Ate here for lunch with my wife - she has a gluten diary allergy and I have tree nut allergy, Alpha…read moreGal with a diabetes kicker.... We are a blast at restaurants. This restaurant is very careful. Apparently the lead chef is gluten intolerant. Lots of choices including desserts! We both had the Marry Me Chickpeas (I added chicken). Absolutely delicious. Staff was attentive and helpful. I would bring dates here and business meals here for sure. Maybe small children - maybe. Open seating area and pleasantly decorated. Would come back if in the area...

Delicious meal and excellent service. For those who need to know this is a restaurant where you…read morehave to tip as it is not automatically added. I had the gyoza bowl with added chicken and it was yummy. Just the barest hint of spice and the sauce had a hint of Thai to it. After many meals of fried foods this was a pleasure. We have had some issues with service at other restaurants on our trip but not this one! Highly recommend.

This was the first place we stopped at for food in Inverness. I read a few items that were vegan…read morespecifically and chose this for that, we were not disappointed! There was a whole veg menu to choose from and the food was great, I couldn't finish much of mine but thankfully my husband helped me out. Service was good and staff was friendly and seemed happy to be working there. The bar is prohibition themed which was cheeky for us dining as Americans.

Both the bartender and our server were very nice. Our server kept forgetting us but the bartender…read moredidn't, so we didn't mind so much. The steak was melt in your mouth good. My mouth just started water all over again as I typed that.

We stopped in one night, not as part of a tour or experience, during our time in Inverness. You can…read moreget whisky and good recommendations at almost all of the venues and bars in town, but The Malt Room is supremely whisky-focused...no entertainment or food...just whisky with bartenders who are experts in what they serve. We had a Kilchoman dram which we liked, but we especially liked the ability to have a conversation with the server about what we might want and the no-pressure offer to smell the corks and make a good choice. There is quite a lot to choose from, and they offer flights as well. It's an intimate space...a few comfortable chairs, and you can stand at the bar as well. It may be a destination for whisky tourists, but plenty of locals seemed to be there as well. The address is on Church Street, but the entrance itself is off a small passageway off Church Street on the way to the food court entrance of the Victorian Market indoor mall...but there is a sign on Church Street pointing the way. If Whisky is your thing, and you don't want the liveliness and noise that comes with the nearby music bars, The Malt Room is the place to go!

Quiet space with knowledgeable staff and a great selection of whiskeys. We shall return.read more

It's not often that my husband and I will exclaim "I LOVE this spot!", but that's exactly what we…read moredid after dining here on our first night in Inverness. Everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. We were shown right to a table near the windows, offered drink menus, given the daily specials (for food and cocktails). We both ordered a pint (I was stoked to find they had Belhaven on tap!), and the Haggis & Steak Meatballs to start. After a bit of deliberation, I ordered the Pan-Fried Sea Bass for my main, and my husband went with the Slow Roasted Venison Haunch. The meatballs came out first and looked different than I expected. There were three meatballs served in a bowl of a cream sauce, accompanied by two bread slices and a small side salad. I was able to taste the haggis, which was a nice surprise. The haggis flavor didn't overpower the meatball, which in turn was given a nice creamy-herby flavor from the sauce. The salad that came with it was nice and light, and served with kale chips, giving it an extra bit of crunch and flavor. My entree was phenomenal. The Asian-inspired sauce that was drizzled over the fish and noodles added a nice flair to the flavor, without taking away from the flavor of the fish (sea bass is my favorite fish, after all). I was worried that the noodles wouldn't work with the dish overall, but it did turn out very well. The noodles were perfectly cooked and paired with al dente vegetable straws. Everything had a splash of the sauce, which tied it all together. My husband also immensely enjoyed his meal. He said that the venison was perfectly cooked and that the different sauces were all delicious. To be fair, he did say that he originally thought there were too many sauces on the plate, but once it was in front of him, and he was shoveling it into his face, he understood that they all worked together. An appetizer, an entree each, and two pints of beer per person later, we decided that we had to try their sticky toffee pudding. I'm not sure why we thought it was a good idea (other than the vague recollection of a vow I made before we even left the States, saying that I would eat sticky toffee pudding at every establishment that offered it), but we were glad we ordered it. I mean, we were full up and ready to 'splode, but we were glad we ordered it. Their pudding is served in a square, with a scoop of ice cream and warm caramel. It was the perfect ending to the most fantastic meal we had on this trip. We came very close to going back on our last night in town, as well, but wanted to try something different (in reality, we would've been much better off had we come back to The Ivy, but you live and learn.) I hope others stop in to try their wonderful entrees and fun cocktails. I want this restaurant to succeed so that when we return to Inverness, we have a place to go for a great meal!

