Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik

The best part of this evening is the pairing of a serious Icelandic meal with a chance to see the aurora from the water. You begin at Kopar, right over Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, then walk about one minute to the Special Tours office for a 2.5-hour Northern Lights cruise.

I like the food-first design, since the six-course Adventure Menu gives the evening real substance even if the sky stays dark. I also like the free return possibility when the lights fail to appear, along with the warm coveralls provided on the boat.

The main concern is timing. Dinner and the boat departure must line up closely, and one delayed course once caused diners to leave before dessert. You should confirm the restaurant reservation yourself and keep your email confirmation handy, since the app may not show every timing detail.

• A six-course tasting menu at Kopar makes dinner the dependable part of the night.
• A one-minute walk connects the restaurant and cruise check-in, with no taxi or transfer needed.
• The boat includes warm coveralls, onboard commentary, and video.
• The aurora is never guaranteed, but a free second cruise may be offered.
• The harbor views matter, so ask for a window table when you confirm dinner.
• The boat holds a much larger crowd than the booked group size, despite the experience listing a maximum of six travelers for the reservation.

Kopar Starts the Evening With Iceland on a Plate

Kopar sits at Geirsgata 3 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, a good setting for a long dinner. The harbor view gives you something to watch between courses, and a window table can make the meal feel connected to the city rather than sealed inside a restaurant.

The included meal is Kopar’s six-course Adventure Menu. It is a tasting menu, but do not mistake tasting for tiny portions. The dishes are substantial enough that several diners struggled to finish every course, especially after bread and the earlier plates.

Menus can change, but the meal has featured ingredients such as lobster, Arctic char, goose, cod, lamb, reindeer, skyr, and chocolate. Past versions have included rock lobster soup, smoked Arctic char, lightly salted cod, rack of lamb, and chocolate brownie. That gives you a useful sense of the meal: Icelandic ingredients, modern presentation, and a fair amount of food.

The strongest praise is reserved for the food and service. Kopar has been described as an excellent special-occasion restaurant, and it suits a birthday, anniversary, or simply the first night of an Iceland visit. Service has generally been attentive and friendly, with Marusha singled out for making one dinner especially warm and personal.

Still, the fixed menu is not perfect for every palate. One meal included cod that was too salty, pork belly that lacked crispness, and dessert elements with uneven texture. Another table sent back fatty, undercooked lamb and eventually had to leave before the replacement arrived. Those problems do not appear to define the usual experience, but they show why the cruise timing matters.

The Six Courses Are the Main Value

At $204.24 per person, this is not a cheap dinner with a boat ride attached. It is a premium evening package, and the value depends on how much you want both parts.

If you priced a six-course meal, drinks, and a separate Northern Lights cruise in Reykjavik, the combined cost could quickly approach this amount. The package also removes one small planning nuisance: the cruise office is only a minute from the restaurant. You do not need to cross town after dinner or arrange another ride.

The meal itself is the safer part of the purchase. You receive the six-course menu even on a cloudy night, while the aurora depends on cloud cover and solar activity. For me, that makes the food an important cushion against disappointment. Several diners who saw little or nothing in the sky still considered the evening worthwhile because Kopar delivered such a strong meal.

Drinks are not included. Beer, wine, cocktails, and other refreshments can be purchased separately at Kopar, so budget beyond the advertised price if you want pairings. The boat also sells drinks, with one account describing the prices as reasonable, but those purchases are extra as well.

Keep the Dinner and Boat Clock in View

The dinner is scheduled first, followed by the cruise. After eating at Kopar, you walk to the Special Tours Ticket Office at Geirsgata 11. The walk takes about one minute, but the short distance does not mean you can ignore the clock.

Confirm the dinner reservation with the restaurant reception team after booking. The supplied contact is [email protected], and this step matters. One serious complaint came from a booking where no dinner reservation appeared at the restaurant, and the diners did not know their dinner time until they called.

You should also read the confirmation email rather than rely only on the booking app. The email may contain restaurant and boat check-in details that do not appear in the app. I would save a screenshot of the full schedule before heading out.

The experience is listed at about five hours, with roughly three hours allocated to dinner and two hours to the cruise. The cruise itself is described as 2.5 hours in the inclusions. Allow the full evening, and avoid booking anything immediately afterward.

A delayed course can create a real problem. In one case, diners had to leave at 9:50 p.m. to make the 10 p.m. boat and missed the final courses. If your meal is running late, tell the server early, not when you are already at the door.

What the Northern Lights Cruise Feels Like

After dinner, the Special Tours boat takes you out from Reykjavik’s harbor for a Northern Lights search. The vessel has been described as spacious, clean, and comfortable inside, though the outdoor viewing area is cold. The boat may carry a much larger number of people than the booked dinner group. One account put the number at about 75 passengers.

Warm coveralls are provided, a welcome feature in Iceland’s aurora season. They help, but they do not make the night warm. Wear proper layers, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. One person described the boat ride as the coldest part of the trip even with the supplied suit, and another advised checking that your size is available.

