Eat · Harpa & Old Harbour
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Well-known hot-dog stand near the harbour: a fast, cheap bite; order 'with everything' and eat standing.
- Icelandic lamb hot dog
- Order ‘eina með öllu’
- Cheap and quick
- Order: Hot dog with everything
- Counter seating
- Walk-in window: before 12:00
- Queue risk: 12:00–14:00
- Bring cash
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 10Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel
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- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
- Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.
- Capital Region Iceland ↗Check the road-condition and weather services before any drive out of the city; winter storms close roads.
- Reykjavík ↗In winter, ice and snow make suitcases hard to wheel: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Reykjavík ↗Check the Icelandic Met Office and the road-condition service on the day; storm warnings can close roads, the tower and tours.
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Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Open long hours most days; shorter in winter (check)
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
before 12:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
ISK 700–1,600 (≈ US$6–13)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Your first order
- Hot dog with everythingeina með ölluThe standard order; onions, sauces and mustard.ISK 700–1,100≈ US$6–9
Menus and prices change; the board on the day wins.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- Join the line at the window; there is no table service and no seating.
- Off-peak (before 12:00 and after 15:00) the line is short; late evenings draw a crowd.
Tipping
Unlike in the US, no tip is expected here.
Allergies and diets
- NoVegetarian · Sausage only; no vegetarian option known (check). · say: “Ég borða ekki kjöt.”
- NoVegan · Not suitable.
- NoHalal · Contains pork. · say: “Ég borða ekki svínakjöt.”
- AskGluten-free · The bun contains wheat; ask if a sausage without bun is possible.
- AskNut allergy · Nuts are uncommon; show a written card.
- AskAllergy · Ask about buns, sauces and cross-contact; the stand is small and fast. · say: “Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir ___.”
Paying
Bring cash
- Pay at the window and take the hot dog to the harbour wall or the nearby square; eat quickly in wind.
- No tipping. The price on the board is final and includes tax.
- Cards and phone payments are normal; cash is rarely needed.
Booking
- Booking
- Walk-in, no reservation
- Note
- Treat as walk-in unless the venue confirms otherwise.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Join the line at the window; there is no table service and no seating.
- 2Off-peak (before 12:00 and after 15:00) the line is short; late evenings draw a crowd.Off-peak (before 12:00 PM and after 3:00 PM) the line is short; late evenings draw a crowd.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | Reikninginn, takk | RAYK-ning-in tahk |
| Hello | Halló | HAH-loh |
| Thank you | Takk | tahk |
Portions and sharing
- Say ‘eina með öllu’ for one with everything, or ‘tvær með öllu’ for two.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Drinks and extra sauce: Small extras add ISK 100–500 (≈ US$1–5) — Check the board before adding.
- Tap water is free and cold: ask for a glass, not bottled.
Paying and tipping
Unlike in the US, no tip is expected here.
- Pay at the window and take the hot dog to the harbour wall or the nearby square; eat quickly in wind.
- No tipping. The price on the board is final and includes tax.
- Cards and phone payments are normal; cash is rarely needed.
- Tipping: Not expected; service is included. A small tip for exceptional service is welcome, not required.
At the table
- Prices are high but portions are large: soup and bread is the value lunch.
- Kitchens close early in the week: dinner service often stops around 21:00; book on Friday and Saturday.Kitchens close early in the week: dinner service often stops around 9:00 PM; book on Friday and Saturday.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- ISK 700–1,600 (≈ US$6–13) per person for one or two hot dogs and a drink
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Accepted, but rarely used.
Tap or chip; the normal way to pay.
Phone wallets work through the terminal.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianno
Sausage only; no vegetarian option known (check).
Show: Ég borða ekki kjöt.
- Veganno
Not suitable.
- Halalno
Contains pork.
Show: Ég borða ekki svínakjöt.
- Gluten-freeask
The bun contains wheat; ask if a sausage without bun is possible.
