Cafe Babalu
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Hours
Sun
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Mon
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tue
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wed
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thu
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Fri
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sat
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
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CUISINES
Cafe, European, Soups
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Late Night
features
Details
CUISINES
Cafe, European, Soups
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Late Night
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards
Contribute
4.5
1,753 reviews
Excellent
995
Very good
542
Average
132
Poor
40
Terrible
44
Anastasios
London13 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Bumped into this cosy cafe on a very cold day during February 2020. Place is very nice and cosy inside. We had a latte with soy milk, a sandwich with vegan cheese and spinach (comes with either a salad or fries) and a carrot cake. Everything was nice and tasty. I particularly loved the carrot cake. Friendly staff. Recommended.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rudi Rudi
Washington DC2135 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
Okay... the bathroom should be its own tourist attraction!
I visited this cafe everyday for 2 weeks.
It is cozy and wonderful with a really nice staff.
I enjoyed the courtyard, the deck, and a nook in the corner on the second floor.
My stays were always longer than expected because the music was so darn good.
Paired with the bottomless cup of regular coffee (ask for the rooster mug) and it was an easy way to enjoy a rainy afternoon or a lazy morning.
The side walk picnic tables were usually full with visitors, both local and foreign alike. Local and foreign currencies hang as decoration on a several strings.
You can hear the church bells in the courtyard.
The menu is small, yet complete. I stuck with the crepes, cycling thru the 4 varieties over my 14 day stay. The food arrived quickly, hot and visually appetizing.
Many guests had vegan chili or grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
It is an orange house near Halligrimskirkja, and 12 Tonar record store.
Check mask mandates. The owner or manager has Jedi powers. He is aware if you are breaking the mask rules or sneaking upstairs to the second bathroom without buying something. Don't attempt to use the upstairs bathroom as a public Water Closet - you won't succeed.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan K
Chicago45 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
Located in downtown Reykjavik, right now the street from the giant church. It is an orange building with outdoor seating. Inside, it's adorably decorated. I ordered a hot chocolate and it was delicious, came out to $5.00 (US) which is comparable to Starbucks, but it was a small serving. I asked for a to go cup so that I could take mine on the go! Loved it!
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Onyvava
Dublin17 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
Stop for a coffee as this is a nice space but for the love of god don't order anything to eat. The crepes were pale and sickly looking and absolutely inedible. Mine was filled with overcooked spinach mixed with cheese-flavoured goo, and my partner's with scrambled eggs and processed ham. Both were then drenched in cream-based dressing. At about 2,500 ISK each we were really loathe to leave them uneaten but had no choice. I scraped the dressing off the iceberg lettuce in the side salad and had that instead. The service was fine as far as it went, but as payment is taken in advance I don't think they're too bothered what you think of the food.
Written October 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shajie
Kingston-upon-Hull224 contributions
Nov 2021 • family
A cute little cafe. Easy to find and decorated uniquely.
The menu is very limited but has some decent items on it. We were a group of 8 and it looked quite small but there’s seating upstairs where you can push a couple of tables together.
The server who is also the cook let this place down significantly. He came upstairs in a mood and made a comment that you have to order before you sit down and told us to put the tables back before we leave. (Which would have been fine if he wasn’t rude and snappy about it).
We spent a considerable amount here yet throughout the service, the guy was very rude - serving plates over other peoples food as they were eating rather than just taking an extra step to walk behind them. Genuinely ruined the experience.
For the food I recommend the tomato soup and bread (soup is creamy and very tasty) with a decent portion and two slices of toast.
The toasties are nice, they all come with blue cheese so make sure if you don’t want any - to mention it when ordering. The eggs are scrambled Gordon Ramsey style with cream which I thought was great but some family members thought was too wet.
Hot chocolate was good and came in a nice big glass. Giant chocolate cookie was great!
It’s really a shame the service ruined our experience. I wouldn’t recommend this place because of the service.
Written November 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel B
Atlanta65 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
I stopped by Cafe Babalu twice during my stay in Reykjavik - once for lunch and once for a late night crepe and both meals were delicious! From the crepe to the grilled cheese to my hot chocolate, I was never disappointed. Prices were also fairly reasonable for Reykjavik and being on the main tourist drag. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the facilities were clean and well looked after. I also appreciated that they had water available for all customers by the cash register and on the second floor. There's plenty of seating, though it does get busy later in the day and can be crowded if you're worried about social distancing. If you're there at a quieter time of day, you're welcome to take a seat and enjoy the free WiFi for a minute or two before heading out. The convenient location makes it the perfect place to stop for a quick bite to eat when you're out exploring the city.
