15 Best Restaurants On The Isle of Skye | Locations & Map
Our favourite thing to do on Skye? Explore its exceptional food scene. We spend a lot of time on this magical Scottish island, and below, you’ll find our take on the best restaurants on the Isle of Skye.
By: Lesley Stewart | Updated March 2025
If there’s something synonymous with the Isle of Skye, other than its iconic sights, it’s food. With its proximity to land and sea, Skye’s best restaurants are a testament to the exceptional local produce that has created a flourishing culinary scene.
In fact, I’d say the restaurants on Skye are easily amongst the best eateries in Scotland.
Somewhere between the charming streets of Carbost, the wilds of Waternish, and harbourfront Portree are restaurants and cafes doing something special, from dining at Michelin-starred and recommended restaurants to ancient inns and everything in between.
The diverse foodie experience is part of the Misty Isle's appeal; there’s something for everyone and always an opportunity to feel immersed in Skye’s natural larder.
Skye is a destination that I return to time and time again, and eating my way through the island is one of my favourite ways to experience it. Over countless road trips and weekend getaways, I’ve sampled some superb food.
And safe to say, I have a list of firm favourites.
But on an island this size, with villages scattered across many miles of narrow roads, finding the best places to eat on Skye can be overwhelming. That’s where this guide comes in - and to make planning your trip easy, we’re covering the best Skye restaurants and their locations, plus a few practical tips to help make the most of your experience.
Here’s our take on the best restaurants on the Isle of Skye.
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Planning a Trip To The Isle of Skye?
Here are my top picks for places to stay on the island with exceptional restaurants:
The Bosville, Portree: harbourfront hotel with modern Scottish eatery.
Marmalade Hotel, Portree: stylish stay with chic grill.
Edinbane Lodge, Edinbane: boutique stay with an award-winning restaurant.
The Three Chimneys: chic stay with Michelin-starred eatery.
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Helpful trip planning guides:
If you want to make the most of your time on the island, read my Portree travel guide, Portree hotel guide, Portree eateries, Carbost travel guide, and Skye road trip itinerary (coming soon). Or let me help you plan a truly exceptional Skye trip.
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Travel tip: The best way to explore Scotland is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Scotland, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Hertz and Sixt. Book your car with Discover Cars here.
15 best restaurants on the Isle of Skye
This list of the best restaurants on Skye isn’t just top-awarded or expensive eateries. Instead, it’s a combination of restaurants and cafes doing something special. However, no matter the eatery, booking your table in advance is essential.
These are our favourite places to eat on Skye, from fine dining to food shacks:
Dulse & Brose, Portree
Best for: Cosy + delicious dining in Portree
Location: Bosville Hotel, 13 Bosville Terrace, Portree IV51 9DG
Portree is the island’s capital and a beautiful place to stay, so it's no surprise that there are a handful of seriously good eating places here. One of the most popular is Dulse & Brose, a stylish restaurant inside the Bosville Hotel.
One of Skye’s best restaurants, Dulse & Brose is open for dinner, and serves classic Scottish dishes - all done exceptionally well. The menu is seasonal and ever-changing but includes favourites like fish and chips, wild boar sausages with mash, and seared venison loin. If it’s on the menu, order the smoked duck and grapefruit salad, the local catch of the day, and the Scottish cheese board.
Overlooking Portree Harbour, you don’t get a more central spot, and alongside the delicious menu, the next-door bar is a late-night haven for nightcaps.
The Old Inn, Carbost
Best for: Seasonal specials and a friendly vibe
Location: Carbost, Isle of Skye, IV47 8SR
Specialising in locally caught seafood, the Old Inn serves a varied pub menu, including haggis bon bons (dangerously moreish) and crowd-pleasers like burgers. Plus, there’s an extensive daily specials board.
We’ve visited twice, and it’s the perfect spot for a relaxed lunch; we happily hid from the rain here and devoured a platter of pate, cheese, and homemade oatcakes by a roaring fire.
However, the aforementioned specials board around dinner time is where the Old Inn shines, promoting this cosy eatery as one of my absolute favourite places to eat on Skye. Trev devoured the baked North Sea cod with mussels and baby potatoes and said it was excellent. But the slow-cooked beef with buttery mash and greens was so good, it was one of the highlights of our road trip.
Just along the road, Talisker Distillery is a must-visit for whisky lovers; pop in for a pre-dinner tasting or dram.
While you can walk in and be lucky to nab an empty table, the Old Inn gets busy, and I recommend booking in advance.
