4 Best Restaurants in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles, Scotland

An abandoned fishermen's mission (a place where fishermen stayed while in port), situated at the far end of town near the harbor, now houses this pleasant café serving lunch, soup, sandwiches, and house baking. The specials often include fish freshly delivered from the harbor. The building also contains the local archives, a marine center, and a budget 14-bed bunkhouse.

Up a steep flight of stairs, this laid-back café has window seats with great views over Portree Harbour. It uses only local produce (whatever is "fresh, local, and available") and is a good no-frills option for hearty breakfasts, as well as lunchtime favorites—from locally caught scallops to creamy summer risotto. There's also an especially varied vegetarian menu, and the cakes are great, too.

It may be tiny, but this upscale, 20-seater restaurant is packed every night of the week. The vibe is relaxed and informal, while the cooking is imaginative and varied, with unexpected marriages such as coffee-crusted venison or hake with coconut. All the ingredients are locally sourced and very Scottish, enlivened with a light French touch. But at £85 for the evening tasting menu (without drinks), prepare for a sizeable bill at the end of the night.

This restaurant's simple pub-style menu of sausages-and-mash and fish-and-chips hardly pushes the envelope, but its use of local ingredients, its pretty presentation of dishes, and its appealing waterside seating make it a favorite dining spot among locals. Book in advance if you can, especially if you're visiting on a weekend.