Scotland’s North Coast 500 is one of the most spectacular road trips in the world. Between the breathtaking Highlands, pristine beaches, caves, waterfalls, and wildlife, you get to see the best of Nature. The North Coast 500 also has some incredible restaurants and cafes. Since you must eat every day, I think it’s vital to know where to find good food.
While there are plenty of great North Coast 500 restaurants (the route is 500 miles long after all), some definitely stand out. In fact, some are so good that they have huge lines daily or even a waiting list several months long. Here are my top recommendations for the best restaurants and cafes on Scotland’s North Coast 500.
Scotch and Rye, Inverness
Before you even leave Inverness and embark on the North Coast 500, or perhaps on the evening of your return, I highly recommend having dinner at Scotch and Rye. Other than a few expensive fine-dining restaurants on the river’s west bank and a good Mexican restaurant, I didn’t find many great places to eat in Inverness. But once you find the best place, which for me is Scotch and Rye, you don’t have to go anywhere else.
Designed like a Chicago speakeasy circa 1920, Scotch and Rye has been serving excellent meals since the summer of 2015. I’m not the only one who thinks they’re fantastic; many locals agree that they are the best in town, and they even won the Scotsman Food and Drink Award for the “Best Bar and Kitchen” in 2018.
I’ve now been several times, and neither myself nor anyone in my party has ever had a bad meal. From the chicken wings to the Rueben sandwiches, everything they serve is just perfect. They even serve some of the best corn dogs I’ve ever had in my life, although that’s something you might not get yourself if you’ve never been to Scotland and want to stick to Scottish cuisine.
Seafood Shack, Ullapool
Ullapool is the largest town on the west coast of the North Coast 500, and where you take the ferry to Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis and Harris. The town only has about 1,500 inhabitants, but because so many people pass through for the ferry and the North Coast 500, there are a few good restaurants and cafes.
For seafood on the North Coast 500, the Seafood Shack in Ullapool is one of the best options. The staff is friendly, the ambiance outside (when it’s not raining) is relaxing, and the food is incredible. You’ll find it on the west end of town one street up from the harbor. If you’re waiting for the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and Harris, you can go up the stairs at the back of the car park directly to the shack.
I ordered the tempura haddock wrap with lemon pesto and salad, and Vanesa went with the spicy seafood chowder. The wrap was just perfect. The haddock couldn’t have been cooked better, and the amount of fish was more than I could eat in a single sitting. Vanesa’s soup was similar to the Cullen skink, but with a spicy twist, almost like a marriage of Cullen skink and Thai khao soi, my two favorite soups in the world.
Cocoa Mountain, Durness
As many know, I’m not a big fan of alcoholic drinks. On the other hand, hot chocolate is one of my favorite drinks, and I’m always on the search for the best. I just might have found it at Cocoa Mountain in the Balnakiel Craft Village just outside of Durness on the north coast.
The quality of the chocolate used at Cocoa Mountain is fantastic. Of course, a cup of hot chocolate or a mocha is the main attraction. You can also order a “chaser” for four fresh chocolate truffles to pair with your drink. I loved watching them drizzle melted milk and white chocolate on my hot chocolate before serving it to me.
Sadly, it seems I missed the best of Cocoa Mountain by a year. Previously, the location had a cozy cafe vibe. Now it’s more like a cafeteria setting. Worst of all, the presentation has taken a nose dive. The hot chocolate used to be served in beautiful mugs, and now the steady stream of tourists get their hot chocolate or mocha in a paper cup. It still comes with the chocolate drizzle on top, but it’s not overflowing down the side of the mug as it used to.
To be fair, I completely get what happened. The North Coast 500 has become overcrowded since the pandemic, and prices have also gone through the roof in every aspect. I can see why Cocoa Mountain is cutting corners with its presentation. As far as I can tell from previous reviews, the quality of the chocolate has stayed the same, which is what I care about the most.
Northern Sands Hotel, Dunnet
Following a recommendation from our host at the North Point Pods, Vanesa and I had our anniversary dinner at the Northern Sands Hotel, not from Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of mainland Scotland. They don’t even show up on Google Maps as a restaurant, only a hotel, but anyone can eat there and absolutely should considering how good they are.
Of course, I had to order the fish and chips in a coastal town, and I’m so glad I did. The breaded haddock was cooked to perfection, and I could easily taste how fresh the fish was. Vanesa had a lasagna which we could clearly tell used homemade pasta and the best Scottish cheeses. The entire kitchen team are locals and all share a passion for serving the highest quality food in the region.
Our other dishes were similarly delicious. The prawn Marie Rose starter was excellent, but what really took the cake was dessert, pun intended. Vanesa ordered the Biscoff cheesecake, and I had the traditional Scottish sticky toffee pudding. Both were absolutely incredible, particularly the latter which was one of the best I’ve ever had.
