Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
A Highland Blend
  • WHO IS A HIGHLAND BLEND?
  • Services for businesses
    • Testimonials
  • Business Blog Posts
  • CAITHNESS & NC500 Posts
    • Best Food and Drink around the #NorthCoast500

Top places to eat in and around the #NorthCoast500

March 6, 2020 by Susan 2 Comments

The Highland region of Scotland has an amazing larder of ingredients, and some top hospitality talent to showcase them! Here’s my round-up of some of the best places to eat in and around the North Coast 500.

Please do check opening times for yourself and if necessary book in advance – businesses in some rural areas are seasonal and have winter closures or shorter opening hours.

Eat cake at the Pier Lairg
Cakes at The Pier, Lairg

CAITHNESS & SUTHERLAND

Caithness and Sutherland may have a smaller food scene than other parts of Scotland, but there are some must-visit places if you are travelling on the North Coast 500:

Eat cake at the River Bothy berriedale
The heaving cake counter at River Bothy Berriedale
  • Pier Cafe, Lairg – I sometimes wish that I could teleport myself out to Lairg as the photos of their food shared on social media often have me salivating! We’ve eaten there once on a little trip to Lairg, which included very substantial portions of cake, never a bad thing!
  • The Courtroom, Dornoch – Formerly known as the Courthouse Cafe, this space will soon be opening in the evenings too. A lovely welcoming place to enjoy good coffee and lunch. Check out the famous wall mural of people linked with Dornoch.
  • Dornoch Castle Hotel – We had a beautiful afternoon tea here, which is also the home of Thompson Brothers Gin, and a well -stocked whisky bar for those who like a dram!
  • La Mirage, Helmsdale – The favourite place for Caithness locals to get a fish supper if you’re on the long road home from Inverness. The 70s quirky decor and HUGE portions have to be seen to be believed!
  • River Bothy, Berriedale – We’ve eaten breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea here in the Berriedale valley (not on the same day of course!) – the quality of food and service here is second to none!
  • Whaligoe Steps Cafe – One of the only places in Caithness not to feature more classic British dishes on their menu, as Mediterranean food features heavily due to the chef’s experience of living in Malta. One of the most stunning locations in the Highlands, perched on the cliffs overlooking the Whaligoe Steps.
  • Puldagon Farm and Restaurant, Haster (near Wick) – Meet the resident Highland cows, then have some lovely Caithness views while enjoying your breakfast lunch or dinner (Fri-Sat evenings only).
  • Mackays Bistro, Wick – Be a record breaker dining on the shortest street in the world, enjoying the best of local Caithness produce.
  • Annie’s Bakery, Gills Bay – Newly opened for 2020, local lass Annie provides bakery items through local cafes and shops, and now has opened her own small cafe with views over the island of Stroma and boats travelling between the mainland and Orkney.
  • Stacks Cafe and Bistro, John O’Groats – one of the few pooch-friendly cafes in Caithness, Stacks has a seasonal inventive cafe menu and opens evenings during the longer summer nights.
  • Blue Door Diner, Thurso – Award winning ice-cream and sundaes are what draws the crowds to the Blue Door Diner!
  • Capilla Tapas, Scrabster – Book a table early or risk disappointment, this authentic tapas restaurant serves up small but perfectly formed tastes of Spain.
  • Melvich Hotel, Melvich – Four words necessary: Amazing wood fired pizza. (See my review here)
  • Cocoa Mountain, Balnakeil (also in Dornoch) – A nice little spot in the middle of Balnakeil Craft village. Their hot chocolate is the stuff of legends!
  • Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku – Excellent seafood with excellent mountain views.

EASTER AND WESTER ROSS, & THE BLACK ISLE

  • Platform 1864, Tain – In the local railway station building, a spacious and stylish restaurant and bar serving good quality gastro-pub daily.
  • IV10, Fortrose – Inventive dishes and a cute wee deli to take some purchases home with you. And possibly the best brownie you’ll ever eat!
  • Sutor Creek, Cromarty – wood fired pizza in the heart of arty Cromarty.
  • The Storehouse of Foulis, Evanton – Light and substantial breakfasts lunches and cakes are available from this restaurant and farm shop. Grab a table in the heated marquee out the back and enjoy a view of the Cromarty Firth while you eat.
  • Bad Girl Bakery, Muir of Ord – Bad Girl Jeni is taking over the world – from going wholesale to opening her own diner style cafe and supplying other local cafes and the Caledonian Sleeper, she also runs masterclasses so you can learn all of the ‘Bad Girl’ tips of the trade, and you might even see their 50’s style trailer serving up treats locally!
Eat Tapas
Tapas at Capilla, Scrabster
  • Corner on the Square, Beauly – A favourite with locals; good coffee, a well stocked deli and seats outside – a great spot to sit and watch Beauly life go by.
  • Gille Bridghe, Diabaig – worth the trip on a tiny road out from Torridon to Diabaig, we had an amazing seafood platter here on a stunning summer day.
  • Applecross Inn, Applecross – with views over to Skye, this is one of the most picturesque places to dine on the West Coast, with the best Scottish produce featuring on the menu.
  • Seafood Shack, Ullapool – still on my list to visit, run by two Ullapool ladies who use fresh fish and seafood straight from the local boats.
Eat Thai Dining
Meals at Thai Dining, Inverness

