Reykjavik: Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks

Reykjavik’s Christmas table is the star here. In three hours, you’ll taste smoked lamb, crisp laufabrauð, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, and several seasonal drinks while walking through the city’s lights. I like the mix of real Icelandic food and festive sightseeing, and I like that the guide explains why each dish belongs on the Christmas table. The main drawback is the price: at $173 per person, this is a costly meal, even with the tastings and gift included.

The tour suits curious eaters who want context with their food, not just a plate of samples. Guide Palli has been praised for adding entertaining stories and useful local detail, but the menu is built around meat, fish, and dairy, so it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. Tell the operator about allergies or other dietary needs before you book.

Key points about this Reykjavik Christmas food walk

• Traditional Christmas menu: Taste smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.
• Three festive drinks: Try Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and warm Jólaglögg mulled wine.
• City lights included: The walk links food stops with Reykjavik’s Christmas decorations and illuminated streets.
• Little Christmas Store visit: Browse seasonal decorations and crafts, then receive a locally inspired gift.
• English-speaking local guide: Palli is one guide associated with the experience and is praised for lively storytelling.
• Weather matters: The tour runs in all weather, so warm clothing and comfortable shoes are essential.

Starting beside Ingólfstorg Square

The meeting point is outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop facing Ingólfstorg Square and its two tall stone pillars. CenterHotel Plaza is on your right, and benches, tables, and a covered ceiling give you a practical place to wait.

Look for a guide in a light blue jacket marked Your Friend in Reykjavik on the back. This is useful in the busy center, especially if you arrive early and several walking tours are gathering nearby.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You’ll need to make your own way to the square, which is easy enough if you are already staying in central Reykjavik, but less convenient if your accommodation is farther out. Allow a little extra time to find the exact spot rather than relying on a rushed arrival.

The walk lasts three hours. Starting times vary, so check the available departure when booking. Since the experience focuses on seasonal lights, the timing may shape the mood of the walk, but the exact start time is not fixed in the information provided.

Why Icelandic Christmas food makes a good lesson

A Christmas food tour works best when it explains more than what is on the fork. Here, your guide discusses the stories, customs, and cultural meaning attached to the dishes and drinks.

That matters in Iceland, where several Christmas foods reflect older preservation methods and holiday traditions. Smoked lamb brings a strong, savory flavor. Gravlax shows the importance of cured fish. Pickled herring adds a sharp, salty note. These are not bland, generic holiday samples. They give you a quick sense of how Icelandic Christmas cooking balances smoked, cured, sweet, buttery, and spiced flavors.

I like this format because you can make sense of unfamiliar food as you taste it. A small serving of reindeer paté, for example, becomes more memorable when the guide explains its place in local festive eating. The meal is also varied enough to keep the three hours interesting, with meat, fish, bread, sweets, and drinks sharing the stage.

The menu is not designed for every diet. Vegetarians and vegans should skip this tour. If you have allergies or another dietary restriction, contact the operator before booking and ask what can be adjusted. The operator says specific dietary needs can be accommodated, but the supplied information does not promise that every item can be replaced.

Smoked lamb and the first taste of Christmas

Smoked lamb is one of the major savory highlights. Expect a firm, pronounced flavor rather than a mild roast. It gives the tour an immediate connection to Icelandic holiday cooking and sets the tone for a menu that favors traditional tastes over familiar tourist food.

You may find the stronger dishes more rewarding if you already enjoy smoked or cured food. If you prefer mild flavors, this is worth knowing before you pay the full price. The guide’s explanations help, but they do not change the character of the food.

Laufabrauð offers a different texture. This thin leaf bread is cut with delicate patterns, then fried until crisp. Its appearance is part of the appeal, but the buttery crunch is what you’ll notice first.

It is the kind of item that helps show how Icelandic Christmas food can be both practical and decorative. The bread is not just filler between tastings. Its careful patterning connects the meal with holiday preparation and family tradition.

Hamborgarhrygg, paté, gravlax, and herring

The next group of tastings covers several very different sides of the Christmas table. Special glazed Hamborgarhrygg brings a sweet coating to a hearty meat dish. The glaze provides contrast with the smoked lamb, giving you another example of how savory and sweet flavors work together in Icelandic holiday food.

Reindeer paté is among the more distinctive samples. It is not an everyday choice for many visitors, and that makes it one of the most memorable parts of the menu. Try it with an open mind, while remembering that the tour is meant to introduce local Christmas customs, not to serve a broad international menu.

Gravlax brings cured fish and a cleaner, more delicate flavor. Pickled herring is sharper and more forceful. Having both on the same walk gives you a useful comparison between two classic ways of preparing fish.

The tasting order is not detailed, so I would not expect a formal, restaurant-style progression. Think of it as a guided sampling walk, with each food used to explain a piece of Icelandic Christmas culture.

Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and warm Jólaglögg

The drinks are a real strength because they cover both alcoholic and non-alcoholic holiday traditions.

Jólaöl is a traditional Icelandic Christmas ale. It gives you a chance to taste a seasonal beer rather than a standard pub pour. Malt and appelsín is a beloved non-alcoholic Christmas drink made from malt and orange soda, and it is especially useful for anyone who wants a festive taste without alcohol.

Jólaglögg, the Icelandic Christmas version of mulled wine, adds warmth and spice to the walk. A hot drink is welcome in Reykjavik during the holiday season, though you should still dress for cold weather. The drink does not replace a proper coat, gloves, or sensible footwear.

