Benleva Hotel Restaurant in Highland

Staying in Drumnadrochit for the weekend. Called the Benleva Hotel Restaurant on Saturday evening and booked a table for the following evening. When we arrived for dinner, the lady seemed surprised to see us and told us that the restaurant was closed. Very disappointing - we won’t be back.

I went to the restaurant based on the menu posted on TripAdvisor. The website didn’t have an updated menu, so I assumed this menu was accurate. I was very wrong. The restaurant only offers a very limited, very basic bar menu. I ordered a “Cajun” chicken sandwich. I got a plain chicken breast on a plain bun with some lettuce, onion, and tomato—no type of Cajun seasoning or sauce. Very bland and very basic. I should have been concerned when I realized the lawn along the driveway to the hotel was littered with empty beer bottles. The hotel and restaurant may have been nice at one point, but that feels like it is in the past.

Còmode, amb un ambient familiar i un entorn molt agradable. Els menjars són bons i l'esmorzar bo i abundant. El personal és molt atent i amable. Ha estat un plaer quedar aquí! --- Cómodo, con un ambiente familiar y un entorno muy agradable. Las comidas son buenas y el desayuno bueno y abundante. El personal es muy atento y amable. Ha sido un placer quedar aquí!

Great experience!! Dave and Lisa were amazing. We had such fun there and great visits with the locals. The food was really excellent and the chef will gladly tell you about his daily chef specials. We also looked at the hotel rooms and they are very clean and spacious. We would definitely recommend this place

Facilmente raggiungibile con la macchina e con posti auto, questo locale regala un ambiente caldo e armonioso. Piatti molto buoni e birre molto buone, rapporto qualità prezzo adeguato per quello che offrono (controllare sempre lo scontrino). Lo staff gentile e disponibile, da tornarci per rivivere le highlands on the road

The menu was limited to few things on the blackboard due to lack of staff. We had the soup of the day which was good, but the vegi burger was barely cooked and the fish and chips was not great, I had partly cooked potato wedges, over cooked peas and garlic mayo instead of tarter sauce. Nobody asked if our meals were ok, not even when we paid. Will not be returning.

We ate here as a family as we were staying at the hotel . We arrived later in the evening so opted to eat in the hotel . It looks lovely but the staff were very young . Our starters came and the young girl nearly dropped soup over my brother and he went to catch the bowl and she told him to be careful which we laughed at as she was the person dropping the plate . The menu is not very big so we thought the food would be excellent because if this and it was nice to be fair but nothing special . We had 2 courses each and was good value for money . If we stay again I would eat elsewhere to be fair because after dinner and breakfast the next morning we all said the same thing about the staff , constantly having to ask for cutlery , napkins , more drinks , sauce , forgetting things we had order and bringing it half way through meal ( clearly hadn’t been ordered so was cooked separate) It is a local pub grub but nothing fancy

Ambiance pub dans ce restaurant. C'est chaleureux et convivial mais pas aussi intime qu'un restaurant. Les parties restaurant et pub sont séparées mais sans barrière physique. Service super sympa, décontracté et efficace. Un des points forts de ce resto-pub. La carte est attractive avec plusieurs plats du jour, cela change des menus pubs assez redondants en Ecosse. Je n'ai pas pu tester le plat de gibier car il n'en restait plus : le saumon était très bon et les moules excellentes ! Bons desserts aussi. Très bon rapport qualité/prix.

venerdì sera, tutti i locali pieni troviamo questo ristorante ed entriamo. purtroppo per noi non è un ristorante ma un pub e hanno solo tre opzioni per il cibo.... alette fritte, Stick di mozzarella e nachos.. mangiamo qualcosa e beviamo un paio di birre.... comunque abbiamo mangiato

Hidden off the main road, This place isn’t what it seems when you arrive. We had a drink in the bar before dinner and moved into the lounge for food. Staff were all pleasant, food choice was limited. We had 2 courses each one of which was the famous Steak Pie Frae Drumnadrochit. Portion sizes were big, quality of the food was good. Well worth a visit. Book in advance as you will probably not get a table.

The cauliflower, broccoli and stilton soup, the chicken dish and the red onion risotto were all pleasant.