Edinbane Lodge, Edinbane
Best for: Special occasions, award-winning food, and fine dining
Location: Old Dunvegan Road, Edinbane, IV51 9PW
Award-winning Edinbane Lodge is home to one of Skye’s best restaurants - the Rosette and Michelin-recommended restaurant of the same name.
Calum Montgomery, born on the Isle of Skye, is the head chef at this popular Skye restaurant. He brings years of experience and his network of island producers to this role, meaning local produce are at the heart of every dish on the menu.
Edinbane Lodge offers a tasting menu for dinner with the option of paired wine. Expect dishes like Lochalsh lamb with pickled carrots and hand-dived scallops with smoked seaweed butter.
This is a fine dining experience in an upscale eatery, so expect to pay more than other places on this list. However, in return, you’ll eat exceptional food in a beautiful old Highland lodge.
Chargrill Restaurant, Portree
Best for: steak, seafood, and bold flavours in a stylish setting
Location: Marmalade Hotel, Home Farm Rd, Portree, IV51 9LX
You’ll find Chargrill tucked away inside the uber-stylish Marmalade Hotel. One of our favourite spots for dinner in Portree, the food here is inspired by Skye’s local larder, with dishes based around perfectly grilled steak, chicken, veg, and seafood.
The varied menu features crowd-pleasing favourites; we loved the cornfed chicken with corn puree & charred corn and the mouthwatering rib eye steak. The accompanying sides were utterly delicious, all with unique twists and bold flavours.
With an equally brilliant wine menu, friendly staff, and contemporary design, it’s little wonder that this Skye restaurant (and hotel) made our exclusive ‘Scotland Handpicked’ list. Chargrill is open to residents and non-residents, and is an easy 5-minute walk from Portree town centre.
Loch Bay, Waternish
Best for: seafood and special occasions
Location: Stein, Waternish, Isle of Skye, IV55, 8GA
Michael Smith’s restaurant in the pretty fishing village of Stein is one of Skye’s best restaurants. We’ve yet to eat here (it’s top of my Skye bucket list), but this Michelin-starred eatery is highly acclaimed.
Delivering a relaxed vibe, Loch Bay serves a ‘contemporary Scottish with a French twist’ menu. Expect truly special dishes like hand-dived scallops and venison, with produce from the local waters and the West Coast’s best estates.
One you need to reserve in advance, Loch Bay delivers incredible food and a unique dining experience wrapped up in a gorgeous waterfront location.
The Three Chimneys, Colbost
Best for: Special occasions and beautiful interiors
Location: Colbost, Isle of Skye IV55 8ZT
Another Michelin-recommended eatery, this time on the Duirinish Peninsula, The Three Chimneys, is one of Skye’s best-known and most-loved restaurants.
They serve upmarket lunch and dinner menus, focusing on seasonal produce that reflects the quality of Skye’s “natural larder”. Inspired by land to sea, expect to see dishes like Loch Dunvegan Langoustines and hand-dived scallops.
This is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a dining experience or celebrating a special occasion. However, stay in their 5-star accommodation for a real treat - the views over Loch Dunvegan are breathtaking. Reservations are a must.
For anyone visiting Talisker Distillery at charming Carbost, book a table for lunch in ‘The Three Chimneys at Talisker’; this unique collaboration brings a delicious a la carte menu and casual dining with spectacular views over Loch Harport.
Gasta Port Righ, Portree
Best for: authentic, wood-fired pizza
Location: Isle of Skye Candle Co., Portree, IV51 9EU
You’ll find Gasta Port Righ hidden inside the visitor centre at the Isle of Skye Candle Co in Portree. Being a 20-minute walk outside the town, it’s something of a hidden gem - but their wood-fired, hand-stretched, Neapolitan-style pizzas are out of this world.
They also serve bagels, filled croissants, salads, and toasted ciabattas. But my top tip for travellers is to stop here for breakfast before a big day of exploring Skye’s iconic sights - the fully loaded breakfast bagels and coffee will set you up for the day!
Café Cùil, Carbost
Best for: lunch, brunch and coffee
Location: Satran, Carbost, IV47 8SU
If I had to choose just one Skye restaurant for brunch or lunch, it would be Cafe Cùil. This Hebridean-inspired cafe is, in a word, excellent - and the perfect place to eat on Skye for brunch or lunch.
Dishes include Scottish smoked mackerel on sourdough, Highland shakshuka, and poached eggs with parma and wild garlic pesto.
We also devoured some pastries that were almost too pretty to eat (can we take a moment to appreciate the mini berry pavlova), followed by really good flat whites.
Inside is bright and airy, with big windows letting those gorgeous Skye views flood in. Outside, the now iconic red roof is a welcome beacon amongst Skye’s wild landscapes (and often wild weather).
