Inflation has definitely hit Scotland and the Albert hits pretty hard…read more We spent 4 nights here and our final bill was about 1,000pounds (1500$ us). So it is pricey. The room gets a 2 star because the bed was horrible. For that kind of money the bed should be plush and not curved like a motorcycle ramp. The bed was really bad. The food was ok. and the bar was generally decent but nothing to write home about. Drink prices lined up with all other bars in the area The hotel is fairly centrally located and everything was within walking distance. Our greeting by staff was pretty cold shoulder. Not trying to judge but it is customer service; she could have been nicer. Warning here: if you have to leave early (pre0700 check out) it could be an issue. We tried to prepay when checking in and they didn't let us. We had to leave at 0630 and no one was there. There was a sign directing us to the restaurant if we needed help and they couldn't check us out. When the desk got to work she emailed us saying we checked out incorrectly. Was a dance to check-out via email. Beware. Parking is a pain. it is not cheap! Bottom line: this hotel is a 2 star accommodation at best. It is overpriced and very expensive. The food is ok and beer is beer. (The scotch selection was ok). Is it a good launching pad for a vacation? Yes but there are better options. All, however, are expensive. The check-in clerk could have been more welcoming. We never had any major issues but the bed should have been tossed in the bin.

The Albert Hotel is a delightful guest house in the centre of Kirkwall. It has plenty of character…read moreand smart rooms newly refurbished to a very high spec, cracking Orkney breakfasts with plenty of choice for vegetarians too, and inexpensive metered parking alongside. There was free wifi throughout the hotel and our room had a flat screen tv, a proper hairdryer and one of the most comfartable beds I've slept in. A lift to each floor came in handy when we had cases in tow. The welcome was warm and staff went the extra mile to ensure our comfort. The Bothy Bar at the front of the hotel was warm and cosy with a nice selection of drinks and a homely vibe. The Bothy was also very popular with the locals and was a good spot to wind down and relax after a day of sightseeing. The meals served in the rear bar weren't amazing, and the dried out Hunter's Chicken had seen better days, but everything else about The Albert Hotel was pretty darned perfect. The tea and coffee making tray was generously replenished daily with the makings for multiple cuppas, and some very nice shortbread. We also got a bottle of water each every day. Its those little touches that make a place special. We'd come so close to not staying in Kirkwall, frightened off by hotels where woodchip wallpaper, swirly-whirly patterned carpets, chintz curtains and migraine-inducing bedspreads were a feature. So glad I persisted in my search for somewhere smart, fresh and clean with all mod cons. Mind you, there's not much competition when it comes to Hotels in Kirkwall - there just aren't that many of them. If you want to visit in high season, be prepared to splash some cash! Highly recommended.

Had a really nice meal but the highlight was fantastic service from John. My wife and I came in…read morewithout a reservation and he graciously came by to get our order in promptly on a busy evening and gave us some great tips on places to see on the next leg of our honeymoon trip.

Found this little gem as we were driving across Orkney. It's easy to find, park, and has an…read moreinviting dining room with a big bay window. There were but three empty tables when we came in for lunch. The decor is part bar, part restaurant with letter stools and banquettes that are clean, and comfortable. It seems to be a spot for people who like to fish, with a few fine specimens mounted on the wall, and an art piece of tied flies (surprising delicate and beautiful; I would bite on these). The grab-a-menu-from-the-bar menu is large, and offers conventional Scottish cuisine of fish, and meat, tatties (potatoes), and salads/vegetables. You order at the bar. They tell you to give them 30 minutes to prepare each meal to order, but ours was out in 15. And it was some of the best food I've had in Orkney. All three kinds of potatoes (!) were tasty. We both had slow-roasted pork with apple sauce and it was tender and delicious, with a light gravy on top. There were also steamed vegetables, and they were as expected. Each plate cost thirteen pounds, which seemed more than reasonable for the quality. Service was minimal but just right. Loved this find. Pro tip: Kitchen closes at 2:00 pm.

Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. They totally scammed me. Ran my card and claimed it didn't work. Then…read moreI paid cash. $330+. Get a notice the next day that my card was charged. Was enjoying a lovely time in Scotland, and Kirkwall in particular...but this will change my outlook entirely. IN addition to the scam, the food was meh. Prawns were DIRTY. No follow up service.

A fantastic find! I don't want to leave. The staff, Malcolm and Paulina, are very warm and…read moreknowledgeable. Their service goes way above any five star hotel I've ever been in. The rooms are exceptional and beautifully decorated in eclectic antiques. The whiskey collection is an envy and the chef's dinner effort was amazing. Best of all, Archie, the adorable black springer poodle was an affable and charming host! Well worth the money and plan to spend some time enjoying the experience.

There's a pub attached to the St Ola Hotel and if you walk through the bar area it takes you to a…read moresmall dining area (there's also an outside side entrance). Very straightforward, just a couple of booths and tables. We weren't terribly hungry so we got the soup of the day (Basil and Tomato), cajun fries and a very good Steak and Orkney Ale Pie. (Steak & Orkney Ale Pie £14.95 Orkney Ale Braised Beef Pie served with Mash Potato and Buttered Greens). The pie came with a massive but tasteless puff pastry topping and a delicious beef interior. My only complaint was there wasn't enough sauce, it was a little dry. I'd have asked for more sauce but the dining area wasn't really staffed well that night. The beef was memorable and delicious though. Quiet, even though the bar was busy, it was great for a quick, casual bite.

This review is for the restaurant at St. Ola Hotel. I came here for dinner with my husband and…read moreanother couple and our experience was not so great. My first impressions of the environment and ambiance were good. It was a pretty standard-looking pub. It looked like a chill environment. There were tvs and it was very relaxed. We sat down at a table and it took quite awhile before our server asked us if we wanted any drinks. My husband and I shared the "Orkney Farmhouse Crispy Cheese" as a starter. It was alright. It was nice that the cheese was local from the island, but other than that it wasn't too special. I tried to order the "Beef, Bacon, & Grimbister Cheese" specialty stuffed burger, but they were all out of it so I was bummed about that. I ended up ordering the "Ola Burger with Chili" and again, this was nothing special. I was starving but only finished half of my burger. It was just sort of bland and didn't taste very fresh. Our server never came by our table once to see how we were doing. We all had no water in our glasses for a long time. I kept trying to track down a server and no one was coming over. I was so thirsty that I eventually just walked all the way to the bar and asked if we could get a pitcher of water. She said yes, but then she continued to talk with her co-worker for awhile before she even thought about getting the pitcher of water. The prices were not bad. Overall, I was not impressed. We were all very chill about this because we were on vacation and just going with the flow, but I was pretty disappointed. I'm giving it 2 stars because the food was not the most terrible that I have ever had and the restaurant was clean, but the service was severely lacking.

A part of my heart will always be in Kirkwall and the Orkney Hotel…read more I was there under unusual circumstances, and the kindness and professionalism these people showed me were simply unbelievable; I will always be grateful. The hotel is quirky because it is an old and extremely charming place. The food, the pub, and the room were outstanding. The location couldn't be better. Please book a room there only if you want to be surrounded by kind, friendly folks, sleep well in your comfy bed, wake up to a lovely breakfast in the bright and beautiful room looking out onto the garden, and enjoy all this amazing town has to offer. I will definitely be back, I wouln't miss it if I were you!

An unfriendly, unhelpful front desk person. My room (assigned by a tour) was created from 2…read morewalled-off closets. The furniture in the room looked like it was rescued from a trash bin. When you turn the water on in the bathroom, it hits the edge of the sink and splashes all over your clothing. No light by the bed. Two new large TVs in this very small space (go figure). If you must stay here, do NOT accept room 204A. I did get a different room for my second night, but the shower curtain in the bathroom had disgusting mildew that ran up about 6 inches of its length.Truly gross!! I think this hotel likely has its 4-star rating because it has invested a lot of money in its whisky bar (which is very nice). But stay elsewhere.