Popped in as staying nearby and was recommended Tasty food with very generous portions Warm welcome by the staff too

We are here again on our third visit to the area. They are open fewer hours and serving a reduced menu currently due to staff shortages, but the standard is still high. Booking is a must.

Its rare for me to be motivated to leave a review but this was an amazing experience. The location is, of course, spectacular with easy access to some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. However, it’s the amazing team I’d like to thank for making us feel part of the family. Martin and his team, Andy, James and Charlene are the most hard working and friendly people you could wish to spend time with. They are friendly, warm, funny, interesting and have charmed us to the point where we will be going back as often as time and funds allow. Martin’s skill in the kitchen provided us with fantastic food at breakfast and dinner, his knowledge of all things Scottish legendary, but above all he is a charming, funny gentleman who is fantastic company. Andy’s attentiveness and unusual tree climbing techniques are not for the faint-hearted! What a gent. We love James, he’s a charming, kind young man who deserves nothing but the best in life and what can I say about Charlene. She’s the heartbeat and soul rolled in to one, a genuine diamond. Is that ok Charlene? Add to this the hotel possesses a real pub with an eclectic mix of locals all of whom are happy to chat, laugh and help with useful hints on where to go and what to see, with its own micro brewery, well we couldn’t have wished for more. We genuinely were made to feel part of the family and we’re gutted to be moving on, as a good friend of mine says though, this is to be continued not goodbye. My only word of warning would be to heed the sagely advice and DONT SWIM IN THE LOCH!

Thank you to Andy and Charlene for making us so welcome. We booked a cottage for the week and visited the hotel many times, the food was amazing the Sunday roast was huge but absolutely delicious 😋 haddock goujons to die for also my husband had the curry with nan bread poppadoms also delicious. We would just like to say thank you for your hospitality hope to see you again soon. (Yes sir I can boogie) Sandra and Raymond Glasgow

My partner and I stayed for one night and ate in the bar. I can honestly say that the Sunday roast was was THE best roast beef dinner I've ever had. Succulent beef, cooked to perfection that melted in the mouth. Served with a giant...

Thank you to the lovely Charlene and team! After 10 hour's drive from Cambridgeshire what more could we ask for?? A friendly welcome, outstanding home cooked food and beer brewed on site, plus a very impressive whiskey selection!! Thoroughly recommend this fab pub.

We ate here twice recently - both times the food was perfectly cooked and piping hot. Portions are generous too. There are a good selection of draught ales and cider to wash it down with and lovely friendly staff. Win, win, win.

1st visit was amazing not everything was as it seemed ... the photos do not do the food justice. Was the pie Fray Bentos??? Food and service was that good we re-booked for our Sunday lunch... again it was amazing. The Ribeye melted in your...

Great service, food and beer. The bar has a lovely ambience , adhering strictly to covid 19 rules. The steak pie did seem a trifle expensive at £14 especially as it was a fray bentos one. I didn't want to complain as we were tired...

Struggled to find somewhere open near loch ness but this wasnt far if in the a small neighbourhood. The staff member was friendly. Limited as expected menu but the soups we had were excellent despite us not being too hungry after a filling late breakfast....

Nice pub-restaurant a mile or so off the main route through Drumnadrochit, & well worth seeking out. Four of us in our group had a burger, & have to see that it was the most succulent & excellent burger that I can recall tasting in...

Nice place although one of the guys behind the bar was quite sullen, the manager is nice though. I got the beer battered haddock and it was so nice, the mushroom sauce is a must. There is a tiny brewery onsite which produces two beers...

Had. A lovely evening meal here, lovely staff and good quality food. The drinks were good and everything was reasonably priced. Welcoming and local atmosphere which made the meal comfortable and enjoyable.

The hotel is kind of out dated. Could do with updating. The food again over priced for what you get. Again this must be a tourist thing. Pork chops were over cooked . And for £15. Not really worth it. But not many places to...

Mediocre pub food in a mediocre, dated, tired setting. Had dinner last night, apart from my partner’s soup, the rest of our meals was disappointing to say the least. I have eaten better pub food before. Not recommended if you like good food.

Food was terrible and we only ordered 3 main dishes for 3 and bill was given for 2 starters and 4 mains.they gave discount from overpriced bill because of Wednesday. Big cheat!

