An evening in Inverness is not complete without music and whisky. (Unless you don't like one of those 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. read more

Hootananny - About 5 more musicians joined in since this shot was taken. - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

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Good place to come for music any night of the week. They post that schedule a week out, so plan around 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. read more

Hootananny - Music stage with the street behind - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Make a reservation ahead of time! They do require a credit card guarantee for your booking, but absolutely worth it to enjoy dinner and a show. We sat in the upper level over looking the live music. The drinks came quickly and were cold & tasty. The food was standard fare, but they took great care to make accommodations for gluten free needs. After dinner we moved down to the benches by the stage for another drink and to enjoy the next musician that came out. The vibes in Hootanany's were top notch, just come with the understanding that they are busy and patience while you're on vacation is key! read more

Hootananny - Gluten free salmon (swapped sauce to accommodate dietaries) and the standard gluten free fish & chips from the menu - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Good spot for live music and great vibes! Saw folks of all different age ranges hanging out here. If you're not here for food and just drinks and music, you can come right in. The tables are only for dining in, and there is a time limit as they won't to turn over the tables. We stood around the bar and listened to the music and have a couple of rounds. Great overall vibes. read more

Hootananny - Outside - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Food was good, music and environment was amazing!!! Service however was horrendous. Server forgot us several times. Took our drinks and food order and didn't return, we had to call her over after waiting 20 minutes for our drinks. She apologized for forgetting. Our food took over an hour and half and she again apologized for forgetting to put the dinner order in. read more

Hootananny - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

The atmosphere was great! We had a blast and met the pub pup who was beyond adorable. The food was really good as well and I was not expecting that. The live music was amazing. Since this is a bar it was a bit longer to get a server's attention but once we did it was good. Tables are reserved so make sure you call before if not you will be standing. read more

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Super fun live performer Friday night. The fish and chips and pie were great; the curry was a bit bland. But the vibes were impeccable. The ciders were great and sweet. We were able to walk in at 5:30 PM on a Friday, but the place was packed at 6:30 PM read more

Hootananny - Curry - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

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This place was a huge disappointment. We went twice in one night and both times we were treated very rudely by the staff. The first time we showed up, every table was empty even tough they claimed to be "reserved," and the second time one of the bouncers chased me down to put my takeaway donuts from across the street in a closet, even though it was clear we were only able to get drinks! Clearly they are desperate for people to order their food. Additionally they claimed to be the "best live music in Scotland" but both times we walked in it was completely silent. They clearly have a lot of pride in their establishment but personally I think they're a little big for their britches and not worth the hype at all. Maybe if you have a reservation they treat you better but I was disappointed with the service here. read more

Great music. Northern Limits was there and had the place going with Scottish tunes and rock and roll. Beautiful voices and great violin

Music and ambiance was awesome!! So much fun times and memories. I went with my kids and they loved it too. It was a true hootananny!! Service was pretty good since it was packed there with not a lot of room to sit anywhere. But they were kind enough to get us in before the next reservation as long as we left before they arrived. Which I do recommend reservations if you don't want to just sit at the bar. Food was good and priced decent with good portions. I definitely recommend coming here!' read more

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After arriving in Inverness and getting checked into our room late in the evening, we ventured out in search of food. One of the places I'd researched for Inverness was Hootananny. We stepped inside and found that not only was it a cute and cozy pub, but they also had live music! When we first arrived, it appeared to be a music teacher with a few students. We were impressed with the skill of the young girls. They sounded quite nice. After they finished up, a group of men took up their places. This group had a wide variety of instruments among them and we listened to them for over an hour. Enjoying Scottish whiskey, we listened to Scottish folk music on pipes, strings, and various other instruments. It was a truly wonderful experience. Now let's get to the food. Um, it was excellent. We started with an appetizer of the Cajun Prawns with Chorizo, and it was SO good. So much flavor, and the spice of the chorizo blended together beautifully with the prawns. For our main dishes, I ordered the Chicken Balmoral. As it was our first day in Scotland, so this was my very first experience trying haggis. And it was really good! My wife was a little less adventurous and ordered the Homemade Cottage Pie. Mouth. Watering. Just layers of delishness, one after the other, and all those flavors just blended perfectly together. After all that food, we were stuffed. But then our wonderfully friendly and helpful server said the magic words: "Homemade Sticky Toffee Pudding". Now,... I had no idea what that was exactly, but I DID know, that there was NO way I wasn't gonna find out. So I persevered. I found a way to eat ALL of it. Minus the couple small (sensible) bites my wife tried. When all was said and done, we left the Hootananny 100% satisfied. We received several recommendations for Hootananny from locals during our stay in Inverness, and were pleased to tell them we had already enjoyed a visit. So if you ever find yourself in Inverness (and you absolutely should), you really must visit Hootananny! read more

