Fiona's Guide to eating out on Sleat, South Skye
Brunch, lunch, cake , dinner and drink. The good things in life.
Sleat, South Skye, has some great cafes, bars and restaurants. I've listed some of my favourites. And others because they're useful and have a place in local life. I've also listed popular venues in Broadford and further away. I mention vegan/ vegetarian options throughout because these can be hard to come by on Skye as hospitality focuses on "traditional Scottish" fare. The Spanish Harbour Restaurant in Broadford meticulously lists all allergens on its menu. Most of its dishes are gluten and dairy free.
Skye is extremely busy from Easter to end of October so reservations are advised. (Due to staff shortages post Covid and Brexit not all venues are open daily even in summer.)
In Winter some restaurants / cafes close or are open part-time so check they are open before turning up. Reservations still advised.
Take an extra layer of clothing in case of open windows, doors. Most venues in Skye are dog friendly.
The small informal cafe offers tasty lunchtime soups, sandwiches and cakes. Outdoor courtyard tables. The indoor seating area is small. Can be drafty so take a fleece Choice of drinks including coffee tea and beer. Open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm. Car parking. Five minutes walk from Coachmans Quarters.
The Cafe at Torabhaig Distillery
The small informal cafe offers tasty lunchtime soups, sandwiches and cakes. Outdoor courtyard tables. The indoor seating area is small. Can be drafty so take a fleece Choice of drinks including coffee tea and beer. Open Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm. Car parking. Five minutes walk from Coachmans Quarters.
An Crubh is a friendly busy cafe, 2&1/2 miles from Coachmans Quarters. It serves lovely freshly made lunches and homemade cakes. Great coffee. Vegetarian & vegan options. Indoor and outdoor seating. Great views. Wood stove. Child and dog friendly. Outdoor playground. Usually open Weds - Sunday. (The adjacent convenience store, with post office, is open daily.)
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
An Crùbh
An Crubh is a friendly busy cafe, 2&1/2 miles from Coachmans Quarters. It serves lovely freshly made lunches and homemade cakes. Great coffee. Vegetarian & vegan options. Indoor and outdoor seating. Great views. Wood stove. Child and dog friendly. Outdoor playground. Usually open Weds - Sunday. (The adjacent convenience store, with post office, is open daily.)
It is the well known An Praban Bar with its own separate entrance at Hotel Eilean Iarmain that I am recommending. Located on the shore at Isle Ornsay three miles from Coachmans Quarters. ( look out for the lighthouse when approaching A851 turn off). The venue does superior pub food with vegan and vegetarian options too. ££. Skye Gold Ale is a wonderful beer and the hotel produces its own Gaelic whisky blend and an elegant gin. That said there are plenty of whiskies to choose from. Families are welcome and the staff friend. Booking essential. Hotel Eilean Iarmain, IV43 8QR. The menu is on their Faccebook page where you can book too. Or telephone or email them.
Hotel Eilean Iarmain has a great restaurant too, £££ with a different menu from the pub . Booking essential.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hotel Eilean Iarmain
It is the well known An Praban Bar with its own separate entrance at Hotel Eilean Iarmain that I am recommending. Located on the shore at Isle Ornsay three miles from Coachmans Quarters. ( look out for the lighthouse when approaching A851 turn off). The venue does superior pub food with vegan and vegetarian options too. ££. Skye Gold Ale is a wonderful beer and the hotel produces its own Gaelic whisky blend and an elegant gin. That said there are plenty of whiskies to choose from. Families are welcome and the staff friend. Booking essential. Hotel Eilean Iarmain, IV43 8QR. The menu is on their Faccebook page where you can book too. Or telephone or email them.
Hotel Eilean Iarmain has a great restaurant too, £££ with a different menu from the pub . Booking essential.
Plain fast food to go. Next to the Armadale ferry terminal. Tiny sit in, more tables outside or take away. Great views. Fresh fish, chips ( from frozen), basic salads, sandwiches, muffins, Mr Whippy ice cream. Tea, decent coffee, canned drinks. £. A851, Armadale Pier. IV45 8RS. Normally open Mon -Sat 9am - 5pm. Very busy at ferry times.
The Shed
A851Plain fast food to go. Next to the Armadale ferry terminal. Tiny sit in, more tables outside or take away. Great views. Fresh fish, chips ( from frozen), basic salads, sandwiches, muffins, Mr Whippy ice cream. Tea, decent coffee, canned drinks. £. A851, Armadale Pier. IV45 8RS. Normally open Mon -Sat 9am - 5pm. Very busy at ferry times.