Had a great visit here on a short break. The food was very good, and there was a great selection of beers (two brewed on the premises). Recommend the beef schnitzel.

A fallen tree closing the A82 resulted in us making an overnight stop in Drumnadrochit. As our accommodation didn’t offer dinner, we chose the Benleva based on recent reviews. Glad we did - a lovely menu plus specials to tempt us. Enjoyed a beef schnitzel...

I have to say at first glance and reading previous reviews I was expecting a mediocre pub food experience. However immediately after tasting my starter I knew we had stumbled on a gem here. It is a cosy environment and my heart sunk a little...

this is a lovely small hotel offering good food and a friendly welcome our room was excellent clean and comfortable can't fault the hotel just what we needed to recharge our batteries

Dormire in una vecchia chiesa, assaporare la cucina locale in uno splendido scenario. Ottimo il filetto di Angus

A friendly pub as part of the hotel. Good food and welcoming staff. The smoked haddock was amazing. Dog friendly and lovely wood burner.

Uistekende eet en drinkplek aan Loch Ness. Ik kom hier al onregelmatig sinds 1992. Vanavond ook weer: geweldige Highlanderburger met haggis en natuurlijk bier uit de eigen brouwerij in de wee shed.

We werden niet vriendelijk ontvangen, het eten was middelmatig. Vlees te doorbakken en de kip behoorlijk droog. Men had totaal geen interesse in de etende klanten.

Whatever we choose, we are always pleasantly surprised. Good service, good food. Close to park / loch ness walk. Also catters for doggies :)

The kitchen at Benleva Hotel is of a good and tasty quality, be it simple fish and chips or meats and vegs.The breakfast menu offer a vast choice of dishes made to order.Rooms are ok, clean and tidy, for an old house like this one.Price level over average, but acceptable.

In the first room we entered the room was clean but upon closer inspection the bed had some stains.

Walked up from Drumnadrochit, and it was well worth it. Great food, and beer from the brewery that is on site. Friendly barman, reasonable prices.

..after a very hard day all we wanted was good, old fashioned pub grub..that's what we got here as the food was lovely and served in good portions by excellent staff..thank you all..

I chose this place for dinner because it was close and I was walking. Fortunately the food was good and the service was excellent.

It is amazing what you find on the back streets of towns. Whilst stopping off at the Co-op at Drumnadrocit, the sign post for the The Benleva Hotel got its desired affect as it got my attention, as it mentioned "Brewery". A Brewery I had never heard of 'The Hanging Tree Brewery'. So, that evening we went to investigate further and found the Benleva Hotel to be quite appealing, a lovely building from the outside, but at the same time found it to be lots of other things but none of which stood out. It is a B+B, a Restaurant, a separate bar at the back and then a brewery beyond that. It wanted to be everything but I initially used the wrong entrance.

Husband enjoyed their locally brewed 80 shilling. I enjoyed a whiskey sour with local whiskey and egg white foam.

The food menu for here looks quite impressive and modern but it’s execution isn’t great. The staff was also quite hard to find and you have to go looking for them. Wouldn’t recommend eating here.

Excellent food on both visits. Lunch time staff was excellent. 10/10 Night staff let the place down. Mixer was flat in my drink and the Guiness poured too quickly. Staff could take lessons from day staff. Value for money and pleasant atmosphere on both visits

Man ist nicht ganz sicher wo das Restaurant beginnt und wo das Pub . Aber egal wo man sich hinsetzt, die Bedienung war sehr freundlich auch wenn doch sehr viele Gäste anwesend waren. Das Essen war gut. Für den Salat wäre eine Salatsauce zu wünschen und nicht nur diese gängigen Saucen aus den Plastiktüten. Das Dessert - Profiteroles - war hingegen echt hervorragend. Die Pub Atmosphäre ist auch sehr angenehm. Es ist preiswert und eine gute Adresse.

We kwamen redelijk laat in de middag aan bij het hostel en zochten nog een plaats om te eten. De receptioniste wees ons op deze pub. Het eten was echt heel erg goed, het was niet te druk en de bediening was super aardig! Echte aanrader!

