Ingólfsskáli
Authentic taste of a viking feast, experienced in an ancient atmosphere.
According to Icelandic history, the first permanent settler in Iceland was Ingólfur Arnarsson. He made his home in Reykjavík and nine centuries later, the first urban community in Iceland grew up in the same place and evolved into the country´s capital. The ancient manuscript “The Book Of Settlements” by Ari Fróði (Ari the Wise) accounts, that on his way to Reykjavík, Ingólfur Arnarsson had a winter sojourn by a mountain which today is simply called Ingólfsfjall (the mountain of Ingolfur). According to an old folklore, Ingólfur is buried on the top of the mountain in a dolerite mound named Inghóll. It is told that that once every summer, the mound opens and by that moment you can get close to the jewelries buried with the settler.
If you drive by the highway no. 1, Ingólfsfjall can be found about 45 km east of Reykjavík. By the foothills of the dignified mountain the remarkable restaurant Ingólfsskáli (Ingolf Hall) is operated. It is built in the authentic style of an ancient Icelandic turf house of the viking era, which means that all foreign visitors can expect a unique experience and anticiptaion for a relly patriotic menu Icelandic style.
The All-Icelandic cuisine at Ingólfsskáli is mostly based on raw-material from lamb or diverse fowl and fish species. The specialty of the the house is a specific “Vikingmeal” with courses made of lamb and a fish which are hay-smoked by the original method in special smoke-sheds. Those meals can also consist of real, unsmoked lamb-shanks with the bone included, but such presentation was very common amongst ancient vikings. All the servants at Ingólfsskáli are dressed up in harmony with the curious environment.
About 200-250 people can be seated in the restaurant at Ingólfsskáli. Upon request, special happenings can be arranged before or after any viking feast. They can include receptions made by actors performing as fully dressed vikings or renowned acoustic musicians playing authentic icelandic folksongs.
