Cafés

The Wilderness Center is a peaceful and authentic hideaway on the edge of Northern Europe’s largest wilderness. It offers a unique insight into Iceland’s rural heritage, where history, nature and hospitality come together. Walking through the historic buildings and hearing the stories of the families who once lived here gives a true sense of stepping back in time. The on-site museum adds depth to the experience, with authentic exhibits and an engaging audio-guided tour available in both Icelandic and English. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who once called this remote valley home. The center offers unique accommodation, a relaxing spa and a restaurant serving freshly prepared traditional Icelandic food. Visitors can enjoy breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks and dinner in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Lunch features traditional Icelandic lamb soup, served alongside the center’s popular homemade cake buffet. For those looking to explore the surrounding landscape, the Wilderness Center offers a range of outdoor experiences. Join a guided hike to an abandoned farm, follow the scenic Waterfall Trail where you can see a traditional cable bridge, explore the wilderness on horseback, or choose a tailor-made adventure for a more personal experience. The Wilderness Center is open year-round for accommodation, the museum and the spa. During the high season, from 15 May to 30 September, selected activities are available daily. Lunch is served between 12:00 and 16:00, while guided tours are offered throughout the day. During the low season, these activities are available upon request.

Café Croft is placed beside Bustarfell Museum, Vopnafjörður. At Bustarfell Museum you get to feel and explore how Icelanders lived in the earlier days. Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 every day from 1 June to 31 August.

Vök Bistro, located at Vök Baths serves a tasty array of small courses, soups, small dishes, smoothies, and fresh salads. We partner with local suppliers and strive to purchase local and organic products whenever possible. We always want to include a taste of Iceland in our menu. At our Tea bar, we make the most of the naturally warm and certified drinkable water of Lake Urriðavatn to offer our visitors a unique selection of organic and locally sourced herbal teas. All of our tisanes are steeped in hot water from Lake Urriðavatn, which runs out of the tap at 75 degrees celsius. Our tea is locally sourced, and you’re likely to taste something entirely new! Additionally, we offer cool and refreshing tisanes made using the hot spring water from the lake, which are then allowed to cool. A tisane is included in the admission fee.

Álfacafé is að friendly café in the village of Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður Eystri. The visitor would do well to try the tasty waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries. The café is adorned with artifacts made from local rocks and other interesting pieces on display portraying local culture and art. Next door you´ll find the local fish factory which is worth a glance or two.

Langabúð cafe is located in the oldest building in Djupivogur, dating back to 1790. The cafe offers a wide variety of homemade goods such as soups, bread with salmon and smoked lamb, cappuccino, espresso, latte, and delicious cakes. The menu has a variety of vegan and gluten free choices. You can also try out a selection of Icelandic beers and spirits. Langabúð is Djupivogur's cultural center, housing museums and exhibitions, and is the corner stone in the town's culture. The museums exhibit the life and work of Rikardur Jonsson, a sculptor and artist, and a memorial of the politician Eysteinn Jonsson and his wife, Solveig Eyjolfsdottir. The building's loft houses a heritage museum. The cafe offers a wide variety of homemade goods such as soups, bread with salmon and smoked lamb, cappuccino, espresso, latte, and delicious cakes. The menu has a variety of vegan and gluten free choices. You can also try out a selection of Icelandic beers and spirits. Hours of Operation: Summer: May 15th – September 15th, Every day: 11:00-18:00 Winter: Please contact us for opening hours. Admission: ISK 500

Móðir Jörð is an Organic farm in Vallanes offering accomodation in newly refurbished guesthouse with suites where design is based on using wood from the farm.   The Móðir Jörð products originate from the organic farm of Vallanes, in East Iceland.  Móðir Jörð is recognised for organic Icelandic products made from ingredients which have been grown under natural conditions in the pure and unpolluted climate of Iceland.  The organic café & restaurant is open from June - July - August from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday. Opening times in May and September are from 11 am to 4 pm.  

Ljósbjörg Petra María Sveinsdóttir was interested in stones all her life and started to collect them in earnest in 1946. Most of her stones were found in Stöðvarfjörður and other places in East Iceland because Petra didn´t go much looking for stones in other parts of the country. In 1974, Petra decided to open her home for all those that wished to look at her stones.  Petra´s receives many visitors each year and it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in East Iceland. It´s obvious to all those that visit Petra´s, that she was an efficient stone collector but not many people know that she collected more than stones.  Petra collected marked pens, cups, and numerous other small paraphernalia and for most of her life, she collected eggs, shells, and conches. For sure, Petra´s house has slowly acquired the appearance of a nature museum, but first and foremost, it´s a home. Open from May 1st to October 31st, seven days a week from 09:00 am to 5:00 pm. Kaffi Sunnó In the year 2015, an old dream came true when Kaffi Sunnó was opened. The guests can buy delicious soups and bread, hot and cold drinks and something sweet. Open from May 1st to October 31st, seven days a week from 09:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

The Berunes family invites travelers, wishing to slow down, to join them for a while. Berunes has one of the oldest HI Hostels and a small Campsite. The popular Berunes Restaurant is open all summer and offers a selection of drinks from nearby breweries and a set menu with local seasonal ingredients from land and sea. Guests choose between authentic rooms with shared bathrooms, private rentals of the Old Family House, and few tiny, yet comfortable cottages, ideal for families.Activities include hiking up the hills for a view over the fjord and experiencing the rich birdlife along the coast. Relax, enjoy the remote location, and treat yourself to the renowned breakfast and regional cuisine at the Restaurant & Bar. Berunes can be your base when exploring the magical East. Within 90 min you have reached Egilsstaðir, Vök Baths, Wilderness Center, Seyðisfjörður, Háifoss and many more.  At HI Iceland, we strive to meet and exceed the standards expected of us as a leader in sustainable travel. We take an active role in promoting sustainability within our community and we lead by example, and by good actions and practices in our operation.  Check out our website for more information - www.hostel.is/hostels/berunes-hi-hostel

A Cozy Harbor Café by the Puffin CliffsNestled right at the harbor in Borgarfjörður eystri, Hafnarhús Café is a charming stop just steps away from Hafnarhólmi – one of Iceland’s best puffin-viewing locations. In our modern facilities (opened in 2020), guests can enjoy fresh coffee, homemade cakes and light meals with views over the harbour and seabirds.On the upper floor you’ll find a gallery featuring artwork from local and regional artists, adding a cultural flair to your visit.Whether you're returning from a hike, puffin-watching, or just exploring the East, Hafnarhús Café is the perfect place to rest, refuel, and take in the beauty of the fjord. Open daily during summerHot coffee, homemade cakes, light lunchesStunning harbour and seabird views 

Skaftfell Bistró is located on the first floor of the Skaftfell Art Center, at Austurvegur 42, in Seyðisfjörður. The restaurant offers an innovative menu that reinterprets traditional Icelandic fare with an innovative twist. A section of the restaurant pays homage to the Swiss-German artist Dieter Roth, who lived and worked in Seyðsifjörður in the last decade of his life. In addition to original works by Roth, the restaurant also showcases the works of contemporary artists of East Iceland.  In keeping with principles of sustainability and respect for the natural environment, the Bistró's chefs work with locally-sourced fresh ingredients, celebrating the sea and land around us and supporting local farmers and fishermen, producers and procurers. 

A bistro is in its original Parisian incarnation a small restaurant serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. French homestyle cooking with robust earthy dishes and slow-cooked foods like cassoulet a bean stew are typical.