The Best Restaurants in Glencoe, Scotland

With the outrageously stunning scenery and wild places of Glencoe attracting visitors from across the globe, it is no wonder there are some excellent locations to refuel hungry bodies, perhaps tired from walking up the mountains, or exploring the glen itself. Ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, whether from the land or the sea, and the quality of the dishes on offer may surprise you! Here are five places you should definitely try.
The Holly Tree
Often mentioned as one of the finest seafood restaurants in the Highlands, The Holly Tree menu is mouthwateringly alluring. With exceptional views across Loch Linnhe, this loch-side delight receives fresh and locally caught seafood and fish daily, as well as sourcing meats from only the finest local suppliers. Seasonality is a crucial part of the restaurant’s ethos, and the food is always top-notch. If you wish to eat in a less formal setting, the hotel also offers the Captain’s Bar, which serves soup and sandwiches from 12pm to 5pm, and bar meals and snacks from 12pm to 930pm.

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The Glencoe Gathering
Just because the Glencoe Gathering offers a more casual setting than its sister restaurant, the excellent Glencoe Inn next door, doesn’t mean the food isn’t also wonderful! Describing itself as a posh fish and chips house, the menu follows the seasons, with ingredients sourced close by. With options including lobster, black pudding, scallops and, of course, fish and chips, this is an excellent place to rest weary feet. As a bonus there is live music at the weekends, adding to the tradition of warm Highland hospitality.
Clachaig Inn
This is a place with a true depth of history, over three hundred years of it! It has acquired a legendary reputation with lovers of the outdoors, serving the great food to keep walkers, climbers, skiers, and mountain bikers going, or fill up after a long day. With some wonderful choices, such as venison pastrami, Stornoway black pud, game pie, and haggis (including a veggie haggis option), it may take a while to choose what you want to eat! It should also be mentioned that the whisky and ale selection is extensive.

The Laroch
With a Michelin starred chef running the kitchen and only the very best of locally sourced ingredients, it is definitely advisable to book ahead if you fancy eating here! The menu can change from day to day, depending on what is in season or has been caught. Expect big-city flair and craft, but at far more reasonable prices. The beautiful but filling desserts deserve a special mention.
Loch Leven Seafood Café
Open every day until the end of October, if you love your seafood this is a must-visit. It is impossible to source fresher seafood than here, as the locally caught shellfish are kept in storage tanks next door, awaiting export around the world or a quick trip to your plate. Dishes can be deceptively simple, but this lets the fresh, delicious, and natural flavours do the talking. Oysters, crab, lobster, scallops and razor clams are the stars of the menu (try the shellfish platter, you won’t regret it), although there are also locally caught fish and non-seafood dishes available. Booking ahead is highly recommended and the café is also open for snacks and coffees outside these opening hours.
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