Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

The best part of this evening is the pairing: you get a serious Icelandic meal at Kopar’s Old Harbour dining room, then step onto a boat to search for the aurora. It is a smart way to combine dinner and sightseeing without spending a separate evening on each.

I like the generous six-course Adventure Menu and the short walk between the restaurant and boat check-in. I also like that warm coveralls are provided and that Special Tours may offer a free second cruise if the sky refuses to cooperate. The main caution is timing: a delayed course can put you under pressure before departure, and the Northern Lights remain a matter of weather and luck.

Key points to know before booking

• Six courses at Kopar: Expect an adventurous set menu built around Icelandic ingredients, with dishes such as lobster soup, Arctic char, cod, lamb, and dessert.
• One-minute transfer: The Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11 is about a minute from Kopar at Geirsgata 3.
• A real aurora search: The boat leaves the harbor and gets beyond some city light, but it does not guarantee a sighting.
• Warm coveralls included: They help, but you should still dress warmly, especially on the open deck.
• A possible free retry: If clouds or conditions spoil the outing, you may be offered another cruise.
• Small dinner booking, larger boat: The package allows a maximum of six participants in the booked experience, while the boat itself may carry many more passengers.

A polished Icelandic dinner before the sky hunt

This package works because the meal is not an afterthought. Kopar is in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, with tables overlooking the water and a menu designed as a full tasting experience rather than a quick pre-cruise dinner.

The current package includes a six-course Adventure Menu. Past menus have included rock lobster soup, smoked Arctic char, lightly salted cod, rack of lamb, reindeer, goose, pork belly, and chocolate or skyr-based desserts. The exact dishes can change, so think of the menu as a guided taste of Iceland rather than a fixed promise of particular plates.

The portions are not tiny tasting spoons. Several diners found the meal so filling that they could not finish every course. That is useful to know if you plan to eat lightly beforehand. You are paying for a long, substantial dinner, not a snack before boarding.

Kopar also handles dietary variety reasonably well. A family with both vegan and non-vegan diners found options for everyone, but you should raise dietary needs when arranging the reservation rather than waiting until you sit down.

The dining room’s harbor position adds much of the evening’s charm. Ask for a window table when possible. It gives you a better view of the boats and water, and on a clear night you may even catch a glimpse of the sky from the restaurant.

What the six courses are really like

The strongest praise goes to Kopar’s food and service. Some diners called it the best meal of their Iceland visit, while others found only part of the menu memorable. That range is a fair warning: a tasting menu gives you variety, but not every dish will suit every palate.

I like the menu’s willingness to use less familiar ingredients. Cod tongues, goose, reindeer, Arctic char, lamb, skyr, licorice salt, and cured fish can all appear in versions of the Adventure Menu. This is more interesting than ordering a familiar steak and calling it an Icelandic dinner.

Individual dishes have received especially warm attention. Lobster soup, blueberry-cured salmon, duck breast, reindeer, and lamb have all been praised for flavor and presentation. Other plates have been criticized for being too salty, insufficiently crisp, or unevenly cooked. That is normal territory for an ambitious set menu, but it means you should not book the package solely on the promise of six perfect courses.

Service is generally described as attentive and friendly. One server, Marusha, received particular praise for making a birthday dinner feel special. Still, allow yourself enough time for the meal. One party had to leave before the final courses after a lamb dish needed to be replaced and the boat departure drew near.

That timing issue matters. The package is meant to feel relaxed, yet your cruise check-in is not optional. Contact the supplier after booking at [email protected] to confirm your Kopar reservation and make sure you know the dinner time. Keep your confirmation email handy, since the full schedule may contain details that are not obvious in the mobile app.

From Kopar to Special Tours in one minute

After dinner, walk to the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11. The transfer is roughly one minute, which is excellent by Reykjavik standards. You do not need a taxi or a complicated city crossing.

The catch is that a short walk does not remove the need for punctuality. If your dinner starts late, the meal runs behind, or a course needs replacing, the boat will not wait indefinitely. I would avoid adding extra drinks or a long coffee stop unless you have confirmed plenty of time.

Drinks at Kopar are not included. Beer, wine, cocktails, and other drinks can be purchased separately. Several people enjoyed the beverage selection, but remember that this can push the total cost above the advertised price of $204.24 per person.

The Northern Lights boat ride

The cruise lasts about 2.5 hours and includes onboard commentary and video. You are not simply sent out into the dark with no explanation. The presentation gives you some context while the crew searches for a patch of clearer sky.

The boat is described as clean, spacious, and comfortable, with refreshments available for purchase. The larger vessel can hold around 75 people, so the boat portion feels more like a shared excursion than a private night on the water. That is not a flaw, but it changes the mood. The dinner is intimate; the cruise is communal.

