A five-star view, with caveats…read more First off the Drift Inn is without a doubt the best place to eat and drink in Lamlash. We've tried the competition and frankly the Drift has the best beer and Scotch selection, food, and atmosphere. Inside it's a restaurant, outside it's a country pub with lots of well-spaced outdoor seating. It has the basics food-wise down pat. Huge fish and chips and excellent mussels - in the latter case just the right size between tasty and chewy. A great wine and beer selection and excellent service. The one down side was an overly-promised starter. Spending 15 quid on a few tiny bits of food artfully arranged stuck in the craw somewhat. But what the hell, they're nice people and the rest of it was superb.

I loved this pub and the food was probably the best we had on Arran. I actually didn't know about…read morethis place until the day before we left to go to Arran when I had 4 different people recommend it to me - I knew we had to go from that fact alone! It's in the lovely town of Lamlash and really easy to find. We parked along the road and then walked down as we were there quite early and it didn't open til midday. There's a beautiful view over the water to Holy Isle and you can get a ferry over if you're so inclined - we decided to just appreciate it from afar. The pub itself is kind of nautical/rugby themed and really cosy inside - there's a fireplace and lots of seating as well as some couches and a kids area. I ordered a bowl of Cullen Skink (Scottish haddock soup) as well as the Angler's Platter for one (Creeler's hot and cold smoked salmon, seafood and soft cheese mousse, fishcake and homemade bread). The soup was just delicious - I don't eat Cullen Skink enough and when I have one as good as this, I wonder why - thick, jam packed with fish and really tasty. I loved the platter too - the fish cake was the highlight for sure, but everything on it was so tasty and I loved how local it all was. Staff were friendly and welcoming, and we enjoyed grazing here for a while. They have a great booze selection but as I was driving I didn't have any - next time we visit I would definitely see about getting the bus or a taxi here from Brodick so we could get stuck into the gin! Note: they have gluten free bread, breadcumb and batters are available upon request.

Super tasty! On my…read morevisit, we ordered many things from the menu, the Sunday roast dinner, pork bites in maple syrup, and pudding. Everything was great. We also shared a giant endless pot of tea. This place is really a special place, the day's menu is full of charm, and the service is excellent. When I was there, the dining area was quiet with plenty of available seating, definitely not a cramped place! I hope to return sometime, it was a great experience, food and all. I liked it so much I picked up a couple of their shirts to keep the memory.

Visiting Glasgow and used a recommendation from a guide and it did not disappoint! Cute restaurant…read morewith a great vibe. But make a reservation as they get busy. Live music was fun. Service was attentive without overdoing it. Food was simply amazing! Splurge for the dessert

Spectacular. The best seafood I've ever had. SO fresh, and so well cooked! Drew is a seafood…read morepurist, believing in showcasing the incredible flavour of the fish instead of drowning it in sauces, and we couldn't have had a better experience. His incredible connections around the area culminate in a platter worthy of kings, with some incredible smoked options, dips, home-baked bread, and more. While neither my partner nor I have any dietaries & the meal is (obviously) primarily seafood-oriented, we were pleased to find out that you can request a meal suitable for even vegans! Would highly suggest having a conversation with him about what you like & want to explore, he's very friendly and extremely helpful. Keep in mind it's BYOB, however complimentary coffee & dessert is offered. He has great local suggestions for stores to buy wine from, though, which I would also recommend! Also ask Drew about taxi options home - he put us in touch with an excellent driver and even organised it for us. All in all, I couldn't recommend this experience more. Absolutely incredible, will absolutely come again the next time we're in Scotland!

From the owner: Seafood extravaganza using local and ethically sourced produce.read more

A cute little breakfast and lunch place in Inverary. Not many choices for breakfast in this tiny…read moretown so we were glad to find Brambles (with an S on the end). My husband got the eggs Benedict and he was pleased it had black pudding in the middle, very Scottish food of course. He did not care for the hollandaise sauce as it had a sweetness to it. I wasn't super hungry as I was saving room for our lunch at 1pm. I got two poached eggs and toast. The poached eggs were a bit runny for my liking. Overall though this is a great cafe and I like the layout. The service was very friendly. They were setting up a bunch of reserved tables for what looked like a fancy lunch. Lot of people were working there at the time and I assume prepping for a big party.

