Best places to eat in Ullapool

Ullapool is a large village lodged along the idle shores of Loch Broom in Ross and Cromarty. The village is the largest settlement for miles in any direction; Ullapool is 45 miles northwest of Inverness, and it is an interesting place for budding gastronomes. Familiar high street names are very thin on the ground, and it’s a great place to try new dishes for the respectable choice of independent eateries Ullapool has to offer.

If it’s traditional Scottish fare you are looking for then Ullapool has you covered. You’re unlikely to be hunting for New Zealand or South African-style cuisine this far north, but here in remote Scotland, you can find a café that specialises in food from ‘the land of the long white cloud (Aotearoa)’. Ullapool also has a delicatessen which is a great shout for anyone hoping to pack an interesting picnic. We have also compiled some handy guides on local beaches, things to do and places to go shopping in Ullapool for you to check out too.

The best way to try more than one of the places to eat in Ullapool in this guide is to book yourself a holiday there. We have a great collection of self-catering holiday cottages in and around Ullapool. Click on the button below to see our Ullapool properties.

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Best for pub food | The Ferry Boat Inn

If seafood is your thing, the freshly landed fish and shellfish colonise the Ferry Boat Inn’s delicious menu. The menu also offers salmon from the Ullapool Smokehouse; depending on the day’s catch, you may get to enjoy mussels and oysters from the Isle of Lewis, or salmon from Wester Ross. It’s not all seafood though, vegetarians and meat lovers are well-catered for as well.

Best for a quirky lunch | Cult Cafe

Ullapool may be the last place you’d expect to find a café specialising in food from New Zealand, but look closer and the connection is not so obscure as the bonds between the two countries span back to the times of the first European settlers. So if you are looking for a burger with added beetroot slices, avocado and feta smash, salmon hashcakes, or buttermilk fried waffles, Cult Café is the place to try out. Those travellers who have been to New Zealand may find Ullapool’s vistas reminiscent of New Zealand’s South Island. Perhaps this place isn’t so quirky after all.

The best for seafood | The Seafood Shack

Oceans of seafood goodies await your arrival at Ullapool’s Seafood Shack. Much like the Ferry Boat Inn, this really good eatery offers freshly landed fish and shellfish galore to hungry diners. Daily choices may include langoustines, crabs, lobsters, prawns, and a loch’s worth of fish. Variations of the theme extend to seafood burgers and pizzas too. It’s a big hit with locals and visitors; we think the Seafood Shack is just about the best Ullapool has to offer for an informal seafood dining experience.

Best for fish and chips | The Seaforth

The Seaforth has a restaurant, a chippy, and a bar to choose from. On the menu, you can find traditional Scottish fare rubbing shoulders with the occasional South African dish, thanks to the head chef’s origins. Beyond the wonderful choice of seafood dishes, there is also something for carnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan palettes. The takeaway won the Best Northern Chippy accolade in 2023 at the Scottish Fish and Chips Awards, which is no mean feat! Book ahead as the restaurant can be busy at weekends and during the summer months.

Best for Scottish dishes | The Argyll

The Argyll is a hotel at the centre of Ullapool with a lovely restaurant and coffee shop. Specialising in steaks and seafood, this is a slightly formal establishment where you can enjoy a sit-down meal of an evening with views over Loch Broom. There is a great cask ale, whisky, and wine choice to enhance the already impressive menu. If it's something lighter you need, the cosy coffee shop is the place to head for – it even has a log fire.

The best for atmosphere | The Ceilidh Place

This atmospheric Ceilidh Place has a bar, a restaurant, a bookshop, and an art gallery. Being so small, Ullapool establishments sometimes have to vary their specialities to keep the local residents happy. The menu is a good mixture of surf and turf, with venison and lamb from the nearby crofts, and freshly sourced vegetables. They are open for breakfast too. It’s an interesting old place to dine, and the bookshop and art gallery offer something different for guests too.

The best for picnic food | West Coast Delicatessen

Most of the food is made-to-go at the West Coast Delicatessen, so whilst there is nowhere to eat inside, we thoroughly recommend a trip to the West Coast Delicatessen to buy some food for a picnic or to stock up on interesting Scottish fare to devour at your holiday cottage. Choose from local farmhouse cheeses, cold meats, freshly baked bread, or the endless selection of cakes and pies. It’s an Aladdin’s Cave of interesting Scottish food and drink.

Map to the best places to eat in Ullapool

Use our map to find all the best places to eat in Ullapool mentioned in this guide.

Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage

Now you've discovered the best places to eat in Ullapool, why not look for more ideas in our wider guide to food and drink in Scotland? It's a great country for a foodie holiday.

Stay at one of our self-catering holiday cottages in Ullapool. From cosy country cottages to historic homes with views of the Ross and Cromarty countryside, find your ideal base for exploring this gorgeous part of the Highlands. Click the button below to find your perfect place to stay in Ullapool.

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