Snaps Bistro

Snaps Bistro is a French-Danish bistro and bar on Óðinstorg, a small square in the residential streets between Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur. It offers classic bistro food made with first-class ingredients and a carefully chosen wine list in a warm, welcoming setting.

The day is split into two services. Brunch is served every day from 11:30 to 16:00, which makes Snaps a popular choice for a late breakfast after a busy night or before an afternoon of sightseeing. Dinner runs from 16:00 to 22:00, with a menu of classic dishes in the French and Danish bistro tradition, and the bar stays open until 23:30, so you can come for a drink and a late snack. At Christmas the restaurant offers special versions of both its brunch and dinner menus.

Downstairs, Leynikjallarinn, the secret cellar, is a basement room used for parties, team events, meetings and seated dinners for around 45 to 50 people. On the first Wednesday of each month it hosts Poetry Night, an open-mic evening. Snaps also has a second outlet in the Hlemmur Mathöll food hall on Laugavegur, and runs a catering service.

Snaps suits couples, friends and families looking for comfortable, familiar food rather than an experimental tasting menu, and it is wheelchair accessible. Book ahead through Dineout for dinner, especially at weekends, while brunch is more flexible but still busy on Saturdays and Sundays. Groups should call the restaurant, and parties of more than 20 should get in touch by email.

Prices are in the middle to upper range for Reykjavik, as is typical for sit-down restaurants in the city, but brunch offers good value for a substantial late breakfast. If you are planning an evening meal, the bar is a pleasant place to wait for your table, and the wine list is a strong point of the house. For a quieter visit, aim for a weekday lunchtime or an early dinner, when the restaurant is less crowded than on weekend evenings. In winter, the warmth of the room is a welcome change from the cold streets outside.

Óðinstorg is a few minutes' walk from Hallgrímskirkja, Skólavörðustígur and Laugavegur, which makes Snaps an easy stop between sights. The surrounding streets of old wooden and corrugated-iron houses are pleasant for a stroll after lunch.