Post Covid the hotel no longer runs a restaurant. The venue is used for whole building hire and guests are bused to the sister venue at Duisdale House Hotel if they wish to eat in. ££££
Toravaig House Hotel
Post Covid the hotel no longer runs a restaurant. The venue is used for whole building hire and guests are bused to the sister venue at Duisdale House Hotel if they wish to eat in. ££££
Lunch and dinner. Menu changes daily. Vegetarian options. No vegan. £££ to ££££. Booking essential. Formal. Duisdale House Hotel, A851, Isleornsay, Skye IV43 8QW. Three and a half miles from Coachmans Quarters.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Duisdale House Hotel
A851 Lunch and dinner. Menu changes daily. Vegetarian options. No vegan. £££ to ££££. Booking essential. Formal. Duisdale House Hotel, A851, Isleornsay, Skye IV43 8QW. Three and a half miles from Coachmans Quarters.
Family run. Fine dining, lunch, dinner. £££££. Booking essential. Nice afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes in cosy living room with log fire. Kinloch Lodge, Sleat, IV43 8QY.
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kinloch Lodge
A851Family run. Fine dining, lunch, dinner. £££££. Booking essential. Nice afternoon tea with sandwiches and cakes in cosy living room with log fire. Kinloch Lodge, Sleat, IV43 8QY.
The Hebridean Inn in Harrapool on the A87 on the way into Broadford. This popular family friendly restaurant uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Plenty of vegetarians/ vegan options. ££ -£££. Booking essential. Closed on Mondays.
The Hebridean Inn
Harrapool
Isle of Skye
Scotland
IV49 9AQ
Hebridean Hotel station
The Hebridean Inn in Harrapool on the A87 on the way into Broadford. This popular family friendly restaurant uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Plenty of vegetarians/ vegan options. ££ -£££. Booking essential. Closed on Mondays.
The Hebridean Inn
Harrapool
Isle of Skye
Scotland
IV49 9AQ
Broadford again. A traditional taste of Spain on the Isle of Skye. Freshly sourced ingredients. Excellent family run restaurant. Most dishes are gluten and dairy free. Vegetarian/vegan options. Families welcome. Open everyday from 17.30 except Tuesdays. Reservations essential. Closed in Winter.
The Harbour Restaurant, Main Street, Broadford, Isle of Skye, IV49 9AE
Almost opposite the co op on main road A8. You can park at the co op or close by.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Harbour Restaurant
Main StreetBroadford again. A traditional taste of Spain on the Isle of Skye. Freshly sourced ingredients. Excellent family run restaurant. Most dishes are gluten and dairy free. Vegetarian/vegan options. Families welcome. Open everyday from 17.30 except Tuesdays. Reservations essential. Closed in Winter.
The Harbour Restaurant, Main Street, Broadford, Isle of Skye, IV49 9AE
Almost opposite the co op on main road A8. You can park at the co op or close by.
In Broadford now. Cafe Sia is a popular sit in or take away pizzeria (vegan option) and restaurant. Wood fired Pizza. Cooked breakfasts, vegetarian option. Good coffee. Does get extremely busy and you may have to wait a while to order or for service as the young temporary staff learn as they go. They are lovely though. Family friendly. ££. Car parking.Open daily 10am - 9.30pm. Ford Road, Broadford, IV49 9AB. No reservations.
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Sia & Siaway
Ford RoadIn Broadford now. Cafe Sia is a popular sit in or take away pizzeria (vegan option) and restaurant. Wood fired Pizza. Cooked breakfasts, vegetarian option. Good coffee. Does get extremely busy and you may have to wait a while to order or for service as the young temporary staff learn as they go. They are lovely though. Family friendly. ££. Car parking.Open daily 10am - 9.30pm. Ford Road, Broadford, IV49 9AB. No reservations.
If you arrive on the island late and famished after a long drive this is the place to stop because last orders is 10am whereas everywhere else has 8.30 - 9pm pm last orders including Broadford chippy. Popular for takeaways too. The informal restaurant is almost immediately on your left on the A87 turn off to Broadford after you skid onto the island from the bridge. ( Yeaay! Yes you've made it!). A popular steady as you go Indian restaurant with many tasty vegetarian and vegan options. (Avoid the sag paneer which is very creamy with little spinach. Also for some reason they put sugar in the spiced onion dip, but the lime pickle and mango dip are good.) ££. Hours: 5pm - 10.30pm. Great for families, groups, solo travellors. (They have a second restaurant with the same name in Portree.)
