Top 5 Places to Eat in the Highlands

let’s begin

Scotland is a country filled with true beauty. With rolling green hills and thick forests, it is a place to visit when you are looking for calm and relaxation.

The Highlands especially are renowned for their natural beauty and exceptional landscapes. It is no wonder then that tourist numbers are on the rise, and have been for several years.

To go along with the wonderful surroundings the Highlands also offer some of the best food across the British Isles. And who doesn’t love to savour a good meal while looking out over vast fields of green and crystal clear lakes.

Here is a sample of some of the top restaurants the Highlands have to offer, so should you find yourself there you’ll have more than just the surroundings to appreciate!

The Cross, Kingussie

Situated on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, The Cross is an award winning, modern restaurant based in a 19^th century tweed mill. It doesn’t get more Scottish than that! Aside from the frankly amazing riverside surroundings, The Cross offers some of the finest cuisine in all of Scotland. The fish is especially good and is so fresh it may as well still be swimming. This restaurant is perfect for those looking for beautiful surroundings and beautiful food. The atmosphere is sophisticated yet not stuffy or overly formal. This is truly a gem of the Highlands.

The Mustard Seed, inverness

The Mustard Seed first opened in 1995 and is found in a disused church. That can sometimes conjure the image of a dark, cold place, but The Mustard Seed is far from that. With an open log fire and some excellent food on offer you will not go cold or hungry here! The menu is interesting and always changing. The chefs maintain a close relationship with the local producers and transform their menu with every new season. This gives you a great variety of meals to choose from, as well as the excuse to go back at least four times a year!

Gille Brighde, Diabaig

This is something a little different from our first two choices. Nestled in the quaint little village of Diabaig we find Gille Brighde. It was opened by Aart and Amanda Lastdrager only last year and has been met with rave reviews, despite being situated in a tiny village. This is the perfect place to go if you really want to lose yourself in good food and some of the most spectacular views Scotland has to offer. The food is mostly locally sourced and ncludesDiabaid pork and mussels from the near by Isle of Ewe. The café itself is perched on edge of Loch Torridon and makes for a picturesque dining experience.

Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye

In terms of Whisky regions, this is technically in the Islands but since it’s a restaurant we’ll let it slide! Like the others on this list the food is mostly sourced from local producers, helping to bolster the local economy and giving visitors a true taste of Scotland. The restaurant has been going for over 30 years and has made quite a name for itself in that time. In fact it boasts a Michelin starred reputation as well as five star accommodation. But if there was anything to draw you to Three Chimneys it should definitely be the surroundings. The Isle of Skye is astoundingly picturesque and is of course home the legendary Talisker Distillery.

Ninth Wave, Isle of Mull

Another offering from the islands, Ninth Wave is a wonderful restaurant that gives its guests the full Scottish experience. Opened in 2009 by husband and wife team John and Carla Lamont the restaurant has risen to some pretty staggering heights. Carla, the main chef at Ninth Wave works with only the finest local ingredients, some of which her husband is likely to have caught considering he is a local fisherman himself. The food served here is award winning and has been recognised as the best by the Michelin Guide, the Scottish Good Food Guide and The Taste of S.

Tags: DiabaigDrinkWireGilleBrighdeHighlandsInvernessIsle of MullIsle of SkyeKingussieNinth WaveScotlandThe CrossThe Mustard SeedThree ChimneysTop 5 Places

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.