What is the Friðheimar Tomato Greenhouse?
Before we get started, let me tell you a bit about Friðheimar, especially if this is your first time hearing about it. Friðheimar is Iceland’s biggest tomato farm, growing about 40% of the country’s tomatoes. They’re able to grow tomatoes year-round, even during Iceland’s freezing winters, thanks to the island’s natural geothermal water that heats their greenhouses.
Their commitment to green energy goes beyond just heating; the farm is powered almost entirely by renewable resources.
Friðheimar grows a variety of tomatoes, including Traditional, Piccolo, Plum, and Heirloom, with their farm-to-table experience allowing you to taste these tomatoes at their freshest.
What to eat at Friðheimar: The Menu
When it comes to the menu, you can choose between the soup buffet or their fresh tomato based dishes:
Iceland’s famous Tomato Soup
The main reason to visit Friðheimar, and what they’re most famous for, is their tomato soup.
The soup is simple yet really satisfying. It has a smooth texture with tiny curls of tomato skin and seeds that give it a homemade and rustic feel. The flavour is a blend of a tomato’s sweetness and acidity along with a mild spice, perhaps just a touch of black pepper, and a dash of cumin that adds warmth without overpowering the fresh tomato taste.
With the soup buffet you get to enjoy unlimited tomato soup and freshly baked bread. And even though the soup was incredible, the bread almost stole the show! The huge loaves were cut into thick, soft slices, each topped with different ingredients like cheese, capers, olives, and poppy seeds—perfectly pairing with the soup.
They also bring a plate of condiments to your table, including butter, sour cream, and cucumber salsa (also grown on the farm), which make the soup taste even better.
Main Dishes
The menu also offers a variety of tomato-based dishes, like ravioli with fresh tomato pasta sauce, stone-baked tomato and mozzarella tortillas, and fresh salads. No matter what you order, you can still enjoy the unlimited tomato soup and bread from the buffet (without paying extra).
Just a heads up though—the soup is quite filling, so if you’re planning to try other dishes, it might be wise to hold off on the soup until your meal arrives. We noticed a few other groups leaving those beautiful dishes half-eaten because they had filled up on the soup and bread.
Since we were on a budget (especially after treating ourselves to an ice cave tour the day before), we chose the soup buffet. It turned out to be a hearty and satisfying meal—so much so that our 1 p.m. reservation kept us full until the next day!
Dessert
Unfortunately, we were too uncomfortably full for dessert, but they did have a tempting selection, each with a unique tomato twist. From a tomato and apple pie to a tomato-flavored Icelandic ice cream.
Drinks
The tomato theme also extends to their bar. When it comes to tomatoes and alcohol, the Bloody Mary is a classic—but they don’t stop there. They offer a variety of Mary-inspired drinks, including the ‘Happy Mary,’ ‘Hail Mary,’ and ‘Virgin Mary.’
We ordered a glass of Friðheimar Tomato Beer (yes, tomato-flavoured beer—it was surprisingly good!) and a bottle of Appelsín (we couldn’t get enough of this soda during our time in Iceland).
How much does Friðheimar cost?
For two people, which includes 2 soup buffets and 2 drinks, we spent 7,790 ISK ($56 USD, $85 AUD, £43 GBP).
While eating out in Iceland is usually considered expensive, we felt that our meal at Friðheimar was great value given the quality and unique experience.
More of Friðheimar’s unique features
The Bees
Another unique aspect of Friðheimar is their bees (called ‘hops’ in Icelandic). They have around 1,200 bees, brought in from the Netherlands, that work to pollinate the tomato plants.
While we were dining we saw a few bees flying around, but they seemed more interested in the flowers than us, so they didn’t get too close. But if you are allergic to bees though this is something to be aware of.
Picking your own fresh basil
Friðheimar also grows basil. A fun touch is that each table is decorated with a little basil plant and a pair of scissors so you can pick your own fresh basil as needed.
The Friðheimar Horse Farm
Along with the tomato farm, Friðheimar is also home to Icelandic horses. You can join paid tours to watch these beautiful animals perform, or you might spot them grazing in nearby paddocks. It’s a lovely added bonus to your visit, especially if you’re a horse lover.
What to Wear, Reservations, and How to Get There
What to Wear
The greenhouse at Friðheimar is warm, even during Iceland’s winter. Although you’ll probably arrive dressed in layers, it’s a good idea to wear something lighter underneath that you’ll be comfortable sitting in once you’re inside.
Can you go to Friðheimar without a reservation?
Friðheimar is a popular spot, so it’s a good idea to make a reservation to ensure you get a table. Even in the off-season, it can get pretty busy, so try to book as early as you can. Ideally, aim for at least a month in advance, especially if you’re visiting during Iceland’s peak tourist season (June to August).
We booked 2 months before our trip, when there were plenty of days and time slots open. This gave us more flexibility to fit it into our itinerary.
Also, keep in mind that if you’re late and don’t notify them of your delay, they’ll only hold your table for 15 minutes.
You can make a reservation directly on their website.
How do I get to Friðheimar?
With a hire car
Driving to Friðheimar is easy and close to some of Iceland’s famous landmarks, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss Waterfall, so it’s easy to work into your itinerary.
You can enter “Friðheimar” directly into most GPS systems or mapping apps, which will guide you there. This is what we did and had no problems!
If you don’t have any access to reception or wifi here’s a step-by-step guide to get you there:
- Starting in Reykjavik: Begin your journey by heading out of Reykjavik on Route 1. This is the main highway that circle the whole of Iceland, also known as the Ring Road.
- Connecting to Route 35: After about 45 minutes on Route 1, you’ll approach the town of Selfoss. Just before reaching Selfoss, you’ll need to take the exit onto Route 35 (‘Biskupstungnabraut’).
- Continuing on Route 35: Stay on Route 35 for about 30 minutes then keep an eye out for signs for Friðheimar. The farm is well-marked, and you’ll turn off the main road into a short driveway that leads directly to the parking area.
Without a hire car
If you don’t have a rental car, there are tours available from Reykjavik that include both the Golden Circle and a visit to Friðheimar. This makes it easy to include the farm in your Iceland itinerary. Here are some popular tours I’ve found:
The Golden Circle & Friðheimar Greenhouse Tour – Reykjavík Excursions
Golden Circle Small Group Tour – BusTravel Iceland
