The Best Coffeeshops And Cafes In The Scottish Highlands

The Highlands of Scotland cover a large area, with distances between towns and villages sometimes surprising the visitor. Most villages have a café or coffeeshop, and it is often bustling with local life and activities, a meeting place for neighbours who may live miles apart and a place for visitors to rest. Bigger towns have plenty of places to choose from, such as those in Inverness, but here we share six from across more rural parts of the region, from coast to coast and over mountains!

1. Glencoe Café

Cafe, Coffee Shop, Tea , Coffee, British

Situated in the legendary Glencoe, this café is the ideal spot to fuel up before hitting the hills, or perhaps to sit with a cup of loose leaf tea or locally roasted coffee, admiring the remarkable views. Breakfasts, snacks and lunch are all available, and you can even have a glass of wine or beer with your food. With free WiFi and home baking also on offer, this is the perfect spot to slow down among some of the finest scenery in Scotland.

2. Café Eighty2

Cafe, British, Coffee

If you are exploring Loch Ness, perhaps to try and find Nessie, or maybe just travelling along the Great Glen, this is a perfect place to stop for a cuppa. The fare on offer includes an all-day breakfast that receives wonderful reviews, smoothies, cakes and other baked goods, all of which are homemade. It is also worth mentioning that the service is second-to-none — the staff come highly praised for their kindness and attention to detail.

3. Nanny's

Cafe, British

Starting life in 2008 housed within a small corrugated iron building, Nanny’s is now found in a purpose-built café. This is home cooking and baking at its best and Nanny’s has an excellent reputation among lovers of the area; walkers, mountaineers, kayakers, or those driving along the nearby North Coast 500. How local and fresh is the food? Well, the langoustine and squat lobster are caught in the nearby Loch Torridon by the owner’s husband!

5. The Bealach Café

Cafe, British, Coffee

Named after the infamous winding mountain pass, Bealach na Bà, at whose base it is situated, this café is popular with those who travel to the west coast village of Applecross. The location of the café is stunning, and there is an outside seating area (and large windows inside for days when the weather comes into play!). The staff are great, the cakes delicious, the coffee and tea spot on, and there’s even an attached gallery!

6. Cocoa Mountain Balnakeil

Cafe, Candy Store, Tea , British

The name is a bit of a give away; Cocoa Mountain serves teas, coffees, sandwiches, quiche, and croissants, for example, but it really excels in all things chocolate. From the perfect hot chocolate to the handmade truffles and artisanal chocolates, the fact this is a café attached to a chocolaterie does not go unnoticed. In fact, it can’t go unnoticed, as you can even peek at staff making chocolates! Cocoa Mountain have recently opened a new outlet in Dornoch too.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.