LYST: attractive exterior and inviting atmosphere

LYST: appetizing, high-quality food photography

LYST: beautiful interior and inviting atmosphere

LYST: beautiful atmosphere and inviting exterior

LYST: inviting atmosphere and professional composition

LYST: inviting atmosphere and quality shot

10 photos

LYST

★ 4.7 · 369 reviews Akureyri Opened Opening date unknown

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A café inside the world's northernmost botanical garden

LYST is the café inside Lystigarðurinn, Akureyri's botanical garden and one of the northernmost in the world. Expect brunch, light plates and cakes among the flower beds.

Come for a walk through the garden, then coffee and something fresh. A low-key stop on a good day, quieter in deep winter when the garden goes dormant.

What guests say

Reviews by Google

Beata Zemanová 3 reviews 8 July 2026

Very pretty place, great views, cozy design and very tasty speciality coffee. The plus was that oat milk was without extra fee. Thank you! We will be definitely coming back soon.
Nomis Haes 436 reviews · Local Guide 24 June 2026

Very nice place to chill and have a coffee and some bread. The interior is beautiful.
Vanessa S 26 reviews · Local Guide 21 February 2026

Love this place. We came back almost everyday to eat a toast with spread. The slices and the spreads are thick so you have enough with one usually. During the week it’s very quiet, bit livelier on the weekends. Very cozy and relaxing.
Charlie 25 reviews · Local Guide 2 February 2026

Myself and my husband visited here for a late lunch and had a beef soup and a fish soup. Both were homemade, fresh, full of flavour and some of the best food we had during our stay in Akureyri. The building itself is also beautiful surrounded by the botanical gardens. It’s definitely well worth the walk from town even when it’s icy.
Caroline Poppleton 4 reviews 26 January 2026

We were searching for something off the well trodden tourist paths in Akureyri and boy did we find it. When a cafe can understate its food by simply calling it “ meat or fish and vegetables “ then it’s a clue it’s something different. What arrived were plates that needed a paragraph of description however by doing that on a menu the concept is lost. It is just fish or meat and vegetables but after the skill of the chef has transformed them into a stunning eating experience. We would definitely recommend finding this hidden gem.