Icelandic food can feel like a quiz with no answers. This small-group Reykjavik food tour turns it into something practical: you learn what locals buy and cook, then you eat it during a private microbrewery lunch. What I like most is how the whole flow starts with a real supermarket stop on Laugavegur, the city’s main shopping street.

You’ll also get a hands-on way to figure out your tastes. The complimentary craft beer tasting pairs naturally with the food, so you’re not just guessing at Icelandic flavors—you’re tasting your way to preferences. I especially like the idea that you try several different dishes so you can spot what you actually enjoy, not just what sounds exotic.

One thing to keep in mind: this experience requires good weather. If conditions are poor, it can be canceled and offered a different date or a full refund, so plan your Reykjavik schedule with a little flexibility.

Key things you’ll notice on this Reykjavik food tour

• A supermarket first so you learn what’s common before you get to lunch
• Private access to a Reykjavik microbrewery for an exclusive, less chaotic meal
• Craft beer tastings included, so you can match beer flavors to Icelandic dishes
• Small group size (max 12), which makes it easier to ask questions and compare tastes
• Right in the center of town on Laugavegur, near transit and easy to fit into a day

Why this supermarket-to-microbrewery plan works

Reykjavik can be great for food—until you hit that moment in a shop or restaurant where you’re not sure what you’re looking at. I like tours that fix that problem early, because it changes what you do after the tour ends. Instead of eating one meal and moving on, you leave with a feel for what to buy and how Icelandic flavors tend to show up.

This tour’s biggest advantage is the sequence. You start in a grocery store on Laugavegur, so you’re not learning Icelandic food in theory. You’re learning it while you can actually see ingredients, packaging, and everyday choices in front of you. Then lunch happens immediately afterward at a microbrewery reserved just for the group, which keeps momentum high.

It also has strong momentum because it’s built for taste, not lectures. You sample multiple Icelandic dishes and flavors, and you get to try local craft brews alongside the meal. That pairing matters. Icelandic cuisine often feels simple on paper—meat, seafood, dairy, strong flavors—so having a beer tasting to “translate” the flavors helps you understand what works together.

The small group size also helps. With a max of 12 people, the experience doesn’t feel like a factory line of people holding bread. It’s still a tour, but you’re more likely to get answers to the questions you actually have, like what something tastes like or what’s a safe first try if you’re adventurous but not reckless.

Starting on Laugavegur: your supermarket lesson in real life

The meeting point is easy to find: Dill Restaurant on Laugavegur 59, with a start time of 11:00 am. From there, the tour goes to a grocery store on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. That location choice is smart for two reasons: it keeps the tour central and it places you where you’ll already be walking later.

What you gain from the supermarket stop is more than trivia. You learn what produce shows up commonly in Iceland and what people actually buy. Even if you don’t plan to cook at home, understanding what’s common helps you read menus later. You’ll start to recognize patterns—what’s likely to be fresh versus preserved, what ingredients show up repeatedly, and what kinds of flavors Icelandic food tends to lean on.

The tour format also matters here. The supermarket portion includes browsing and learning, then it sets you up for lunch right after. That makes it easier to remember what you saw because you connect it to a meal almost immediately.

A small practical note: because this is a food tour, it’s not the place to arrive starving. You’ll be tasting and eating, and you don’t want your first few bites to be a blur.

Lunch at MicroBar Reykjavik: private microbrewery energy

After the grocery store visit, the tour shifts to lunch at a Reykjavik microbrewery—exclusive to your group during the tour. The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik on Laugavegur 86, so you’re essentially staying in the same neighborhood and keeping your day simple.

This is the part that’s easiest to get excited about. A reserved microbrewery lunch has a different feel than squeezing into a busy spot with a line behind you. You’re not constantly checking where people are going or trying to time your meal around other diners. The result is a more relaxed pacing, which matters when you’re trying several dishes in a short window.

Now, let’s talk about what you actually do at lunch. The tour includes tasting several Icelandic foods and trying typical Icelandic dishes and flavors. You’re not locked into one “signature” item—you get variety so you can judge your preferences. That’s a huge deal if you’re traveling with a partner (or friends) who don’t all want the same things. You get a chance to sample differences and then decide what you’d happily order on your own later.

The private atmosphere also helps with the craft beer tasting. You’ll get complimentary tastings of local craft brews. Even if you don’t drink much, it’s useful: tastings help you notice how beer flavors can change the way you experience food. If you’re someone who likes to pair drinks and bites, this is a comfortable way to do it without needing to be an expert.

Craft beer tastings: how to use them beyond the tour

Icelandic craft beer doesn’t require you to be a beer nerd, and this tour thankfully doesn’t treat you like one. You get a complimentary tasting of local craft brews, which means you can sample without committing to a full pint you may not love.

Here’s how to make this portion work for you. Taste the beer like you would a sauce: pay attention to whether it tastes more roasty, fruity, bitter, or lighter. Then connect it to what you just ate. Icelandic dishes often lean on hearty ingredients and bold seasoning. When the beer has a contrasting flavor—like a crisp finish or extra bitterness—it can make the food feel cleaner and easier to keep going.

