View from a restaurant window overlooking a barn where multiple cows are feeding on hay, with an advertisement banner featuring two women hanging above them.

Efstidalur II Farm Review (Golden Circle Iceland Restaurant)

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On our second visit to Iceland, we accidentally stumbled up Efstidalur II when we were driving around the Golden Circle.

We loved it so much that when we started planning our third trip to Iceland, I told Tucker that we needed to go back again!

In this blog post, I’ll share some details about this family-run dairy farm and review the restaurant and creamery.

Spoiler alert – they were both delicious! 😉

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The Efstidalur II Farm

As I already mentioned, Efstidalur II is a family farm located in south Iceland in the middle of the Golden Circle Route, right beside Brúarfoss Waterfall.

Wide-angle view of the Brúarfoss waterfall showcasing a series of small cascades with bright blue glacial waters flowing through a rocky riverbed, framed by a barren landscape and distant snow-covered hills.

It is about 91 kilometers (1 hour, 27 minutes) from Reykjavik and about 133 kilometers (1 hour, 54 minutes) from Keflavik International Airport.

This is perhaps one of the more visited regions in Iceland and offers plenty of things to do, such as Thingvellir National Park, Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfall (one of the best South Iceland waterfalls), Kerid Crater, Bruarfoss Waterfall, and much more.

If you’re planning a visit to the Golden Circle, I highly recommend stopping for lunch at Efstidalur II.

But first, a tiny bit of history about this quaint little farm.

Here’s a quick video produced by the farm sharing more about the family and their history:

Efstidalur II is run by four siblings—three sisters and their brother.

They are the 7th generation of dairy farmers to live and work on the farm, which is incredible!

Older generations of their family have lived on and run the farm since it was established around 1750, and I found that fascinating.

The farm is passed down to each new generation, but if they accept, they must promise to keep it going.

Although it was originally just a quiet dairy farm, in recent years, with the rapid growth of tourism in the area, Efstidalur II has become a great place to stop and enjoy a few moments of farm life.

A serene outdoor seating area in front of Efstidalur II, featuring a relaxing golden retriever lying on a wooden bench beside an ornate street lamp

How cute is the family’s dog?! He was so friendly!

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    The Hlöðuloftið Restaurant

    First up, let’s talk about the restaurant!

    This is a true farm-to-table restaurant, with most ingredients either being sourced from the farm or the area surrounding it.

    The dairy and beef are sourced from their own cows, and most of the vegetables are from the surrounding farms.

    Nothing used in the restaurant is imported, so this is a truly Icelandic experience consisting of local food options.

    Hlöðuloftið ended up being one of our favorite restaurants in Iceland!

    The name Hlöðuloftið translates to “The Barn Loft,” which is very fitting, as the restaurant is located right above the dairy barn.

    In fact, the eating area closest to the glass wall has a great view directly down into the barn full of cows.

    We chose to sit at one of these tables, and it was so interesting to watch the cows while we ate, lol!

    View from a restaurant window overlooking a barn where multiple cows are feeding on hay, with an advertisement banner featuring two women hanging above them.
    A chalkboard menu at a restaurant listing various dishes including smoked trout, bruschetta, burgers, and the soup buffet with prices in Icelandic króna.

    What We Ordered at Hlöðuloftið

    For my lunch, I ordered the Farmers’ Burger, which came with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and burger sauce.

    Let me tell you, it was delicious!! This was easily one of the best burgers of my life, and it’s no wonder, with how fresh all of the ingredients were.

    It came with a side of fries that were thin but crispy, and I really enjoyed them as well.

    A Farmer's Burger on a sesame seed bun, stuffed with lettuce, tomato, and sauce, served with a side of fries, illustrating a hearty meal.

    For Tucker’s meal, he ordered the panfried trout, which came with local vegetables and potatoes.

    He said that the trout was delicious and fresh, and funnily enough, his favorite thing on the plate was the carrots, haha!

    I tried some of his potatoes, and they were delicious and crispy as well.

