Matarkjallarinn sits at Adalstraeti 2 in downtown Reykjavik, about 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers) from Hallgrimskirkja Church, or a 15-minute walk. The name means “the food cellar” in Icelandic, and you head downstairs from the street into a dining room with vaulted ceilings and seats for around 120 guests.
Among the many restaurants in Reykjavik, Matarkjallarinn stands out for putting dinner, cocktails, and live piano music in the same room. Plan on a relaxed evening, with drinks at the table and a pianist playing while you eat.
Matarkjallarinn is part of Guide to Iceland's VIP Club. Get 20% off the food menu here when you book any tour, hotel, or rental car with Guide to Iceland.
What To Eat at Matarkjallarinn
Matarkjallarinn cooks Icelandic ingredients in a brasserie style. That means hearty, French-inspired dishes served in a relaxed setting. Think grilled Icelandic lamb, fresh fish, and steaks with rich sauces such as bearnaise.
Seafood plays a big part, with dishes such as a fish soup loaded with smoked haddock, langoustine, and scallops, or pan-fried Arctic char. Vegan, vegetarian, and nut-containing dishes are marked on the menu, and there's a vegan main as well.
The grill also turns out Icelandic specialties such as reindeer with pepper sauce and grilled puffin with blue cheese. Dishes may change, so check Matarkjallarinn's menus before you go.
Matarkjallarinn's Six-Course Secret Menu
The Secret Menu is the restaurant's signature order. You won't see a list of dishes. Instead, the chef sends out six courses from the evening's menu, and each plate is a surprise when it lands on the table.
The whole table orders the Secret Menu together, and vegan and vegetarian versions can be arranged. As of 2026, the Secret Menu costs 16,800 ISK per person, with a wine pairing for 12,900 ISK or a special wine pairing for 16,900 ISK.
Set Dinner Menus at Matarkjallarinn
If you'd rather know what's coming, pick one of the three- or four-course set menus, each with an optional wine match. For a first taste of local flavors, go for Discover Iceland, which features Icelandic cod, lamb, and skyr on the latest menu.
Right now, set menus cost 13,900 ISK per person for Discover Iceland, 11,900 ISK per person for Seafood, and 14,200 ISK per person for Surf and Turf.
Lunch menu at Matarkjallarinn
Matarkjallarinn serves lunch Monday to Friday, 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, which makes it an easy break between sights in Reykjavik. The lunch menu is shorter than the dinner menu, with many of the same dishes.
Expect starters such as fish soup and beef carpaccio, followed by mains like the fish of the day, duck leg confit, or a rib-eye with bearnaise sauce.
For a taste of the Secret Menu at lunchtime, order the Little Secret, four small appetizers chosen by the chef. At the time of writing, the Little Secret costs 7,490 ISK per person, and a three-course seafood lunch costs 8,900 ISK per person.
Desserts at Matarkjallarinn
Save room for dessert. Try skyr, Iceland’s thick, tangy cultured dairy, served with rhubarb and blueberries. The tropical hjonabandssaela is a take on traditional Icelandic crumble cake with apricot, chili, and coconut.
For chocolate, there’s the “Lion Bar” with raspberries and salted caramel. If you prefer a savory finish, choose the baked brie with honey and hazelnuts. Vegan and vegetarian desserts are marked on the menu.
Cocktails and Wine at Matarkjallarinn
The bartenders mix cocktails right in the cellar dining room, so drinks and dinner share the same space. You can find Icelandic spirits, such as potato vodka and local gins, paired with bourbon, smoky mezcal, and fresh fruit. There's also a draft cocktail on tap and a seasonal special, so ask your server what's new.
Gin fans should try the Icelandic G&T list, which pairs local gins with Fever-Tree tonics and fresh garnishes. Additionally, Matarkjallarinn’s wine list covers France, Italy, Spain, and the New World, with reds, whites, and rose by the glass. For a celebration, the list runs to Champagne and top Bordeaux bottles.
Live Piano Music and Art at Matarkjallarinn
The restaurant's motto is that food is for your body and music is for your soul. A mahogany grand piano, made by Bösendorfer in Vienna in 1880, is played live during dinner service, so your meal comes with a soundtrack.
Take a look at the walls, too. The largest piece is a three-meter artwork that redraws the Last Supper with an octopus at the center of the table.
Matarkjallarinn Address, Opening Hours, and Reservations
Matarkjallarinn's address is Adalstraeti 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.
Adalstraeti is the oldest street in Reykjavik, and the Settlement Exhibition, built around the ruins of a Viking-age longhouse, is a two-minute walk up the same street. Ingolfstorg Square is right next door.
The restaurant is within easy walking distance of most hotels in downtown Reykjavik, so you won't need a car to get there.
Opening hours at Matarkjallarinn are:
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Monday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM
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Friday: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 10:30 PM
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Saturday: 5 PM to 10:30 PM
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Sunday: 5 PM to 10 PM
We recommend booking a table at Matarkjallarinn in advance, especially for weekend dinners. For a same-day table, call the restaurant at +354 558 0000.
As part of the VIP Club, Guide to Iceland customers get 20% off the food menu at Matarkjallarinn. To claim the discount, press "Claim now" in the VIP section of the website or app, then show the code to your server. The VIP Club discount can't be combined with other offers.
Plan an Evening Around Matarkjallarinn in Downtown Reykjavik
Matarkjallarinn makes an easy last stop after a day exploring central Reykjavik. Tjornin Pond is a five-minute walk south, and Reykjavik Harbor and Harpa Concert Hall are both less than 10 minutes away on foot. A stroll along the waterfront fits in easily before your table.
If you're in town for a few days, join one of the food and drink tours in Iceland to try local specialties before you sit down to the Secret Menu. Book your table ahead for a Friday or Saturday night, when the kitchen stays open until 10:30 PM.
