Efstidalur II — Restaurant in undefined

We pulled off the road because we heard whispers of ice cream, and let me tell you, Efstidalur II delivered—and then some. What started as a quick snack stop turned into a full-blown farm-to-spoon adventure.

The ice cream? Absolute perfection. Creamy, fresh, and so good it made me question if I’d ever truly lived before this moment. And while we were busy savoring every bite, we realized we weren’t just eating at the farm—we were eating with the farm. A giant window looks right into the cow barn, so you can enjoy your treat while locking eyes with the very bovine VIPs who made it possible.

It’s like they’re saying, “You’re welcome,” and honestly? Thank you, cows. You’re the real MVPs.

But the real surprise was the guy casually playing the accordion. Imagine this: you’re sitting there, enjoying the best ice cream of your life, surrounded by rolling Icelandic hills, and suddenly your day has a soundtrack. The accordion music added a layer of whimsy I didn’t know my life was missing. It felt like stepping into a quirky indie film where ice cream, cows, and folk music are the plotline.

Beyond the ice cream, the whole place felt like a Hallmark movie set. Rolling hills, a cozy barn vibe, and a sense of peace that almost made me forget I was still sticky from my road trip snacks. If you’re in Iceland and you don’t stop here, you’re seriously missing out. 11/10, would eat ice cream while bonding...

A friendly hotel set in beautiful countryside. It is peaceful and close to all the favourite tourist spots of the Golden Circle. A great place to see the Northern Lights on a clear or partially cloudy night.|Milk products are made from the farm's cows, who you can watch from the restaurant and café while you eat. The beef meals are also from cows raised on the farm, with vegetables and fruit mostly sourced locally.|The rooms are comfortable and clean, all on the ground floor but I don't think the restaurant has a lift for wheelchair users - difficult for breakfast, although the hotel may have a way around this - this wasn't a consideration for me.|A car is essential to reach the hotel, but if you are exploring the Golden Circle you would want to use are car anyway. There were some touring buses that called in for meals. There is a good play area for children (kidults!) including a bouncy area that is inflated daily.|The staff were very helpful, even allowing us to use the hotel towels for our trip to the Secret Lagoon.|Even though we had a very busy week in The Golden Circle, we left feeling...

I actually visited this restaurant back on August 19, 2017 when I was in Iceland for a work trip. Someone in my group found it doing an online search after we visited Gullfoss Falls (another amazing place to see). This place is a hidden gem! Tucked away in the beautiful countryside, with a modest sign on the road, this farm-to-table restaurant serves the absolute best food in the world! I'm a retired US Navy Sailor and have been around the world, literally, numerous times. I thought the best steak I had ever eaten was in Hobart, Tasmania. I was wrong. The choice cut of meat I had here you could cut with the flat side of a spoon! It melted in my mouth. It was like angels had gifted me this amazing meal it was so good! The salad and sides were just as amazing! Then, as if it could get any better, the ICE CREAM!!!! O! M!! G!!! I just cannot say enough good things about this wonderful, hidden treasure. One day, one day I...