From the forecourt of Hallgrímskirkja, central Reykjavík unfolds downhill. Skólavörðustígur leads to Laugavegur and, if you keep walking, Lækjargata. On a windy day that slope can shape lunch too: stop early for soup served in bread, or continue farther to compare Icelandic recipes. Svarta Kaffið and Icelandic Street Food answer different appetites; no review replaces checking the offer and hours of the exact venue.
From the church to the shopping street
Hallgrímskirkja is an active church, so entry and tower access may change for services and events. Check the visit first, then walk downhill along Skólavörðustígur. Svarta Kaffið is at 54a Laugavegur, on the shopping street. For Icelandic Street Food, continue into the lower centre to 8 Lækjargata. Both routes are walkable, although wind and rain may make the first available table tempting.
A bread loaf or a choice of recipes
Svarta Kaffið has built its identity around two soups of the day served in bread. The choice is simple and the room small; travellers recall the warmth of the loaf but also queues and close-set tables. Icelandic Street Food lists lamb soup, shellfish soup and fish stew at its Lækjargata location. Its business-managed listing gives an evening closing time. Some customers report refills and sweets; ask about these when ordering.
What to check before walking down
Daily soups change, and an old photograph is not a current menu. Nor can reviews from a different branch be used to judge 8 Lækjargata. Svarta Kaffið is the more direct answer if you want one culinary image: soup and bread in the same bowl. Icelandic Street Food lets a group try different recipes and eat later. Both are informal venues; if you need specific accessibility arrangements or a large table, ask the location before leaving the church.
Svarta Kaffið is the compact stop for bread-bowl soup; Icelandic Street Food offers more choice and a longer dining window.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Svarta Kaffið is at 54a Laugavegur, on the shopping street reached by walking down Skólavörðustígur from Hallgrímskirkja. Its appeal does not rely on a large menu: the café is known for soup served inside a hollowed-out loaf. It makes sense after climbing the church tower or walking through the cold
Two daily soups served in bread loaves
Icelandic Street Food occupies 8 Lækjargata, in the lower part of central Reykjavík. Visitors walking down from Hallgrímskirkja pass the shopping streets before reaching an informal table of homestyle food. The restaurant describes its offer as everyday Icelandic cooking, far removed from a formal d
Icelandic soups and fish stew on Lækjargata
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Svarta Kaffið ↗
Primary source
Ferdalag.is · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Icelandic Street Food ↗
Primary source
Tripadvisor · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Hallgrímskirkja · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Visit Reykjavík · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Ferdalag.is · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Tripadvisor · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Valoración de Svarta Kaffið ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4.6/5, 3566 reseñas de Svarta Kaffið; consultado 11/10/2026.
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Valoración de la sede de Lækjargata 8 ↗
Secondary source
Restaurant Guru · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4.6/5, 7129 reseñas de Lækjargata 8; consultado 11/10/2026.