This was an excellent find while on a Rabbie's tour in the West Highlands. It sits near Inverrary…read moreCastle on Loch Fyne. The staff greeted us warmly and invited us in to their warm and cozy establishment. This is small town Scotland at its best. I was surprised at the worldliness of the Salt and Pepper Asian-style fries on the Daily Specials board. They were amazing as was my "Hybrid Toastie" - essentially a Scottish patty melt. Not that it was mundane in any sense. It was delicious! I washed these down with a Diet Irn Bru - the guilt-free version of Scotland's most popular soda. Once again - another great meal with friendly service. Nowhere close to Edinburgh, yet still with that flair of sophistication mixed with small-town civility.

The Steayban is a lovely local family run restaurant with an excellent quality & a high standard of…read morefood you might not expect in a small rural location. Stephen the manager is a fantastic chef great menu options from traditional to multicultural dishes-all that never disappoint. The staff are lovely, down to earth and friendly. I'll definitely be back it's been too long!!:)

I only had time for a beer (or 2) and some bacon fries while waiting for my bus but if the fresh…read morecrab claws and massive lobsters are any indication of how yummy their seafood menu must be, this is an awesome place. Tiny dining room area on one side, pub on the other, outside patio sunny and protected from the wind. Just downright cozy. The pub is run by a great gal and her dad supplies the seafood and was accompanied by his darling puppy Archie. Can't ask for a better experience than sitting around sharing a pint with folks like this!

Having visited Islay twice now, I will say that they have the best seafood available on the island…read more It may not be the quickest to get to if you're staying in Bowmore but I will say it is worth 30+ minute drive. It is a small bar with about 6 tables but it has such a nice and cozy feel. Since the seafood is freshly caught daily, the menu can vary but I can say that every dish I've had there was delicious. My favorite was smoked salmon, unlike any other smoked salmon I've ever had. They also have a decent bar selection, so you will not be disappointed.

BLUF: Best meal I had while in Scotland. This is a cozy…read morespace that you can easily dress up or be casual in. The service is very friendly and attentive. The menu has so many Scottish foods in it, there's no doubt this is a Scottish fare restaurant. I did have to look some of it up because even other Scottish restaurants hadn't had things like cranachan or rumbledethumps on their menus. Ordered were: bread, beef stovies, lamb rump, slow braised beef short rib, cranachan, and chocolate brownie. The beef stovies is beef stew with a potato pancake hat served in a cast iron cauldron. Very cool presentation, and quite a tasty stew inside. I liked the small cut of everything, so it was easy to eat. The lamb was so tender and flavorful, without being overcooked. I substituted rumbledethumps for the polenta so I could try some, it was a lot like mashed potatoes with some extra flavor in it from the cabbage. The black garlic emulsion was a little earthy but went with the lamb so well as a result. My only fault would be the mint drizzle being too sweet for my taste. The short rib was masterful, essentially fall off the bone, and a good herby rub. The desserts were a step down from the mains. The cranachan felt like it had bromelain in it, breaking down my tongue as I was eating it. Outside of that sharpness, a very tasty and solid dessert. The brownie was heavy and fudgy, so if that's your type of brownie then it's here for you. Otherwise it's too much on a stomach already packing the amazing dinner preceding it. All in all, what a place, what a meal, recommended.

Love this place! We had some of the best Scottish fare of our vacation. The haggus with neeeps and…read moretatters, venison stew, seafood stew, and sticky pudding were all excellent as was the service. Of course the whiskey selections were great also.

