10 Great Places to Eat & Drink in Drumnadrochit

Despite its size, Drumnadrochit offers a wide range of food options for visitors and locals alike. Whether you’re looking for an upmarket meal, a quick & easy take-away, an indulgent coffee and cake or a cosy pub, there’s something for everyone. Before delving into our 10 favourite places to eat and drink in Drumnadrochit, here’s a quick round-up of what’s on offer.

• There are 3 pubs in Drumnadrochit: the Fiddler’s Rest Bar, The Loch Ness Inn bar and the Benleva Hotel bar
• There are 3 tea-rooms which offer great coffee and cake along with tasty soup & sandwich meals: Ness Deli (on the Village Green), Tea & Temptations at the Village Store (opposite Ness Deli) and Quila Cridh (located on the outskirts of Drumnadrochit about 2 minutes after leaving the village up the hill on your left)
• There are 5 take-aways: a great Chinese take-away “Taste of China” (please note, they only accept cash), Fiddler’s Food truck (fantastic fish& chips), The Italian Job for some amazing Italian wood-fired pizzas (next to the Coop), a fish & chips shop (also next to the Coop) and a great Italian ice-cream take-away truck next to the Loch Ness Centre called “Miele’s Gelateria“
• There are several restaurants: the Loch Ness Inn, Fiddler’s Highland restaurant, the Italian Job, The Benleva restaurant

*** It’s worth noting that many venues operate on a seasonal basis and so we recommend checking opening hours by phone or online. It also gets very busy during peak season and booking ahead is recommended. ***

Fiddler’s Highland Restaurant [open seasonally]

This bar and restaurant is something of a Drumnadrochit institution and is perhaps the most well known landmark in the village. It sits right on the Village Green and in the summer the outside seating is always packed with tourists from around the world. But don’t let that put you off, this is not a tourist trap. The food is worthy of a 5 star, with both ingredients and dishes being of a local flavour, the seafood was especially good when we visited.

The bar serves local beers and an impressive range of malt whiskies. In fact if whisky rings your bell, I totally recommend asking at the bar or restaurant for a flight of whiskies, a tasting that showcases some of the best. Make a choice based on your budget and taste preference.

→ To find out more about Fiddlers click here.

Fiddler’s food truck [open seasonally]

If you don’t fancy sitting inside there is a convenient food truck outside that serves great quality fish and chips. You can sit in the outdoor courtyard or the covered bar area. Alternatively, you can also use it as a takeaway and head back to the comfort of your own accommodation or grab a bench on the Village Green. Their opening hours vary a lot (especially out of peak season) and so we recommend calling ahead to check that the food truck is open: Tel: +44 (0) 1456 450678

Ness Deli

On a sunny day there is no better place to be than drinking a tasty cappuccino or enjoying a light lunch on a table overlooking the Village Green at Ness Deli. This cafe is open all year round and there is even a lovely wood burning stove that heats the dining area, a very welcome addition if visiting in the colder months.

The cafe takes pride in the food it serves with a menu that features delicious home caught venison and hearty homemade soups. There is something for everyone, with a choice ranging from a goat’s cheese salad to steak pie and chips. This is also a licensed cafe so you can add a local beer or whisky cask cider to your order for maximum enjoyment.

We regularly visit the Ness Deli and service is always friendly and efficient, even on a busy day in the summer. The interior is very homely with local artists’ beautiful creations adorning the walls. I recommend trying the delicious home cakes made on site if you are looking for a sweet treat to finish.

→ To find out more click here.

Loch Ness Inn Restaurant

From the outside this highly rated hotel and restaurant looks like a traditional old Scottish pub, but once inside the contemporary Highland interior and the gourmet menu is a pleasant surprise. Ingredients are sourced from local producers, with meat coming from nearby farms and delicious seafood from Malaig and Applecross. These high quality ingredients no doubt help the chef work his magic to conjure up the delicious menu. This is one of our favourite restaurants in Drumnadrochit.

Loch Ness Inn bar

If you are just looking for a drink with a bit of atmosphere then the Loch Ness Inn Bar doesn’t disappoint. Located at the rear of the hotel, you’ll find a small cosy bar frequented by both locals and tourists. There is a great range of local beers on offer and of course some stonking single malts too, a true Highland welcome. If the sun is shining there is a small beer garden courtyard.

Quila Cridh [open seasonally]

Pronounced ‘Keela Kree’, this quirky family run tearoom is very special. First there is the view of Loch Ness, then there are the delicious homemade cakes and finally.. where else do you get the chance to pet a very friendly Highland Coo? If you fall in love with the view, you’ll be pleased to know the tearoom is part of a B&B called Drumbuie Farm so you can stay overnight.

If you are heading from Inverness, then just before Drumnadrochit you will see a sign for a tea room with a picture of a Highland coo on, take a right to climb the hill. Once you arrive, there is a choice between sitting inside with a big picture window or outside on a small terrace overlooking the famous loch. Right next to the terrace is the coo field which houses a few delightful Highland Coos, they just love to come up to the fence for a bit of petting.

→ To book a night at the B&B or find out more click here.

Another great café option which is located on the opposite side of the Village Green. As the name suggests, you’ll find lots of sweet temptations, tea, coffee but also lovely locally-sourced gifts in the gift shop and even an ice-cream counter.

→ Check their Facebook page for opening hours

Miele’s gelateria [open seasonally]

Discover the taste of authentic Italian gelato at Miele’s Gelateria, conveniently located next to the Loch Ness Centre. Here you’ll find Nessie’s Gelato Cabin just to the left of the Loch Ness Centre. Miele’s Gelateria is a family run business that operates out of Inverness and that was started by two brothers and their dad in 2016. They took inspiration from their Sicilian roots, started making ice-cream using techniques passed down 4 generations and now cater to gelato-loving public across the Highlands in venues such as An Talla, Aviemore, Fort Augustus and more. A visit to their cabin is a must on a sunny day or if you’ve visited the Loch Ness Centre!

Italian Job

This pizzeria just might take you by surprise. Located in Drumnadrochit’s small shopping precinct (next to the Coop supermarket), it doesn’t look much from the outside, however, step inside and you’ll receive a warm Italian welcome as well as some amazing wood fired pizzas to boot. Run by a Sicilian father and son team, expect authentic pizzas, fresh ingredients and some fantastic homemade desserts. We can vouch for the tiramisu and the Sicilian cannolo! They also do takeaway if you’d rather eat at home. 

→ Check their facebook page for up-do-date opening times.

Taste of China Takeaway

This is another great takeaway option in Drumnadrochit. This popular authentic Chinese takeaway has a large, varied menu. The food is fresh and tasty. It’s popular amongst locals so make sure you allow plenty of time and order up ahead. You can also run up and  wait  for your order. It’s worth bearing in mind that they only accept cash payments. The nearest cash machine is at the coop just around the corner.