Where Reykjavik locals eat when they want the best without the ceremony. Harbour views, pristine langoustine, and the kind of crab soup that rearranges your relationship with Iceland entirely.
9
Food
9
Ambience
8.5
Value
About Kopar
The Old Harbour in Reykjavik is where Iceland's fishing industry has operated for over a century — trawlers, processing facilities, the smell of brine and diesel that precedes every great seafood city. Kopar sits directly on this harbour, and the restaurant's spirit is shaped entirely by its proximity to where Iceland's extraordinary marine catch comes ashore. This is not a restaurant pretending to be near the water. It is a restaurant that is, fundamentally, of the water.
The menu is built around adventure and experience in a brasserie format. The kitchen's approach is confident without being showy — they know that Icelandic langoustine, Arctic char, and monkfish from these waters require nothing beyond excellent technique and restraint. The "Taste of Iceland" curated menu gives guests a structured progression through the country's must-taste specialties. The nine-course Kopar Adventure covers the full range of what the kitchen can achieve.
The signature crab soup deserves special mention. Made from Icelandic rock crab sourced from Hvalfjörður fjord — a specific, beautiful provenance — it is a bowl of extraordinary depth and warmth. The richness of the crab, the salinity of the broth, the precision of the seasoning: it is the kind of soup that removes all desire to order anything else, which is precisely why regulars return. Resist the temptation and proceed. The langoustine will thank you for it.
Three-course fish adventures (around 8,900 ISK) and a six-starter option with a glass of sparkling wine (around 5,900 ISK) make Kopar accessible at multiple price points without compromising the quality at any level. The à la carte menu allows flexibility for those who know exactly what they want.
The Occasion Fit
Perfect for First Dates
Kopar's Old Harbour location provides the kind of natural drama that first dates desperately need. The harbour views — fishing boats, the bay, the mountains beyond — give both parties something magnificent to look at when conversation pauses. The seafood is spectacular enough to create genuine moments of shared pleasure. The brasserie atmosphere is relaxed enough that nerves dissipate within minutes of arrival. The "Taste of Iceland" shared menu provides instant common ground. This is first-date dining with effortless momentum.
The Experience
The dining room faces the harbour directly, and in summer, Iceland's midnight sun creates an otherworldly quality to evening service — golden light on the water, the mountains in silhouette, the restaurant as a warm, illuminated interior against the vast Arctic scene. This is not a view restaurants can manufacture. It is a gift of geography that Kopar has built its identity around.
Service reflects the harbour's working character — direct, knowledgeable, and genuinely proud of the fish. The wine list complements the seafood with European selections alongside Icelandic craft beer options for those who prefer them. The cocktail programme is creative without being distracting.
Kopar attracts a clientele that spans Reykjavik residents who return regularly and international visitors who have done serious research. Both groups recognise the same thing: in a city with extraordinary seafood options at every price point, Kopar occupies a particular sweet spot of quality, atmosphere, and value that is genuinely difficult to replicate.
