Welcome to our unabridged guide to food on the NC500. We love food, but we’ve noticed a lack of good resources on where to find great meals, local ingredients, and independent producers along this route—especially in the more remote areas. So we’ve created this NC500 Food Guide as both a fun personal project and a helpful resource for anyone seeking a delicious journey through this beautiful part of Scotland.
Anything we’ve missed? Fill in this form to add your own establishments to our food guide.
✅ = Establishments we’ve visited personally, verified and reviewed.
NC500 Food Map
NC500 Food Stops by Region
- Inverness & Black Isle
- Easter Ross & Sutherland
- Caithness
- Northwest Highlands and Wester Ross
- Ross & Cromarty
Recent NC500 Food Reviews
Inverness & Black Isle
- Black Isle Berries – Black Isle ✅
Epic farm shop in a beautiful location. They stock all kinds of home-grown and fruit and plus a cornucopia of local delicacies: cheese, meat, preserves, honey, bread, and all the good stuff of a well-stocked deli. Their cafe is great, too – especially their focaccia! In season, you can pick your own strawberries. Fun for the whole family!
Website: Black Isle Berries - Cheese & Tomatin – Inverness
A cozy pizzeria blending traditional wood-fired techniques with Scottish flavors. Notable for its black pudding and haggis pizza, and a delightful Nutella-Biscoff dessert pizza.
Website: Cheese & Tomatin - Cheese and Toasted Snack Kiosk – Inverness
A popular spot for quick, delicious toasted sandwiches.
Website: Cheese and Toasted - The Storehouse – Foulis Ferry
A farm shop and restaurant offering local produce and hearty meals with views over the Cromarty Firth.
Website: The Storehouse - Bad Girl Bakery Café – Muir of Ord
A delightful bakery and café serving a range of sweet treats and light lunches.
Website: Bad Girl Bakery
Easter Ross & Sutherland
- Sutor Creek – Cromarty
A wood-fired pizza restaurant and café known for its fresh, local ingredients.
Website: Sutor Creek - Golspie Inn – Golspie
One of the oldest coaching inns in Scotland, offering traditional Scottish cuisine.
Website: Golspie Inn - The Altnaharra Hotel – Altnaharra
A remote hotel offering classic Highland hospitality and dining.
Website: Altnaharra Hotel - Greens Restaurant – Dornoch
A family-run restaurant focusing on fresh, local produce.
Website: Greens Restaurant - Cocoa Mountain – Dornoch
A chocolatier and café offering handmade chocolates and hot drinks.
Website: Cocoa Mountain Dornoch - Dornoch Castle Hotel – Whisky Bar & Dining – Dornoch
Historic hotel featuring a renowned whisky bar and fine dining options.
Website: Dornoch Castle Hotel - Platform 1864 – Tain
A restaurant and bar located in a converted railway station, offering a diverse menu.
Website: Platform 1864
Caithness
- La Mirage Restaurant – Helmsdale
A quirky restaurant known for its generous portions and eclectic décor.
Website: La Mirage - The River Bothy – Berriedale
A charming café offering quality fresh food, drinks, and cakes in a relaxing setting.
Website: The River Bothy - The Printers Rest – Wick
Located in a former printing press, this eatery serves fresh Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Website: The Printers Rest - Annie’s Bakery – Wick
A local bakery offering a variety of baked goods and pastries.
Website: Annie’s Bakery - Y Not Bar & Grill – Thurso
A contemporary bar and grill serving a range of dishes and cocktails.
Website: Y Not Bar & Grill - The Blue Door Coffee Shop & Diner – Thurso
A cozy spot for coffee, breakfast, and lunch options.
Website: The Blue Door - Capilla Tapas Restaurant – Thurso
A tapas restaurant offering a variety of Spanish-inspired small plates.
Website: Capilla Tapas - Coastline Coffee Shop – Thurso
A seaside café serving coffee, cakes, and light meals.
Website: Coastline Coffee Shop
Northwest Highlands & Wester Ross
- Applecross Inn – Applecross ✅
A historic inn known for its seafood dishes and scenic location.
Website: Applecross Inn - Seafood Shack – Ullapool ✅
A must-visit for seafood enthusiasts. This shack serves fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes that capture the essence of the Highlands.
Website: Seafood Shack - Driftwood Café – Lochinver ✅ [read our review]
A cozy café offering homemade soups, sandwiches, and baked goods.
Website: Driftwood Café - Lochinver Larder – Lochinver ✅
Famous for its pies, this establishment offers a variety of sweet and savory options, including venison and cranberry, and rhubarb and strawberry.
Website: Lochinver Larder - Mackay’s Hardware and Chandlery – Lochinver ✅
What is a hardware store doing in a food guide? Believe it or not, they smoke their own salmon (hot- and cold-smoked) and cheddar cheese. You can find it for sale at their main counter. Well worth trying for your next NC500 picnic!
Website: Mackay’s Hardware and Chandlery - Kylesku Hotel – Kylesku ✅
A boutique hotel with a restaurant renowned for its seafood and loch views.
Website: Kylesku Hotel - Flossie’s Beach Store – Clachtoll ✅
A beachside shop and café offering snacks, ice cream, and local crafts.
Website: Flossie’s Beach Store - The Quay House – Kinlochbervie ✅
I happened upon this bright and airy cafe with one of my hiking clients who ordered the fish and chips which she generously let me try. The execution was superb! They also do breakfast, soup, sandwiches, and loads of cake, plus a cute little gift shop that’s worth a browse.
Website: The Quay House - The Old School Restaurant & Rooms – Kinlochbervie
A former schoolhouse turned restaurant and accommodation, offering hearty meals.
Website: The Old School - The Pier – Lairg
Situated on the edge of Loch Shin, this restaurant offers brunch, lunch, and dinner with the finest local produce.
Website: The Pier - Sango Sands Oasis Bar & Takeaway – Durness
A casual spot offering takeaway meals with stunning beach views.
Website: Sango Sands Oasis - S. Greenlees & Sons Butcher – Lochinver
If you’re going to eat meat, eat local, we say! This butcher is a great resource for local beef, lamb, and venison. Their pork sausages are “bangin'”!
Website: Lochinver Butcher - The Highland Scullery – Durness
A café and bakery known for its homemade treats and warm atmosphere.
Website: The Highland Scullery - Cocoa Mountain – Balnakeil ✅
An odd addition to the quirky Durness Craft Village. It’s a bit touristy but their hot chocolate is very good and you can buy their chocolate in bulk for making at home (£42.50 per kilo which makes 20 drinks at home – so it better be good! Which it is.)
Website: Cocoa Mountain - The Rock Stop Visitor Centre – Unapool ✅
The cafe itself is fairly basic (though they seem to have upped the ante with their cakes on recent visits) but well worth visiting for the museum where you can learn all about the amazing geology of the Northwest Highland, a Unesco Geopark (learn more in our highlights from a northwest highlands geotour).
Website: The Rock Stop - Gille Brighde Restaurant – Diabaig
An intimate restaurant offering hearty meals with stunning waterfront views.
Website: Gille Brighde
Ross & Cromarty
- Achiltibuie Stores – Achiltibuie ✅
An incredibly well stocked shop for its size and location!
Website: Achiltibuie Stores
Add Your Favourite Food Stops to our NC500 Food Guide
If you run a food business or know of a great one that deserves a mention, please tell us about it by filling in the form below.