Reykjavik Food Tour – Supermarket Tour & Lunch at Microbrewery

The most useful part of this Reykjavik food tour happens before lunch: you visit a local supermarket and learn what Icelanders actually buy, cook, and look for on food labels. That makes the meal afterward easier to understand, especially if Icelandic cuisine feels unfamiliar.

I like the practical grocery-store stop, and I like the private microbrewery setting where you can try several Icelandic dishes with local craft beer. The small maximum of 12 people should also keep the experience personal rather than turning lunch into a crowded production.

The main consideration is price. At $123 per person, this is not a cheap lunch, and the tour lasts only about two to three hours. You are paying for guidance, tastings, beer, and access to a reserved setting, so it makes the most sense early in your Iceland trip.

Key points at a glance

• Begin on Laugavegur: Meet at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, at 11 a.m., then walk to a grocery store on Reykjavik’s main shopping street.
• Learn by shopping: The supermarket visit explains common Icelandic produce, food sources, and everyday local eating habits.
• Taste before you judge: Several Icelandic dishes and flavors are served at the microbrewery, giving you a useful range rather than one fixed meal.
• Private lunch setting: The microbrewery is reserved for the group during the tour, offering a quieter meal than a standard restaurant visit.
• Craft beer is included: You receive tastings of local brews alongside the food.
• Small group size: The tour accepts no more than 12 people and ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, Laugavegur 86.

Why the supermarket stop matters in Iceland

Many food tours rush straight to a plate of traditional food. This one starts with the shopping aisle, which is a smart choice. Iceland’s food culture is shaped by its climate, its island location, and the cost of bringing goods into the country. A supermarket shows you that daily reality better than a restaurant menu alone.

At the store on Laugavegur, you learn about the produce commonly found in Iceland and where food comes from. You also get a look at the practical side of eating in Reykjavik. That is useful if you plan to buy breakfast supplies, picnic food, snacks, or ingredients for a self-catering stay.

I like this beginning because it gives you context before the tasting begins. Instead of hearing that Icelandic food is unusual and then trying a dish without a frame of reference, you first see the ordinary food of the country. The experience can help you separate everyday Icelandic eating from special dishes prepared for tourists.

One published account of the outing described the grocery visit as the sort of information the writer wished had been available during an earlier Iceland trip in 1990. That is a telling detail. Food shopping has changed, and knowing where to find familiar items, local products, and basic supplies can save you money during an expensive Iceland visit.

The store is on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street, in the heart of the city. You are not being sent out to a remote market or asked to arrange extra transport. The meeting point at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, puts you in a central part of town, near public transportation and easy to reach on foot from many central hotels.

From Laugavegur shopping to Icelandic lunch

After the supermarket visit, the group heads to a local microbrewery for lunch and tastings. The route ends at MicroBar Reykjavik at Laugavegur 86, so the entire experience stays in central Reykjavik rather than spreading across the city.

The meal includes several Icelandic dishes and flavors. The exact menu is not specified, so you should not book this expecting one particular specialty or a fixed list of delicacies. The useful point is variety. You get several samples, which lets you work out what you enjoy and what you would rather leave behind.

That approach suits Icelandic food well. A single dish can give you a narrow impression, while small portions of several foods let you compare textures and flavors. You may find an ingredient you want to order again, or you may discover that a famous local item is not for you. Either result is worthwhile.

I also like the private arrangement. The microbrewery is reserved exclusively for the tour group during the visit. That does not mean you receive a private room with a personal chef, since those details are not provided, but it does mean the group has a dedicated setting for the meal rather than simply joining a busy dining room.

Lunch is paired with complimentary tastings of local craft brews. Beer can be a useful part of understanding the meal, not just an extra drink. The tasting gives you a chance to compare local brewing styles with the food, and it adds something you would not receive from a grocery tour alone.

If you do not drink alcohol, check the arrangements before booking. The tour information confirms craft beer tastings but does not describe nonalcoholic alternatives. It also does not list the specific dishes or brews, so people with allergies or strict dietary needs should ask the provider before paying.

A small group with room for questions

The maximum group size is 12 people. That is large enough to create a social lunch but small enough that the guide should be able to explain unfamiliar foods and answer questions without speaking to a wall of people.

I would especially value the small size during the supermarket portion. Grocery shopping is full of details that can get lost in a large group. With fewer people, you have a better chance to ask about Icelandic produce, local food sources, or what to buy for your own stay.

The available information does not provide the guide’s name, so I cannot tell you to expect a particular host. What is clear is the teaching style built into the route. You are not only fed; you are shown how local food fits into everyday life.

The experience has a five out of five rating from 11 published reviews, with a 100 percent recommendation figure. That is a small sample, so I would not treat it as proof that every person will love the menu. Still, it supports the strongest point of the tour: the concept works for people who want useful food knowledge along with lunch.

Is $123 a fair price?