The boat generally goes beyond the strongest harbor light, but it does not travel far into open ocean. One person expected a longer run and felt that the boat should have gone farther. Special Tours explains that rougher water farther out can increase the chance of seasickness, and going farther does not guarantee a better aurora. Both points are worth keeping in mind.

If you want the best chance of seeing the lights, choose a night with a favorable forecast when possible, but accept that no operator can control cloud cover or aurora activity. A clear sky is only part of the equation. Solar activity and the brightness of the moon also matter.

Dress for the cold, even with coveralls

Warm coveralls are provided on the boat, and newer suits have been praised for helping passengers stay comfortable. They are useful, but they are not a substitute for proper layers.

Bring warm clothing, sturdy shoes, gloves, and a hat. The boat can feel much colder than Reykjavik’s streets, particularly when you spend time outside watching the sky. One person described the cold as intense even with the supplied suit, and another warned that suit sizes may not always be available in every size.

You can usually move between indoor and outdoor areas, but the best view of the sky is outside. I would treat the coveralls as extra protection, not permission to dress lightly.

The Northern Lights are never guaranteed

This is a hunt, not a scheduled performance. You might see nothing, a faint green arc, or a long, bright display that makes the cold worthwhile. Several successful outings saw the aurora soon after leaving the harbor, while other evenings were defeated by rain, cloud, or weak activity.

The operator may offer a free return cruise if you do not see the lights, particularly when conditions are poor. That can be a major benefit if you are staying in Reykjavik for several nights. One family missed the lights on its first attempt and saw them on the second outing.

Book this early in your stay if the aurora is a priority. The package is often reserved about a week ahead, and a retry is only useful if you still have time in Iceland. A final-night booking leaves you with little room to try again.

The free retry is not the same as a guarantee. You must have enough time in your schedule, and the second night may also be cloudy. Still, it is a fair response to an activity controlled by nature.

Is $204.24 good value?

At $204.24 per person, this is not a budget dinner or a cheap boat ride. It can be good value if you already want a special meal and a Northern Lights cruise, since one booking handles both parts and the harbor transfer is almost effortless.

The value rests mainly on Kopar. The meal is six courses, substantial, and built around ingredients you may not encounter in an ordinary restaurant. Harbor views and attentive service add to the occasion. If you ordered a comparable dinner and a separate aurora cruise, the combined price could easily become similar, though exact comparisons depend on your choices.

The package is less appealing if you are a cautious eater, dislike fixed menus, or would rather spend the evening in a small boat. It is also poor value on a rainy night if the cruise runs despite conditions that make an aurora sighting highly unlikely. The food still gives you something worthwhile, but the price covers two experiences, not just dinner.

Who should book this evening?

I would recommend it most strongly to food-focused visitors who also want a simple way to try an aurora cruise. It suits couples marking a birthday or anniversary, families with mixed dietary preferences, and first-time visitors who want one organized evening near the harbor.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time in Reykjavik. You get a local restaurant, a substantial Icelandic menu, a boat ride, commentary, and a chance at the Northern Lights in roughly one night.

I would hesitate if your main goal is photography or a private aurora outing. The boat can be busy, the trip does not guarantee dark skies, and the cruise may not go far out to sea. I would also think twice if you dislike being tied to a set departure after a long meal.

The booking details deserve care. Confirm your dinner reservation with the reception team after booking, and contact [email protected] if needed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If bad weather cancels the activity, you can be offered another date or a full refund.

My call: book it for the food first

Book this package if you would be happy with a fine six-course dinner even when the sky stays dark. That is the sensible way to approach it. Kopar is the dependable half of the evening; the aurora is the bonus.

Put the experience early in your Reykjavik stay, confirm the dinner time, request a window seat, and dress for serious cold. With those steps, you get a well-paired evening that combines one of Reykjavik’s more memorable meals with a genuine chance to see Iceland’s night sky.

FAQ

Where does the experience begin?

It begins at Kopar, located at Geirsgata 3, 101 Reykjavik, in the Old Harbour.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours. The dinner is scheduled for about three hours, and the Northern Lights cruise lasts about 2.5 hours.

How many courses are included?

The package includes Kopar’s six-course Adventure Menu.

Is the dinner reservation made automatically?

You must contact the supplier to confirm your dinner reservation after booking. The provided contact email is [email protected].

Where do I go after dinner?

After dinner, walk to the Special Tours ticket office at Geirsgata 11. It is about a one-minute walk from Kopar.

Is the Northern Lights cruise included?

Yes. A 2.5-hour Northern Lights cruise is included.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm coveralls are provided for use on the boat. You should still dress warmly because Icelandic nights can be very cold.

Are drinks at Kopar included?

No. Drinks at Kopar are not included, but you can purchase them at the restaurant.

Will I definitely see the Northern Lights?

No. Sightings depend on weather and aurora conditions. If the lights are not visible, you may be offered another cruise free of charge.

What happens if bad weather cancels the activity?

You can be offered a different date or a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.