Only motorhome there, not much room to park up. Was hungry so went in for a meal, served quite quickly, food was ok.just what you would receive in a bar meal. Would we stay again No. Very pleasant parking down the road.

Stopped here for dinner after a long day out and was ravenous. It had a nice atmosphere and the guy behind the bar was lovely, but we were really underwhelmed with the food. Was initially impressed with the range of choice and ordered the steak and ale pie with every intention of getting a desert as they sounded delicious. The pie tasted very cheap, reminded me of the sort you see in service station fridges, and the potatoes both looked and tasted as though they had just been chucked in boiling water for 10 minutes with no seasoning. Needless to say I did not get a dessert as I thought it would only be disappointing. Also, got a teapot and only one teabag, should have just gone with water!

Caché dans un petit quartier résidentiel, au fond d'un parc, restaurant avec une petite carte, de très bons burgers, service rapide et efficace. A deux, nous avons mangé largement pour 34 livres. Je recommande.

Even we went there on a rainy day, we had a warm welcome from the staff and local people! The food was amazing, everything was seasoned and therefore was so tasty! They made great attention to details. The restaurant itself is not dog friendly but the bar is. Definitely recommend and we will visit next time!

A disappointing reception from a bar that caters to polite, quiet and interested hikers such as ourselves. The first night was made enjoyable by a particularly friendly local interested in our background and culture. Had a completely different experience the second night as we were told in no uncertain terms to leave if we carried on singing quietly in the corner in Welsh (which had drawn praise and applause from other customers the previous evening). We promptly and politely took our custom elsewhere, saddened and slightly upset at how we were received by an establishment that prioritised a small drunken local minority over their normal touristic clientele.

Belle bâtisse pour un pub où Ns avons passé un bon moment. Le venison sausage, white pudding Mash est excellent. Servi avec une ou deux iPa et cela devient parfait !

Went for food here and was glad to see they had vegan options. Had the Thai broth which was really filling and nice, and the chocolate orange dessert which was amazing. Only negative is the dining room seemed too quiet- some music would be good in there, whilst the bar area seemed a bit cold and unwelcoming.

Très bon fish et chips, panure légère et frites croustillantes ! L'ambiance n'est pas très intime et nous étions entourés de français (donc pas très dépaysant !) mais le personnel est très gentil et malgré le monde nous avons eu une table assez vite.

Chouette découverte, décor sympa, ambiance pub agréable. Nous avons pu choisir entre nous installer côté restaurant (plus calme) ou côté bar (plus animé). Les repas étaient copieux et vraiment très bons. La serveuse était très sympathique. Nous y avons passé un excellent moment. Testez les Mac&Cheese; !

Never been disappointed at the food here. Quick service and good prices. Staff friendly and helpful.

We’re staying here but could only manage two meals.

We stayed in the area during the quiet season so the town had limited options for food. We were recommended to come here and were not disappointed. The entrance was a bit away from the road and the building initially looked like it was shut. However when we entered through the side entrance, we got a warm welcome from the staff and the locals alike. Amazing beer on tap (ignore the usuals suspects, head straight for their beautiful home brewed IPA!). The menu had quite a few options - but the large burger selection definitely stands out and did not disappoint! Although they usually carry a breakfast menu, it was a shame they were closed for breakfast the following day as we would have come back!

Visiting Scotland for the first time I wanted to go into a cosy pub with a warm and Scottish atmosphere- Benleva fulfilled this for me. We came across the bar through trip advisor on our last night and decided to drive out for a quick dinner. The menu was fresh, the food was fulfilling and the vibe was cheerful and friendly. We just wish we had have found Benleva before hand so we could’ve properly enjoyed its atmosphere and real ales.

the breakfast is top notch, but the lunch and dinner menu is also great. fish and chips were on point, the chicken pie was to die for. everything i ate here was delicious.

I could not bring myself to stop at the touristy places and kept driving. Then the Hanging Tree Brewery caught my eye. Their IPA was wonderful, and the lasagna was pure comfort food.

We were hiking the Great Glen Way, and had been staying just down the road in a B&B.; It was raining and this was close enough to go in the rain. But when we got there, they were warm and friendly, gave us a seat in the pub, and let us order off of the restaurant menu, brought the food quickly and it was very good. The hotel is very old, and shows some of its age, but that adds to the flavor of the place. Very enjoyable.

