Inverness
Inverness is a friendly city known for good food, live music, a castle, and its leafy river. Most hotels are near the city centre, and you’re generally only a short stroll from the river, Inverness Castle area, and the main shopping and dining streets - making it very easy to make the most of your time in the Highlands capital city.
Lunch & Coffee
These are the places we recommend for a casual lunch or coffee; none require pre-booking, and you’ll find their current opening hours under their linked pin.
XOKO: one of the best Inverness cafes with a Mexican twist. They serve great coffee, cakes, and small plates, and brunch and larger lunches are fantastic. Tables are communal.
The Victorian Market: a bustling food market, where you’ll find all sorts of delicious eating options and live music.
Birch: speciality coffee, bakes, and small plates. Really very good.
Perk: very fun doughnut shop also serving solid coffee.
However, if you’re looking for something more formal, all of the restaurants listed below (under “dinner”) also serve lunch menus, generally offering a set daytime menu for a reasonable price.
Activities & Attractions
How to spend an afternoon in Inverness:
Ness Islands Walk
Arrive in the Highlands’ capital and settle into your hotel before easing into Inverness with a gentle walk along the River Ness to Ness Islands. This peaceful loop carries you through pockets of woodland and along calm riverbanks, passing Inverness Cathedral and offering views of Inverness Castle along the way.
Start on the left bank, follow the path through the forest, cross the last ornate white bridge, and return on the right bank for the best views.
Directions: start point
Time: around 1 hour
Inverness Castle
Recently re-opened after a multi-million refurbishment, Inverness Castle is very much worth visiting. The exhibitions and immersive rooms are genuinely interesting, with ample opportunities to learn about all things “Highlands” - from wildlife to culture.
There’s also a lovely little cafe onsite and a fantastic viewpoint over the city and surrounding mountains from the tower. You can buy tickets on the door or pre-book here for a small discount (£ 20 pp).
Directions: entry point
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Tickets: In advance here.
Dinner in Inverness
There’s a great food scene in Inverness; from bustling markets and cosy cafés to waterfront bistros and family-run restaurants, the city offers a mix of casual and refined dining, with a strong focus on local produce and fresh seafood.
Where we recommend eating in Inverness:
The Victorian Market: a bustling food market, where you’ll find all sorts of delicious eating options and live music. We recommend The Mart (burgers made with local produce; the venison option is super good), Ollie’s Pops (proper street-food options like bao buns and slow-cooked brisket fries), and Namaste Inbhir Nis (authentic Indian food).
Black Isle Brewery: Excellent wood-fired pizzas and locally brewed organic beers. Also, great vibe for drinks.
The Mustard Seed: Excellent family-run waterfront bistro serving Scottish dishes and local produce. This is a popular option for locals and travellers, and inside it strikes the right balance between stylish and informal. Staff are super friendly, and there are often specials, an early-evening fixed menu, and local beers.
River House: A family-run restaurant with a seafood focus that’s popular with locals. Booking in advance is essential. We especially enjoy “oyster hour” between 4pm and 6pm.
The Babette: A stylish and modern eatery + bar, the menu leans towards French-inspired and is very, very good.
In the Evening
The Malt Room
Before (or after) dinner, head to The Malt Room, a stylish and intimate whisky bar tucked down a narrow alley in the city centre. The atmosphere is relaxed yet sophisticated, with low lighting and a carefully curated interior that immediately sets the tone for a memorable evening.
The team are welcoming and highly knowledgeable, happy to guide you through their extensive collection of single malts, suggest a bespoke whisky flight, or craft a whisky-based cocktail if you prefer something a little different.
A perfect pre-dinner stop to soak up Inverness’s warm hospitality, we also recommend The Malt Room for a stylish yet informal whisky tasting. As mentioned, the staff will help create a bespoke flight from the dozens of bottles on offer, or choose a classic flight from the extensive menu. If this appeals, I recommend booking a table in advance (though walk-ins are also welcome).
Directions: Malt Room entrance
Perk
Pre-dinner cocktails are a must in this small but excellent doughnut shop. During the day, you can grab fancy doughnuts, but from 4pm, the espresso martinis and mini-filled sweet treats are delicious! It’s also open during the day for coffee, soups, pastries, and sweet treats.
Directions: Perk entrance
Pubs & Traditional Music
Afterwards, round off the evening by experiencing Inverness’s lively traditional music scene. The city has a rich musical heritage, with pubs and venues regularly hosting local musicians playing everything from traditional Scottish fiddle and pipes to contemporary folk.
One of the most reliable spots is The Highlander, where you’ll find a nightly rotation of talented performers in a welcoming, intimate setting. The combination of great music, friendly locals, and a lively atmosphere makes it the perfect way to soak up the authentic Highland spirit before calling it a night.
Other great evening options include MacGregors (a traditional pub with live music and local beers) and Black Isle Brewery (craft, local beers and other drinks). For something a little more elegant and modern, head to The Babette for cocktails or wine.
Culture & Arts
If you’re looking for a more mellow evening based around culture and arts, check out Eden Court Theatre, who have an ever-changing programme of live shows, theatre productions, musicals, and a cinema.