Wife was very hangry and needed food. The Ivy Bar & Kitchen was one of the first eateries we came…read moreacross. To be honest they have "Bar" first in their name so I should have lowered my expectations but wife on the verge of snapping at me, decided to go with it. Ordered and the food took a long time to arrive. I am all for slow food but any longer and the wife would have been storming out of there. Wife ordered the Scottish Salmon Special for £17. It was well cooked but not an especially creative dish. Actually, most of the menu looked uninspired. The salmon came with mashed potatoes and a creamy sauce that had no ambition. I was a bit bored with the menu so just went with the Ivy Burger. I asked for onion rings instead of chips (fries). Unfortunately the waitress didn't quite comprehend and I got chips and onion rings. The onion rings looked outstanding but sadly the rings were cold and oily. As soon as I touched the burger I knew it was going to be mediocre. The bun, though grilled was dense and close to crumbly. The burger was room temperature and bland. Even the haggis topping didn't distinguish it. Had to ask for some ketchup for my chips, wish they had some curry sauce. There was a tiny cup of slaw which was possibly the best part of the meal, a larger portion would have helped tremendously. Overall, get drinks here but pass on the food.o

Wow, the drinks were great and the staff are amazingly friendly and helpful. You have to stop here…read morewhenever you're in Inverness or the angels will weep for your folly

A decent cocktail bar in Inverness geared towards a sweeter palate. A good place to meet up for…read morehappy hour and, from what I've read, one of the pioneers of cocktails in this town, Bar One needs an it of a makeover to keep up with its cocktail competitors in this town. Not quite a pub, not quite a cocktail bar...decently mixed drinks with very eager to please staff...needs a boost on ambiance.

Amazing experience. Went because suggested in Rick Steves guide. His description is spot on…read more Went for lunch on a weekday - fantastic deal of side and main for under 20 pounds! Had the fish soup - surprisingly large - a meal on its own!!! Loaded with fish!!!! Had a cheesesteak sandwich - well presented! Tasty as well. The service was amazing! Attentive and friendly. There's a beautiful bar with all kinds of beer on tap. Saw some people day drinking! A place I would definitely return to close to the castle in the main part of town

This place is a "must do" if you're visiting the area. Why?…read more Food - Went with a party of 4. We all had something different. The Scottish salmon and Fish & Chips delivered, as expected. The balmoral chicken with haggis was top notch! We could have drank whisky sauce. The steak pie was fantastic! The gravy was deep and rich with the flakiest puff pastry on the planet. If you like sticky toffee pudding, this is the place to get it as it's to die for! Service - Our server was 16 years old and already a pro, aside from recommending liquor. She left that up to the bartender, Ryan, who was well-versed, friendly and entertaining. He totally enhanced our wonderful dining experience. Ambiance - The vibe is both classy and casual. Whether you're there in your fancy-wear or trail gear, you're welcomed. One of the people in our party (from Michigan/USA) said he'd make the trip all over again just for this meal experience. That speaks for itself and I agree! Just be sure to make a reservation.

This is a MUST VISIT if you're in Inverness. I was lucky enough to get to chat with Bruce…read moreMacGregor, one of the owners, and listen to him play. His passion, talent, and story telling is unmatched! The roast dinner was delicious and the cocktails were so fun! They take great care with the details around the pub, giving nods to history while pushing forward progress within the re-adoption of traditional Scottish music. Come for a drink or a meal, and stay for the vibes, history, and immense talent on stage.

