A Feast for All Seasons – Scotland’s Restaurants with Rooms

28th September 2023

As we move into Autumn, we find ourselves thinking more and more about escaping the daily hustle and bustle and retreating into the countryside to indulge in a little eating and drinking. Of course, one of the few things better than a delicious destination dinner is drifting off to sweet sleep afterwards – which is why restaurants with rooms pretty much equal paradise, as far as we’re concerned, here at Away from the Ordinary.

Scotland’s beautiful landscape with sweeping vistas and majestic glens is a feast for the eyes. Whether you work up an appetite hiking through the hills, strolling along a sandy beach, or paddling across a loch, fantastic food and drink is the only way to conclude the day’s outdoor pursuits.

So to whet your appetite, we’ve gathered five of our favourite foodie hotels and restaurants with rooms (although this list is very much non-exhaustive!) from all over mainland Scotland to inspire you to do a little retreating of your own…

Inver

In their very own words: “It takes a village to raise your dinner.” Inver is a stunning, award-winning bothy style restaurant with rooms and shepherd’s huts on the shore of Loch Fyne.

With light, contemporary interiors, thoughtfully chosen soft furnishings and bright windows overlooking the aforementioned loch and Old Castle Lachlan, Inver’s bothies and shepherd’s huts are the perfect place to relax before and after your meal.

And as for that meal? Though the a la carte menu is a delight, Inver’s tasting menu is something truly special. Co-founded by renowned chef, Pam Brunton, and currently headed up by Chef Matthew Smith, the kitchen team concocts dishes with enigmatic, intriguing titles like John Dory & squat lobsters with black lentils & roses, or potato beignets with brown-butter ice cream.

Inver’s food is decidedly seasonal, making the best of whatever produce is at its peak, so do expect the tasting menu to change – and you can eagerly anticipate their breakfast picnic hamper in the morning if you do choose to stay overnight.

Monachyle Mhor

There’s no mistaking the farmhouse as you approach it, taking the winding road that leads around Loch Mhor – it’s a fantastic pale rose pink, like icing on a birthday cake. Inside, you can expect the warmest of welcomes, eclectic décor, and rooms lovingly furnished with the owners’ signature “dash of pizzazz”.

Their executive head chef Marysia Paszkowska has been in residence since 2010, cooking outrageously delicious seasonal Scottish food, sourced mainly from the Monachyle Mhor farm or nearby.

With venison from the hills, vegetables, fruit, and herbs from their kitchen garden, and culinary treasures foraged in secret spots, the landscape is edible in more ways than one.

Killiecrankie House

Nestled in Pitlochry, Killiecrankie House is a key destination for fine dining devotees. Serving a luscious set menu that shows off the very best of Scotland’s larder, you can expect to discover dishes with mysterious titles like ‘First Signs of Spring’ and ‘Drunken Oyster’ during your supper.

Whether you start by sipping a Whisky Sour before diving into the menu, or you opt for their non-alcoholic paired drinks, sommelier-in-residence, Matilda, has carefully put together drinks pairings to suit all palates.

Once you’ve dined in the deep petrol-blue dining room, you can ascend the stairs to bed in one of their five beautiful rooms for a night of restful sleep, before waking up to a gourmet breakfast the next day. Could this be heaven? We think so.

Foyers Lodge

Like something out of a fairytale book, on the mystical shores of Loch Ness, Foyers Lodge stands out as a treat indeed.

Starting the evening in the decadent Drawing Room Bar with pre-dinner drinks, enjoy a selection of Scottish gins, wines and malts in an elegant yet relaxed setting.

Using Scottish ingredients in delightful and interesting ways, Foyers Lodge’s menus include delights like Seafood Gratin, Smoked Duck Salad, and Moussaka Topped Aubergine.

While non-residents are welcome to dine, the rooms are exquisite and we highly recommend staying so you can look forward to sleeping off your supper in comfort before waking to a hearty Scottish breakfast that’s sure to set you up for the day.

Forss House Hotel

Near Thurso, towards northernmost Scotland, Forss House Hotel is a real hidden gem. A traditional 1800s country hotel, this getaway sits at the heart of 20 acres of Scottish woodland, intertwined with streams and burns. Boasting the only 2AA Rosette restaurant in all of Caithness, the hotel also comprises 14 beautifully restored bedrooms.

From Scrabster scallops (caught a stone’s throw away from the hotel) to beetroot carpaccio, there’s a dish for everyone – just make sure you leave room for the hand-selected Tain cheeseboard at the end of your meal.

Or, if you can’t choose, make sure to book their tasting menu instead with a divine selection of paired wines, punctuated with a wee glass of ruby port to finish.

We know that we’ve confined these suggestions for restaurants with rooms to mainland Scotland, but worry not – if your curiosity is piqued about restaurants on Skye, we have just the thing.

And if you simply can’t choose – Away from the Ordinary is on hand to help. We can design the perfect culinary escape just for you.

From private dinners to chauffeured excursions, to an itinerary that captures as many foodie gems as possible, we take care of everything so you can sit back and relax. Just get in touch here to begin planning your escape.