Best Restaurants in Orkney: Where to Eat & Drink

Orkney eats far better than its size suggests. A scatter of islands at the top of Scotland turns out some of the best produce in Britain — beef and lamb off the in-bye fields, brown crab and lobster from the creel boats, hand-dived scallops, farmhouse cheese, bere bannocks still milled the old way. The places that cook it range from a white-tablecloth dining room with Scapa Flow out the window to a harbour chip shop and a folk-music pub. Here is where to eat and drink across Orkney — by town, by mood, and by what you fancy.

The Best Places to Eat in Orkney

If you only have a few meals on the islands, point them here. Most of Orkney's eating out is concentrated in Kirkwall and Stromness, with a handful of destination restaurants, country inns and seasonal tearooms scattered across the West Mainland and the isles. A quick orientation before the detail:

Best Restaurants in Kirkwall

Kirkwall has the widest choice on the islands — everything from fine dining to a proper Italian. It's the obvious base if you want options within walking distance of your bed.

• The Foveran — Orkney's best-known restaurant-with-rooms, a short drive out of town at St Ola overlooking Scapa Flow. Chef-led menus built almost entirely on Orkney produce: North Ronaldsay mutton, local beef, the day's fish. Book well ahead.
• Lynnfield Hotel — a quietly elegant dining room next to Highland Park distillery, strong on Orkney beef and the famous seaweed-fed North Ronaldsay mutton.
• Lucano — a genuinely good Italian in the centre of Kirkwall, open year-round and a reliable crowd-pleaser when you've had your fill of seafood.
• The Shore — relaxed bar-restaurant doing brown crab, lobster and scallops alongside burgers and steaks; an easy all-rounder.

Where to Eat in Stromness

Stromness is smaller and saltier — a working harbour of flagstone streets and stepped gables. It's café-and-pub territory rather than fine dining, and all the better for a wander.

• The Ferry Inn — the social heart of Stromness, right by the pier. Breakfast through to supper, plenty of seafood, and a buzzy bar when the boats are in.
• The Stromness Hotel — its Flattie Tea Room is the spot for a daytime coffee and a bake, while the hotel's maritime-themed restaurant handles dinner with harbour views.

Orkney's Best Pubs & Bars

The pub is where Orkney is most itself — low-ceilinged, friendly, and as likely to have a fiddle session as a football match on. Most do food, and the welcome to visitors is genuine.

• Helgi's, Kirkwall — a Viking-themed harbourfront bar with a big local following, honest comfort food and a well-kept range of Orkney ales.
• The Reel, Kirkwall — café-bar on Broad Street by the cathedral, famous for live folk music and warming soups and stews.
• The Auld Motor Hoose & Skippers, Kirkwall — two unfussy, characterful locals' pubs for a relaxed pint and pub grub.
• Island inns — the Pierowall Hotel on Westray and the Smithfield Hotel in Dounby are the kind of village inns where the bar doubles as the community living room and the kitchen leans on local sourcing.

Cafés, Tearooms & Casual Bites

Orkney bakes seriously well, and a tearoom stop is half the pleasure of a day's exploring. For something quicker, the chip shops use fresh local haddock.

• Judith Glue Real Food Café, Kirkwall — above the well-known craft shop opposite the cathedral; hearty soups, salads and cakes made on site.
• Birsay Bay Tearoom — out on the north-west coast near the Brough of Birsay, with home baking and an unbeatable sea view. Seasonal — check ahead before a special trip.
• Harbour Fry, Kirkwall — fish and chips with fresh Orkney haddock, for an easy harbour-side supper.

Eating Out Around the Islands & Rural Mainland

Some of the most memorable meals are out in the parishes and on the isles, where a country inn or a seafood shack makes the most of what's landed or grown a field away.

• The Merkister Hotel, Harray — a peaceful loch-side dining room on the West Mainland, strong on Orkney beef and hand-dived scallops.
• The Murray Arms, St Margaret's Hope — its Gun Deck restaurant serves seafood landed off the family's own boat; the crab and lobster are about as fresh as it gets.
• Loki Seafood Shack, Sandwick — a seasonal shack in the walled garden at Skaill House by Skara Brae, doing crab tacos and scallop rolls from the day's catch. A perfect pairing with a morning at the Neolithic sites.
• The Commodore, St Mary's — Scapa Flow views, tapas-style plates and Orkney beers a short hop south of Kirkwall.

Booking, Seasons & Dietary Tips

A little planning goes a long way on the islands, where the best tables are few and the seasons are real.

• Book ahead in summer. From June to August the headline restaurants — and the Friday-and-Saturday pub kitchens — fill up, especially on cruise-ship days in Kirkwall. A call the day before usually does it.
• Mind the seasons and hours. Several rural and island spots open spring to autumn only, or keep short hours in winter. Always check before driving out for a specific lunch.
• Dietary needs are well catered for in the towns — vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are standard in Kirkwall and Stromness, a little thinner in the smallest villages.
• Cooking for yourself? Stock up at Orkney's farm shops and local producers — beef boxes, cheese, baking and veg straight from the source. And for the fresh-off-the-boat catch specifically, our guide to Orkney's seafood restaurants and buying direct goes deeper on crab, lobster and scallop seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What food is Orkney known for?

Orkney is famous for its beef and lamb — including seaweed-fed North Ronaldsay mutton — alongside brown crab, lobster and hand-dived scallops, farmhouse cheese, bere bannocks, and sweet treats like Orkney fudge and ice cream. Local ales and Orkney gin round out a menu that leans hard on the islands' own produce.

Do I need to book restaurants in Orkney?

For the main restaurants, yes — especially from June to August and on cruise days in Kirkwall, when the best tables go quickly. A day's notice is usually enough. Pubs and cafés are generally walk-in, though weekend pub kitchens can get busy.

Are restaurants in Orkney open year-round?

The town restaurants, pubs and main hotels stay open all year, though some trim their hours in winter. Many rural tearooms and seasonal spots — such as Birsay Bay Tearoom and the Loki Seafood Shack — open roughly spring to autumn only, so check ahead off-season.

Where is the best pub in Orkney?

Helgi's in Kirkwall is the popular all-rounder for a harbourfront pint and comfort food, while The Reel is the place for live folk music. In Stromness, The Ferry Inn is the social hub by the pier. Out in the isles, village inns like the Pierowall Hotel on Westray are well worth the ferry.

Planning where to eat usually starts with where to stay — browse Orkney accommodation in Kirkwall, Stromness and across the isles and you can pick a base within easy reach of the tables on this list.