The Cairngorms has a wealth of culinary experiences for visitors and Grantown is no exception. Many of the town’s restaurants are laying on special offers for diners in winter, so our first blog of 2025 has a distinctly foodie flavour. We’ve got a round-up of the big events that give you a real taste of Grantown and Strathspey!
The Great Grantown Menu
Five chefs, five nights, five fantastic dinners…
That’s the mission for the Great Grantown Menu, a series of grand banquet dinners being held at the Speyside Hotel.
The quintet of cooks includes Kirsten Gilmour, the New Zealand chef who previously ran Aviemore’s Mountain Café. She now operates KJ’s Bothy Bakery outside Grantown.
Other chefs taking part are the Speyside Hotel’s own Lucy Huntley, Bot Laochampa, of Po Pia, Steve Anderson, of Anderson’s Restaurant in Boat of Garten and Grantown-based private chef Jon Wood, who also runs Grantown Diner.
Each dinner will include a specially designed four-course menu, with extra surprises, and a chance to ask questions of the chefs at the end of the night.
And take it from us, the menus look delicious – everything from sweetcorn fritter to venison pie, with sushi and pork belly in between.
Passion for food
Lucy Huntley and husband Mark have run the Speyside Hotel since 2021 and the venue has become well-known for their use of local produce and their whisky events.
Mark, who is manager of the hotel, said: “Each cook will bring their own style and passion to their meals, and their favourite ingredients.
“There is so much talent in the town – the quality of the food is fantastic. You do not need to travel far to find great food.”
Karen Martin, chair of Grantown Business Association, said: “The Great Grantown Menu is a brilliant event. The produce on offer in this area is outstanding and this will be a fantastic chance for the town to show that to a wider audience.”
Book a table
The timetable looks like this:
- Friday January 24 – Lucy Huntley
- Friday February 14 – Jon Wood
- Friday February 21 – Steve Anderson
- Sunday March 9 – Bot Laochampa
- Friday March 28 – Kirsten Gilmour
Contact The Speyside Hotel now on 01479 873909 to book your seat. Dinner start at 7pm each evening and costs £50pp.
Italian or Sunday lunch?
Our favourite High Street Italian restaurant is going vegan-only for one night. Luna Verde has caused stir since opening its doors last year.
The team are now well-established and keen to try new things. One of their latest offers is Spritz and Bruschetta for £12 , and there’s a fantastic Valentine’s menu available on February 14.
Meanwhile, on February 19, Luna Verde is teaming up with near neighbours Two Thirsty Men, for a six-course beer paired menu.
Call the restaurant on 07484 280 745 to book your table.
The Grant Arms Hotel has long been a local favourite for dinner and in January, the hotel is offering guests a three-course meal for just £19.99 per person.
The hotel has a lovely dining room, with views over The Square. You can find sample of the menu on their website.
As ever, booking is essential – call 01479 872526 to make your reservation and don’t forget to quote ‘facebook lunch’
Our foodie guide
Of course, you can get great food in Grantown-on-Spey all year round and we have a great way to find the perfect meal for your trip.
Our brilliant guide to eating out in Grantown covers many of the options across the town, from luxury foodie experiences to takeaways for eating on a bench. There is so much to choose from.
Or take a wee tour of our new map showing all of the places to get food – from snacks to a three course dinner.
And we’d love to hear about your top picks. Leaving a review for our restaurants is a great way to help a small business. But do remember, that the best way to tackle any concerns with your meal is to contact the restaurant first.
Don’t forget to mention @discovergrantown in your food pictures on Facebook and Instagram so that we can cover your favourites next time!