Even if you don’t become a craft beer convert, you’ll still learn something practical. You’ll know which types of brews you enjoy. That matters when you’re back in Reykjavik later and trying to choose a drink that won’t disappoint.

What Icelandic dishes you’ll likely try (and how to think about them)

The tour promises you’ll try several different Icelandic foods during the microbrewery stop. That includes typical Icelandic dishes and flavors, though the exact items aren’t spelled out in the information provided.

So instead of trying to guess specific dishes and setting yourself up for disappointment, I suggest using a simple mindset: treat lunch as a set of taste experiments. You’re there to learn what you like. That’s exactly what the tour is designed for.

When you’re doing tastings, you’ll usually learn two things fast:

• Whether you like the more savory, hearty sides of Icelandic cooking
• Whether dairy, seafood, or meat-forward flavors are your comfort zone (or a fun new challenge)

If you’re unsure what to choose on your own in Iceland later, this is the training session. By the end of lunch, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what you’re willing to order again.

Also, because the supermarket visit happens first, your brain makes faster connections. You’ll be less likely to stare at a menu thinking, What is that? You’ll recognize ingredients and common produce types you saw earlier, and the whole experience feels more coherent.

Group size, duration, and how to fit it into your day

This is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 travelers, and the tour is listed as about 2 to 3 hours (with the itinerary indicating around 3 hours). It starts at 11:00 am.

That timing is useful. A late morning lunch tour means you don’t have to worry about squeezing in breakfast decisions, and you can still have time for an afternoon walk afterward. Because the start and end points are both on Laugavegur, you can keep your sightseeing compact and reduce transit stress.

It’s also listed as having a mobile ticket and being near public transportation. If you’re hopping around Reykjavik by foot, this is an easy one to plug into your route. If you’re using transit, the central location helps keep connections simple.

Who is this best for? I think it’s ideal for first-time visitors who want to understand Icelandic food without feeling lost. It’s also a strong option for food-curious travelers who like structure and want an efficient “taste education” rather than reading menus blindly for hours.

If you’re the kind of traveler who already knows exactly what to order in Iceland, you might feel you’re paying for guidance you don’t need. But even then, the combination of supermarket context plus reserved microbrewery lunch can still be a fun way to sharpen your choices.

Price and value: is $123 worth it?

The tour price is $123.00 per person, for a roughly 2 to 3 hour experience with a small group, a supermarket visit, and lunch at a private Reykjavik microbrewery. You also get complimentary craft beer tastings.

Value comes from bundling. You’re paying for three things at once:

1) A grocery store walkthrough that teaches what’s common in Iceland

2) A reserved lunch setting where you can sample multiple Icelandic dishes

3) Included beer tastings that add an extra layer of flavor learning

If you tried to recreate this on your own, you’d have to (a) figure out which supermarket details matter, (b) find a microbrewery that will work for a group without hassle, and (c) plan tastings so you can compare instead of ordering blind. Here, those decisions are handled for you.

So I see it as value when you want fast clarity and a guided taste path. If your travel style is to wander and figure everything out solo, you might do just fine without a tour. But if you’d rather spend your time eating and learning what to try next, the cost starts to make sense.

Also, the rating and recommendation rate are strong: it averages a 5-star score with full recommendation listed. That usually signals consistent satisfaction with the format, pacing, and food choices.

Practical tips before you go to BiteSized Iceland’s tour

This is provided by BiteSized Iceland. It’s a confirmation-based booking, and you should receive confirmation at the time of booking.

A few smart, practical moves:

• Plan to arrive a few minutes early at Dill Restaurant on Laugavegur 59 so you don’t start rushing.
• Think of lunch as tastings with meals included, so don’t add a huge second meal right before it.
• If you don’t drink much, the tasting portion still helps you learn flavors. You can keep it light.

One more planning point: the experience requires good weather. Reykjavik can change fast, so give yourself a bit of schedule flexibility if you can.

Should you book this Reykjavik food tour?

I’d book it if you fit one of these profiles:

• You’re coming to Reykjavik for the first time and want to stop guessing at Icelandic food
• You want a short, structured experience that teaches you what to look for in stores and order at restaurants
• You enjoy beer tastings and like the idea of pairing drinks with different bites
• You’d rather learn efficiently with a max 12 person group than wander food shops alone

I might skip it if you already feel confident ordering Icelandic dishes and don’t want guided tastings. Also, if your schedule can’t handle a possible weather-related change, you’ll want to place this tour somewhere you can reschedule easily.

If you want a practical foothold into Icelandic flavors, this one is hard to beat: grocery store context in the morning, then a private microbrewery lunch on Laugavegur with craft beer tastings included.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and what time?

The tour starts at Dill Restaurant, Laugavegur 59, Reykjavik, at 11:00 am.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at MicroBar Reykjavik on Laugavegur 86.

How long is the tour?

The tour runs approximately 2 to 3 hours (about 3 hours is shown in the itinerary).

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

What’s included with the lunch?

Lunch includes sampling several different Icelandic foods and typical Icelandic dishes and flavors.

Are craft beers included?

Yes. You get complimentary tastings of local craft brews.

Is this tour central and easy to reach?

Yes. It’s on Laugavegur and is listed as near public transportation.

What’s the ticket type?

You’ll receive a mobile ticket.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the paid amount is not refunded.