Norð Austur Sushi & Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Sushi at the Edge of the World

There are bold restaurant concepts, and then there is Norð Austur Sushi & Bar. Tucked into Norðurgata 2 in Seyðisfjörður — a picturesque fjord town in Iceland's remote East — this is a summer-only, expressly Japanese restaurant that, by any conventional logic, should not work. White Guide 2026 put it plainly: opening a Japanese restaurant focused on fresh, local ingredients in Iceland is more than a gamble; placing it in Seyðisfjörður edges on the insane. And yet, here it is, earning a "Very Fine Level" distinction from one of Scandinavia's most respected food guides.

Craft Sushi, Local Waters

The philosophy at Norð Austur is straightforward and uncompromising: source ingredients daily from the sea and rivers of the fjord itself, then let experienced cooks shape them into handcrafted sushi and Japanese small plates. The kitchen opens Wednesday through Sunday from 17:00 to 22:00 during the summer season, while the bar — true to the spirit of the place — tends to stay open longer, depending on the mood and, as the restaurant puts it, the direction of the wind.

An Atmosphere Worth the Journey

The dining room is relaxed and welcoming, pairing the precision of Japanese cuisine with the unhurried pace of fjord-town life. Refreshing drinks accompany the food, and the overall feel is convivial rather than formal. Takeaway is available for those who want to enjoy their sushi with a view of the fjord itself.

Norð Austur is a seasonal restaurant — closed through winter and reopening each summer — which only adds to the sense that eating here is something genuinely worth planning around.