Re: Delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding…read more To the Greek couple we met in Inverness, with great apologies, we suffered confusion of which delicious desserts we had at various restaurants around the city, inadvertently directing you towards a place that did not serve sticky toffee pudding. We should have pointed you towards MacGregor's as having the most delicious sticky toffee pudding, now verified after having several others that did not perfectly balance sweet with salt as that of the sticky toffee pudding at MacGregor's. If the pub is full, please find your way to the end of the bar and the small door to the left that takes you to the cosy table service room where Jess and other wait staff, including little Nala, will take the best care of you. We also highly recommend the steak & ale pie and fish & chips, should you require something a bit more than the sticky toffee pudding. Again, apologies, and we are certain you will have a fantastic experience at MacGregor's!

The food was exceptional! It did take a while to get seated without reservations on a busy night in…read moreInverness but everything thing else was great. Loved the smoked Old Fashion made with Scottish Whiskey also that we tried as we waited.

Service was amazing. Had the scotch egg and steak pie. Both were very good. Koch Ness Lagger is…read moregood if looking for a local beer!! Atmosphere was great as well. Very cute inside.

Good place to come for music any night of the week. They post that schedule a week out, so plan…read morearound that. Sound quality could be a bit clearer. The food was decent standard pub food. Considering their reputation is on the music, it was perhaps better than I expected. Several good local beer choices on draft, though I wish they had something on cask. And of course many whisky choices, with good navigation. Service was friendly and not rushed, perfectly timed with the 1.5-hour table max.

An evening in Inverness is not complete without music and whisky. (Unless you don't like one of…read morethose things, in which case one or the other will do...for us, it was both!) We spent one of our 4 nights in town at Hootananny...It's a lively spot with a full restaurant and bar and good whiskey recommendations from the bartender. On this night, it was a jam, as opposed to a frontal performance...these jams you'll find throughout Scotland are really not performances, but musicians who gather together in the front of the venue, sitting in a circle, typically with a group of them with their backs to the audience, who play for each other, for the sheer and obvious love of the collaborative music. They ran through all kinds of traditional Scottish tunes, occasionally with instruments put aside to let a couple of them sing a cappella. It was a beautiful experience to watch "performers" immersing themselves in each other's music, with us, the audience, grateful, if not incidental, receivers of it. They've got a decent whisky selection too, and, as I found throughout Scotland, every bartender seemed knowledgeable in what was offered and willing to have a conversation to help guide you to what you might want to drink that night. (I had a Bunnahabain dram.) If you've got a few nights in town, this is one of the main 3 venues you should check out...the other two we experienced were more direct performances, also good, but to experience a musician's jam circle like this, is truly a wonderful and unique experience to have when in town.

We ate here on our last night in Inverness after a very long day on a tour. We did not have…read morereservations but the restaurant was accommodating and kind. The World Cup Game was on so it was lively and fun. I will tell you, this was some of the best seasoned food we had the entire time we were in the UK (two weeks). Finally we didn't feel the need to add salt to something. The flavor was just spot on. My husband had the beer steak pie with puff pastry, I had the Cullen skink, my son had a pizza (I can't remember if it was on the kids' menu or not) and my daughter had a Caesar salad with chicken, which she eats a lot at home and had been craving. Both the skink and the stew were perfectly flavored! The fish in the stew was tender and so was the steak in the pie. If we ever go back to Inverness, we will be sure to be returning to Johnny Foxes. Oh! And our waiter was wonderful! I don't remember his name but a young blonde man with a mullet kind of haircut. Thank you to him!

While the name and location scream "tourist trap", Johnny Foxes is an outstanding pub that happens…read moreto draw in a non local crowd. We dropped by for an early dinner and got seated right away in a booth. The menu is broadly pub fare, with a focus on burgers and a couple of more upscale dishes (including an excellent fried camambert). We split the camambert (panko crusted and served with a fig and onion jam); my wife had a vegan Scotch broth + house made bread + tomato & pesto bruschetta, while I went with the highland burger: haggis on top of 6oz of dry aged Angus beef. The burger was exceptional, with a deep and pleasantly gamey flavour while the haggis added some richness. Paired with a pint of a local cask ale (Cromarty Brewing Happy Chappy pale), it was as good as dinner as we could've imagined on our first night in the Highlands.