In Reykjavík’s busy city centre, an unassuming hot dog stand called Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur has become as much a part of the urban fabric as the nearby Harpa Concert Hall or the surrounding historic streets. Meaning “The Town’s Best Hot Dogs” in Icelandic, Bæjarins Beztu has been serving generations of Icelanders and visitors since first opening in 1937.
A family legacy in the heart of the city
The story of Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur began with Jón Sveinsson, who established the very first stand on Austurstræti street. What started as a modest venture has stayed in the family for four generations. Guðrún Björk Kristmundsdóttir, Sveinsson’s granddaughter, expanded the company widely during her stewardship. Following her death in 2025, her son Baldur Ingi Halldórsson took over the operations, continuing a tradition now approaching a century.
In the 1960s, the flagship stand moved a short distance to Tryggvagata, just across from Harpa, where it still operates today. The chain now includes three other stands across the city, serving more than one thousand hot dogs on a bustling day.
A simple meal with global attention
Bæjarins Beztu serves a hot dog with a uniquely Icelandic twist. The sausages are made from a blend of lamb, pork and beef, and are nestled in a soft bun. Typical toppings include ketchup, sweet mustard, remoulade (a savoury mayonnaise-based sauce), crisp fried onions and raw onions. Those wanting the full experience use the Icelandic phrase “eina með öllu,” meaning “one with everything.”
Despite its humble origins, the stand has attracted figures from across the world. In August 2004, former US president Bill Clinton visited while in Iceland for a UNICEF event, ordering his hot dog with only mustard. This minimalist choice became a memorable part of the stand’s lore. Since then, a host of other celebrity names have stopped by, including Metallica’s James Hetfield, actor Charlie Sheen, reality star Kim Kardashian, and even South Korean pop stars Go Won and Olivia Hye from Loona.
The growing renown of Bæjarins Beztu was noted in 2006 by The Guardian, which placed it among the top hot dog stands in Europe. Its presence has even reached international television, appearing in Anthony Bourdain’s travel programme “No Reservations” and in reviews by writers such as John Green.
Through these decades of shifting tastes and tourist influxes, Bæjarins Beztu has remained a constant meeting point for locals and travellers alike, quietly serving a taste of Reykjavík’s history with every hot dog.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
