FRIÐHEIMAR

Friðheimar is open year-round and only closes for a few days over the Christmas period. In winter, the greenhouse dining room offers a blissfully warm retreat from the harsh weather outside and a steaming-hot bowl of tomato soup makes for an ideal lunch during the coldest months. However, those visiting between 1st May and 30th September also have the opportunity to catch the Friðheimar horse shows and visit the Friðheimar farm stables and meet the famously friendly and unique Icelandic horses.

The Friðheimar horse show only takes place in summer but you can visit the stables year-round to meet the Icelandic horses. Horse riding itself is not offered at Friðheimar, but you can book a visit to the stables for individuals or groups and you will get a chance to witness the unique gaits of the Icelandic horse under the guidance of their trainers.

The Friðheimar farm is famous for two things: tomatoes and horses. Vast greenhouses are naturally heated by geothermal activity, allowing rich tomatoes to be grown even in Iceland’s harshest winters. The Friðheimar stables are home to a small herd of Iceland’s unique breed of horses which are known for their small stature, friendly demeanour and pure breeding.

Friðheimar is considered one of the most family-friendly places in Iceland. Kids of all ages can enjoy meeting the Icelandic horses at the farm’s stables, catching a horse show in the summer months and learning about where their food comes from before they sit down to a hearty, healthy meal in the greenhouse restaurant. There are children’s portions and kids can even try tomato ice cream for dessert.

Friðheimar is in the small village of Reykholt in the southwest of Iceland. It is on the popular Golden Circle sightseeing route, so it’s the ideal lunch stop if you’re spending the day chasing waterfalls and exploring Iceland’s biggest natural wonders. Friðheimar is a 97-kilometre drive from Reykjavík, so it takes around an hour and twenty minutes to drive directly here. Most people would incorporate a stop at Þingvellir National Park on the way when following the route of the Golden Circle. Friðheimar sits between Þingvellir and the Geysir area of geothermal activity and is close to the Secret Lagoon.

Friðheimar was the first farm in Iceland to grow plum and Flavorino cocktail tomatoes all year round. Delicious, healthy tomatoes are cultivated throughout the year thanks to Green energy, natural pest controls and pure Icelandic water. It can take a long time for tomato plants to reach fruition, so Friðheimar operates a system of interplanting, ensuring a tomato harvest at all times of the year. But it’s the abundant supply of geothermally-heated water that keeps the greenhouses warm and tomatoes ripening throughout the year.

While there is no hotel on Friðheimar farm itself, there are a handful of overnight accommodation options in the surrounding Reykholt village. There is a hotel just down the road from Friðheimar, a few locally-run guesthouses within the village streets and some cabins that can be rented in the village and out in the surrounding countryside.

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are becoming more and more popular across Iceland in general. Friðheimar is one of the best options for vegans and vegetarians in Iceland because it offers a buffet of tomato-based soups and salads. While the classic tomato soup is served with sour cream and some of the salads feature mozzarella and burrata, there are options for vegans. But this is definitely one of the best places for vegetarians in Iceland. There are some meat and fish dishes available too, like handmade ravioli and sea-fresh steamed mussels.

While there is a chance you can walk into Friðheimar without a booking and get a table, it is best to make a reservation to avoid disappointment. Friðheimar can be particularly busy in the summer months and sees the most visitors at lunchtime. If you are visiting in peak season for lunch, or are travelling as a large group, you will definitely want to make a reservation for Friðheimar.

Not only is Friðheimar a fabulous restaurant serving the freshest tomatoes, but it is also an experience in itself. On arrival, you can enjoy a tour of the greenhouses where tomatoes grow fat and juicy in near-Arctic conditions, heated naturally by the island’s geothermal activity. The dining room is within the greenhouses, so sunlight streams in as you dine and it’s toasty warm inside. Reviews of Friðheimar and feedback from guests are overwhelmingly positive, so it is definitely worth a stop, especially if you are looking for lunch along the Golden Circle.

Gluten-free bread is available at the Friðheimar restaurant. Usually, it won’t be on display with the rest of the buffet items, but you can ask for gluten-free bread with your tomato soups and fresh salads and the kitchen will happily provide it.