restaurants in portree and around skye

We were in Portree three nights a few years ago and there's A Taste of India just off the main square. We ended up there two nights as it was the only place only with a short wait. Half the other restaurants required reservations (booked days in advance) or standing in a long line on the sidewalk. Even the Indian place was crowded by 7pm.

As a sidenote, we were there just after Covid, and all the restaurants had empty tables but no wait staff. I've read here that the waits/reservations are still an issue along with overnight bookings needed months in advance.

When I was on Skye in 2023, I ate at a restaurant called Fraser at the Bracken Hide, and had one of the most delicious meals I've ever had there. The food was just wonderful. The service was not as great, but they had just opened, and I think they were still working out some kinks. At any rate, if they're still there, I would highly recommend a visit. The food really was incredible, and it's in a beautiful building right outside of Portree.

Gasta Port Righ has phenomenal pizza - I'm a pizza snob and I was impressed.

We had a very fancy Sunday roast meal at Kinloch Lodge. It was memorable.

Had a nice pub meal at Edinbane Inn (note right nearby is Edinbane Lodge, which is a super high-end restaurant).

Skye resident here.
Taste of India is the better of the 2 Indian restaurants in Portree. If you happen to be in Dunvegan then Isle of Spice is even better.

In Portree my pick for Scottish food would be Scorrybreac by a mile. I am not personally impressed with the Cullin Hills restaurant. We also like the pizza from Gasta which is at the Skye candles visitor centre a short walk south of the village centre.

Lunch at The Hungry Gull in Staffin is excellent - be prepared to queue up outside. Also The Galley seafood cafe just south of Uig is very good.

Oh, by the way the Bracken Hide hotel mentioned by @Mardee has been taken over by another local hotel group and the restaurant is not well regarded by locals who have described it to me as overpriced and not at all good. I’ve not been there myself and based on the reports from friends I don’t intend to.

Not sure when @Steve was in Skye, but Edinbane Inn has new owners who seem determined to run it into the ground. Food, once wonderful is now awful and they’ve scrapped the Sunday afternoon live music. I can’t recommend it. In contrast the Edinbane Lodge is a wonderful high end restaurant showcasing local ingredients. Not cheap but in my opinion worth every penny.

Thanks for the update, Skyegirl! And that’s too bad about the Edinbane Inn. I really liked my meal when I was there

Oh, that's really too bad about the Fraser at Bracken Hide and the Edinbane Inn as both of those restaurants were 2 of our favorites on Skye.

We also really enjoyed A Taste of India. For lunch while out sightseeing, I can recommend The Old Inn, located on Loch Harport. We dined outdoors overlooking the loch. If you are driving around the Trotternish Peninsula, we liked our lunch at The Hungry Gull in Staffin. It's not fancy but the food is very good, such as different kinds of sandwiches, mushroom soup, etc. There is a convenience store next door if you want to purchase some snacks and drinks.

Kinloch Lodge has been mentioned above- I will just second that, it's wonderful especially if you are looking for a special occassion restaurant: https://kinloch-lodge.co.uk/

We also really loved Gasta Port Righ - everything was delicious - soup, pizza, salads, hot chocolate & coffee. We also liked the food at Dulse & Brose, and at 1820 limited, which was a counter-order find-your-own table adventure, with good food.

We’ve had some lovely food in the Cuillin Hills but also some that has been not so great - so, a mixed bag, albeit with the most wonderful view from the dining area.

Have always enjoyed The Old Inn in Carbost.Some good pizza in Gasta in Broadford.Our favourite place recently for lunch brunch or a snack stop is Cafe Cuil.Their Beef Brisket Toastie with cheddar and mustard is superb!
I had always been a fan of Skye’s Michelin/fine dining places until recently that changed due to poor experiences in both the Edinbane Inn (which I’d always raved about) and The Three Chimneys.However, I appreciate that many people still enjoy both - maybe we were unlucky, I don’t know.

If down in Sleat, the Am Praban bar, part of the lovely Hotel Eilean Iarmain, is a place we rarely miss a chance to eat in - lovely food, venison and seafood in particular.Good puddings too!

Actually, another recommendation while you are out and about is the attractive little cafe down at Glenbrittle campsite.Good coffee in a lovely situation (they now have outdoor seating too) and the best Almond Croissants I’ve ever tasted - made on site and often just out of the oven.A little gift shop too with some nice outdoorsy/Cuillin inspired items for sale.

I 100% agree with Skyegirl on Scorrybreac. I think it might have been the best meal I had anywhere in Scotland (and I had some great fish & chips along the way).

@scotlandmac are you confusing the Edinbane Inn - the pub, with Edinbane Lodge - the fine dining restaurant across the road? The Edinbane Inn has really gone downhill since changing hands and is no longer a good place for pub food. The Edinbane Lodge goes from strength to strength. There were some quibbles around portion size about 18 months ago, but these seem to have been resolved and we were very happy on our most recent visit.

I totally agree that The Three Chimneys is totally overrated and trading on long past reputation from when Michael Smith was chef there.

I'm very sad that the Lochbay is closing, with the retirement of Michael and Laurence Smith. By some distance my favourite restaurant.

Cafe Cuill is excellent - I agree.

Thanks. I appreciate all the suggestions. I'm afraid that with US dollar conversion $250.00 before wine and tip is more than I can spend in Skye, but I'm sure I can find fine meals with some of the other suggestions. sue

@Sue - you don’t need to factor in US style tipping here. A 10% tip is plenty even in fine dining places. Staff here are covered by a minimum wage that is more reasonable than in the US and many employers pay the ‘living wage’ which is more than the minimum wage.