Inverness Restaurants & Pubs

August 2021 update: The Highlands are currently in Level 0 Covid restrictions which means that restaurants and pubs are open indoors and outdoors.
It is advisable to book restaurant tables in advance. You will be asked to wear a face covering when entering the premises and moving around from your table.

There's lots of places to Eat and Drink in Inverness from corner cafes to 5 star restaurants. Here's a selection of eateries in Inverness city centre.

Top 10 Riverside Eateries

• The Waterfront Bar & Restaurant - Best Gastro Pub in Scotland 2018. Located in Huntly Street on the riverside, serving contemporary Scottish fayre including seafood and game
• Mustard Seed restaurant - very popular restaurant on Bank Street with some terrace seating upstairs overlooking the river.
• The Kitchen Brasserie on Huntly Street is a uniquely designed glass-fronted building right on the riverside. Outside seating available.
• Prime on Ness Walk specialises in steak and seafood. Outside seating available overlooking Inverness Castle.
• The River House Restaurant on the corner of Grieg Street and Huntly Street (near the 'bouncy' bridge) specialises in seafood.
• Rocpool Restaurant award-winning stylish contemporary brasserie on the corner of Ness Walk by the river.
• The Waterside Hotel on Ness Bank which has a restaurant in the conservatory overlooking the river plus a beer garden with lots of outside tables.
• McBains by the River at 10 Bank Street near the pedestrian bridge.
• Contrast Brasserie - the award-winning restaurant at the Glenmoriston Town House hotel on Ness Bank on the riverside. Listed by The Lonely Planet as one of their best value restaurants in Inverness. Now has an outdoor marquee overlooking the river.
• Eden Court Theatre has its own bar, restaurant and cafe.

Casual Dining with traditional Scottish fayre

• Number 27 is a bar and restaurant in Castle Street which serves lunches and evening meals every day. Local ales and fresh home cooked food with a difference.
• Girvan's Restaurant is a cafe by day and a restaurant by night. Situated on Stephen's Brae near the Eastgate shopping centre.
• Fig & Thistle Bistro serves Scottish food on Stephen's Brae in the city centre.
• White House Cocktail Bar and Bistro on the corner of Union Street and Church Street.
• ASH bar/restaurant at the Royal Highland Hotel offers lunch and dinner menus, plus afternoon teas in the tartan-decked foyer of this historic hotel with Titanic theme grand staircase.
• Cafe 1 in Castle Street serves Scottish and European dishes.
• McGonagall's Steakhouse in Bridge Street offers Scottish food and chargrilled steaks.
• Urquhart's Restaurant on Young Street is close to the river and a short walk from Eden Court.
• You can get bar meals at two of the hotels on Ness Walk - The Palace Hotel and The Columba Hotel (John Macnabs Bar & Bistro which has outdoor seating).
• 33 Church Street Bar & Brasserie overlooks the river and is set within The Mercure Inverness Hotel.

Italian Restaurants

• Bella Italia and Zizzi on Bridge Street are both well known franchises.
• Pizza Express is in Falcon Square.
• Cheese and Tomatin is a pizzeria on Stephen's Brae near Eastgate.
• Little Italy on Stephen's Brae is a family-run authentic Italian Restaurant near Eastgate Shopping Centre with some outdoor seating.

Spanish Restaurants

• La Tortilla Asesina - a Spanish tapas bar on Castle Street.

Indian Restaurants

• Tiger on the Wall is a pop-up restaurant by the river on Ness Walk offering authentic Indian and Oriental dishes. Takeaway also available.
• Ness Mahal in Academy Street
• Spice Tandoori overlooking the river
• Sams in Church Street
• Cinnamon - opposite Morrisons on Millburn Road
• The Rajah - behind the post office

Chinese Restaurants

• Lucky Bowl in Union Street is said to be ‘the only authentic Chinese Restaurant in the Highlands’.

International Restaurants

• NAR restaurant - serves Mediterranean food on Bridge Street.
• La Le Turkish Mediterranean Restaurant - next to the Phoenix Ale House in Academy Street.
• Apsendos - serving local Mediterranean and Turkish food in Queensgate (near the post office).
• Kool Runnings offers Caribbean food in Church Street.

Pubs and Bars

• Castle Tavern up which is well recommended for its food and real ales.
• MacGregor's specialises in local craft beers and traditional live music (at the far end of Academy Street)
• Black Isle Bar & Rooms which specialises in pizza and local beer (from the Black Isle Brewery and elsewhere).
• Hootananny in Church Street. A very popular venue with regular live music.
• Johnny Foxes - this pub offers live entertainment in the evenings and serves good bar meals all day.
• Rose Street Foundry - pub food in Academy Street

Something special

For an award-winning 5 Star dining experience, you can dine Chez Roux at the Rocpool Hotel. The restaurant offers Scottish ingredients with a French twist. Founded by Albert Roux.
The newly opened 5 star Ness Walk hotel has a restaurant and you can also get afternoon teas.

Cafes

• Artysans is a social enterprise working with local produce, offering breakfasts and home baking. Situated in Strothers Lane between the bus station and railway.
• The Rendezvous Cafe on Church Street is a local establishment, previously a record shop and dance hall.
• Comfort Foods is a cafe and deli in Church Street.
• The Hidden Gem cafe at the Spectrum Centre has light bites and is just by the bus station.
• Inverness Botanic Gardens cafe is known for its delicious cakes and scones.

Live Music

Many pubs in Inverness have regular live music sessions with local bands and musicians. (May 2021: currently there are restrictions on live events due to Covid guidelines).

• Hootananny / Mad Hatters (Church Street) - including ceilidhs on a Saturday afternoon.
• MacGregor's (bottom of Academy Street)
• Gellions (Bridge Street)
• Johnny Foxes (Bank Street, overlooking the river)
• Encore Une Fois (in Young Street just over the bridge)
• Market Bar (Church Street),
• The Tooth & Claw (tucked away in Baron Taylor's Street),
• The Dog House (opposite the post office in Queensgate)
• MacNabs at the Columba Hotel on the river has live music on Saturday nights in the summer.
• The Glenmoriston Hotel (Ness Bank on the riverside) has music at weekends in the bar.

When live music events are permitted once again, these sites will show you what's on:

• The Ironworks Live Music Venue in Academy Street.
• Eden Court Theatre (near the cathedral on the river)
• invernessGiGs web site includes music news, events listings, reviews, etc.