Mackays Hotel is located in Wick, in the beautiful area of Caithness. Built in 1883, the hotel has…read moregained wide recognition for its high standard of award winning service and fine food. Using only the best in local produce and fish straight from the boats at Scrabster, No 1 Bistro is one of Caithness's tastiest choices for lunch and dinner.

Great hotel, super friendly team and restaurant uses local produce. Have stayed here a few times…read morewhilst on business and main reason to stay here is being recognised on arrival. The owners Murray and Ellie are always around to support the team. The food is excellent and using local produce which is beautiful. Highly recommended and I will be back.

DONT ORDER A HALF PORTION. Everything seemed fine at first,…read moreoutside of the Christmas menu on the front door in August and the crazy classical music playing. We were soon taken aback when my friend asked if they would do a half portion of lamb and potatoes. The waiter groaned loudly, glared at her, but agreed. When I asked for a half on my order of fish (the plates looked huge) he rolled his eyes snatched our menus and left. The food wasn't cooked to its best, nothing ghastly, but my fish was maybe a teeny, 4 bite filet, and on one side the edge was torn like it had been knawed on. Our boiled potatoes were still crunchy as well. I believe The original price was 11.85, and we were charged 8.85. Pretty high price for a teeny mangled fishy and rude service. (note:the young woman bringing our food seemed pleasant enough and the tables beside us had lovely looking dishes and desserts)

This is a rather fun and unusual hotel. Run by two gentlemen, it is best for seasoned travelers…read morewho love meeting people along the way and are happy to adjust to local ways. The building was originally built as a hospital, so there are lots of odd twists and turns. We had a lovely large room on the second floor. The dining room/bar/restaurant was a little pricey, but had some of the best cuisine we encountered on our trip -Leisurely service, cooked to order food, so expect to be there a while. Breakfast downstairs in the morning was full of options. We were there off season, so it was quiet and most all the guests were American. We had a great time chatting with others as well as the proprietors over breakfast.

Ommmm, so Seaview Hotel is about the only place we could find that was open before a 7:30 pm…read moresailing from Gills Bay on the Pentland Ferries (Pro tip learned quickly in Scotland: outside major cities, everything shuts up tighter than a drum in the evenings). Plus, it's just fun to say "John o' Groats." We scoped the bar area -- depressingly run down, but happily full of rowdy locals -- and the dining room -- clearly going for the "executive ballroom" feel, and probably where everyone in John o' Groats holds their wedding reception. We went with the dining room which, apparently, boasts the moniker "Groatie Room." Service was excellent, friendly and accommodating, as at most places in Scotland. Also, a variety of local craft brews was on offer, as at most places in Scotland. Food, however, perfectly matched the stuffy, outdated dining room. Exactly what you'd expect from a sit-down reception catered by Sodexho. A bland Caprese salad, run-of-the-mill paninis, season-less steamed veggies. But, considering Seaview was about the only thing going in John o' Groats and put much need sustenance in our bellies, it garners the A-OK rating.

My husband and I stayed at the very lovely Anchorage B&B during our September trip to John…read moreO'Groats. The owners of the Anchorage recommended the Seaview for our dinner and we even ran into them there that night. Admittedly, this pub is not much to look at. It's dated and a bit run down. However, don't let that deter you. If you love fish, this is the place to go. We started with scallops and they were the best scallops that we have ever eaten. We live in Los Angeles and frequently eat at high end restaurants...the Seaview had them beat! For my main, I had a grilled haddock that was amazing. My husband had a burger made from local beef. Fresh food makes all of the difference. Our meals were fantastic! Beyond that, this is clearly a place filled with locals and everyone was exceptionally welcoming. John O'Groats has the friendliest people that we encountered during our UK trip. Go here, trust me!