What to Eat in Höfn: A Traveller's Food Guide to Iceland's Langoustine Coast

Höfn is a working harbour town of around 2,000 people on Iceland's south-east coast, and its kitchens are built around what comes off the boats.

Langoustine: the reason to stop here

Höfn's identity is inseparable from langoustine, the small orange lobster hauled from the cold waters off the Vatnajökull coast. The season runs roughly from May to August, and during those months the harbour on Hafnarbraut is busy with boats landing the catch. Restaurants across town serve it grilled with garlic butter, in a cream sauce over pasta, or simply boiled with bread and aioli. Outside summer you will mostly see frozen or chilled langoustine, which is still good but a different proposition.

Expect to pay somewhere in the region of 4,500 to 7,000 Icelandic krónur for a langoustine main in town, which sits at the upper end of Icelandic dining but reflects the genuine supply chain. My pick is a plain grilled tail with butter and lemon rather than anything buried in sauce, because the sweetness of the shellfish is the point. Book ahead in July and August, when the ring road traffic peaks and tables in the small harbour restaurants fill by early evening.

Where to eat in town, street by street

Most of Höfn's eating is concentrated along or just off the ring road, Route 1, which runs through town as Ránarslóð and Hafnarbraut. The harbour side has the highest concentration of seafood places, while the inland streets towards Nesjavellir hold a handful of smaller cafés and a bakery. A sit-down dinner for two with a shared starter and soft drinks typically lands between 9,000 and 14,000 krónur; a lunch of soup and bread is closer to 2,500 to 3,500 krónur.

For a cheaper meal, the Nettó supermarket on the edge of town is the practical option — buy bread, skyr, cheese and fruit and eat at one of the picnic tables by the harbour. I would book one proper langoustine dinner and self-cater the rest, because Höfn's restaurant capacity is small relative to summer demand. Skip anywhere offering a broad international menu; in a town this size, the places doing one thing well are the ones worth your money.

Beyond langoustine: lamb, skyr and the bakery habit

Icelandic lamb is the other pillar of south-east menus, and Höfn's restaurants do it as slow-roasted shoulder, in a rich kjötsúpa soup with root vegetables, or sliced over potatoes. Skyr appears at breakfast almost everywhere, served with cream and berries or simply with sugar. The local bakery culture is modest but real — a morning stop for a cinnamon bun and coffee before driving Route 1 towards Jökulsárlón is a better use of time than a hotel buffet, and considerably cheaper at around 1,000 to 1,500 krónur.

Vegetarians will find the town workable but limited: expect mushroom soups, grilled vegetables and cheese-based dishes rather than dedicated meat-free kitchens. If you have strict dietary requirements, the larger hotels with evening buffets offer the most predictable choice. Do not expect late service — most kitchens close by 21:00 even in high season, and in winter some restaurants open only for a few hours or close entirely midweek. Plan an early dinner and you will eat far better.

Practical timing, driving and where to stay

Höfn sits roughly 455 kilometres from Reykjavík along Route 1, a drive of about five and a half to six hours without stops, and around 80 kilometres — an hour — from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. That proximity makes it the natural overnight stop between the south coast waterfalls and the East Fjords. June to August brings the langoustine season, the midnight sun and the fullest restaurants; September and October bring lower prices, autumn light and a menu shifting towards lamb and root vegetables.

Winter visits are quiet and atmospheric but demand flexibility, as road closures on the Öræfajökull stretch can reroute your day. Book accommodation in Höfn early for July and August — the town has limited beds relative to the volume of ring-road traffic, and the 580 hotel views recorded on our site this week show how much interest concentrates on a small number of properties. A central room within walking distance of the harbour lets you drink with dinner and skip the car entirely, which I would prioritise over any other booking detail.

Questions, answered

When is langoustine season in Höfn?

The main season runs from May to August, when boats land fresh catch at Höfn harbour. Outside those months most restaurants serve frozen or chilled langoustine, which is still worth ordering but less sweet. Late June and July give the best combination of fresh supply and long daylight.

How much does a meal cost in Höfn?

A langoustine main typically falls between 4,500 and 7,000 krónur, and dinner for two with a starter often lands between 9,000 and 14,000 krónur without alcohol. Lunch soup and bread costs around 2,500 to 3,500 krónur, while supermarket self-catering is the cheapest option.

How far is Höfn from Reykjavík and Jökulsárlón?

Höfn is about 455 kilometres from Reykjavík along Route 1, roughly five and a half to six hours of driving without stops. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is around 80 kilometres north-east, about an hour by car, which makes Höfn a convenient overnight base.

Do I need to book restaurants in Höfn in advance?

In July and August, yes. The town has a small number of sit-down restaurants and tables fill by early evening when ring-road traffic peaks. Outside high season you can usually walk in, though winter opening hours are limited and some kitchens close midweek.

What can vegetarians eat in Höfn?

Options are limited but workable: expect mushroom soup, grilled vegetables, cheese dishes and bread-based meals. Larger hotels with evening buffets offer the most predictable choice. If you have strict requirements, self-catering from the Nettó supermarket gives you the most control.

What time do restaurants close in Höfn?

Most kitchens close around 21:00, even in high season, and some places in winter open only for a few hours or shut entirely on quiet weekdays. Plan an early dinner, ideally seated by 19:00, and you will have far more choice.

Is Höfn worth staying overnight?

Yes, particularly if you are driving the ring road. It breaks the long stretch between the south coast and the East Fjords, puts Jökulsárlón an hour away for early-morning visits, and gives you access to langoustine at the source. One night is enough for most itineraries.

What is there to eat in Höfn besides seafood?

Icelandic lamb is the main alternative, served as slow-roasted shoulder or in kjötsúpa soup. Skyr with berries is a standard breakfast, and local bakeries sell cinnamon buns and bread. Most menus also include burgers and pasta for travellers who want something familiar.

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