté is part of the menu: This is a chance to taste a festive ingredient that may be unfamiliar to you.
• Three seasonal drinks are included: Try Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine.
• Christmas lights are part of the walk: The food comes with a look at Reykjavik’s decorated streets and squares.
• The Little Christmas Store adds a shopping stop: You can browse decorations, crafts, and seasonal items before receiving a local gift.
• Dietary details matter: The operator can accommodate specific needs if you explain them when booking, but the tour is not designed for vegans or vegetarians.

A Christmas food walk through central Reykjavik

This experience begins outside Hlöllabátar, a sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square. Look for the two tall stone pillars, with CenterHotel Plaza on your right. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling make this a practical place to wait, especially if the weather is cold or wet.

Your guide usually wears a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. That detail matters in a busy central meeting area. You will not need to search for a restaurant entrance or hotel lobby, but you should still allow time to find the square.

From there, the tour takes you through Reykjavik’s Christmas decorations and lights while the food and drink stops unfold. The exact walking route and order of tastings can vary, so think of this as a guided food walk rather than a fixed restaurant meal.

I like this format for a first evening in Reykjavik. You get food, a little sightseeing, and cultural background in one outing. You also avoid spending the whole evening at a table, which is useful if you want to see the city decorated for the holiday season.

The tradeoff is that the three hours include walking outdoors. Icelandic December weather can be cold, windy, wet, or snowy, and the tour operates in all weather conditions. Bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. A good coat is more important than dressing up for Christmas dinner.

Smoked lamb, Iceland’s classic Christmas centerpiece

One of the central tastings is smoked lamb. In Iceland, smoked lamb is closely tied to Christmas meals and has a firm, smoky flavor. It is not a mild sample designed to please everyone, but that is part of its value. You get to taste a food with a clear place in Icelandic holiday cooking.

The portion is presented as a tasting, not a full plate of lamb. That lets you try it alongside the other dishes without filling up too soon. Pay attention to the seasoning and smoke, since the flavor gives you a useful introduction to traditional Icelandic food.

I would especially recommend this stop if you are curious about foods that do not often appear on standard city menus. It is also a helpful choice for anyone who wants more than familiar international dishes during a Reykjavik visit.

If you prefer very plain food, smoked lamb may be one of the stronger flavors on the tour. The guide’s explanation helps put it in context, but the taste itself remains bold. You should arrive ready for traditional food, not a menu built around gentle flavors.

Lauðabrauð brings craft to the Christmas table

Laufabrauð, often called leaf bread, is one of the most memorable foods on the tour because its appearance is part of the story. The thin bread is cut with intricate patterns before being fried until crisp. It is buttery, delicate, and very different from a standard slice of bread.

This is the sort of dish that tells you something about home traditions. The work involved in cutting the patterns gives the food a handmade character, while the frying makes it easy to eat as a small festive snack.

I like that laufabrauð balances the smoked lamb. After a savory, smoky bite, the crisp bread offers a lighter texture and a buttery note. Your guide can explain the food’s place in Christmas customs, so you are not just sampling something attractive without knowing why it matters.

Do not expect a large serving. Like the rest of the menu, this is a taste meant to build a full picture of Icelandic Christmas food. The variety is the point.

Special meats and seafood widen the menu

The tasting continues with several foods that show the range of an Icelandic Christmas spread. You can sample glazed Hamborgarhrygg, a special preparation of pork loin, along with reindeer paté.

The glazed pork offers a sweeter, more festive style of meat. It is a useful contrast to the smoke of the lamb. Reindeer paté is likely to be the most unusual item for many people, and its inclusion gives the tour a distinctly Icelandic seasonal feel.

Seafood appears in the form of gravlax and pickled herring. Gravlax is cured salmon with a clean, seasoned flavor, while pickled herring brings a sharper, tangier taste. These are not filler dishes. They show how fish and preserved foods fit into holiday eating in Iceland.

I appreciate the balance here. The menu includes meat, cured fish, fried bread, and drinks, so you can compare several types of preparation rather than eating variations of the same dish. It also means the tour may suit adventurous omnivores better than picky eaters.

If you have a strong dislike of fish, herring, or game, ask about the menu before booking. The operator is happy to hear about specific dietary needs and allergies, but the experience is specifically not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Three Christmas drinks, from soda to mulled wine

The drinks are an important part of the experience, not just a way to wash down the food. You will taste Jólaöl, a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale, along with malt and appelsín, a beloved non-alcoholic holiday drink.

Malt and appelsín is especially useful for understanding Icelandic Christmas customs because it is not simply ordinary orange soda. The combination of malt beverage and orange drink is a familiar seasonal pairing in Iceland. It gives you a sweet, malty alternative to beer or wine.

Jólaöl brings a more traditional beer note, while Jólaglögg provides the warmest part of the tasting. This Icelandic mulled wine is aromatic and suited to a cold evening walk. The drinks create a good rhythm for the tour, moving from food history into the small pleasures of the season.