    A colorful dish of pan-fried trout served with seasoned vegetables, potatoes, and a side salad, alongside a bowl of fries, presented on a black plate.

    If you want something on the lighter side for lunch, they also have an all-you-can-eat soup buffet.

    It cost just under 3,000 ISK (equal to around $20) and looked delicious.

    There were two types of soup being served the day we visited, and it also included fresh bread and butter.

    A rustic soup bar setup inside a restaurant, featuring two large black pots on a wooden counter, with a tapestry depicting traditional scenes hanging above.

    The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, so plan to stop in for a bite to eat either in the middle or the end of your day exploring the Golden Circle.

    It was really good food, and we will eat here again when we visit Iceland in the future.

    Especially for more of those amazing burgers!

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      Íshlaðan Ice Cream Barn

      Located beneath the restaurant is Íshlaðan, which houses the farm’s own homemade ice cream shop.

      Even if you’re not hungry enough to eat a meal here, you can’t skip this deliciously creamy ice cream!

      On our first visit, I got an ice cream cone, and when we went back, the two girls with us, Bree & Alyssa, each got a scoop of ice cream in a bowl.

      This is considered famous ice cream for a reason – it was amazing!

      Bree and Alyssa enjoying ice cream inside a rustic farm shop, with a smile, surrounded by other patrons and a vintage-style ice cream menu board in the background.

      You can even get an Instagram-worthy picture of your ice cream, like I did below!

      Close-up of Janae's hand holding a creamy scoop of ice cream in a waffle cone, set against the backdrop of a farm shop's interior, showcasing a casual dining setting.

      There are lots of flavors to choose from, including traditional options like chocolate and vanilla, as well as more adventurous choices.

      Trust me, though; if you like ice cream, you can’t miss it!

      The Efstidalur Farm Hotel Bændagisting

      If you want to stay on the farm even longer and enjoy more of what they have to offer, you can book a room at the farm hotel.

      We looked into staying here on our last trip to Iceland, but they were unfortunately sold out of the room that we needed to book.

      So, if you want to stay here, make sure to book your stay in advance.

      They offer several room types, including family rooms, which can sleep multiple people.

      Click here to check the Efstidalur Farm Hotel availability on your travel dates.

      Cozy waiting area at Efstidalur II featuring vintage-style green upholstered seating with ornate wooden arms and backs, paired with a round marble-top coffee table. The rustic charm is accentuated by a furry throw over one chair, a pendulum clock on the concrete wall, and a traditional lampshade. A large information board about the farm's history hangs on the wood-paneled wall, enhancing the quaint, historical atmosphere of the space.

      Efstidalur Horse Rental (Hestaleiga Horse Riding Tours)

      While there are plenty of farm animals at the farm that you can interact with and enjoy, perhaps the most hands-on experience would be horseback riding.

      While we didn’t have time to ride horses here, we have enjoyed riding Icelandic horses at two other locations during our travels.

      The first was riding horses on the black sand beach near Vik, and the second was riding horses in northern Iceland to a waterfall.

      Both were incredible experiences, and we highly recommend booking a horseback riding tour in Iceland if you have the chance to do so!

      A brown and white horse standing in a stall at a horseback riding facility in Iceland.

      In Closing: Efstidalur II Farm Review

      As you can see, Efstidalur is a great place to add to your Iceland bucket list to get a glance of the farm life in Iceland.

      If you’re looking for a laid-back farmstay, then this might be the perfect option for you.

      With the restaurant, animals, creamery, hotel, and horseback riding, there’s plenty to do here.

      I hope that this post has inspired you to visit this friendly Icelandic farm.

      If you try it out, join my South Iceland Travel Facebook group and let me know what you think!

      Find More Iceland Travel Adventures & Inspiration

      Safe travels, and enjoy Iceland!

      A young woman named Janae, wearing a white knit hat and pink jacket, smiles in front of the black church of Búðir in Iceland, with its distinct white trim and steeple, set against a cloudy sky. To the right of the image, the handwritten text says, "much love, Janae xoxo."