Eating Iceland on a Camper-Van Road Trip: Restaurants, Groceries, and Simple Meals
Photo note: Unless explicitly credited otherwise, the photos in this Iceland article are our original images from our September 27-October 6, 2024 Ring Road trip.
อ่านบทความนี้เป็นภาษาไทย: เปิดเวอร์ชันภาษาไทย
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A camper van changes the food decision on an Iceland road trip. You can stop for a memorable meal in town, cook something simple at a campsite, or keep driving without worrying about a hotel restaurant reservation.
On our counter-clockwise loop, we used all three approaches. The van's kitchen had two gas burners, a sink, refrigerator, and cooking and eating utensils. That made breakfast and simple evening meals easy, while restaurant stops gave us a chance to eat local food and take a break from driving.
What worked in the van
The refrigerator ran continuously, which was useful for keeping breakfast food, snacks, and drinks ready. The most practical meals were simple: something warm, quick, and easy to clean up after a long road day.
The main limitation was power. The 220V outlets only worked when connected to campsite shore power, so plan around the gas burners and USB charging unless you have confirmed a powered campsite.
When eating out made sense
Restaurant meals were most useful after long scenic sections: the South Coast, the Eastfjords, and the drive into North Iceland. Town stops in Vík, Egilsstaðir, Mývatn, and Reykjavík created natural opportunities to eat, refuel, and reset before the next section of the route.
Veitingahúsið Suður-Vík after the South Coast
On September 29, we ate at Veitingahúsið Suður-Vík at Suðurvíkurvegur 1 in Vík. Our dinner came to 13,570 ISK. After a long South Coast day, this was exactly the kind of stop that made sense: a proper meal before deciding whether to continue driving or settle in for the night.
Salt Café & Bistro in East Iceland
On October 2, we stopped at Salt Café & Bistro in East Iceland. We ordered Arctic char, fish stew, a beer, and something from the bakery; the bill was 10,825 ISK. This was a good Eastfjords meal stop because the restaurant gave us a warm, unhurried break in the middle of a long driving section.
For us, the useful question was not which Iceland restaurants were most famous. It was when a restaurant stop fit the Ring Road day, what it replaced in the camper-van routine, and whether the meal was worth the time and cost.
We also found useful food evidence in Mývatn, Skaftafell, Vík, Egilsstaðir, and at Viking Café. The pattern was consistent: keep breakfast and emergency food in the van, then use a restaurant or food truck when it also provides a meaningful break from driving. See our Ring Road eating guide for the route-wide version.
A practical food rhythm
We would use the following pattern on a repeat trip:
- Breakfast and coffee in the van before the first major stop.
- A flexible lunch near the day's main attraction or service town.
- A proper restaurant meal after a long drive, when possible.
- Pantry staples and leftovers for weather days or late arrivals.
This approach kept the itinerary flexible without making every meal feel like another logistical task.
For the vehicle details, see our Hertz Fiat Benivan 120 review. For the route, see the complete counter-clockwise itinerary.
These restaurant details and prices are from our September–October 2024 trip. Menus, opening hours, and prices can change.