Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Christmas in Reykjavik tastes better than it looks on a postcard. This three-hour food walk pairs seasonal Icelandic dishes with twinkling streets, local stories, and a stop at the Little Christmas Store. I like the mix of hearty foods and festive drinks, and I like that the guide explains why each dish belongs on an Icelandic holiday table. The main drawback is the $173 price, which may feel high for a walking tour, especially if you are not a keen food explorer.

Palli, one of the guides, earned especially warm praise for being entertaining and full of useful information. You should arrive ready for a fair amount of eating, walking, and standing outdoors. This is not a tour for vegans or vegetarians, and Icelandic winter weather demands warm clothes and sensible shoes.

Key things to know before booking

• Smoked lamb and reindeer paté lead the savory tasting: You will sample several foods that are closely tied to Icelandic Christmas meals.
• Laufabrauð adds a hands-on visual detail: This thin leaf bread is cut into delicate patterns before being fried until crisp.
• Three seasonal drinks are included: Try Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and warm Jólaglögg mulled wine.
• Christmas lights are part of the setting: The walk connects food stops with Reykjavik’s decorated streets and squares.
• The Little Christmas Store adds a shopping stop: You receive a locally inspired gift along with time to browse decorations and crafts.
• Dietary requests need advance notice: The operator can tailor the experience for some needs, but the tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Starting beside Ingólfstorg Square

Your meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, while benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait. That detail matters in December, when even a few minutes outdoors can feel long if the wind picks up.

Look for a guide wearing a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. The tour is conducted in English, and a private group option is available if you want a more personal format for family or friends.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You will need to make your own way to the square, so allow a little extra time to find the meeting point. Once the walk begins, the central location keeps the focus on Reykjavik’s streets rather than on transport between distant restaurants.

The tour runs in all weather. That is useful to know before you book, since Christmas weather in Iceland can bring cold, wind, rain, or snow. Wear warm layers, a weatherproof outer layer, and comfortable walking shoes. Smoking is not allowed during the activity.

First tastes of an Icelandic Christmas

The food is the reason to book this experience. Rather than offering only familiar international holiday fare, the tasting introduces you to dishes that help explain how Iceland celebrates Christmas.

Smoked lamb is one of the substantial highlights. Its strong, smoky flavor makes it a good example of Icelandic festive food, where preserving meat was once an important part of preparing for winter. You receive a taste rather than a full plate, but the sample gives you a clear sense of the dish without turning the tour into one long heavy meal.

Laufabrauð, or leaf bread, brings a different texture. It is thin, buttery, patterned by hand, and fried until crisp. The decorative cuts are more than a pretty touch. They show the care that goes into holiday baking, and they give you something to look at as well as eat.

I like this contrast. The smoked lamb is bold and savory, while the bread is light, crisp, and delicate. Together, they make the opening part of the food experience feel like a lesson in both preservation and celebration.

Portions are tasting portions, not restaurant-sized servings. That is a benefit because several more dishes are still to come. If you arrive hungry, you should be comfortable, but do not expect one stop to replace a full dinner.

Ham, reindeer, fish, and pickled herring

The savory selection continues with glazed Hamborgarhrygg, a special Christmas ham. The glaze gives the meat a sweeter festive edge, making it a useful contrast to the smoky lamb. It is the sort of dish that helps you understand how familiar holiday flavors are adapted for an Icelandic table.

Reindeer paté is likely to be the most unusual item for many people. It has a firm place in the tour because it introduces a less ordinary meat in a spreadable form. If you enjoy trying local specialties, this is one of the samples that gives the tour its sense of place.

Gravlax shifts the meal toward the sea. The cured fish is flavorful without being as heavy as the meat dishes, and it reflects Iceland’s close connection with fishing and seafood. Pickled herring adds a sharp, tangy note. It may divide the table, but that is part of the fun. A Christmas tasting should offer more than safe choices.

I appreciate that the food list moves across different tastes and textures. You get smoky, sweet, salty, creamy, cured, and sour elements. That variety keeps the three hours from becoming a parade of similar meat samples.

The tour is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, so this is an important booking decision. If you have allergies or other dietary restrictions, tell the operator when booking. The tour provider says it can accommodate specific needs in some cases, but you should not wait until the meeting point to ask.

Three drinks with three different roles

The drinks are included, and they help make the tasting feel like a Christmas event rather than a series of disconnected bites.

Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale. It gives you a chance to try a seasonal drink that is less familiar than standard beer. The second is malt and appelsín, a beloved non-alcoholic combination of malt beverage and orange soda. Its sweet, fruity taste is closely linked with the holiday season in Iceland.

Jólaglögg is the warm option. This mulled wine adds spice and heat, which is especially welcome during an outdoor winter walk. It also slows the pace in a pleasant way, giving you time to listen to the guide and look at the decorations around you.

The range of drinks is useful for mixed groups. Not everyone wants alcohol, and the inclusion of malt and appelsín means you can still enjoy a distinctly Icelandic Christmas beverage without choosing beer or wine.

The supplied information does not specify the exact number of servings or whether every drink is available at a separate stop. Think of them as tasting pours included within the tour rather than a full evening of drinking. You should still plan responsibly, especially if you have another activity afterward.

