Cafe Artysans
Cafe, British
Scottish Breakfast | © Ewan Munro /Flickr
Situated amidst the craggy greenery of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom. Visitors come to this picturesque city and its environs to see historical sights like Inverness Castle and Culloden Moor, but contemporary Inverness has much to offer as well, especially for the discerning diner— everyone needs a good breakfast before wandering through battlefields. Read on for the top places to get brunch or breakfast in Inverness.
Cafe Artysans serves up freshly ground coffee and an assortment of breakfast classics such as filled rolls, porridge with honey, eggs on toast, and a full Scottish fry-up complete with Stornoway black pudding and locally-sourced bacon. What makes this breakfast spot unique is its commitment to social enterprise is the fact that the cafe is staffed by a team of young apprentices who are learning the skills necessary for vocational success.
Address & telephone number: Cafe Artysans, 7 Strothers Lane, Inverness, United Kingdom, +44 1463 729793
The Camerons Tea Room and Farm Shop
Farm Shop, Tea Room, Tea
At the Falls of Foyers, on the banks of the Ness | © rotor132 /Flickr
The Camerons Tea Room and Farm Shop
A little ways out of the city center, en route to the Fall of Foyers waterfall, sits Loch Ness Cottage, a bed, breakfast and farm with an exemplary farm shop cafe. Stop in for breakfast on your way out of town for a day of exploring, and fuel up on tea and beans on toast with a view of the farm’s herd of Highland cows. If you’re still hungry, try one of the homemade cakes, muffins, or scones, prepared daily.
Address & telephone number: The Camerons, Foyers, South Side Loch Ness, Inverness, United Kingdom, +44 1456 486475
Girvans
Bar, Diner, Restaurant, British, $$$
Girvans
This family-run restaurant is something of an institution in Inverness, boasting a long list of coffees and teas and a selection of homemade patisseries— including homemade banana and date wholemeal scones, Mars bar slice, a house cheesecake, and even a gluten-free cake of the day. For breakfast, there’s something for everyone, from the most traditional diner (scrambled eggs on toast) to the most adventurous (the banana, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar croissant is surprisingly delectable).
Address & telephone number: Girvans, 2 Stephen’s Brae, Inverness, United Kingdom, +44 1463711900
Nourish Cafe Inverness
Cafe, Restaurant, British, $$$
Smoothie | © Ida Myrvold /Flickr
Nourish Cafe Inverness
For a break from typical Scottish cuisine, check out this hidden treasure, tucked away adjacent to a holistic physiotherapy clinic. Nourish Cafe offers wholesome natural smoothies, herbal teas, organic coffees, vegan and gluten-free cakes, and all sorts of ethically-conscious and healthful light bites and meals.
Address & telephone number: Organic Cafe Inverness, The Riverdale Centre, 105-107 Church Street, Inverness, United Kingdom, +44 1463 250589
The Rendezvous Cafe
Cafe, British, $$$
The Rendezvous Cafe
Right in the middle of the city center, this eclectic breakfast spot is housed in what used to be a dance club, once frequented by The Beatles. True to the building’s artsy heritage, the cafe is decorated with posters from classic films, and the owner will happily give you tea or coffee for 50 p cheaper if you can successfully quote him a line from a Woody Allen flick that he can’t recognize. The high-quality local ingredients, cheerful ambiance, and delicious fare make it clear why this haunt is so beloved by locals.
Address & telephone number: The Rendezvous Cafe, 14a Church Street, Inverness, United Kingdom, +44 1463 718444