- Nut allergyask
Nuts are uncommon; show a written card.
- Allergyask
Ask about buns, sauces and cross-contact; the stand is small and fast.
Show: Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir ___.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- No booking; walk up to the window.
- How far ahead
- Not needed
- No-show / cancel fee
- Not applicable
- Dress code
- None; dress for the wind because you eat outside.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Christmas days | check before you go | Reduced hours around Christmas and New Year. |
| Late night | check before you go | Opening hours run late in summer and shorter in winter. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 09:00 (quiet).
- 09:00quietlittle or no wait
- 10:00quietlittle or no wait
- 11:00lightlittle or no wait
- 12:00busya short wait is possible
- 13:00busya short wait is possible
- 14:00lightlittle or no wait
- 15:00lightlittle or no wait
- 16:00lightlittle or no wait
- 17:00busya short wait is possibleAfter work and cruise arrivals
- 18:00busya short wait is possible
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Air
- Open-air: hot at midday, wet in rain
- Seating
- Standing or a shelf: no proper seats
- Kids
- kids' menu: no · stroller: caution · Standing only; a quick stop rather than a meal
- Access
- step-free: yes · A pavement stand with no seating and no toilet
Hygiene
- A busy stand with high turnover; the risk is low.
- Wash hands before you eat; the stand has no hand-wash point.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not on file — Treat as walk-in unless the venue confirms otherwise.
- Capabilities
- food
- Getting there
- Tryggvagata, near the harbour · ~4 min walk
Cons
- Queues at peak times.
- Standing only; no indoor seating.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Pylsa (pylsur) | A hot dog made mainly with Icelandic lamb plus pork and beef. | Ask for ‘eina með öllu’ (one with everything). |
| Steiktur laukur | Crispy fried onions. | Included in ‘með öllu’. |
| Remúlaði | A sweet remoulade sauce with pickles. | Included in ‘með öllu’; say ‘ekkert remúlaði’ to leave it out. |
| Pylsusinnep | Brown sweet mustard. | Included in ‘með öllu’. |
Price check
- locals pay
- Locals pay the same posted price, about ISK 700–1,100 (≈ US$6–9) a hot dog (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- There is no tourist surcharge; the premium is the wait, not the price.
- rule
- No tipping. The price on the board is final and includes tax.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks and extra sauce | Small extras add ISK 100–500 (≈ US$1–5) | Check the board before adding. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Where exactly is it?
On Tryggvagata, on the harbour side; a short walk from Harpa.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is it open late?
Usually until late; check the day’s hours.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
What do I say to order?
Say ‘eina með öllu’ (one with everything) for the classic order.
Is it worth the queue?
The hot dog is cheap and quick, but not a full meal; go off-peak and skip the wait.
Is there seating?
No, it is a standing stand; eat on the harbour wall or in Harpa.
How much does it cost?
About ISK 700–1,100 (≈ US$6–9) a hot dog in 2026 (estimate).
Can vegetarians eat here?
No known vegetarian option (check).
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Brauð & Co17 min walkA bakery stop up the hill.
- Old Harbour fish and soup counters6 min walkFish and lamb soup counters near the Old Harbour: a warm, quick lunch before or after a boat trip; confirm the counter is open and read the price board first.
- Svarta Kaffið9 min walkA café on Laugavegur known for soup in a bread bowl: a filling, warming lunch for about ISK 3,000–4,000; go at 11:30 or 14:00 to avoid the rush.A café on Laugavegur known for soup in a bread bowl: a filling, warming lunch for about ISK 3,000–4,000; go at 11:30 AM or 2:00 PM to avoid the rush.
- Café Loki17 min walkA café opposite Hallgrímskirkja serving traditional Icelandic plates: fish stew, lamb soup and rye bread; a warm lunch stop with a view of the church.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Reykjavík, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Reykjavík in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Reykjavík (eat)
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.