Written February 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GBJ-Cookies
South Shields1802 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
Situated on the main street just a 5 minute walk from the Hallgrímskirkja church this place cannot be missed due to its pale blue and bright orange exterior.
If you think the outside is a bit eccentric, wait until you see the inside it's an eclectic mix of postcards, currency, books and ornaments.
Service is very laid back and we had to clear the dishes of the previous occupants we even had the cafes cat for company whilst we were In there.
We only went for hot chocolate to warm us up on a bitterly cold day and the price was £10 for 2 cups about the going rate for Reykjavik.
Written February 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lonewolf44
Kingston upon Thames1303 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
I loved this place so much that I went back 3 times during my visit to Reykjavik. They have a pavement terrace as well as a cosy interior. They serve coffee but also a range of great snacks and meals. I had the vegan chili which was great. The manager gave me a free cookie: his father was guiding a party of Americans and the manager presented them with a cookie each. He very kindly then gave the ones left over to me and a few other customers. That summed up for me what a nice place this is! I hope to go back!
Written August 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susiebee11
Kent70 contributions
May 2021 • none
This is our second trip to Reykjavik and this time I purposely looked for a hotel near Cafe Babalu, as we seem to end up there a lot. This is a great spot for a meal or just a cup of coffee and is decorated in a fun nostalgic style. The owners clearly spend a lot of time keeping the decor fun and fresh and it is very kid friendly. Menu has sweet and savory crepes, delicious tomato soup, and several excellent vegan and vegetarian options. They let you sit and enjoy your meal and it's just a great place to begin/end your day. Several indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
Written June 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica D
51 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
The vibe here is the coolest and the staff are very friendly. We ate here several times since we had 4 teens and 2 kids in our group and we love the upstairs area to hangout and play games while the adults are finishing our food. The kids really loved the hot chocolate, crepes, fries, and giant cookies. The adults really loved the grilled cheese, tomato soup, and coffee. Masks are required unless you're eating, which we appreciate. The music is eclectic and fun. Definitely a friendly, fun place to visit!
Written November 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vacationer553886
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
I went to this cafe after my wife and I had gone to Reykajavik Roasters for three days in a row and wanted to try something new. We ordered two cappuccinos and a chocolate chip cookie. The ordering process was shambolic to say the least with it taking 15min to process the 4 orders in front of me.
I'll admit I am a little fussy when it comes to how I like my coffee however both my wifes and my cappuccinos were undrinkable. Given this was my first coffee for the day and it was almost 11am this is saying something as I would have normally injected coffee into my system by any means necessary by this point.
The cookie was slightly better but still doughy and we didn't finish it in the end. The other food offerings did not look appetizing either unless you like a side of crips with your crepe. All in all it was a highly disappointing as it had come so highly recommended.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephanie L
New York City4 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
I couldn't help but walk in for dinner upon peeking in through the window. It is a small, eclectic feeling space. The menu is gluten friendly; but to be honest I opted for a grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was amazing, and despite having some gluten intolerance (when in the states) my stomach was completely fine! Furthermore, upon chatting with the gentleman at the counter I came to find that the owner was originally from Long Island (I live in NYC currently), which was a fun fact! I also made it in time for "happy hour" and had a lovely glass of white vino. All without breaking the bank! Thanks for a lovely stop-in!
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A M
5 contributions
Jul 2022 • none
With somewhat picky American teen eaters, we needed a place where the whole family would be satisfied. This was it! The crepes and grilled cheese sandwiches were excellent, and the tomato soup incredible. We LOVED the quirky decor. Clearly the owner has a Flintstones fixation, which was really funny (I grew up on those cartoons in the USA in the '70s). It was also really LGBTQ friendly in various decor, which we appreciated. We found seating upstairs on sofas and comfy chairs. But perhaps best of all was the resident cat. After 10 days away from home, we were missing our three flerkens, so getting a chance to cuddle him made our entire day!
My only caveat is that it's a popular place that can get tremendously busy. So don't count on getting a table (especially for larger groups) if you go at regular mealtimes. Make a reservation or expect a wait. (But it's worth it.)
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J R M
Vaughan379 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
2-story house serves as funky cafe down the street from the Hallgrimskirkja. We had 2 great rounds of coffee, hot chocolate, cakes and cookies here on 2 separate evenings. Great drinks and friendly service. 2nd floor deck as well for warmer days. Would definitely return next t time in Reykjavik
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marta E. Antonioli
17 contributions
Sep 2022 • none
My friend and I stopped here to get something warm to drink and a piece of cake. Staff's super friendly and the place itself is amazing and super cute. Location's very central as well. Food was good too, the only "problem" is that prices are quite high, especially if you come from a country whose currency is the Euro.
Written October 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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