Come to Iceland and skip the hotdog at Bæjarins Beztu? That would be a mistake. It sounds like an overstatement, but among Iceland travellers it’s near-universal consensus. The Icelandic pylsur is not just any sausage — it’s made from quality Icelandic lamb, served in a soft bun with a specific combination of sauces, and costs less than a coffee in a Reykjavík café.
What is a Pylsur?
“Pylsur” is the Icelandic word for hotdog or sausage. The classic Icelandic pylsur is made from a blend of lamb, pork, and beef — the lamb content is higher than in most European sausages and gives it a characteristic, slightly aromatic flavour.
The buns (hveitibrauð) are soft and mildly sweet. The sausage is cooked in hot water or on the grill.
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Address: Tryggvagata, directly at Reykjavík harbour (near the Kolaportið flea market)
Open: Daily, approximately 10:00 to 01:00–02:00 (later on weekends)
Price: ISK 600–700 per hotdog (as of 2026)
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur was founded in 1937, making it one of the oldest continuously operating street food stands in Iceland. The small red kiosk at the harbour has its own queuing ritual: join the line, order in Icelandic or English, and eat standing at the counter or on a nearby bench.
Bill Clinton visited the stand in 2004 during a trip to Iceland. The photo still hangs at the kiosk.
How to Order
The secret of a good pylsur is the sauce combination. The classic order:
“Eina með öllu” — “One with everything”
That means:
- Ketchup (tómatsósa)
- Mustard (sinnep) — a slightly sweet Icelandic-style mustard
- Remoulade (remúlaði) — a creamy sauce with pickles and herbs
- Crispy fried onions (steiktir laukar) — sweet and crunchy
- Raw white onions (hráir laukar) — added bite
If you’re unfamiliar with remoulade and crispy onions, try it anyway — the combination is unusual but very well balanced.
Other Hotdog Stands in Iceland
Bæjarins Beztu is the most famous, but far from the only option:
- N1 petrol stations: Almost every N1 station on the Ring Road has a hotdog counter. A practical option for quick meals during a road trip — prices are similar to Bæjarins Beztu.
- Supermarket pylsur: Bónus and other supermarkets sell pylsur for home grilling at lower cost.
- Local kiosks: Smaller fishing towns and Ring Road villages often have their own stands.
The Pylsur as a Budget Meal
The pylsur is popular for good reason: it’s cheap in an expensive country, fast, and represents real Icelandic everyday food — not a tourist trap, but a meal Icelanders eat daily.
Many Iceland visitors eat their first hotdog on arrival day and their last on departure day. That’s not a bad strategy.
Prices in Context
One hotdog at Bæjarins Beztu costs ISK 600–700. For comparison:
- Cappuccino in a Reykjavík café: ISK 700–1,000
- Burger starter in a restaurant: ISK 2,500+
- Lunch main course: ISK 2,500–4,000
For budget travellers, the pylsur is one of the cheapest meals available in Reykjavík. Two hotdogs make a filling meal for approximately ISK 1,200–1,400.
Take a Food Tour That Starts With the Pylsur
Bæjarins Beztu is a stop on almost every Reykjavík food tour — and for good reason. A guided food tour picks up from here and builds outward: from the pylsur tradition established in 1937 through to modern Nordic restaurants, Kolaportið flea market, and Hlemmur food hall. The guide gives the cultural context behind each stop — why the lamb sausage is different from a Continental hot dog, what Icelanders actually eat daily versus what they serve to tourists, and which newer restaurants have earned their place alongside the classics. Most tours run two to three hours and include five to seven tastings. Prices start from approximately ISK 12,000.
Browse Reykjavík food tours — guided street food walks, market visits, and tastings covering Icelandic food culture from pylsur to New Nordic.
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