Eating Out & Things to do on Islay - April 2024
Eating Out
Some recommendations of places to go for a snack, lunch or dinner!
This is the local Inn - popular with our guests for dinner. Also its collections of whisky (800+ bottles) and extensive gin collection! Popular for evening meals but must be booked in advance. They usually have a curry & pint night on a Thursday evening.
8 locals recommend
Ballygrant Inn
This is the local Inn - popular with our guests for dinner. Also its collections of whisky (800+ bottles) and extensive gin collection! Popular for evening meals but must be booked in advance. They usually have a curry & pint night on a Thursday evening.
Quirky Hotel - great meals with hearty portions. Fabulous seafood can be requested in advance - comes off the boats at the Port straight to the Hotel.
Port Askaig Hotel and Stores
Quirky Hotel - great meals with hearty portions. Fabulous seafood can be requested in advance - comes off the boats at the Port straight to the Hotel.
Great pizza popular with all our guests. Guests love that you can take home any leftover pizza for later. Also fabulous ice cream sundaes!
13 locals recommend
Peatzeria
22 Shore StGreat pizza popular with all our guests. Guests love that you can take home any leftover pizza for later. Also fabulous ice cream sundaes!
The Old Kiln Cafe is very popular for a light lunch or snack. Also a great distillery but always best to book a tasting in advance.
19 locals recommend
Ardbeg Distillery Ltd
The Old Kiln Cafe is very popular for a light lunch or snack. Also a great distillery but always best to book a tasting in advance.
Beautiful new visitor centre, great tours and fabulous cafe for snacks and light meals - famous for their cullen skink. Also Machir Bay beach is just a few minutes down the road - a must visit for everyone to Islay!
10 locals recommend
Kilchoman Distillery
Beautiful new visitor centre, great tours and fabulous cafe for snacks and light meals - famous for their cullen skink. Also Machir Bay beach is just a few minutes down the road - a must visit for everyone to Islay!
Great coffee stop and cake! Also the best gift and book shop on Islay. Lots of local history and scottish cookery books.
The Celtic House
Shore StreetGreat coffee stop and cake! Also the best gift and book shop on Islay. Lots of local history and scottish cookery books.
Mackinnon's Marmalade
4 Islay House SquareGreat wee shop selling home made preserves.
Takeaway home baking, light meals with a traditional "scottish chippy" sometimes - keep up to date with them on their fb page.
The Munchie Box
Main StreetTakeaway home baking, light meals with a traditional "scottish chippy" sometimes - keep up to date with them on their fb page.
Golden Dragon
The SquareOnly chinese takeaway on the island.
Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant
Shore StreetOnly indian restaurant on Islay - popular for takeaway more than sit in.
Great for lunch or dinner. Three different areas to eat – the cosy bar, the conservatory with amazing views over Lochindaal and The Restaurant. Was popular for live music before covid - maybe one day it will return!
11 locals recommend
Port Charlotte Hotel
Main StreetGreat for lunch or dinner. Three different areas to eat – the cosy bar, the conservatory with amazing views over Lochindaal and The Restaurant. Was popular for live music before covid - maybe one day it will return!
Café at the campsite. Great home cooked meals and snacks. Famous for their curry specials. Port Mor has a great play park for younger children.
Port Mor Centre
A847Café at the campsite. Great home cooked meals and snacks. Famous for their curry specials. Port Mor has a great play park for younger children.
Fabulous Coffee Shop in the heart of Ballygrant. Lovely coffee provided by Italian Aroma Coffee in Glasgow and a wide range of fresh home baking every day, as well as a selection of toastie's and panini cooked to order and home made soup.
Craigard Kitchen of Ballygrant
Miners RowFabulous Coffee Shop in the heart of Ballygrant. Lovely coffee provided by Italian Aroma Coffee in Glasgow and a wide range of fresh home baking every day, as well as a selection of toastie's and panini cooked to order and home made soup.
Sightseeing
Park up at the wee car park and a 2 minute walk through the sand dunes will take you to Machir Bay - the roar of the Atlantic Ocean will stay with you forever. Not safe for swimming/water activites though. Maybe a paddle!!
11 locals recommend
Machir Bay
Park up at the wee car park and a 2 minute walk through the sand dunes will take you to Machir Bay - the roar of the Atlantic Ocean will stay with you forever. Not safe for swimming/water activites though. Maybe a paddle!!
Places to Visit
Lovely home baking and drinks. Great take away pottery kits available and fabulous ceramics to buy.
Persabus Pottery and Ceramic Cafe,
Lovely home baking and drinks. Great take away pottery kits available and fabulous ceramics to buy.
Islay Studios
Great wee gallery that also has a wee coffee shop.
Islay's newest Distillery. They are currently open Tuesday to Saturday, doing tours and have a nice restaurant (book in advance) - great gift shop with a mix of local and scottish crafts.
9 locals recommend
Ardnahoe Distillery
Islay's newest Distillery. They are currently open Tuesday to Saturday, doing tours and have a nice restaurant (book in advance) - great gift shop with a mix of local and scottish crafts.
Food scene
Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week. Good reviews for both lunch and dinner! Booking in advance is essential.
8 locals recommend
Bridgend Hotel
Open for lunch & dinner 7 days a week. Good reviews for both lunch and dinner! Booking in advance is essential.
Stunning location on a good day - a walk before or after lunch is always good! Fabulous oysters and home made bread. Open for coffee and lunch. Not currently open in the evening.
Islay Oyster Shed
Stunning location on a good day - a walk before or after lunch is always good! Fabulous oysters and home made bread. Open for coffee and lunch. Not currently open in the evening.