Reykjavik after dark and under Christmas lights

Food is the anchor, but the city walk gives the experience its mood. Reykjavik’s Christmas lights and decorations provide a seasonal backdrop as you move between tasting points. In December, darkness arrives early, so the lights are not an optional extra. They shape the whole atmosphere of the walk.

The guide also shares stories about the history and cultural meaning of the dishes and drinks. This is where the tour offers value beyond simply buying samples. A bite of smoked lamb means more when you understand its place in Icelandic holiday customs, just as the drinks become more memorable when you know why people serve them at Christmas.

Palli was praised for combining information with entertainment. That balance matters. A guide who only recites facts can make a food tour feel like a lecture, while a guide who only tells jokes may leave you unsure what you actually learned. The comments about Palli suggest that the tone here is lively as well as informative.

You should expect a walking tour, not a formal sightseeing circuit. The focus remains on food, lights, and local stories. If you want a broad introduction to Reykjavik’s museums, architecture, or major landmarks, this is not the right choice. If you want to see the center in a festive setting while eating along the way, it fits well.

A festive stop at the Little Christmas Store

The visit to the Little Christmas Store gives the tour a change of pace. Instead of another food sample, you get time among decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal items. It is a small but effective addition because it connects the meal to Icelandic holiday shopping and gifts.

You also receive a locally inspired gift. The details of the gift are not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular item. Treat it as a modest keepsake, not as a major part of the financial value.

I like the shop stop because it gives you a chance to browse rather than simply move from one tasting to the next. It may also help you find a small Christmas souvenir without spending time searching through the city later. Still, shopping preferences vary. If you have no interest in seasonal decorations or crafts, this part may feel less important than the food.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is a premium food walk. The price includes a local guide, the food tastings, the drinks, the Little Christmas Store visit, and a locally inspired gift. You are also paying for the guide’s time, the explanations behind the food, and the convenience of having several seasonal specialties brought together in one three-hour outing.

That can be good value if you would otherwise spend an evening ordering several Icelandic dishes on your own and wondering what they are. You get a structured introduction to foods that may be difficult to identify or compare without local help.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want a cheap meal. This is not a budget dinner, and the portions are presented as tastings. One direct assessment called the tour expensive, while still judging the overall Christmas experience worthwhile. I think that is the right way to view it: you are paying for a guided cultural food experience, not simply calories.

The tour becomes more worthwhile for first-time visitors who want context and for people who enjoy tasting unfamiliar dishes. If you already know Icelandic cuisine well, or if you prefer choosing your own restaurants, the price may feel steep.

Timing, comfort, and group choices

The activity lasts three hours, with starting times based on availability. That length is enough for several tastings, drinks, stories, and the shop visit without taking up a full day. You should avoid scheduling it too close to another fixed activity, since winter walking and food stops are best enjoyed without rushing.

Comfort is not a minor issue. Wear shoes suitable for Reykjavik’s winter streets and dress for changing weather. The tour does not stop operating simply because conditions are unpleasant, so a warm hat, gloves, and layers are sensible choices.

The experience is wheelchair accessible. A private group is also available, which may suit families or friends who want more control over the pace and conversation. The supplied details do not specify the usual group size, so ask when booking if that point matters to you.

The tour is available in English. If you need another language, you should not assume it is offered.

Who should book this Christmas food walk?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy local food, seasonal traditions, and guided conversation. It works especially well for a first visit to Reykjavik, when you want an easy introduction to Icelandic dishes without having to research every menu.

It also suits couples, families with food-curious members, and private groups looking for a festive activity after dark. The lights, warm drink, and Christmas shop make it feel more like a holiday outing than a standard restaurant crawl.

You should think twice if you are vegan or vegetarian, since the experience is specifically not suitable for those diets. It may also disappoint you if you want large portions, a low-cost dinner, or a tour focused on major sights rather than food.

The strongest reason to book is the guide-led explanation. Palli’s warm, entertaining approach received particularly high praise, and that sort of personality can make a big difference in a three-hour experience. You are not only tasting smoked lamb, gravlax, and herring. You are hearing how these foods fit into Christmas in Iceland.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a festive, food-centered evening and can accept the premium price. The combination of smoked lamb, leaf bread, reindeer paté, cured fish, seasonal drinks, Christmas lights, and the Little Christmas Store gives you a broad sample of Reykjavik’s holiday traditions in one outing.

Skip it if you need a full meal for the lowest possible cost, avoid animal products, or prefer independent dining. For everyone else, especially visitors who value a good guide and enjoy tasting foods with a story behind them, this is a strong seasonal choice. The 4.8 rating from five bookings reflects the key strengths: tasty food, an entertaining guide, and an experience that can feel better than expected.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

What food is included?

Tastings include smoked lamb, laufabrauð leaf bread, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

Which drinks are included?

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

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop, facing Ingólfstorg Square and the two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is to your right.

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

No. The experience is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Can dietary restrictions or allergies be accommodated?

You should tell the operator about dietary restrictions or allergies when booking. The provider says it is happy to tailor the experience for specific needs where possible.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is wheelchair accessible. A private group option is also available.