Been a while since I wrote a review but I'm back for this one. Found this gem in yelp. Tried to book a table, none available for online. It's located on the river, easy walk and a food vibrant area so we took a chance. The draw was the live music, so few places offer music ongoing. Walked in and were seated next to a few locals who love the place. That tells you something right there. Mary recommended the chicken and Nick the Thistly Cross whisky cask cider. Both were a hit. The chicken stuffed with haggis was a great introduction to haggis (my first time - btw don't be intimidated haggis is tasty!) and the mashed potatoes were on point. Is that weird? I'm a mashed potatoes snob, no stickiness, the right balance of butter and salt. Hubs got a burger and black isle lager - no complaints. Oh, did I say, I could have had 3-10 more pints of that cider. So yummy! Just the right tart. We finished the meal with a sticky toffee pudding. Moist, sweet, lovely sauce, perfect end to the meal. ALL THE WHILE listening to local music. A delight and treat. Book a table, it's worth it to sit and enjoy to music. We'll be back for sure before we leave to try to meat pie or macaroni and cheese. Thanks for a memorable night! Also this place just added rooms to let in the last year ! Inverness City Centre Hotel. Didn't get to stay this time but will try next time. The staff were great. read more

Hootananny - Local musician - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

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This place was great. Skinny Jack Black was not very nice but he got some drinks out. Amazing music and vibe.

Food was so so and the band was sitting in a semi circle with their back to the bar which was awkward. Ask for tap water or they will bring you the Loch Ness still for $7 pounds a bottle which was ridiculous. Overall good place for a pint but go to mustards or isle for pizza instead. P.s the Mac and cheese was pretty good. read more

5 stars for the entertainment. 2 stars for the quality of wine. 5 stars for the beer. We had a great time. read more

Stopped here to check it out randomly and watched some live music standing room only. I wasn't drinking so can't say much for the drinks or service but I'm pretty sure my husband said it was all so-so. I would have stayed longer if there was more room to watch the music and I wasn't breathing over people trying to eat. The food looked good! read more

We were told that this was THE spot to go to enjoy a traditional evening in a pub in the area by our concierge and I can see why. They had live music and the food was surprisingly good. The only nit was that they said they had plenty of seating when we called and when we showed up 10 minutes later said all the tables were taken. Not a biggie, we got seated 15 minutes later. read more

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I actually had a discussion with the other members of my party. I don't know what to make of Hootananny. - The service was awful, but the servers were very friendly. One server even wrote down places for us to go in Glasgow. Didn't have to do that. - The food was good, but really very basic menu options, and nothing really to run home about. - The music was excellent, but it was incredibly loud. Like, it actually kind of hurt my ears it was so loud, and it made it really difficult to speak to the other people at the table. Also, and I know I say this as someone who was on vacation, but it felt touristy. Meh. They seem like nice people and they mean well. Ultimately, a very average 3*. I'd go back when the music wasn't playing, or if I could sit somewhere that blocks the noise a little. read more

This place is a lot of fun. We had the Steak and Ale pie and the Chicken Leek, and Bacon Pie. Both were wonderful. The music was so much fun. The server was funny and fast. They also have gluten free and vegan selections. Please make a reservation before coming here, as it gets quite busy, and they don't take walking when it's that busy. I highly recommend it! read more

Had to make a reservation as this place was hopping, thought it might be good. Sadly disappointed with the food and service. Only one server in what seemed whole busy place, slow ordering and arrived incorrect so one of us had to wait whilst they cooked the correct meal. Would not be back and definitely go to the place went the previous night which was the Highlander. On the plus side music was awesome. read more

The hubs and I weren't particularly really hungry when we walked in the door, but one bite of what we ordered and we had just about nothing on our plates by the end. For starters, our server was awesome. Really friendly and jumped right in and made a recommendation to my husband on a different whisky that you couldn't find in the States. It was great and made my husband really happy. I ordered the veggie curry and he got the venison burger. Both were really tasty; my personal taste is a little more salt and I did pick out the onions in the curry. We left before the music started but this looks like the place to be for food, drink and live music. read more

It was warm inside with all the people. It definitely seemed like a crowd favorite. The live music was good. A pint was only 6P. You can grab a seat anywhere. read more

Hootananny - Fish and chips . Bangers and mash - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Fun place. Gets very busy. Be aware, they have a security guard that rams into you and then tries to provoke a fight. He charges into the bar like there is a fight somewhere and rams and pushes people out of the way. No fight, just a show of power. Not planning on going back. read more

Music gray, food was outstanding & service was really good. We went to hear local music and this place did not disappoint. read more

Hootananny - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Found this gem on Yelp while visiting Inverness. Live music. Great pub menu and atmosphere . If you are looking for an authentic pub with live music, search no further. Had the Steak & Ale pie. Dinner reservations are a must due to limited seating. read more

Hootananny - Perfect Steak & Ale pies. - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

