Where To Eat In Inverness | Top Foodie Spots Loved by Locals
Discover the best places to eat in Inverness. A handpicked and local-led guide to the Highland capitals’ best spots for food - from top restaurants and cosy cafés to bakeries, food markets, seafood spots and pubs serving great pizza.
Written by: Lesley Stewart
Inverness might be known as the capital of the Highlands, but its food scene more than holds its own beside the region’s wild landscapes. The city’s best places to eat share a clear ethos: seasonal menus, local produce, and food that’s genuinely worth travelling for.
As Highlands locals who live reasonably nearby- and spend many weekends dipping into the city’s cafés, bars, and live music spots - we can safely say that Inverness offers a far more vibrant food experience than most visitors expect.
So whether you’re stopping over on the NC500, on a weekend getaway, or passing through on the road to Skye, it’s well worth building time into your Inverness itinerary to explore the city’s food scene properly.
Below, you’ll find our guide to the best places to eat in Inverness restaurants; places we’ve personally visited, come recommended by trusted friends, or are firmly on our must-try list.
At A Glance: Where to eat in Inverness
The Victorian Market (best for food stalls & no-booking quick eats)
Sùgh Ùr Cafè (best for breakfast)
XOKO (best for lunch)
Birch (best for pastries, bakes, and speciality coffee)
Roots (best for vegetarian eats)
Black Isle Bar (best for wood-fired pizza and craft beer)
Perk (best for unique doughnuts and coffee)
River House (best seafood-bistro) or McBains (best for Scottish-bistro)
Rocpool (best for fine dining)
Hou Hou Mei (best for Asian cuisine)
Love Dosa (best for Kerala/Indian food)
The best places to eat in Inverness
In Inverness, casual dining is done particularly well, with the redeveloped Victorian Market standing out as the city’s most versatile place to eat. Its lively food hall brings together everything from street food and seafood to baking, vegan dishes and Scottish classics, all under one beautifully restored roof.
Nearby, XOKO has become a firm local favourite for lunch and brunch, serving bold, flavour-packed plates with Mexican influence in a relaxed, buzzing space.
Birch offers one of the best starts to the day with expertly brewed Skye-roasted coffee, pastries and unfussy sourdough-style breakfast dishes. Or, for sweet treats, make a beeline to Perk for creative doughnuts (and espresso martinis in the evening).
For laid-back evening food, Black Isle Bar pairs organic, wood-fired pizzas with craft beer from its own brewery, making it a dependable choice for a casual dinner or post-adventure refuel. Hou Hou Mei delivers consistently excellent Asian street food, and Love Dosa leans into its Kerala roots, with generous portions of Southern Indian foods best suited to relaxed eats.
If you’re looking for something a little more refined, River House and McBains by the River remain a longstanding favourite for relaxed bistro dining, combining Scottish produce with riverside views. At the same time, Rocpool sits at the top end of Inverness dining, offering modern fine dining rooted in Highland ingredients.
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We’ve given you our top places to eat in Inverness above, but you’ll find more fantastic eating options and alternatives split by category below. Plus, each eatery's location, advice on whether you need to book a table, and an idea of prices.
Inverness Restaurants
Inverness Cafes For Brunch & Lunch
Inverness Coffee Shops
Inverness Whisky Distilleries
Inverness Bars & Live Music
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Tip: A word of caution… The surge in tourism has unfortunately led to a rise in tourist traps - places serving food that’s decidedly forgettable (or worse). We avoid them altogether, and if a place you’re considering isn’t included on our lists, there’s probably a good reason! But if you think we’re missing something excellent, please let us know.