IN AND AROUND INVERNESS

  • MacBains by the River – a family run restaurant serving up tasty Modern European food! Review
  • SHIMCA Lotus Blossom Cafe – one of Inverness’s best kept secrets to eat chinese food (until I wrote about it and let the cat out of the bag)
  • MacGregors Bar – Good Highland food, drink and live music, and a beer garden! Dog friendly too.
  • Thai Dining – a family run Thai restaurant, one of our favourites for a bit of spicy dining.
  • Nar Mediterreanan – a newish place with great lamb and chicken dishes, taking you straight to the Med on a plate!
  • Saffron – out of town in Culloden, our favourite Indian restaurant when we lived in Inverness.
  • Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve – one for a special treat or anniversary, I received a complimentary meal here in 2019 and i still regularly think about what a stunning experience it was!

Where do I need to visit next? Let me know your top-rated places to eat in the Highlands below!

Eat Rocpool reserve
Dining at Chez Roux, Rocpool Reserve

Filed Under: CAITHNESS & NC500 Posts Tagged With: Black Isle, caithness, dining, easter ross, Eat, inverness, nc500, North Coast 500, resturants, Scottish Highlands, sutherland, Wester Ross

RECENT POSTS

Marketing services for small businesses – what does A Highland Blend offer?

Caithness in literature | A recommended reading list

Building a Business website | The woes, worries and wins!

A Highland Blend’s reflection on 2020 – a year like no other

Why I’ve launched A Highland Blend to work with Caithness businesses

Previous Post: « Coming up in ‘e county | 2020 Events in Caithness
Next Post: Creatives in ‘e county: #CaithnessMarket »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie Marker

    March 18, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Hi Susan! Love your blog 🙂 you don’t seem to have been to my either of my three favourite eateries around Inverness! Ok, first of all – The North Kessock Hotel, the food is outstanding. Second, The Mustard Seed – the entire experience, food, environment and staff make this a special place. And, finally because the food is delicious, it’s cosy but oh my, you have to try their deconstructed cheesecake! It would be at the top of my last supper if I were to have one! Lol. Almost forgot to say where it is!!! Allangrange in Munlochy

    Reply
    • Susan

      March 21, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      Hi Julie, thanks for your positive comments, really appreciate them! I have actually been to all 3 restaurants, but not recently – so will have to rectify that next when I’m down in Inverness/Black Isle!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

I’m Susan and welcome to A Highland Blend – a website primarily promoting the people, products and places of Caithness. I offer digital media and VA support services for businesses in the north Highlands of Scotland and beyond. To find out more, please check out my About Me or Available Services pages. To sign up for monthly business emails, please click on the image below!

Sign up to join my email newsletter list

 

I also love to help locals and tourists alike discover the best of Caithness and the rest of the Scottish Highlands, so you’ll also find blog posts that will help plan your itinerary, whether you are looking for ideas of places to visit or to eat and drink.

If you’d like to get in touch, please contact me by email or by any of the social media links below.

GET IN TOUCH

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

BUSINESS BLOG POSTS

Marketing services for small businesses – what does A Highland Blend offer?

Building a Business website | The woes, worries and wins!

A Caithness Christmas Shopping Guide | PopUps, Private Shopping and more!

Reframing thought processes: a business mindset | Reflections on risk and investment

8 ways to prepare for a COVID Christmas in Caithness

What I’ve learned from local businesses in Caithness

Why I’ve launched A Highland Blend to work with Caithness businesses

SEE ALL BUSINESS BLOG POSTS

NC500

Caithness in literature | A recommended reading list

A Caithness Christmas Shopping Guide | PopUps, Private Shopping and more!

TASTE NORTH 2020

Taste North 2020 goes digital

Caithness Pizza

Lockdown Eats | Caithness Pizza

Getting out and about during COVID-19: Walks in East Caithness

Creatives in ‘e county: #CaithnessMarket

SEE ALL NC500 POSTS

 

Archives

Categories

Footer

GET IN TOUCH

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

RECENT POSTS

Marketing services for small businesses – what does A Highland Blend offer?

Caithness in literature | A recommended reading list

Building a Business website | The woes, worries and wins!

A Highland Blend’s reflection on 2020 – a year like no other

Why I’ve launched A Highland Blend to work with Caithness businesses

Copyright © 2021 A Highland Blend on the Foodie Pro Theme