Food and Drink Experiences
Are you ready for a culinary journey that is nothing short of extraordinary? Inverness and Loch Ness is a haven for food and drink enthusiasts, a destination where you can savour the finest local ingredients, prepared with passion and creativity within our local businesses. From exquisite meals paired with captivating storytelling, to local food and drink tours, riverside street food, and of course, a wee dram of Whisky or a locally brewed beer.
Let's take a look at what you can experience when visiting the area, you will most certainly not go hungry and you will leave with tales of memorable experiences to share with your family and friends
The Downright Gabbler
If you are looking for a special foodie experience during your visit to Inverness and Loch Ness, the Downright Gabbler in Beauly offers something you will not want to miss.
Mixing a menu that is full to the brim of Scottish and locally sourced produce alongside some captivating, cultural and historic storytelling, you are guaranteed a unique and entertaining evening.
"Living the dram" for Whisky lovers and the "Ale and hearty" evening for anyone who loves beer, and its history are just a few of the themed evenings on offer. If night time doesn't suit you can indulge in a tipsy tea party during the daytime.
Explore all the incredible events on offer and make sure to book ahead so you don't miss out!
Do you love a dram?
We cannot talk about food and drink experiences without mentioning Whisky, it is very high on the must-do list when visiting the Scottish Highlands, and we are incredibly lucky to have some experiences you will not want to miss.
We have 3 whisky distilleries on our doorstep of Inverness and Loch Ness, starting in the city centre and the new kid on the block of whisky distilling is Uilebheist Distillery and Brewery. Opened in 2023, discover the story of this brand new riverside distillery and Brewery in Inverness by taking a tour. The tours include a tasting session of one of their Beers, a blended whisky and new-make spirit.
Continuing the whisky journey, you have the option of two well known distilleries that have been around for generations close by for you to visit.
Just a short distance south of Inverness is Tomatin Distillery. A visit to the distillery will teach you how they produce their award-winning whiskies and you will be taken on a journey through time, from the beginning in 1897 through the height of production in the 1970s, to the present day.
Book from a range of quality tours to uncover the wonderful story of the distilleries history.
And if your journey is taking you north of Inverness and you are looking for a distillery experience, you must make sure to visit the Singleton Glen Ord Distillery in Muir of Ord near Beauly.
The Singleton whisky visitor experience is inspired by a passion for making perfectly balanced, delicious whisky. The Glen Ord Distillery, one of three storied distilleries which make The Singleton brand, the experience treats visitors to the finest Scottish fare. Advanced booking for tours and experiences is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
If you are not looking for a distillery tour but want to enjoy a quality whisky experience, the Malt Room bar will provide just this!
Inverness' first dedicated whisky bar that serves a wide selection of malts, premium spirits, cocktails, wines and exclusive beer. This wonderful bar has a cosy, intimate vibe and the friendly team are incredibly knowledgeable and will be happy to guide you to experience a dram of a whisky flight that will be paired to your taste buds!
Local food and drink
Do you love to try local delicacies when visiting a new destination? Eating what and where locals eat and immersing yourself into local experiences. The great news is to save you a lot of research and time you can do this on a food and drink walking tour with a local guide, Cath's Inverness Tours.
Cath will take you on a culinary adventure through the historic streets of Inverness and you'll explore the rich tapestry of Highland flavours and beverages. Indulge in iconic Scottish dishes like Haggis and Cullen Skink, complemented by the tastes of locally produced beer and a whisky tasting. Even meet a local or two!
Book a tour with Cath and spend the time saved on finding more great things to see and do whilst you are here!
Riverside Street Food
If you prefer a more relaxed dining option and enjoy local, creative and artisan flavours, you need to head to the riverside area near the Inverness Cathedral and you will find the Highland Food and Drink Trail. Street food Inverness Style!
You will find a weekly offering of tasty treats from the local vendors on the trail. Everything from healthy juices to locally sourced seafood snacks, delicious fresh pasta to a Highland Hog Roast.
Check out what's on offer and when via their social media channels and do not miss out!
Food and Coos
Unique food experiences don't get much cooler than having a meet and greet with some highland coos! For visitors who love highland cows and also love delicious cake a visit to Quila Cridhe Tearoom in Drumnadrochit has to be top of the foodie list.
You can choose from a unique highland coo themed afternoon tea or simply have some lunch and a meet and greet with the coos. This wonderful family run authentic experience has become so popular that booking is a must! You can reserve and book via an instagram DM.
Slow food experience
What could be better, after a day exploring the Highlands, than a Scottish dinner, hosted in a Highland home, with an expert cook and hostess to welcome you, and only you, where you will learn about the traditional recipes involved, and hear personal stories, in the spirit of conviviality that Slow Food stands for.
Cleikum Social Eating Club hosted by Karen at Shamerbrae B&B is a one of a kind experience where the food is seasonal, forraged and of the very best quality.
Victorian Market Food Hall
A new foodie experience within a historic home in Inverness. The new food hall in the Victorian Market in Inverness is a real gem in our city. Full of choice, full of local businesses and always full with a wonderful buzzing vibe!
Whether you need a cake and coffee, a burger or sushi, there will be something to satisfy your appetite, with such a brilliant range of food options available.
Although not formal bookable experiences, sampling locally produced food and drink is essential when visiting a new destination. Inverness, Loch Ness, and the wider Highlands are home to fantastic and creative local producers who offer a wonderful selection of products for you to enjoy.
When you're exploring our beautiful region, be sure to seek out these local gems and indulge in the authentic flavours they have to offer.
It's all about the flavour for Dog Falls Brewing Co, an award winning nano brewery from Inverness. Their beer is brewed locally, for locals, but you will be lucky enough to find it stocked in many placed in Inverness and Loch Ness to give it a try.
They say the monster may be a myth, but luxurious ice cream from Loch Ness isn't! Loch Ness Ice Cream is a family run business working from the heart of the Highlands producing top-quality Ice Cream. You will find it stocked and served in many places in Inverness and Loch Ness and you must give it a try! It's delicious!
Fresh, Local and sustainable! At Farm Ness you can't get your food miles much lower, you can buy fresh meat from their farm, local veg and many other local products in the well stocked farm shop! All whilst the kids play in the fantastic farm and visit the animals.
XOKO is a bakehouse and coffee bar in Inverness bringing you the best artisan sourdoughs, pastries, and cakes.
All the bakes are expertly crafted and made from scratch in their open-plan bakery, so you can see the quality and passion that goes into every one of their loaves, croissants, gateaux and tarts. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch in the coffee bar also!
What's On
There are many local events happening all year round from hotel supper clubs, to gin and whisky festivals and local food producer events and tasters.
Check out our What's On Calendar to explore what is happening when you are thinking of visiting as you may find the perfect event for you.
