Friðheimar Tomato Farm

Friðheimar is one of the Golden Circle's most memorable stops: a family-run greenhouse where you sit down to lunch surrounded by thousands of living tomato vines. It is not a museum exhibit you walk past — it is a working farm and restaurant rolled into one, and the smell of ripe tomatoes and fresh bread hits you the moment you step inside.

Dining inside a working greenhouse

Tables are set right among the tomato plants, under the glass roof and grow-lights, with bumblebees doing the pollinating overhead. The setting is warm, humid and green year-round — a welcome contrast to the Icelandic weather outside. It is relaxed and family-friendly, and the open kitchen turns the farm's own produce into everything on the menu.

The legendary tomato soup

The dish Friðheimar is famous for is its tomato soup, served as a help-yourself buffet with freshly baked bread and butter. Both the soup and the bread are unlimited, so it is genuinely filling — many visitors come for the soup alone. You can finish with the farm's tomato-based desserts, such as green-tomato and apple cake or tomato ice cream.

More than soup

The full menu leans entirely on the greenhouse harvest: tomato ravioli, mussels in tomato sauce, fresh salads, and a signature "Healthy Mary" — Friðheimar's twist on a Bloody Mary made with their own tomatoes — alongside tomato schnapps and tomato beer. Vegetarians are well looked after, and children love both the food and the greenhouse itself.

How tomatoes grow through the Icelandic winter

Iceland has long, dark winters, so the farm runs on geothermal energy: naturally hot water heats the greenhouses, while electric lighting extends the short winter days. Imported bumblebees pollinate the plants, and the result is fresh Icelandic tomatoes grown 12 months a year — a small, clever piece of the country's geothermal story that the farm is happy to explain.

The Icelandic horse show

In the warmer months Friðheimar also stages a horse show in its own arena, introducing the Icelandic horse and demonstrating its unique gaits, including the smooth tölt. It is a separate experience from lunch and is best booked ahead.

When to visit and how to book

Friðheimar is open year-round, with lunch service running through the middle of the day. It is extremely popular and frequently sells out, so booking ahead is essential — walk-ins are often turned away in high season. Most Golden Circle combo tours that mention Friðheimar include a reserved table; if you are self-driving, reserve directly with the farm.

Getting there

Friðheimar sits in Reykholt in South Iceland, right on the Golden Circle route between the Geysir geothermal area and Kerið crater, roughly a 90-minute drive from Reykjavík. It pairs naturally with Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss for a full day out.