Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Inverness / Scottish Highlands

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Inverness / Scottish Highlands? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Loch Ness Inn

4.7

4.7 (1138)

£25 and under

Scottish

Inverness

About the restaurant

The Loch Ness Inn, is a small hotel located in Drumnadrochit, just 1.5 miles from Urquhart Castle and 15 miles from Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.

Our restaurant offers diners the chance to experience the best of local Highland produce, cooked to perfection, in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. We have a wonderful wine & gin list to accompany your food.

Visit our Brewery Bar and sample our excellent range of local beers and whiskies.

Top review

Marte

Dined 2 days ago

We had a lovely Christmas diner en such friendly service!

Discover more

Popular dish

beef burger

Popular dish

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Thai Dining

4.7

4.7 (604)

£25 and under

Thai

Inverness

About the restaurant

With our cooking staff born and raised in Thailand, you are assured of an authentic Thai Dining Experience.

Top review

Laura

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

Absolutely amazing! Fantastic flavours, good portions, brilliant service, and great value for money. Was busy even though it was midweek a week before Christmas, but not surprised as it is without fault. Highly recommend you book a table here when in the area you will not be disappointed! Cannot wait to return in the new year!

The Mash Tun Hotel

4.7

4.7 (68)

£25 and under

British

Aberlour

About the restaurant

The Mash Tun sits beside the River Spey, nestled in beautiful Aberlour. Recently refurbished, it is now a stylish boutique hotel. This historic establishment has been transformed into a beacon of Scottish hospitality, marrying tradition with contemporary luxury.
Our small restaurant offers fine dining without the fuss and a cosy and intimate ambiance.
The whisky bar boasts a magnificent stock of Scottish malts, with a few guest stars from around the world and our own award winning Stalla Dhu range. We also boast our own cigar humidor where guests can choose from an impressive selection of Cuban and New World cigars, to be enjoyed in our enclosed and heated cigar hut!
We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Top review

Kymm

Dined 2 days ago

Great wee place, staff were super friendly and made us very welcome. My son was very impressed with the whiskey selection and having two diplomas in whiskey, he was very happy to educate me :) Food was stunning and the atmosphere was perfect for a Christmas Eve dinner. Loved it and I will definitely be back.

The Shores Plockton

4.6

4.6 (223)

£41 and over

Scottish

Plockton

About the restaurant

Shop Open Daily. 9am-3pm - Sundays. 10am-3pm

Restaurant

Lunch 11am - 2pm Friday to Sunday
Dinner 6pm - 8pm Friday & Saturday

***We have a 10% Service Charge***

The Shores Seafood Restaurant is set in a beautiful location, in the stunning village of Plockton, on the Scottish mainland near the Isle of Skye.
The team at The Shores aim to seek the finest local, seasonal produce, delivering modern Scottish cuisine, with a number of influences.

Scotland’s coastal waters are world famous for their rich & varied produce, freshly caught Langoustines, Lobster & King Scallops by local fishermen to name just a few of the highlights.

It’s all about what’s on the plate......

We welcome you to enjoy an evening with us. We have an interesting and varied selection of beer, cider & wines, and if you fancy something a little stronger, we have an ever increasing selection of Scottish Single Malts & Gins.

Top review

Katri

Dined on Nov 29, 2024

Warm welcome followed by professional and kind service. We were celebrating a birthday and there was wee "happy birthday" sign on table rather than reserved. I thought it was nice wee gesture. The bottle of prosecco Santi Nello was lovely, we also had port wine Cockburn's Fine Ruby with the dessert and that was nice as well. The port worked well with the soft and well balanced chocolate tart. The tart was not too sweet, and the portion size just right. For starter we had the scallops, and they were made to perfection. For main we had the smoked haddock, again well balance flavours, though the smoky flavour was very strong, so you defenetly have to like smoked. Presentation on all the foods were well thought off and bonnie. Personally I loved the use of edible flowers. We had a lovely time at the Shores Plockton and would defenetly come back. Highly recommend. Thank you again to the whole staff.

The Badachro Inn

4.6

4.6 (517)

£25 and under

Scottish

Gairloch

About the restaurant

Visit The Badachro Inn | Restaurant by Gairloch for the best hospitality the West of Scotland can offer. The Inn offers good food, beer, wine and spirits to go with it.

Badachro Inn is a unique bar / restaurant in a unique place – a sheltered bay in spectacular Loch Gairloch – one of the best West Coast anchorages. It’s a popular place to meet for a drink or a pleasant meal.

