CaleDonia Coffeehouse and Bistro in Argyll & Bute

Had a wonderful dinner here on September 15th. The bistro is lovely, the staff was excellent. The real prize here is the food though! A small but diverse menu where every meal and dessert is delicious. The owner/chef has incredible culinary skills and deserves high praise! One warning though...If you are interested in trying this place out MAKE A RESERVATION! It's small, fills quickly and with good reason.

Beautiful little resturant & deli right on the coastal path. Service was spot on & food was just perfect. Highly recommended the mussels.

We were really pleased to find this xcellent little bistro within walking distance of the marina and next door to the famous Port Bannatyne community pub. A small but appealing menu with good provision for all tastes is prepared with care and served by friendly competent staff. A real boost to the village and a welcome spot for passing sailors.

Nice place in a great setting. Was quiet the evening we visited. Starters and mains were nice with nice wines also. The seafood linguine was lovely. Service was good and friendly and helped with the requirements that one of our party had. We felt that the sweets that we had were disappointing. All 4 of us had a different sweet and felt the same.

Fantastic meal at Caledonia Bistro last night, great choice on the menu, lovely wine, great service and beautiful view over the bay. Donia was very friendly and helpful. As I bonus I bought a lovely picture as well. Brilliant place!

Hands down the best food on the island! Great selection of vegetarian dishes, internationally inspired cuisine, all freshly prepared. Lovely, cosy atmosphere with little touches such as fresh flowers on the table, etc. We spent a lovely evening enjoying the meal, the wine, and a chat with the great hostess. Very recommended if you're looking for something more than fish and chips. We'll be definitely coming back!

A very enjoyable evening spent with friends was definitely complimented by the meal. Never having been there before we were impressed with the whole experience. Well worth a second, third and fourth visit. Popularity of the venue overlooking the harbor and the size of this little oasis means you have to book. Looking forward to our next visit.

Best place to eat for miles around. Freshest of ingredients, fabulous fragrant food. Excellent

Great little bistro need to book in advance, small number of tables and food cooked to order with great service. Shame we only went on our last day or we would have definitely been back

Omg the veggie breakfast is to die for!

This is a good choice for lunch, with daily specials, an excellent range of beverages, and a nice selection of cakes.

Very disappointed. Coffee was instant although we asked for real coffee. Salad wasn't worth the money. Hopefully it was just a bad day.

Good food and a friendly atmosphere, couldnt ask for more...

Lovely food and great service from Jeanette.

Beautiful cakes, amazing coffee, great service and an awesome view. Thank you.

Second visit to this wee bistro for a hearty lunch. Soup and sandwich were delicious and cheesecake light as a feather. Would definitely recommend.

Nice cuppa and soup + sandwich. Be aware no card payments though!

Lovely food, made very welcome with our dog, great selection. Would recommend if you are visiting the island.

Great little place and well worth the wait as all meals freshly prepared. Best coffee we have found so far on the island.

Very nice for tea and scones but a bit on the mean side with the cream butter and milk I felt the portion for two was just right for one

We had a great breakfast (1 vegan, 2 Scottish)...and we came back for lunch !...and going for dinner on Wednesday, with more family joining us from England.Most restaurants in the UK are experiencing longer service times....(There have been "fisticuffs" about this all over the Country, can you believe ! good grief !)I have read the previous comments regarding having to wear masks to enter.This is normal practise these days in many restaurants, unfortunately.Just take them off when you sit down...be respectful of the safety of people around you...we will ALL appreciate it. I don't want to sit next to you if you aren't observing safety common sense.And my family appreciate that this restaurant is taking our safety seriously...otherwise we wouldn't go.Enjoy the foodTake in the wonderful viewWear the mask when you are are entering the restaurantHave patience!EVERYWHERE is having the same problems just now.AND the Scottish/French/Moroccan influenced menu is a wonderful addition to the island. Looking forward to my family meal on Wednesday !

Great they did a take away option as the tables near by over looking sea and harbour were perfect. Good they catered for vegans that’s rare in these parts. Quality of breakfast ok , veggie haggis lovely but the coffee was v disappointing.

Be Prepared for a Very Long Wait. When we arrived we were confronted by the waitress who demanded that we put face masked on despite the fact that the other customers in the place were not wearing masks. I pointed out that it is impossible to eat and wear a mask at the same time. They seemed to be insisting that you had to wear a mask to walk the three yards from the door to the table but it was fine to take it off once seated. Possibly the most ridiculous interpretation of the rules I have experienced so far. We had a table booked for two at 6:30 but our main courses did not arrive until one hour fifteen minutes later. We had both ordered Garlic Chicken which was actually pieces of pan fried chicken in a Garlic sauce. How it could have possibly taken over an hour to prepare is beyond me. Overall the experience was very poor and the one saving grace was that the bill had 50% of thats to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Two people, two courses and a one hour fifteen minute wait for a very ordinary main courseThe starter, a shared plate of very dull cold sliced meats appeared less than ten minutes after being ordered. It was dull but okayWe then had to wait another hour or so for the main course: bits of chicken breast grilled and served with a bland creamy garlic sauce, average rice and a small green salad........was it worth the very long wait? Definitely not. To make matters worse other diners who arrived after us were served their (deep fried) food before us, and to make matters even worse this restaurant does not sell alcohol so nothing to ease you through the wait Another diner commented, “Well it is the West Coast and you are on holiday”...............not much comfort thereThe only saving grace was the UK government’s “Eat out to help out” scheme paid for half the meal. Did we and the government get value for money? Questionable

Very quick and prompt service, you can tell the breakfast was used with qaulity ingredients, can't find a fault in the food tbh and service was good. Decided to book dinner for the next day straight away. Looking forward to fine again.