Annie’s Bakery, Upper Gills
Down the street from the Pentland Ferries terminal taking passengers to the Orkney Islands is one of the best bakeries in Scotland. It’s certainly one of the busiest. We were at Annie’s Bakery for nearly two hours having breakfast, and we never saw less than twenty people waiting in line. Maybe that’s because they’re only open four hours a day, four days a week.
As much as I would have preferred eggs or something with more protein, the proper Belgian waffles (Liege style) topped with bacon and maple syrup were excellent. If anything, perhaps just a little too sweet, as neither of us could finish the waffles.
What Annie’s really famous for are their pastries — cookies, donuts, bars, muffins, and more. If I purchased one of each, I’d have had enough sugar to last a year! Everything was also massive. I had one of the Kinder Bueno bars, which must have weighed over a pound! Best of all, the prices were really reasonable. Nearly every item was either £3 or £3.50.
Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant, Puldagon
I’ve certainly saved the best for last. It might also be the last stop of your North Coast 500 road trip if you’re traveling counterclockwise (anticlockwise as they say in the UK). You’ll find the Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant just outside Wick, roughly two hours north of Inverness. Just keep in mind that, similar to Annie’s Bakery, Puldagon Farm is currently open five days a week, so ensure you check their hours before arriving.
The Puldagon Farm Shop and Restaurant only started in 2019. Since then, they’ve become among the highest-rated North Coast 500 restaurants and eateries. Anything they don’t grow themselves is locally sourced, mostly within 10 miles of the farm. You can see all the suppliers listed on the Puldagon Farm website.
As Vanesa and I were already quite full from breakfast at Annie’s only a couple hours earlier, we each ordered a soup. I went with the Cullen skink, and Vanesa had the soup of the day. I can honestly say the Cullen skink was one of the best I’ve ever had, if not the best. If I remember the story correctly from the owner, Greg, he learned the recipe from a man working on an oil rig and then perfected it.
The farm itself is beautiful, with so many amazing animals. They have nine Hairy Coos, a Clydesdale horse, a Shetland pony, a flock of cute Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep, a Shire horse, several peacocks, a business of ferrets, and now a playful whippet puppy. You need permission from the staff to visit the animals, and their invitation for Vanesa and me to wander the farm was one of the top highlights of our North Coast 500 journey.
Sinky’s Beer Garden and Grill
Sinky’s Beer Garden and Grill is in a league of its own. Literally. Few restaurants in the UK, or the world for that matter, have a waiting list six months long. At the time of this writing, Sinky just served his 250th table, and I’m sure he’ll continue to serve hundreds more over the years.
The concept at Sinky’s is simple. Sinky prepares roughly 400g per person of the highest-quality meat in an Argentinian-style barbecue for a small, private setting. The meal comes with other trimmings such as fresh, local vegetables, chips, and, of course, chimichurri sauce. As to be expected, everything is homemade. You’re essentially having dinner at the home of a world-class chef.
Sadly, I didn’t know about the six-month waiting list when I tried to get a last-minute reservation, so I’m not actually writing about Sinky’s from personal experience…yet. I absolutely plan to get on the waiting list for next year so I can bring Vanesa (my Argentinian fiancée) to that once-in-a-lifetime experience. So far, Sinky’s has a perfect review score across the board, and I’m sure we’ll say the same after our visit!
Other Good North Coast 500 Restaurants and Cafes
This certainly isn’t a complete list of all the best spots on the North Coast 500 for great meals, snacks, and drinks. I simply didn’t find others yet. On the other hand, we found a few mediocre stops, and even a couple (I won’t give any names) which were quite bad and have no place on this list.
Many hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs have fantastic meals. After all, it’s usually the local owner preparing meals with products sourced locally at these establishments. But in most cases, except for some of the hotels, you must have accommodations at that establishment to eat there.
On my upcoming trip to the North Coast 500, I plan to find some more great restaurants and cafes. I’ll either add to this list or create a separate article for round two. Specifically, some highly-rated tea rooms along the East Coast between Inverness and Wick are on my “want-to-go” list.
Perhaps I can take you with me on my next trip to the North Coast 500. If you’re interested, leave a comment below or contact me on social media.
Further Reading
This is part of my series of best restaurants and meals in Scotland. Check out my other articles in the series:
- 30+ Best Restaurants In Edinburgh For Tourists And Locals
- 25+ Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Edinburgh
- 5 Best Thai Restaurants in Edinburgh that Taste Like Thailand
- 5 Best Mexican Restaurants in Edinburgh, By a Local Food Guide
- Where to Find the Best Cullen Skink in Edinburgh
- The Best Edinburgh Food Tour – How to Begin Your Journey in Scotland
And for more information about Edinburgh and Scotland, make sure to check out the rest of my Scotland articles.
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