2 Best Restaurants in Orkney and Shetland Islands, Scotland

Sitting on rocks on the ebb (or fjara in Faroese) of Brewick Bay, the views from this large wood-and-glass house allow you to look at otters and seals between courses. The menu is very simple: big breakfasts, coffees, and cake—including an array of gluten-free items—soup and huge salads, as well as Shetland mussels or fish-and-chips for lunch. In the evening there's grilled fish, Shetland lamb, or an always-interesting vegetarian option.

This modern trattoria-style Italian restaurant has been taken to the heart of Orcadians, and rightly so, as it delivers an abundant menu of good Italian food. From pizza to classic pasta dishes—with fulsomely meaty carbonara and Bolognese and very tasty vegetarian burro e salvia (butter and sage) and pesto—to excellent secondi piatti such as chicken in rosemary, it's got something for every appetite. Decor is clean and stylish, with a tile floor, wooden tables, red chairs, and chalkboard menus on the wall. The ice-cream puddings make for a nice finish.