Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
Get inspired!
Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
Hand-picked deals by our pirate team
Get inspired!
Hand-picked deals by our pirate team- Home
- Pirate Tips Sip tomato soup in a glowing Icelandic greenhouse—horses, hot bread, and a secret garden vibe included. 🌿🍅
Tomatoes, Horses, and Hot Soup: Inside Iceland's Magical Greenhouse Restaurant
In the geothermal town of Reykholt, tucked among the steam vents and greenhouses of southern Iceland, sits one of the country’s most extraordinary dining experiences: Friðheimar. This family-run farm and restaurant has grown from humble beginnings into a thriving destination where guests can sip tomato soup beside the very plants that grew the fruit. And yes—you can also pet a horse.
A Family Story Rooted in Soil (and Tomatoes)
Friðheimar is the brainchild of Knútur and Helena, a husband-and-wife duo who purchased the land in 1995 with a dream: to combine Helena's background in horticulture with Knútur's in horsemanship. What began as two small greenhouses and an empty house has blossomed into a vibrant operation with over 70 full-time employees and five active family members involved in the daily work.
Where Tomatoes Rule the Menu
At Friðheimar, everything centers around the tomato. Despite Iceland's long, dark winters, the team grows tomatoes year-round using artificial light, geothermal heat, and plenty of ingenuity. Guests are invited to dine inside the working greenhouse, where the menu is—unsurprisingly—a celebration of the tomato in all its forms.
The famous tomato soup buffet includes homemade bread, cucumber salsa, sour cream, and herbs picked straight from the plants beside you. The soup itself? It’s so rich, fresh, and perfectly balanced that it feels like a small culinary miracle—comforting, deeply flavorful, and entirely unforgettable. You can upgrade with veggie, cheese, chicken, or seafood skewers. There's also ravioli with tomato pesto, fire-baked tomato tortillas, burrata with local tomatoes, and even mussels in tomato seafood sauce. Desserts continue the theme: tomato cheesecake, tomato sorbet, and the now-iconic green tomato and vanilla ice cream—which sounds strange until you realize it might be the only dessert that counts as both a treat and a serving of vegetables (we’re not going to talk about tomatoes actually being a fruit 😜)
A Place That Grows More Than Food
While the tomatoes might be the main event, Friðheimar is far more than a restaurant. It's a working farm, a greenhouse education center, a horse breeding facility, and most recently, home to Vínstofan ("The Wine Room").
In Vínstofan, guests can unwind with a glass of wine or cup of coffee in one of Iceland's oldest greenhouses, lovingly restored to offer light meals, cozy seating, and a laid-back meeting space. The ambiance is pure magic—books line the shelves, vines creep toward the glass roof, and the whole place gives off the irresistible feeling that you’ve stumbled into a secret garden café you’ll never want to leave. Meeting rooms are also available for workshops and corporate retreats, surrounded by tomato vines and warm glass walls.
Horses, Shows & Sustainability
For pre-booked groups, Friðheimar also offers Icelandic horse shows in their custom-built equestrian arena. With stables for 20 horses and an outdoor grandstand, these shows are a crowd favorite. Behind the scenes, Friðheimar maintains a strong commitment to sustainability—from modernizing greenhouses for energy efficiency to building affordable staff housing and joining Iceland's Vakinn quality and environmental system.
A Must-Stop in South Iceland
Whether you're there for a bowl of soup, a horse show, or a peaceful moment among the vines, Friðheimar is more than a meal—it's a story of Icelandic innovation, family dedication, and the magic of growing good things. And here’s the deal: everyone wants to eat here. That greenhouse table surrounded by vines? It’s a hot ticket. If Friðheimar is even kind of on your itinerary, book your table in advance. The tomatoes wait for no one.
Learn more or book a table: fridheimar.is
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