Fridheimar (Fríðheimar) is a visitor-friendly restaurant and tomato farm in South Iceland – the tables stand right inside the greenhouse, among the tomato plants. It is known above all for its fresh, delicious and eco-friendly vegetables, but the owners also breed horses on a small scale.
Unusual tomatoes grown in Fríðheimar
What is the secret of Fridheimar tomatoes? The farm’s own answer is short: green energy, pure water and biological pest control. Everything to do with the tomatoes – heating the greenhouses, watering, even fighting pests – is done in a modern but environmentally friendly way. The greenhouses work without a break, all year round, whatever the weather outside, and through the long dark winter the plants grow under artificial light. Visitors to Fríðheimar can not only tour the greenhouses and taste the produce, but also learn the details of this unusual way of growing up close.
The heat comes straight from the ground: a geothermal borehole about 660 feet (200 m) from the greenhouses delivers water at about 95 °C (203°F). The glass panes are only 4 mm (0.16 inch) thick to let in as much light as possible, so the farm needs some 100,000 metric tons of hot water a year. The plants are watered from the Fljótsbotnar springs, the source of the Tungufljót river – the same water the family drinks at home and serves in the restaurant – and the carbon dioxide that boosts photosynthesis comes from natural geothermal steam (source: Friðheimar).
Tomato soup, tomato ice cream
The restaurant serves dishes made from the tomatoes grown in the greenhouses, and you eat them right among the plants. The menu includes (prices September 2026, full menu):
- Fridheimar tomato soup from the buffet, served with sour cream, homemade bread, cucumber salsa, butter and fresh herbs – 3,740 ISK (about $30);
- stone-baked tortilla with tomato, basil and mozzarella – 3,310 ISK (about $28);
- fresh ravioli with homemade tomato sauce and pesto – 4,590 ISK (about $40);
- the farm’s heirloom tomatoes with Icelandic burrata, basil oil and sea salt, for sharing – 3,890 ISK (about $30);
- fresh mussels cooked in a special tomato seafood sauce – 6,870 ISK (about $55).
The real hits, though, are the tomato desserts and drinks (every dessert 2,250 ISK, about $19):
- homemade tomato ice cream with two sauces – green tomato with vanilla, and piccolo tomato with strawberry;
- cheesecake topped with jam made from green tomatoes, cinnamon and lime;
- a trio of sorbets: cucumber, mint and lime / red tomato and basil / green tomato and rosemary;
- French chocolate mousse with red tomato jam;
- Friðheimar tomato beer, made from red or green tomatoes – 1,680 ISK (about $14);
- Bloody Mary with homemade tomato juice and Icelandic vodka – 2,630 ISK (about $22), and tomato schnapps: Icelandic birch schnapps served in a hollowed-out tomato – 1,580 ISK (about $13).
Horses in Fríðheimar
The owners of the farm – agronomist Knútur Rafn Ármann and horticulturalist Helena Hermundardóttir, who bought Fríðheimar in 1995 – not only grow tomatoes, but also breed Icelandic horses.
Not everyone knows that they are a special breed. Why? While most horses in the world have only four gaits, Icelandic horses have as many as five. This makes them highly prized by riders. Icelandic horses are also smaller and hardier than others, and (reportedly) much more sociable and intelligent.
The Fríðheimar grounds include an equestrian center with reception facilities, a stable for 20 horses and an outdoor arena with seats for 120 spectators.
Fríðheimar – tips and practical information
- Fríðheimar farms sustainably, with an emphasis on environmental and social benefits.
- The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., all year round. If you plan to visit in summer, book a table in advance; without a reservation you can sit at the bar table.
- In the evening you can eat at Vínstofa Friðheima, a wine bar and restaurant in one of the farm’s oldest greenhouses: open daily from noon to 10:00 p.m. (kitchen until 9:00 p.m.), no booking needed.
- The Little Tomato Shop, with food souvenirs made from the farm’s tomatoes and cucumbers, and the bar are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Greenhouse visits run all year round from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but only for pre-booked groups: a private visit with a short talk costs 13,500 ISK (about $115) for a group of up to nine.
- The horse show runs in summer, from May 1 to September 30, for groups of 25 or more, and has to be booked in advance. Smaller groups can book a stable visit all year round, with a talk about the Icelandic horse and a demonstration of all five gaits: 24,500 ISK (about $200) for up to nine people, or 35,000 ISK (about $290) together with the greenhouse visit. Children under 6 go free, ages 6 to 14 pay half.
- Fridheimar is located in Reykholt (Bláskógabyggð), on Route 35, on the so-called Golden Circle, about 10 km (6 miles) northwest of Fludir. The drive from Reykjavik is nearly 100 km (about 60 miles) and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- More on the farm’s website: fridheimar.is, phone +354 486 8894.
Photos from Fridheimar