The cruise includes onboard commentary and video. This gives the outing some structure when the sky is quiet, and it helps explain what you are watching for. The crew may remain out longer when there is a promising glow, as one boat did while waiting for the lights to brighten.

The boat generally stays near the harbor and moves beyond the strongest city light. That is an important point to understand before booking. It does not guarantee a long run into open ocean. One disappointed passenger felt the boat should have gone farther, while Special Tours explained that rougher water can increase seasickness and that going farther does not ensure better aurora conditions.

I find that tradeoff reasonable. A steadier boat is useful when you are standing outside in the dark, taking photographs, or simply trying to keep your stomach settled. Still, you should not picture an expedition into remote Icelandic waters. This is a city-based aurora cruise.

The Aurora Is a Bonus, Not a Promise

Northern Lights hunting always involves uncertainty. Clouds, rain, moonlight, and low aurora activity can ruin an otherwise well-planned outing. A full moon and thick clouds have left the sky blank, while another evening produced a spectacular display soon after leaving port.

That contrast tells you how to judge this tour. You are buying a chance to see the lights, not a guaranteed performance. Even a skilled captain cannot control the weather or solar activity.

The free return offer is one of the package’s most useful protections. If you do not see the lights, you may be offered another cruise at no charge. This is especially valuable if you book near the start of your Iceland stay and still have another suitable night available.

Do not leave the return attempt until your final evening. Weather cancellations and empty skies can happen more than once. One person had a cruise canceled twice because of conditions and had to call to find out what was happening. If the aurora matters greatly to you, keep extra nights available and ask the operator directly about rebooking before you leave Reykjavik.

The cruise can still be pleasant without an aurora. The harbor lights, dark water, fresh air, commentary, and boat setting create a distinct evening out. But if the sky is fully clouded, you may find two and a half hours frustrating. The operator requires suitable weather, and a canceled sailing may be moved to another date or refunded.

How to Make Kopar Work Better for You

A few small choices can improve the evening:

• Ask for a window table when confirming dinner. The harbor view is one of Kopar’s best features.
• Confirm the reservation by email after booking. Do not assume the package has completed that step for you.
• Keep the confirmation email open or saved offline. It may show more precise timing than the app.
• Tell the restaurant promptly if a course is delayed or not properly cooked.
• Dress for the boat, not just for the restaurant. Indoor comfort in Reykjavik is not enough for an outdoor aurora watch.
• Consider booking early in your stay if the Northern Lights are a priority, so you have time for a second attempt.
• Budget for drinks, since they are not included at Kopar or on the boat.
• Expect a fixed menu. If you want to choose each dish separately, this package may feel restrictive.

The experience is offered in English, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the starting point is near public transportation. The reservation is listed with a maximum of six travelers, but the cruise itself can be much larger, so do not expect a private boat.

Who Will Enjoy This Five-Hour Evening

I would recommend this package to food-focused visitors who want one polished night rather than two unrelated bookings. It is also a smart fit for couples marking a special occasion, since the restaurant has a romantic harbor setting and the dinner takes its time.

It works well for mixed dining groups too. One family with vegan and non-vegan diners found options for everyone, but you should still contact the supplier in advance about current dietary needs rather than assume the menu will suit you.

You should be comfortable with a fixed tasting menu and a late, cold boat ride. If you dislike lengthy meals, have strict food preferences, or are highly sensitive to cold, the package may not feel relaxing.

I would be more cautious if your schedule is tight. The five-hour duration is approximate, the restaurant timing needs confirmation, and weather can change the cruise plan. Build in flexibility.

Should You Book the Kopar and Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you want the meal to carry the evening and see the aurora as an added possibility. Kopar receives the strongest praise for its food, service, and harbor position, and the cruise adds a memorable change of scene without requiring a second booking across town.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed light show or a remote sea voyage. The boat stays close enough to Reykjavik to keep the trip practical, and cloudy weather can leave you with no aurora at all. The free return option helps, but only if you have another night available.

For the best chance of enjoying the package, confirm the dinner yourself, request a harbor-facing table, read your email timing carefully, and reserve early in your visit. If a six-course Icelandic dinner sounds worthwhile on its own, this is a good risk to take. If the Northern Lights are your only reason for going, choose a more flexible plan with several possible nights.

FAQ

How long does the Kopar and Northern Lights experience last?

The full evening lasts approximately five hours. Dinner takes about three hours, followed by a Northern Lights boat trip lasting about 2.5 hours.

Where does the experience begin?

You begin at Kopar, located at Geirsgata 3 in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. After dinner, the Special Tours Ticket Office at Geirsgata 11 is about a one-minute walk away.

Is dinner included in the price?

Yes. The package includes Kopar’s six-course Adventure Menu. Drinks at the restaurant are not included and can be purchased separately.

Are warm clothes provided on the boat?

Warm coveralls are provided for use on the boat. You should still dress warmly because the Northern Lights season can be very cold, especially outdoors on deck.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You may be offered another Northern Lights cruise for free. The lights are not guaranteed, and weather-related cancellations may result in a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.