At $123 per person, this is a premium short outing. You spend about two to three hours visiting a supermarket, tasting Icelandic foods, eating lunch, and sampling local craft brews. The price includes more than the cost of a basic meal, but it does not include a full-day tour or several restaurant stops.

I see the value in three parts. First, you get an introduction to Icelandic food without having to choose unfamiliar dishes on your own. Second, the supermarket visit can help you make smarter food purchases for the rest of your trip. Third, the private microbrewery setting and beer tastings give the lunch a special structure.

The price is harder to justify if you already know Icelandic food well, plan to eat mainly at inexpensive cafes, or want a long, restaurant-focused food crawl. You could spend less by shopping independently and ordering lunch yourself, though you would lose the explanation and guided tasting.

For a first visit to Iceland, I think the value improves. Early guidance can prevent you from spending several meals wondering what to order or buying expensive food without knowing what it is. If you are staying in Reykjavik for only a short time, the tour also packs shopping advice and a meal into one central appointment.

Timing, meeting point, and the end of the route

The tour starts at 11 a.m. at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59. That is a useful time for a food outing: early enough to make it your main lunch plan, but not so early that you need to skip breakfast.

The meeting address matters because the experience begins at the restaurant, not at the microbrewery. Give yourself enough time to reach Laugavegur 59 and find the correct starting point. Your mobile ticket can be used for the booking, and confirmation is provided when you reserve.

The tour finishes at MicroBar Reykjavik, Laugavegur 86. Since both ends are on Laugavegur, you are left in a central shopping and dining area rather than at an inconvenient transport stop. You can continue exploring the street afterward or use the end point as a reference for the rest of your afternoon.

The stated duration is approximately two to three hours. Food tours can run toward the longer end when questions and tastings take time, so I would avoid scheduling a tightly timed excursion immediately afterward. The itinerary is compact, but it is not designed as a quick 60-minute snack stop.

Who will get the most from this experience?

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want a gentle introduction to Icelandic food. It is especially useful if you are curious but cautious, since tasting several dishes is less risky than ordering one unfamiliar main course and hoping for the best.

It also suits people who enjoy learning through ordinary places. A supermarket may sound less exciting than a famous restaurant, but it can tell you a great deal about daily life, prices, local products, and what people actually eat. If that kind of practical detail interests you, this route has a strong advantage.

Beer drinkers should find the combination appealing. The local craft tastings add variety and make the microbrewery stop more than a standard lunch. The private reservation should also appeal to anyone who prefers a planned, contained experience rather than searching for a table during a busy midday period.

Families and mixed-age groups need to consider the beer component and the unfamiliar menu. The tour allows most people to participate, but the information does not spell out child pricing, nonalcoholic choices, or special dietary provisions. Ask BiteSized Iceland before booking if those details affect your decision.

I would be less likely to choose it if I wanted a serious culinary class, a long restaurant crawl, or a highly specific menu. The tour is an introduction, not a full cooking lesson. Its strength is showing you several sides of Icelandic food in a short, organized visit.

What the tour does not promise

The experience is described as a visit to a local grocery store followed by several Icelandic tastings and lunch at a microbrewery. It does not promise a market tour, a cooking demonstration, a brewery production tour, or a visit to several restaurants.

That distinction helps set expectations. You are not booking a full day of food stops across Reykjavik. You are booking one concentrated introduction with a supermarket lesson and a reserved meal.

The menu is also not listed in detail. That can be a benefit if you like surprises, but it is a drawback if you want to plan around a particular dish. Anyone with allergies, dietary restrictions, or strong dislikes should contact the provider before the tour rather than assume the tasting can be changed.

The weather policy is worth noting in practical terms. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. The provider also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you can be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses Reykjavik local time, so check the clock carefully if you are booking from another time zone.

My verdict on the Reykjavik food tour

I would book this if I were new to Icelandic food and wanted more than a restaurant recommendation. The supermarket stop is the tour’s best idea because it connects lunch with everyday life. The private microbrewery, multiple tastings, and local beer make the second half enjoyable without requiring you to commit to one unfamiliar dish.

At $123, it is best viewed as a guided food lesson with lunch, not simply a meal. Book it early in your Reykjavik stay if you want to use the grocery advice during the rest of your trip. Skip it if you already have a detailed food plan, need a guaranteed menu, or prefer to spend that amount on a longer evening of dining.

For curious eaters who appreciate practical advice, a small group, and a central route, this is a focused way to get oriented.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, 101 Reykjavik, at 11 a.m.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik, Laugavegur 86, 101 Reykjavik.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately two to three hours.

What is included in the food portion?

You visit a grocery store and then try several Icelandic dishes and flavors during lunch at a local microbrewery.

Are craft beer tastings included?

Yes. Complimentary tastings of local craft brews are included.

How many people can join the tour?

The group has a maximum of 12 participants.