The description does not specify the alcohol level or serving size of every drink, so you should not treat this as a full bar crawl. It is a food tour with selected festive beverages. If you do not drink alcohol, malt and appelsín still gives you a clear seasonal option, but tell the operator about your preferences when you book.

Christmas lights turn the walk into an evening outing

Reykjavik is compact, and Christmas decorations make the central streets feel especially inviting during the dark winter season. The tour includes a guided look at the city’s Christmas lights and decorations, so you are not moving between food stops without context.

This part is valuable because the city itself becomes part of the meal. You can pause between tastings, look at the decorated streets, and hear stories about the customs connected with the season. It is a more local-feeling approach than sitting inside for three hours.

The lights also make the tour a good choice for an early trip activity. You get your bearings in the center while learning where Ingólfstorg Square sits in relation to nearby landmarks. Do not expect a major sightseeing tour of every Reykjavik attraction. The focus remains Christmas food, with the decorations adding atmosphere and context.

Because the tour takes place outside, your clothing will affect how much you enjoy it. Wear warm layers, sturdy walking shoes, and clothing suited to changing weather. The guide can explain the food, but no one can make cold feet comfortable.

The Little Christmas Store adds a small shopping stop

The visit to the Little Christmas Store gives the tour a change of pace. You can browse festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal treasures in a setting built around Christmas rather than everyday souvenirs.

This stop suits people who like to bring home a small object with a local connection. It is less useful if you are trying to avoid all shopping during your trip, though the visit is part of the experience rather than a demand to buy something.

You also receive a locally inspired gift. The exact gift is not specified, so you should treat it as a pleasant keepsake rather than choosing the tour for a particular item. It adds a personal touch and gives you something tangible from an outing that otherwise centers on food.

I like this stop because it keeps the evening from becoming only a series of bites. The store connects Christmas cooking with the wider craft and decorating traditions of the season.

A guide makes the difference

The food is the reason to book, but the guide shapes the experience. You are not simply handed samples and left to guess what they mean. The guide discusses the stories, history, and cultural role of each dish and drink.

Palli received especially strong praise for being entertaining while sharing useful information. That combination matters on a food tour. A guide who only lists ingredients can make the meal feel like a lecture, while a guide who only jokes can leave you with no sense of place. The best version gives you both context and an enjoyable evening.

The tour is offered in English. A private group option is available if you want a more personal format or have a group that prefers not to join a shared outing. The standard information does not give a maximum group size, so ask when booking if group size is important to you.

A three-hour length gives the guide enough time to explain the dishes without turning the outing into a rushed snack stop. Still, the price means you should value conversation and cultural background, not just the amount of food on the table.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is not a budget meal. The price includes a local guide, food tastings, drinks, the Christmas Store visit, and a locally inspired gift. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you also need to make your own way to Ingólfstorg Square.

The value depends on how you normally travel. If you would otherwise pay for a special Christmas dinner, several drinks, and a guided evening walk, the total begins to make more sense. You are also paying for explanations and access to seasonal foods that may be hard to identify or order on your own.

If you mainly want a cheap meal, I would not choose this tour. The food comes in tasting portions, and the experience is built around variety, stories, and the guide’s personality. One German participant found the food and guide very good but still felt the price was high, which is a fair warning.

I would call it a special-occasion purchase. It makes the most sense for a first visit to Reykjavik during the Christmas season, for people who enjoy trying local dishes, and for anyone who wants a guided evening instead of planning several food stops alone.

Who should book this Reykjavik Christmas experience?

I would recommend it to you if you:

• Enjoy traditional meat and seafood dishes
• Want to taste several Icelandic Christmas foods in one evening
• Like learning the background behind what you eat
• Appreciate a guide who adds humor and conversation
• Want to see Christmas lights while walking around central Reykjavik
• Are happy to pay more for a planned cultural food experience

I would think twice if you are vegan or vegetarian, since the tour is not suitable for either. You should also ask about your needs before booking if you have serious allergies or strict dietary restrictions.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and a private group can be arranged. The provided information does not explain the exact walking distance or every surface along the route, so contact the operator if you need detailed access information.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your winter schedule is still shifting, but the more important booking decision is food preference and price.

My recommendation for Christmas in Reykjavik

Book this if you want a guided introduction to Icelandic holiday food and you are comfortable with a premium price. The smoked lamb, laufabrauð, reindeer paté, seafood, and seasonal drinks give you a broad taste of Christmas in Iceland in only three hours.

I especially like the mix of food education, Christmas lights, and a local store. The stop at the Little Christmas Store and the small gift make the outing feel more personal, while Palli’s friendly and entertaining style shows how much the guide can add.

Skip it if you want a full restaurant dinner, a low-cost tasting, or a vegetarian menu. For everyone else, this is a well-focused way to make a cold Reykjavik evening feel festive, provided you bring warm clothes and arrive hungry enough to sample boldly.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $173 per person.

Where is the meeting point?

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

How will I recognize the guide?

The local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik printed on the back.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Which foods are included?

The tasting includes smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

Which drinks are included?

You can taste Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg mulled wine.

Is the tour suitable for vegans or vegetarians?

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

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must reach the meeting point yourself.