I was abit dubious on arrival aa the back yard had empty botlea etc and it looked a bit untidy. Have to agree with another persons review the packet sauces on the table were a bit drab.

El restaurante parecía muy popular, estaba lleno. Al lado había otra zona que quizás fuera para beber, ver tele o jugar al billar, pero no lo pasamos a ver, porque debía haber un partido de futbol y estar lleno.

Ate here once during our stay in Drumnadrochit and although the food was okay it was probably our least favourite meal of the week. Staff were very friendly and welcoming, but on ordering food it appeared very quickly - this could have been due to the kitchen having a quiet night as it was only the bar open.

Llegamos al restaurante de este hotel de casualidad buscando un lugar para almorzar por la zona del lago Ness. La cocina todavía estaba abierta y el personal nos atendió muy amablemente.

Apart from the lovely waitress the food here can only be described as “school dinners”. Packet sauces and sub standard lukewarm meals all round, there are much better places to eat in this lovely town.

After walking all day, we wanted something close, and this place was only ten minutes from our B & B. Website and menu looked good, so we gave it a try. The side entrance to the pub is kind of awkward and unattractive, but one you get in it's nice. We both had a pint of Guinness, but I kind of wish I'd tried one of their own brews. My wife ordered the Haddock with Mornay sauce special, while I had the beer-battered haddock with chips. Both were fantastic - way better than we expected. Do yourself a favor if you're in the area - join the locals at The Benleva!

We enjoyed this restaurant on our first night of touring the NC500 and it was fabulous, we both had the baked brie to tart which was delicious and then our main courses came out which were huge, I had the falafel burger and my partner had a huge beef burger, and both were excellent. Superb friendly service and good value for money!!!

Went there on a recommendation from Chris, the barman at Caledonian Hotel in Fort Augustus. Had some local beers from the Hanging Tree (about 25 m away) and talked to some friendly locals, one of whom was one of the most recent to film something on Loch Ness (he told us to google Collis Loch Ness monster to see a ton of news articles on his video). He wasn't sure of what he saw and videoed, but his pet theory on the Loch Ness monster was that it was a bunch of eels mating since eels mate in a ball and the eels in Loch Ness get big, apparently (and we did see someone catch an eel in the canals by Fort Augustus, although this one was only about 50 cm). Very much of a locals hangout and off of the beaten path, which was cool.

Llegamos muy tarde a comer llamamos y nos esperaron

C'est un lieu sans prise de tête et bon. On mange à sa faim. Les serveurs sont sympas, sans être encombrants.

Wir kamen gegen Abend nach Drumnadrochit. Im Zentrum gibt es fast keine Restaurants, und die waren hoffnungslos ausgebucht. Wir waren enorm froh, dass das Restauant und die Bar dieses Hotels auch externe Gäste aufnimmt und wir so doch noch zu einem feinen Essen kamen.

This is a little further off the main road (like 10 minutes walk) but worth the way. Food was good and if you are lucky, the seperate dining room is full and you get seted inside of the bar instead. Bar is lively, with sports television and mostly locals who come to eat or just drink and have a chat. The atmosphere was nice and I liked the opportunity to meet the people living here and not only tourists. On a sidenote: the hotel is quite old and I saw a picture of it being opened just after 1800. The picture also showed a tree a little smaller than the house next to it... When you see it now it is quite easily the biggest chestnut tree I have ever seen (not sure it is still the same but seems like it).

We went there for dinner and the pub room was only with local people although it is a hotel. The service was very friendly and fast. A good choice of traditional meals or vegetarian/mixed salads plus some specials of the days. We took a vegetarian green curry, a salad, a steak and ale pie and a moussaka and all of it was delicious. Thanks again.

Had trouble finding this place on a visit to Drumnadrochit, but finally found it. Also a B&B; so guests eat up what little parking there is, so had to park on the drive leading up to it. You kind of walk into what seems more like a bar, but then find a door to another room a little quieter. Had the deep fried scallops and chips, was very good, but more chips than scallops, but still filling. You won't be disappointed with this place to eat, but it probably won't knock your socks off enough for a return visit anytime soon.

