When you need to recharge after a busy day exploring the Cairngorms National Park, this is the best guide to eating out in Grantown. And our wide range of cafés and restaurants showcase the very best of fresh, local Highland produce.
Fine dining options
One of the newest additions to the Strathspey landscape, The Cairn distillery is a spectacular place for lunch. The Gathering bistro offers tapas-style dining in stylish surroundings, whether inside or on the terrace. The restaurant is committed to locally sourced ingredients, with a menu created by Tim Maddams, the former head chef at the River Cottage Canteen.
Meanwhile, if you looking for a totally unique food experience, head to FEAST Tulchan, a restaurant firmly rooted in the eponymous estate. If it’s been reared, grown, harvested or foraged on Tulchan, you can expect it to end up on your plate. There is no menu – every course will be a surprise, depending on what’s in the larder that day. Outdoor seating, with tables under canvas, is available from May, offering a fantastic views over the countryside. Further seating is available inside the Schoolhouse, also a cosy place to eat in the winter months.
On long summer nights, the Craiglynne Hotel is a lovely spot for a drink in the spacious beer garden (local tip: apply midge repellent on still evenings!) Inside, the restaurant serves traditional Highland fare for breakfast and dinner, and afternoon tea is also available in the lounge.
The Ghillie Bar & Restaurant at The Speyside Hotel is a perfect spot for a delicious dinner, freshly cooked with local ingredients. Chef Lucy offers a delicious menu, including local steaks, fresh seafood and a fantastic pie selection. And there’s a children’s menu, making the Speyside Hotel a great choice for a family meal. After dinner, retreat to The Ghillie Whisky Snug to enjoy a fine dram of whisky by the open fire – bliss! The hotel is an ideal location for your holiday – a short walk from the High Street, surrounded by lovely tall trees.
The Grant Arms Hotel prides itself on the quality of its food and service and has the awards to prove it. Only the best regional produce is used in an ever-changing daily menu. Meals are served in the newly refurbished restaurant, which is also open to non-residents. And afterwards, the Capercaillie bar offers a great selection of Speyside malt whiskies and Scottish gins. Take the opportunity after dinner to sit back, relax and learn indoors at one of the hotel’s popular Evening Wildlife Talks.
High Street dining
The High St Merchants has relaunched itself for 2025, with Square One Dining bringing you first class food from Ellie and Al. Choose from pan fried cod, lamb shoulder and watermelon Thai green curry for your mains. Booking is essential for this intimate experience.
At Po Pia, overlooking the beautiful town square, dynamic duo Callie and Bot serve up a fantastic, mouth-watering menu of authentic Thai food. Cooked fresh to order and very popular with locals, Po Pia provides sit-in or takeaway. Make sure you book to avoid disappointment – this eaterie is always popular at weekends.
If a pie and a pint is to your taste, then wander down to The Craig Bar on Woodside Avenue, where Robbie and Beryl will give you some banter with your refreshments. Offering a variety of tasty pies – including vegetarian and gluten free options – along with a great choice of beers and whiskies, the Craig Bar is family and pet-friendly. It also has a pool room and a great beer garden out the back.
Back on the high street, a friendly welcome is always guaranteed at The Wee Puffin. The cosy family-run restaurant serves up a range of dishes, with a great selection of drinks and cocktails to match. Luna Verde is a new addition, serving up delicious Italian food. Housed in the former Chaplin’s restaurant, the team is open for lunch and dinner. The menu includes classic dishes such as risotto, linguine, gnocchi and more.
Another new option can be found at The Pagoda, where Two Nights Italian is serving a range of fantastic dishes, including pizza and bruschetta. Book your table for Friday and Saturday nights.
A quick lunch
If you need to eat on the go, then Grantown has lots of options for you. An industrial estate might not seem like the place to find tasty treats but the Achnagonalin Estate is home to one of our best-loved businesses. After being forced to close the renowned Mountain Café in Aviemore during the Covid pandemic, chef Kirsten Gilmour sold cake from her doorstep in Grantown. Then she launched the Bothy Bakery. You’ll find sandwiches filled with the freshest ingredients. The team can also be seen out and about on their bikes, delivering bread to local members of their bread club. And there’s also a chance to get something extra-special for furry friends – the bakery makes a range of dog treats!
At Fiona’s Wholefoods & Refills, you’ll find some super-healthy options. Sarah Thorburn, from LifeGlo, creates her own plant-based meal range, using seasonal produce from the Grantown Dairy. Sarah seeks to make her meals ‘emotionally nourishing’, with the additional aim of supporting your gut health. Her range includes breakfast pots, hot bowls, Buddha bowls and hummus tubs. You’ll also find the meals on sale at Balliefurth Farm Shop and Dell Grocer at Dell of Abernethy.
Further along the High Street, you’ll find two brilliant Highland-based bakeries. Maclean’s Highland Bakery provides a great selection of takeaway food, from home-made soups, baked potatoes, hot pies and an array of sandwiches will fuel you up at lunchtime. And Asher’s stocks bread, sandwiches and biscuits as well as a range of hot and cold takeaway food.
Updated October 2024
