Best restaurants in Inverness

Set within the Inverness Palace Hotel, Eight on the River is a relaxed but timeless dining lounge that blends contemporary character and old-world feel. Guests can anticipate elegant dishes composed with local Scottish produce and exceptional techniques.

The team at Prime has carefully selected the best ingredients from the Highlands and Islands, expertly matching them with top-notch bottles to enhance every dish. Field to fork and grape to glass, what more could we want?

Modern fare, chic interiors and castle views, what more could a humble foodie wish for? A heated terrace perhaps. Well, The Kitchen Restaurant has that covered too, along with riverside views and a great lunch menu.

Located on the River Ness in the city centre, Rocpool is a family-run Michelin Guide restaurant with a well-earned local following. It’s an on-trend restaurant with a Mediterranean-leaning menu showcasing vibrant flavour paired with cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Serving seafood and fish dishes within earshot of the flowing river, River House is a small but locally revered restaurant known for its clean and elegant cooking and dedicated oyster menu.

Conveniently located on Queensgate, Scotch & Rye offers a unique blend of industrial prohibition charm and steampunk style, providing a galvanising setting for an evening of craft beers, vintage cocktails and comfort food with an American tilt.

Located within a renovated church, The Mustard Seed Restaurant is one of Inverness’ most treasured restaurants. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, simple but modern Scottish menu and exceptional daily specials board - it’s well worth a visit.

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming high street frontage of this little bistro, The Fig & Thistle is a bastion of quality dining and adventurous Scottish fare. It's a cosy neighbourhood restaurant perfect for satisfying lunches and date-night dinners.

Staying close to its Scottish roots, Contrast Brasserie prides itself on its local produce. Expect hand-dived scallops, juicy Shetland mussels, and a menu of polished land dishes showcasing the best that the Highlands have to offer.

Supplied by its very own farm and bolstered by connections with top Highland suppliers, Cafe 1 offers honest-to-goodness fresh food. It’s a friendly spot, with on-trend informal interiors suited to quick-stop lunches and casual midweek dinners.

Proving the validity of traditional pub fare, at The Castle Tavern you can anticipate superb views of Inverness Castle, an ever-changing selection of real ales, pies, and a generous helping of haggis.