Restaurants in Akureyri

Reykjavík's restaurants are hard to match, but Akureyri makes a respectable showing and capitalizes on local strengths. The Eyjafjörður Valley is a big beef and dairy-producing region, and skýr -- Iceland's famous whipped whey concoction -- was invented here. Delicious blue mussels are cultivated in Eyjafjörður. Perhaps we shouldn't tell you that Eyjafjörður's excellent smoked lamb is smoked "the traditional way" -- with dried manure. Iceland's first and only microbrewery, Kaldi, is made in the tiny Eyjafjörður village of Árskógssandur, with grains from the Czech Republic. (Beer-flavored ice cream is in the works.) On the workaday side, locals like their burgers with béarnaise sauce and stuffed with french fries. In a stroke of genius, this burger concept has been transferred to the popular Bókullupizza: Yes, that would be pizza topped with beef, béarnaise sauce, cheese, and french fries.

For a memorable dinner excursion in the mountains west of Akureyri, see Halastjarna.

Expensive

If the options listed here are full, consider the first-rate Rósagarðurinn (Rose Garden) at Hotel Kea, with traditional Icelandic main courses around 2,000kr to 3,500kr ($32-$56/£16-£28).

Moderate

Those staying up the hill should consider the Edda hotel's quality dinner buffet, which costs 3,200kr ($51/£26), with a la carte options available.