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taste Of India
Bank Street If you arrive on the island late and famished after a long drive this is the place to stop because last orders is 10am whereas everywhere else has 8.30 - 9pm pm last orders including Broadford chippy. Popular for takeaways too. The informal restaurant is almost immediately on your left on the A87 turn off to Broadford after you skid onto the island from the bridge. ( Yeaay! Yes you've made it!). A popular steady as you go Indian restaurant with many tasty vegetarian and vegan options. (Avoid the sag paneer which is very creamy with little spinach. Also for some reason they put sugar in the spiced onion dip, but the lime pickle and mango dip are good.) ££. Hours: 5pm - 10.30pm. Great for families, groups, solo travellors. (They have a second restaurant with the same name in Portree.)
Further afield now. Sligachan Hotel's location is handy, at the A87 turn off A863 to Dunvegan, Glenbrittle, Talisker. You can eat in the lounge or the adjacent Seumas' Bar ( recommended,) which is convivial and big. Standardised pub grub. Vegan option. ££. This busy venue has its own micro- brewery, other good beer, 400 Scottish malt whiskies. Childrens outdoor playground. Car parking. No reservations. Closed in Winter.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sligachan Hotel
Further afield now. Sligachan Hotel's location is handy, at the A87 turn off A863 to Dunvegan, Glenbrittle, Talisker. You can eat in the lounge or the adjacent Seumas' Bar ( recommended,) which is convivial and big. Standardised pub grub. Vegan option. ££. This busy venue has its own micro- brewery, other good beer, 400 Scottish malt whiskies. Childrens outdoor playground. Car parking. No reservations. Closed in Winter.
In central Portree now. Cafe Arriba is a little gem of a laid back cafe serving affordable ££ imaginative freshly cooked grub, snacks. Lots of vegetarian options, vegan option. Good coffee. Bottled beer, wine. Family and dog friendly. It is very very busy in the summer. 8.30 - 4.30pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday. Pay cash or by mobile phone. Located on 1st floor. No lift/ elevator.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Arriba
In central Portree now. Cafe Arriba is a little gem of a laid back cafe serving affordable ££ imaginative freshly cooked grub, snacks. Lots of vegetarian options, vegan option. Good coffee. Bottled beer, wine. Family and dog friendly. It is very very busy in the summer. 8.30 - 4.30pm. Closed Monday, Tuesday. Pay cash or by mobile phone. Located on 1st floor. No lift/ elevator.
On the edge of Portree, The Isle of Skye Baking Company has a great cafe with freshly made lunch grub (vegetarian options) and an imaginative array of tasty lunch breads, cakes, some of which are dairy, egg and gluten free. Great coffee. Because it is located outside the small town centre you have a better chance of a table. It is calmer.
Faccebook: The Isle of Skye Baking Company
The Isle of Skye Baking Company in The Old Woollen Mill off Dunvegan Road Portree IV51 9HG
FIND IT: On the road from Portree towards Uig and Dunvegan, look for the little lane opposite the petrol station and behind Howdens (between the traffic lights and roundabout). Walking from Somerled Square in the village takes about 12 minutes. Plenty of free parking.
Open all year, summer hours 8:30 to 5ish, Winter Weds-Friday 10am to 4.15.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Isle of Skye Baking Company
Dunvegan RoadOn the edge of Portree, The Isle of Skye Baking Company has a great cafe with freshly made lunch grub (vegetarian options) and an imaginative array of tasty lunch breads, cakes, some of which are dairy, egg and gluten free. Great coffee. Because it is located outside the small town centre you have a better chance of a table. It is calmer.
Faccebook: The Isle of Skye Baking Company
The Isle of Skye Baking Company in The Old Woollen Mill off Dunvegan Road Portree IV51 9HG
FIND IT: On the road from Portree towards Uig and Dunvegan, look for the little lane opposite the petrol station and behind Howdens (between the traffic lights and roundabout). Walking from Somerled Square in the village takes about 12 minutes. Plenty of free parking.
Open all year, summer hours 8:30 to 5ish, Winter Weds-Friday 10am to 4.15.