Small pub, massive whisky selection -- and I mean massive. We're talking over 1,000 whiskies on the…read moreshelves, plus a solid lineup of beers on tap. It's cozy, crowded, and buzzing with life -- often standing room only and packed shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and travelers alike. If you're a whisky fan (or even just whisky-curious), do yourself a favor and try one of their Scotland whisky flights. It's like taking a mini tour of the country's whisky regions without ever leaving your barstool -- and without worrying about driving. The bartenders really know their stuff and are happy to guide you toward something you'll love. A quick heads-up: no football colors allowed, which keeps the atmosphere friendly and relaxed no matter who you support. And speaking of friendly -- the locals here are as welcoming as they come. This is exactly the kind of place where Scotland's famous pub culture shines. Prices are surprisingly reasonable too, so you can sample a few drams without feeling guilty. Whether you're a seasoned whisky nerd or just looking to experience the local vibe, this is the spot. Pull up a stool (if you can find one) and enjoy a proper Scottish night out

Even if you are not a whiskey fan, this place is worth visiting if you're in town. Just to see…read moretheir ginormous, or hmm, whiskey-normous, selection of bottles lining the wall, and the bartenders going up and down the ladders to fetch them. This may prompt you to feel like ordering a drink. You are in good hands and they can totally recommend something that you may like. Their selection is so huge they don't have a menu, you just have to ask for your label or take their recommendations. Naturally, most of the selection is Scottish whiskey, but if you somehow prefer otherwise, (say you are a local tired of Scotch... or just want to reaffirm nothing beats a Scotch?) they do offer whiskey from other countries, as well as beer and ciders, as well as gin, rum and the like. They do offer pies and other bar food, but we went after dinner and just couldn't stomach more food, tempting as they may sound.

I'd had Inver on my to-visit list for a while, and recently I decided to just go ahead and book a…read moretable for lunch for no particular reason rather than saving our visit for a special occasion. I made the booking by email (they were quick to reply) and then we headed on our way from the south side of Glasgow on Saturday. I always underestimate just how far away this part of the world is - so don't listen to your maps, as it will probably take a bit longer with traffic going past Loch Lomond. It took us 20 minutes longer than expected but thankfully they still had our table waiting for us when we arrived. Inver is really beautiful - right on Loch Fyne and looks over at the ruins of old Castle Lachlan. Inside its Scandinavian, minimalist styling and super relaxing. I had a G&T to start and then we stuck to soft drinks but it would be lovely to stay nearby and have a few wines. I ordered the mussels to start followed by the local langoustines. In hindsight, this was maybe too much food but I was just excited for the delicious seafood options! If you're not a seafood fan there's plenty of locally sourced meats on the menu. The mussels were a massive bowl - for the price (£10) I actually expected a smaller portion and really struggle to eat them all. The broth they were served it was heavenly - burnt cream, cider and dill - I will be dreaming about this perfectly balanced broth for weeks to come. And it was served with slices of their home made sourdough bread which seems really dense and heavy but is actually perfectly delicious. Oh, and the butter was amazing too. Onto our mains. The langoustines come as 3 or 6 in the portion - I'd gone with 6 because I'm greedy and thankfully managed the lot. They came with a slice of lemon, mayo as well as more delicious bread - to be honest, I ate them just with the lemon as they were so delicious and perfect they really didn't need anything else. We had a side of green beans (with anchovy and mint) as well as hand cut chips - again, totally flawless and actually the highlight was the beans as they were just so fresh and the anchovy puree was totally perfect. Yes, we'd eaten a lot but I couldn't pass up dessert - I ordered the cherries and goat's milk sorbet. Woah. Not only was it totally beautiful to look at but the flavour was just amazing - it was almost on the savoury side with a hint of sweetness from the cherries. Again, another dish I'll be thinking about for weeks to come! I love that there's a little shop area (hidden amongst the bookshelves) where you can buy some of their produce to take home - we got red cabbage kraut as well as a loaf of bread but they also have jams, butter and scones. There's also a bar area so if you feel like relaxing in a comfy chair after all that food, you can. We paid our bill (£100 for 2 x 3 course meals + sides + soft drinks, tea and one G&T) and then walked around to the ruins of Old Castle Lachlan which was the perfect way to finish the meal. It's about a 20 minute round trip so make sure you wear suitable shoes! I would love to go back to Inver and stay nearby (possibly at Castle Lachlan which is available to rent!) as it was just a wonderfully exceptional meal. It's great to see a restaurant doing something a bit unusual with Scottish produce. Note: There's free wifi but only for 10 minutes so use it wisely. Otherwise it's £3 for the day.