The Oyster Shed, Carbost
Best for: Super fresh seafood
Location: Carbost Beag, Isle of Skye IV47 8SE
At the Oyster Shed, the clue’s in the name - enjoy fresh oysters by the dozen, grown in the crystal-clear waters of nearby Loch Harport. Seafood lovers will find themselves in heaven with other locally sourced goodies which include scallops, langoustines, and mussels.
This seafood eatery is tucked away up a hill in Carbost, but its well worth the walk. And at the top you’ll find a small food shack, which is perfect for a takeaway bite before tours and tasting at nearby Talisker Distillery.
Scorrybreac, Portree
Best for: Fine-dining Scottish cuisine
Location: 7 Bosville Terrace, Portree IV51 9DG
If you’re looking for exceptional seafood and classic Scottish cuisine in a more formal setting, head to Scorrybreac. Michelin-recommended, this beautifully designed restaurant is a must-book for serious foodies.
Fine dining meets the finest seasonal produce and ingredients so local that chef Calum Munro and his team often forage in the local bay. After dinner, head upstairs, where you’ll find an intimate bar serving cocktails and single malts with beautiful views.
Birch Cafe, Portree
Best for: light bites, lunch, cakes, and coffee
Location: Bayfield Rd, Portree IV51 9EL
Birch is a cosy café in the heart of Portree, only a few minutes walk from the famous harbour. I eat here every time I visit Portree, and its my go-to spot for brunch and lunch in the town.
One of the best cafes on Skye, they specialise in freshly ground coffee, light bites, and pastries. The menu is a mix of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes including granola, chia seed pudding, French toast, and sourdough sandwiches.
Inside is a beautifully minimalist and light space that gives seriously cool Scandi-vibes. You’ll find their sister-cafe in Inverness and Birch roasted coffee in many other cafes across Skye. A must-visit in Portree.
Cuillin Coffee Co., Glenbrittle
Best for: Breakfast and excellent coffee
Location: Glenbrittle Campsite, Isle of Skye, IV47 8TA
A further away drive, near the Fairy Pools, speciality coffee roaster Cuillin Coffee Co. is one of the best cafes on Skye. Tucked away in the Glenbrittle campsite, they serve speciality coffee and a delicious breakfast menu of hot rolls and freshly baked croissants.
I absolutely love this little cafe, which is tucked away at the bottom of the Cuillin mountains. It’s a perfect option for those camping, but also for travellers planning an early morning visit to the pools or the nearby beach.
There are casual bench seats and big windpw
Find it here.
Lean To Coffee, Broadford
Best for: excellent coffee & cake
Location: 8 Ashaig, near Broadford, IV42 8PZ
Skye’s trendy coffee shop, the very cool Lean To Coffee is both quirky and charming. Specialising in artisan roasts, this independent spot is a welcome addition to the cafe scene on Skye. As well as excellent frothy flat whites and hot chocolates, there’s also a selection of toasties for lunch and tempting sweet treats for afters.
Inside, it is rustic and minimalist but beautifully decorated, with a handful of seats scattered around long tables. If I’m arriving on the island via the Skye Road Bridge, this is my go-to for a casual but tasty lunch or a pick-me-up coffee and cake.
Lean To Coffee closes over winter, so check opening times here.
The Ferry Inn, Uig
Best for: Sharing platters, local produce, and incredible location
Location: Uig, Isle of Skye, Scotland, IV51 9XP
Food at the Ferry Inn is based around seasonality, with an intentionally small menu of local and regional produce. Their speciality is sharing platters and small plates, making it one of the most creative and best restaurants on Skye.
Whilst I haven’t eaten here yet (it’s always been fully booked, a testament to its popularity), The Ferry Inn is incredibly highly rated and very much on my list of places to eat on Skye.
Wrap up: Skye’s best places to eat
Enjoying the restaurants on Skye is integral to the island experience. There’s a vibrant culinary scene here, a beautiful blend of seriously good food and West Coast Scotland's best produce.
Skye’s best restaurants and eateries are scattered throughout the island, so planning where to eat before your trip is essential. You could spend a week here and still not eat in them all!
My advice? Choose a mix of excellent cafes for brunch and lunch (Cafe Cuil or Birch) and something delicious for dinner, like a contemporary take on Scottish classics (Dulse & Brose) or a casual spot to unwind (Gasta Port Right). And, if you can, something experiential like Edinbane Lodge is a must for foodies.
But that’s the beauty of Skye’s restaurants - there’s something to suit everyone here. whether fine dining or seafood shacks.
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