Kirkwall
Three miles down the Orphir road, one of Orkney's best dining options is surprisingly affordable for its quality. Tranquilly located, with a cosy eating…
Must-see restaurants in Orkney & Shetland
Lerwick
A cute wooden building in a super location, Fjarå is perched above a rocky shore and takes full advantage, with big picture windows looking out over the…
Lerwick
Upstairs in the Shetland Museum, this place sports a wall of picture windows and a fair-weather balcony that overlooks the harbour. Clean lines and pale…
Shetland
With a short, quality menu based around top-notch local and Scottish produce, this hotel restaurant is one of Shetland's best places to dine. Delicious…
Orkney
Tucked away off the main street, this Stromness favourite specialises in excellent local seafood in an intimate, cordial atmosphere. There’s always…
Kirkwall
This popular harbourside place is a convivial spot with a helpful attitude. It offers high-standard bar meals and excellent evening meals in the…
Kirkwall
Part music shop, part cafe, the Reel is Kirkwall’s best coffee stop and sits alongside St Magnus Cathedral, bravely putting tables outside at the…
Kirkwall
This grand old waterfront hotel is among Kirkwall’s better dining places. The elegant bar and eating area packs out; it’s a favourite spot for older…
Kirkwall
There’s a traditional cosiness about this place and the decor is a comfortable, with contemporary slate floor and quotes from the Orkneyinga Saga…
Kirkwall
At the back of a lively craft shop opposite St Magnus Cathedral, this licensed cafe-bistro serves tasty sandwiches and salads, as well as daily specials…
Orkney
A pleasant spot with sweeping views over green grass, black cows and blue-grey sea, this cafe serves tea, coffee, home baking and light meals. It's a good…
Orkney
The heart of the Westray community, this refurbished local pub is famous throughout Orkney for its popular fish and chips – whatever has turned up in the…
Lerwick
If you’ve been craving proper espresso since leaving the mainland, head to this gem, with art exhibitions, wire-mounted halogens and industrial-gantry…
Shetland
This historic hotel near Brae is an atmospheric place to eat and offers a bar menu of warming fare that has takes on classics like lasagne and fish and…
Orkney
This cafe-bistro occupies a spectacular setting at the southern end of South Ronaldsay. It's a smart, modern glass-walled building with a deck and great…
Orkney
Handy for the Moaness ferry, this cafe has a spectacular location by the water with great views of the brooding Hoy hills. It offers home baking and light…
Shetland
This famous Shetland chippie uses only locally sourced and sustainable seafood. As well as chip-shop standards, the menu runs to tasty Shetland mussels in…
Orkney
Tastefully renovated, this characterful high-ceilinged former general store with chessboard tiles makes an atmospheric venue for a morning coffee and…
Orkney
Every port has its pub, and in Stromness it’s the Ferry. Convivial and central, it warms the cockles with folk music, local beers and characters, and all…
Shetland
In a fisheries college, this place has a slightly canteeny feel but great water views out of big windows. It does simple but tasty snacks all day and…
Lerwick
Buzzy, arty and colourful, this cheery venue in Mareel overlooks the water and does sandwiches and snacks by day, and shared platters, burgers and nachos…
Kirkwall
This sizeable hotel restaurant by the Highland Park Distillery offers well-presented, rich cuisine that's long been a local favourite. The menu changes,…
Kirkwall
This exciting project that was just about to open as we last passed by has seen a transformation of a listed 19th-century herring warehouse into an…
Orkney
On the meandering main street through Stromness you'll find this very likeable little deli. Local cheeses and yoghurts are a highlight, alongside smoked…
Shetland
This pub near the harbour in Lower Voe opens year-round but does food in summer only, with hearty home cooking supplemented by daily local seafood…
Shetland
Local farmers supply the produce for this excellent shop and cafe, which stocks cheeses, quality meats and more, and presents dishes that range from…
Shetland
At the caravan park at Braewick, this licensed cafe has tasty light meals served with stunning views over St Magnus Bay's eye-catching crags. Much food is…
Lerwick
The dining room in this slightly run-down hotel wins marks for its harbour views – book one of the window tables. It's best visited for beautifully…
Lerwick
Shetlanders have fine seafood but love their meat, so this friendly steakhouse was always going to be popular. Hidden away behind the tourist office, it…
Shetland
Though this looks down-at-heel from outside, and the public bar on one side is a bit tatty, the restaurant area in the other wing has been pleasantly…
Kirkwall
In the Albert Hotel, the Bothy has a contemporary smartness about it, plus B&W photos of old-time Orcadian farming and low tables providing old-time cheer…
Orkney
Just above Rousay's ferry, this simple place does burgers and standard bar meals, and provides coffee or whisky while you wait for the boat, or a chat and…
Orkney
In the centre of South Ronaldsay's main settlement, this inn does uncomplicated but tasty fare, including curries and local crab and scallops. The bar is…
Orkney
This central hotel does decent local seafood dishes plus a few Indian curries and skewers, with a few vegetarian options. There’s a lounge bar with…
Lerwick
Lerwick’s salty air often creates fish-and-chip cravings. Eat in (until 8pm), or munch down on the pier if you don’t mind the seagulls’ envious stares.
Shetland
Just by the Unst ferry slip, this place is a fine spot to wait for the boat. It offers decent coffee plus sandwiches, panini and breakfast fare.