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Looking for a fun night in Inverness? Check out Hootananny! This restaurant/bar has a cozy atmosphere with wooden floors and railings. Very rustic feel. I ordered the Traditional Steak & Ale pie which was excellent! You can't come to Hootanny's without trying the sticky toffee pudding - it is absolutely amazing!!! They also have live music that starts at 9:00 pm. Make sure to call ahead and make a reservation. Because the restaurant is so small, we saw multiple parties turned away at the door. read more

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Live music was folksy and local musicians. Service was ok. Food was just ok.... Burger was more like a meatloaf. Come for music and drinks read more

Hootananny - Burger and salad - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Really enjoyed this pub. Good music, fun crowd. Food was good. Nice choice of beers and whisky. Suggest reservations if you plan to eat read more

Hootananny - Live music - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Live music, great service, and a sweet adorable pub dog to boot. Seriously, what else could you ask for? This place is awesome. read more

Hootananny - Bailey the pub dog - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

This is a fun pub with good music and excellent food. Staff are friendly and courteous. We had the fish and chips, Steak and ale pie and sticky toffee pudding, all were served with genorous portions. Service was a little slow to start, it was busy, but picked up. The food and drinks were excellent. Great pub live music experience. A must visit in Inverness. Hi Bailey, woof woof. read more

I'll keep it brief. I hate live music. This place has made me love live music. Carry on. read more

Hootananny was an unexpected treat. My friend wanted to try haggis. I wanted to drink. This was a perfect location for both! With Yelp already giving high praise I figured it was the best bet for lunch on this particular day. We arrived just as they opened so we were the first to be seated. They have an amazing selection of whisky but being early I just wasn't quite wanting something so heavy so I opted for the cider which came in an impressively large bottle. My friend ordered a glass of whisky. I ordered the fish and chips and he ordered haggis. Now I wasn't going to try haggis because it sounded not like something I would eat. My friend being half Filipino was more than willing to try everything and this was one of his goals. He typically likes everything as well. He did not like haggis. He took a few bites and said he just couldn't eat it. He had devoured the bangers and mash but not the haggis. By this point I had devoured my absolutely delicious fish - so flaky! So plentiful! How disappointing it must be for people from the UK to visit the US and see our tiny little filets for fish and chips! - and eyed the haggis. I decided why not and took a bite. And I loved it. I ate it all. It had an interesting texture - smooth with a hint of granularity - and nutty but a bit spicy. It is hard to explain but it was really good. My friend ate my chips and peas. He was pleased. Everything was great here. The servers were super friendly and warm. The gentleman in the picture changed into his kilt for a young woman who popped in because she knew that the restaurant would be on The Bachelorette. I had never seen the show but she was thrilled to be there for that reason and grabbed a picture with him. It was a nice gesture. He was also willing to grab a picture with me which I liked since I will now always remember the place I first tried haggis and loved it. Highly recommend! read more

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Live music is awesome. Recommend making reservations. They were accommodating when I needed to reschedule at the last minute. Waitresses/servers were nice. Food was good. Steak and ale pie is popular so I figured I would try it. Highly recommend. Some might frown at the lack of veggies but I though it was perfect because I'm stuffed lol. Bring your appetite. read more

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Great food, great service and ambiance. Loved the traditional music but was disappointed the cuilidh was canceled last minute. I had the chicken and leek pie and it was great. For dessert I had the homemade cheesecake. It had a strange texture that actually worked quite well. Service was very friendly and helpful. Had a bit of an awkward moment at the bar. This bar doesn't do cocktails. I wish there was some way to know that. It's something I've only encountered in Scotland so far. Still, they had a great selection of Scotch and mixers which was good enough for me. I had a shot of Talisker, Raasay and Glenfidditch. If I find myself in Inverness again, I'd make reservations and visit again. read more

I've been coming here for years. The sticky toffee pudding is amazing. The food is traditional and has nice big portions. Good ambiance and great price. Book ahead though, they get quite busy in the evenings. read more

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Super fun pub. We saw a bagpiper/flautist and guitar accompaniment. They have NA beer which was good for me.

Food and service was excellent. Call ahead and reserve a spot if you want to hear the live music. We didn't do that, but they got us in to eat before the music started. Live music doesn't start till 9:00pm. The kitchen closes around 8:00pm. read more

Hootananny - 8 oz. Sirloin steak - Music Venues Near Me - Inverness, HLD

Fun evening!! Visiting Inverness in the summer with 2 of my adult children, we can me upon this pub. The music was fantastic! Fun, friendly crowd. Good service. read more

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The ambiance was great! The live music was really fun! The food was average at best. We were a party of 8. Based on what was posted online we should have had a table for 3 hours for our party size. We arrived a few minutes early and they had split our party into 2 groups of 4 but put us next to each other. This allowed them to then only allow us to have table for 2 hours. The worst part of the evening was the staff- poor attitudes and general lack of hospitality. I would skip and go somewhere that appreciated your business. read more

Great drinks and the musicians we're top notch!! Bar staff was super friendly!! A must visit if you're in Inverness!!