I like that the tour includes malt and appelsín alongside beer and mulled wine. That makes the drinks section feel more tied to local Christmas habits, rather than simply adding alcohol to the package. If you do not drink alcohol, you still have a clearly identified seasonal option.

Reykjavik lights between the food stops

The food is the main reason to book, but the decorated city gives the tour its Christmas setting. You’ll walk through streets lit for the season and see Reykjavik’s holiday decorations as part of the experience.

This is a useful pairing. A restaurant meal would give you more time at the table, while a standard light walk would tell you little about Icelandic food. Here, the two activities share the same three-hour slot.

You should expect walking outdoors in all weather. The tour operates even when conditions are poor, so wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes. The supplied details do not give a precise walking distance or list every street, so do not treat this as a fixed sightseeing route with guaranteed landmark stops.

The city lights also help break up the tasting. You are not sitting through a long succession of dishes, and you are not rushing from one unrelated attraction to another. The route uses Reykjavik’s center as the setting for a seasonal food lesson.

A stop at the Little Christmas Store

The Little Christmas Store adds a lighter, more visual part to the experience. You can browse festive decorations, artisanal crafts, and seasonal treasures, then receive a locally inspired gift to take home.

This stop is useful if you want a small souvenir connected to the tour rather than another food sample. It also gives you a chance to look at Icelandic holiday items in a more relaxed setting.

The store is not presented as a major shopping stop, and you should not expect a large block of free time. Its value is the combination of a festive setting and a modest keepsake. If you prefer tours with no shopping element, this part may feel less important than the food and stories.

What the guide adds to the experience

The guide is central to the value. A plate of smoked lamb or paté can be found in other settings, but the guide connects each bite with local customs and holiday stories.

Palli is specifically associated with this experience, and he has been praised for being entertaining while sharing plenty of information. That is a good sign for anyone who prefers a lively walk rather than a dry list of ingredients.

The tour is offered in English. A private group option is available, which may suit families or friends who want a more personal pace, though the supplied details do not state the private-group price or maximum size.

I would book this for a first visit to Reykjavik if food is one of your main ways of understanding a place. I would not choose it if you want a long sit-down dinner, a simple snack tour, or a menu built around familiar foods.

Is $173 a fair price?

At $173 per person, this is a splurge. You are paying for three hours of guided walking, several food tastings, drinks, Christmas lights, a store visit, and a gift. That is more than the cost of buying a few Icelandic snacks on your own.

The value depends on what you want from the outing. If you would otherwise book a separate food tour and a Christmas lights walk, combining both can make the price easier to justify. The guide’s explanations are also part of what you are buying, since the tour turns separate foods into a lesson about Icelandic traditions.

Still, one direct comment about the experience found the price somewhat high, even while rating the tour highly overall. I agree that you should view this as a special holiday activity, not a budget meal.

The food portions are described as tastings, not a full dinner. If you arrive very hungry, the samples may not replace a regular evening meal. Plan your appetite accordingly and consider eating a light snack beforehand.

Practical details before you reserve

Wear warm clothes and comfortable walking shoes. Reykjavik weather can shift, and this tour runs in all conditions. A covered waiting area is available at the meeting point, but much of the experience takes place outdoors.

Smoking is not allowed. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and a private group can be arranged. The live guide speaks English.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans are still changing. These flexible terms are useful, but they do not remove the need to check the starting time and meeting point carefully.

Most important, contact the operator about allergies or dietary needs before booking. The tour includes meat, fish, and dairy-based foods, and it is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Who should book this Christmas food tour?

I would recommend it to food-focused visitors who want local context, seasonal atmosphere, and a guided walk in one package. It is especially suitable for first-time visitors who want an introduction to Icelandic Christmas customs without planning several separate activities.

It also suits couples, families with adventurous eaters, and private groups looking for a festive afternoon or evening activity. The non-alcoholic malt and appelsín helps make the drinks portion more inclusive, though the food itself remains unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians.

I would pass if you dislike smoked fish, pickled food, strong meat flavors, or outdoor walking in cold weather. I would also pass if $173 feels too high for tasting portions rather than a full meal.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to taste traditional Icelandic Christmas dishes while a local guide explains what they mean. Smoked lamb, patterned laufabrauð, reindeer paté, gravlax, pickled herring, Jólaöl, malt and appelsín, and Jólaglögg give you a broad sampling of the season.

Skip it if you need a vegetarian menu, want a full dinner, or prefer to explore Reykjavik independently. For the right eater, the value is in the combination of food, stories, lights, and a small local gift. It is expensive, but it offers a focused way to understand how Christmas tastes in Iceland.

FAQ

How long does the Reykjavik Christmas food tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

What food is included?

The tastings include smoked lamb, laufabrauð, glazed Hamborgarhrygg, reindeer paté, gravlax, and pickled herring.

What drinks are included?

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

Is the tour suitable for vegetarians or vegans?

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

Can dietary restrictions or allergies be accommodated?

The operator asks you to provide details about allergies or dietary restrictions when booking and says the experience can be tailored to specific needs. Contact the operator before reserving.

Where does the tour meet?

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

How can I identify the guide?

Local guides usually wear a light blue jacket with Your Friend in Reykjavik written on the back. The tour is conducted in English.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What should I wear?

Wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress for the forecast and expect to walk outdoors.