Inverness Restaurants

For such a small town, Inverness offers an excellent range of eateries, from traditional Scottish fare to contemporary international fusion cuisine. The citys restaurants, cafs and bistros can be found along the River Ness, in the historic town centre and in restored mansions scattered around the countryside. For lighter fare, Inverness also has a decent selection of coffee houses, tea shops and bakeries. Most restaurants tend to close by 23:00, although pubs are usually open later and serve bar snacks. Service is typically included at most restaurants, but the standard tip of 10 to 15 per cent is always appreciated by your waiter.

Local cuisine

Scotland is blessed with an abundance of fresh produce, meat and seafood, all of which find their way into the menus of Inverness. The countrys unspoiled environment means that everything is top-notch. Famous Highland ingredients such as salmon and venison make up the base for many of the most delicious traditional dishes. The quintessential Scottish dish, haggis, is something you may or may not want to try. This rich sausage made from spiced liver, offal, oatmeal and onion is cooked inside a sheeps stomach. It may sound a bit dodgy, but its delicious and has become rather trendy in recent years. There are even vegetarian versions, and modern takes on the traditional recipe.

In most hotels and inns, youll be offered a Scottish breakfast, which is similar to its English counterpart but also includes black pudding and potato scones. Porridge is another hearty staple for cold mornings, as well as oatcakes. Scotland is very serious about its cakes and puddings, so dont hesitate to check out the many bakeries around town. Other traditional dishes which youll encounter are stovies, a tasty mash of onion and fried potato heated with minced beef. Meat pies are another favourite snack, and Scotch broth is a hearty soup made from lentils, split peas, barley and mutton stock. And of course, dont forget to indulge in some of the countrys fine single malt scotch whisky and cask-conditioned real Scottish ale.

Where to eat

Inverness has dozens of great places to eat, both along the riverside and in the heart of the city. You can enjoy breakfast by the castle, lunch along the River Ness and afternoon tea in one of the many coffee houses or tea shops. Dinner will simply be a matter of choosing which kind of cuisine you are craving. Castle Street is the place for finding some of the citys finest restaurants, which range from tapas bars to sushi. The Riverside is the other major area for dining. With its laid-back atmosphere and tranquil views across the water, this is the spot for a sunset meal or lazy afternoon lunch. Dont overlook the idea of heading out of town, as there are dozens of country house hotels which serve truly superb cuisine.

As in the rest of Britain, Scottish pubs remain the traditional social gathering place for local residents. Scottish pubs vary widely, from classic inns with open fireplaces and a cosy atmosphere to rowdy theme bars with satellite television and loud music. You can often find an excellent meal or a light snack at these public houses.