Visit us for the best hospitality the West of Scotland can offer. The Inn offers good food, beer, wine and spirits to go with it. We can also point you in the right direction for places to visit and accommodation in the local area.

WE CANNOT ACCEPT DOGS IN THE CONSERVATORY AREA. IF YOU WISH TO BRING YOUR DOG PLEASE BOOK A TABLE IN THE BAR AREA.

PARTIES OF OVER 6 MUST BOOK BY PHONE ON 01445741255. Please call between 9AM-12PM. OR 3PM-6PM

IF ALL TABLES ARE FULLY BOOKED WHY NOT TRY ONE OF OUR OUTSIDE WOOD FIRED PIZZA FROM THE STAG AND DOUGH ON OUR DECKING CA

Top review

Poppy

Dined on Dec 18, 2024

Lovely place, food, service. Couldn’t fault. Thank you!

Redcliffe Bar and Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (211)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Inverness

About the restaurant

Welcome to Redcliffe Bar and Restaurant.
Locally owned and operated Venue. Good seasonal menus created by our head chef Andrew.
Ambient restaurant with good selection of beers and ales. Great wine list!
Excellent Outdoor Area with full table service using the latest technology. Come and see our ladybird outdoor Wood fired Pizza Oven.
And the best bit - The views to Inverness Castle and Ben Wyvis. Simply Stunning!.
Come along and enjoy our hospitality. We look forward to serving you soon.

Top review

Ann

Dined 6 days ago

Starter was vile - 3 puddings & warm tomato chutney - but that was just MY taste. Main meal of Turkey and trimmings was fine, Turkey good & plenty of it, brussels cooked to perfection, Couldn’t tell if it was mashed turnip or carrot , mashed tatties - hmmm debatable, stuffing - olastic and uneasiness, , roast tatties - only 2 tiny ones on plate so not much to write about. Neal was hot which was good. Service was excellent given that there was every table filled and as it was party night the noise level was diabolical but sounded like everyone was having a good time. Thank you

Fig & Thistle Bistro

4.5

4.5 (979)

£26 to £40

International

Inverness

About the restaurant

Fig & Thistle Bistro offers modern Scottish cuisine in a casual dining venue in the heart of the city centre, Using Quality local produce with daily specials, they offer value for money and a warm welcome.

Top review

Jenni

Dined 6 days ago

Seriously this wee restaurant is wonderful the food is amazing ..the staff go out of their way to help you and are so funny and friendly

The Allangrange Arms

4.5

4.5 (748)

£25 and under

British

Inverness

About the restaurant

The Allangrange is a hotel and restaurant in Munlochy, on the Black Isle, We are a 10 min car journey from Inverness.

We provide gourmet pub food, fine wine & ales with boutique rooms.

Every Thursday we have Gerry Coogan on piano
Every Friday we have world renowned classical singer Tone Hendry

Top review

Tracey

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

Could not fault anything from the minute we walked in food was top class service was great and lovey cosy feeling around us! Will definitely be back again.! Thank you.

Sundancer Bar & Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (152)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Nairn

About the restaurant

Opened in 2017 The Sun Dancer restaurant is positioned overlooking the Moray Firth.

Well known for the quality and presentation of our food using only the freshest and locally sourced produce and renowned for our expertise in crafting and presenting our own in-house and classic range of cocktails.

Top review

Elizabeth

Dined 2 days ago

So enjoyed our time at the Sundancer today. Great service, pleasant staff. The food was outstanding. This was not our first visit and certainly won’t be our last. The go to place in the area if you want something that little bit special.

The Battlefield Bar & Restaurant

4.0

4 (37)

£26 to £40

Scottish

Inverness

About the restaurant

*EVERY SUNDAY WE HAVE A SUNDAY ROAST ALONG WITH A REDUCED MENU*
*Due to staff allergies dogs are only permitted in our bar area*
In the heart of Culloden Moor set just of the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, we are committed to bringing great food, wine, whisky, beer and even cocktails to all that we have the privilege of serving. The Battlefield Bar & Restaurant is created out of a passion to address the needs of the local community along with offering tourists the chance to taste some amazing Scottish food, it serves as a great drinking and dining destination that boasts a vibrant yet relaxed setting. Modern, seasonal and fresh, the menu features an inventive range of Scottish favourites as well as a few signature dishes.

Top review

Carol

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

Second visit here and they were awesome again. The staff maintain high standards with a smile, the food was tasty and plentiful; what more could you ask for?

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