We had visited here in the past and remembered it as very good. Now, it's just about average. We were given the wrong food and one of us was given a really cheap burger which was well over priced. The staff are very nice and said there had been some changes ...

Although my fish was a little over cooked all our meals were fresh and yummy. The staff were friendly and welcoming

Came here as family with 3 small kids - food was delicious, locally brewed beer nice too. Reasonable prices, all in all a very good meal and experience.

We stopped off for dinner whilst travelling around Scotland on our motorbikes. The staff were friendly and helpful and we were quickly shown to our table and given drinks. I ordered the steak and ale pie, my friend had a chicken dish. The meals arrived very quickly and yes it was very tasty in the main. The side of veg was slightly over cooked and the actual pie was not very hot, if it had been any colder then I would have sent it back, however it was reasonable.

Terrible experience, can't describe my dissapointing from staff behaviour. I'll make sure to avoid this place in future.

This restaurant served plenty of food and it noticed they use good quality and it was made with love from someone that likes make good food. We ate, we drank, we had a good time and they had quite many beers and whiskey!

We ate here mainly due to lack of options in the village and we were staying in the hotel which was actually really good (I've written a separate review).

Out of the way a bit, but clearly worth the hike to find this sweet little place. Bring your dog into the pub. He will be welcome.

We had a lovely meal here, because of a local recommendation. The service was good, staff was friendly, meals came quickly. I would definitely say to give it a try. I doubt if you will be disappointed. I would go back!

Fabulous friendly welcome! Had a brilliant dinner with more food than could eat, but very tasty. The lager was excellent and particularly liked the brand that was brewed on site but can't remember the name. Highly recommended

I went to the Benleva for dinner one of the nights I was staying in Inverness, and it was worth the little bit of a (lovely) drive down there. I had the best fish and chips I've ever had for dinner! The fish was lovely, and the batter was tasty and crisp and not greasy. The chips were also excellent! Hand cut, perfectly cooked, and nicely seasoned. The peas were also fresh and just gently cooked, not turned to mushy peas. I also had the haggis bon bons for an appetizer, which were absolutely fantastic. Sadly, I was too full to try a dessert. I'd absolutely go back and would happily recommend it to anyone travelling to the Inverness area!

Nice little pub-type restaurant in The Benleva hotel. I ad chicken madras (special-not on the menu) and hubby had a seafood dish. Both were wonderful. This place was recommended to us by a local and we really enjoyed it.

Very tasty meal, friendly staff and dog friendly. This is also a hotel and looks a nice place to stay. Close to Loch Ness and the visitors centre.

Dîner dans une ambiance pub avec une cuisine assez simple type burger. Peu de monde donc servi assez rapidement.

The B&B; is the very comfortable and the staff goes above and beyond . The locals were friendly and warm. It is located close the the activities downtown , but far enough away to enjoy the escape .The duty managers and bartenders helped with our last minute plans. There was no hesitation with giving history or information about the place. Breakfast and dinner tasted amazing!! Their seafood chowder is worth it!!

We stopped in because we were walking by and saw good reviews for this place. The food options were a bit underwhelming (not really bar food, but not really quality restaurant food either). The service was good, but the seating is definitely set up for a bar (not very comfortable seats), and the music was loud pop music that sounded like we were in a crowded club instead of a nearly empty bar. We were expecting a nicer sit down place with more options and instead got an after-work pub location. It's a good place if you're looking for a pint and some interactions with locals!

Les plats sont très copieux, c’est leur principale qualité. Nous étions seuls hormis 2 personnes au bar, c’était donc très calme.

I had booked a table for Mothers day many weeks before..

Popped in here for lunch (2 adults, 2 kids) - food was lovely and really reasonable too. Kids loved the fish and chips and we loved our munchies - I had the burger which was on the specials menu and didn't have anything the rest of the day - stuffed!!

Booked in here for dinner on the 28th December with my parents, who are local but hadn’t ever eaten here....

Called in here after walking /exploring.. Met some locals and their dogs. All very welcoming and friendly. My partner sampled...

Revisited the Benleva Hotel bar on our latest pilgrimage to the Highlands - 11th time in 9 years. We were...

We visited on a very busy Saturday night. The food was fab - haggis starter and scallops for main. My...