The Grey Cat in Reykjavík, Iceland: Not a Bar, But a Breakfast Café

There’s a charming confusion that follows Grái Kötturinn around Reykjavík: tourists keep calling it a cat café, but the real story is better — this beloved breakfast spot on Hverfisgata was named after a grey cat that wandered into a jeweler’s shop years ago, and today it serves some of the best American-style pancakes in the city. By the time you leave, you’ll know exactly what to expect — and why its name has nothing to do with espresso and cats.

Address: Hverfisgata 12, 101 Reykjavík ·
Type: Breakfast and brunch café ·
Rating: 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor ·
Price range: Moderate ($$) ·
Famous for: American-style pancakes and coffee

Six facts about Grái Kötturinn, one pattern: every source confirms it’s a daytime brunch spot with a backstory that keeps people talking.

The implication: despite the “cat cafe” label stuck by tourists, this place is a straightforward breakfast café with a feline backstory — not a petting zoo with lattes.

Where is the cat cafe in Reykjavík?

Where is Grái Kötturinn located?

Grái Kötturinn is at Hverfisgata 12, in Reykjavík’s central district — a street known for its mix of small shops and cafés. The city’s official tourism guide confirms this address (Visit Reykjavík (city’s tourism authority)). A few online listings show Hverfisgata 16, but the café’s own website settles it as 12.

Is it really a cat cafe?

No — and that’s part of what makes it interesting. The café never houses felines on site. Its name comes from a grey cat that used to visit the jeweler’s shop that previously occupied the space (Grái Kötturinn official site). The tourism board explains the same story: “A grey cat used to visit the jeweller and hang around the premises. No one knew where the cat came from.” (Visit Reykjavík)

The trade-off: the “cat cafe” label drives tourists in, but those expecting a cat cafe with kittens on tables leave disappointed. Knowing this in advance turns a potential letdown into a pleasant discovery.

What is the best time to visit a cat cafe?

What are the peak hours?

Weekend mornings are the busiest at Grái Kötturinn. TripAdvisor reviewers repeatedly mention long waits on Saturdays and Sundays around 10 AM, when the brunch crowd arrives (TripAdvisor (user reviews)). The café opens at 8:00 AM according to both the official site and the city’s guide (Visit Reykjavík).

What time does it open?

The official site says every day from 08:00 to 14:00 (Grái Kötturinn official site). Visit Reykjavík lists a slightly different schedule: the kitchen closes at 14:00 but the café stays open until 14:30 (Visit Reykjavík). The best strategy: aim for mid-morning on a weekday — around 9:30 to 10:30 — to beat the rush.

The pattern: the 14:00 closing time makes Grái Kötturinn strictly a daytime proposition. It’s not a spot for late lunches or early dinners.

How much does a sandwich cost in Reykjavík?

What is the price range at Grái Kötturinn?

Prices at Grái Kötturinn fall into the moderate range for Reykjavík. Sandwiches run around 2000 ISK (about $14), coffee costs about 500 ISK ($3.50), and breakfast platters land at about 2500 ISK ($18). These figures come from user-submitted data on TripAdvisor and are consistent with the café’s positioning as a moderately priced breakfast spot (TripAdvisor (user reviews)).

The trade-off: for a budget traveler, 2000 ISK for a sandwich stings. For someone wanting quality breakfast without fine-dining prices, it’s a fair bet by Reykjavík standards.

The story behind the cat

The café’s official site tells the full tale. Before the café opened, a jeweler operated at the address. A grey cat came by regularly — so regularly, in fact, that the Icelandic saying about someone who “lingers like a grey cat” (a holdover from old farm superstition) felt right for the name. The café chose the name as a nod to both the cat and the Icelandic saying (Grái Kötturinn official site).

The original owners, Jón Óskar and Hulda Hákon, were local artists who ran the café for twenty years. In 2017, they sold it to friends Ásmundur and Elín, who keep it family-operated today (Grái Kötturinn official site). The tourism board confirms this timeline (Visit Reykjavík).

“Before the café opened, a jeweller worked in the same location. Strangely, a grey cat used to visit the jeweller and hang around the premises. No one knew where the cat came from.”

— Visit Reykjavík (Reykjavík tourism authority)

“Grai Kotturinn is a fantastic little cafe that offers one of the most laid back vibes in town.”

— TripAdvisor user review

The pattern: a simple cat story has become the café’s enduring identity, drawing curious tourists and loyal locals alike.

Timeline: from jeweler to breakfast icon

Five key moments, one pattern: a stray cat turned a forgotten shop into one of Reykjavík’s most talked-about cafés.

The implication: the café’s longevity — nearly 30 years — is rare for Reykjavík’s ever-changing hospitality scene. The cat story gives it a staying power that menu alone couldn’t.

While The Grey Cat focuses on hearty breakfast fare, travelers looking for a caffeine fix can explore Icelands specialty coffee scene for artisanal roasts and minimalist Nordic ambiance.

FAQ

For more travel guides, explore The Brass Fox Wicklow and What to See in Dublin.

For tourists searching Google for “Grái Kötturinn menu” or “best breakfast Reykjavík,” the decision is straightforward: if you want generous pancakes before 2 PM in a cozy, story-rich setting, this is your spot. If you’re looking for a cat cafe with adoptable kittens, look elsewhere. For anyone visiting Reykjavík, the trade-off is clear: skip the Instagram-ready cat latte art, and enjoy a genuinely good breakfast with a backstory that sticks.