A few months ago Marino O'Loughlin reviewed a small restaurant on the banks of Loch Fyne in…read moreStrachur called Inver, heaping enormous praise on it, however with it being nearly 5 hours away it seemed unlikely this would be a place I would be visiting anytime soon. This is where the divine intervention came in; I remembered that at the end of the month I was at a wedding just outside Glasgow. I had a spare day to kill the following day so calculated the time and distance from our hotel to the restaurant, 2 hours, it could be done! Admittedly with accommodation not available in Strachur for the night it meant a post-meal 5-hour drive back to the North-West, fingers crossed it would be worth the drive. Turns out the view alone was worth it. When dining at the Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye the previous year I thought that I'd reached the pinnacle of dining with a view. Inver possibly trumps it. I mean look at it... The lunch menu consisted of simple but creative dishes of mainly fresh, local seafood, salads, and homemade bread and butter. Now if I was being particularly gluttonous (and if funds hadn't dictated against it) I could have ordered everything on that menu, however, I opted for the Partran Bree - crab and rice soup to start and the 'Kale Caesar' - roast chicken, soft egg, anchovy and Pecorino for main. It tasted as good as it looked. The soup was rich, velvety and delicate whilst simultaneously packing a hefty punch of brown crab flavour. Inver's take on the caesar salad was also a triumph. Crisp leaves, a perfectly boiled egg, and most importantly exquisitely cooked chicken with a beautifully crisp skin. Faultless. Having shared some of my dishes with my dining companion, it would only be fair that I sampled some of their choices; 'Tongue on Toast' - ox tongue, caper sauce and radish to start and kedgeree - smoked haddock, soft egg, rice and leeks for main. Both of which were absolutely fantastic, especially the 'Tongue on Toast' as the intense flavour of the tongue married superbly with the earthy sourdough. As well as the above I also ordered some hand cut chips with Viking Salt which unfortunately were too salty even for someone who has a particularly high salt-threshold such as myself, and Kate's leaf salad, radishes and buttermilk dressing, which unfortunately, despite being a beautiful looking salad went relatively untouched (a case of eyes being bigger than bellies). After dining at Inver it is clear to see where Pam and Rob are taking their influences from having learnt their trade all over Europe at Michelin-starred establishments such as Noma (Denmark), Faviken (Sweden) and De Superette (Belgium), however, they also manage to put their own, local spin on proceedings. According to the Inver website, "Pam and Rob took over the building in spring 2015 and with their friends and family have built the sort of place they like to spend time. We hope that you will too." I can confirm without a shadow of a doubt that I did.

Although I personally did not stay at the hotel, my brother and my friends did and we all had…read moredinner here on multiple occasions and we were very impressed with everything we tried from Sannox Bay Hotel's menu. Everything is incredibly fresh, made with local ingredients, and the HUGE portions come out to you right off the stove. Our group of five ordered Haggis, Neeps, & Tatties, a Mushroom & Goat cheese dish, and a Smoked Mackerel Pate for starters. Totally unnecessary once we saw our giant mains but everything was delish with the mushroom dish being my favorite. For mains our table had a wide variety of dishes....fish & chips (huge fish!), salmon pasta (so much salmon and pasta!), fresh fish with cheesy potatoes (so many potatoes, so much cheese!), and another creamy seafood dish that was equally as big and as delicious as the others. They also make a really great curry...totally not something I would expect to find here but it's actually very good (and the regular portion is, surprise surprise, huge). Great views and great food make Sannox Bay Hotel the perfect spot for a quiet dinner on Arran.