Feels great. Food is first class and view/location about perfect

We visit Caledonia regularly and always enjoy a chat with Donia and sample the specials menu. Last week we had excellent mussels and the coffee etc are just perfect. (Take your own wine - no corkage charge). Additional staff mean that the service is very prompt. Good if you fancy a good flat walk from the ferry or are stopping off on the West Island Way. STOP PRESS: Donia has just opened KOO Restaurant in Rothesay and the food is wonderful (October 19)

Very smoky from the kitchen so bad I had watering eyes. Food nothing exciting 🙁

We had a family lunch here. The food was O.K. I had mussels and chips, the chips were delicious but unfortunately the mussels had not been cleaned thoroughly enough as quite a few still had their beards attached. Puddings were delicious, everyone loved their choice. I had the lightes, moistest, victoria sponge with lemon cream filling that I have tasted in years.

Pretty cafe in a beautiful setting with plenty of room for our group to stop for refuelling. The food is as fresh as fresh with home made scones and gorgeous cakes, vegan and gluten free available. Charming owners and all at a very reasonable cost. I highly recommend this wee find.

The food was amazing here and the staff and service was perfect.

Well worth a stop on the way up from Rothesey to the ferry across to Kintyre; it just looks like a nice little coffee shop but the coffee is good and the food freshly cooked. We just had fish cakes but they were good fishcakes very nicely presented with some fresh salad and mayonnaise. Lovely,engaging and helpful French lady also helps to raise the spirits!

Coffee not as bold as I'd have liked, food looked great but only tried the homemade cheesecake which was lovely. Little pricey but probably worth it😉

We visited the CaleDonia a few weeks ago and enjoyed a full Scottish breakfast. All produce was fresh and of a good quality. They must have run out of potato scones because we got a hashbrown, which was a shame. It is pricey, but for the odd treat very enjoyable. The cappuccino was lovely service was very good too.

Visiting a friend on Bute and we stopped here for lunch on a warm Saturday. Really welcoming cafe who were also dog friendly. I had the rainbow salad which was a large plateful. Serve lovely coffee too.We were just too late for the breakfast menu which was an extensive menu.

excellent wee coffee shop , kind of off the beaten track from Rothesay, but not far to walk on pleasant day , or bus available too. Fabulous coffee, and cakes, lunches looked delicious though we were only in for coffee. Would definitely go back for lunch next trip

Dropped in for a quick coffe and a bit of a sit. Lovely place with a calming feel. Owner was initially a little brusque - not sure if just a little stressed when a bunch of people came in at the same time but she later lightened up a little. Both had the tart tartan which was fabulous! Great place and one of the very few dog friendly places on the island so a great option. Give it a try.

Top fish and chips. Best I've had today.

Had an enjoyable supper, working up an appetite walking up from Rothesay. Friendly owner and staff, very fresh cuisine and you can bring your own bottle. We'll be back on an evening when there is live music !

Today we visited Caledonia Café to have lunch with family both from the island and off at around 1pm. Firstly we got in, sat down to wait on the rest of the party. Once seated we decided as time was getting on and a ferry to go for we would place our order before the rest of the party arrived. We did this, and then shortly after the rest of the party arrived. They placed their half of the order and we were then told we would have to give our order again to put on the same ticket (for some reason?). Time starts ticking and we are waiting nearly 30 minutes for 3 toasties, chips and a roll and bacon. Now comes 1:30pm, part of our party had to leave for the ferry so we asked if their 2 toasties and chips could be to take away. We then waited another 10 minutes to be given 2 toasties, one of which was wrong and wasn't meant to be to take away! The waitress serving us had to be reminded of our order at least 5 times during our visit which is just rediculous to be honest. My brother-in-law had to end up leaving without his lunch that he had paid for because the staff couldn't produce the correct toastie even though we had clarified our order multiple times to the staff. My meal was one of the incorrect boxed ones, after trying to sort out my brother in laws meal, the staff then took my food off me to go put on a plate! I think this was to try rectify the problem. I had already started eating my food before it was taken away! 15-20 minutes pass and I still haven't got my toastie back and I ask a waitress where my food is, she asks me AGAIN what my meal should be; so I told her again and she replies that it is just being made and will be another 5 minutes. I ask why this is, and they said because my first one was cold..... It wasn't cold when I was eating it the first time! Eventually other members of the table received their food and I got my toastie back.... Only for my chips to now be missing. Second toastie wasn't even good, the first one was better. Utter shambles and no customer service being displayed by any staff. No one asked us how our meal went, although the owner asked every other table around us. Clearly this was because they knew what the answer would be. Utterly shocking and definetly won't be back. If you want people to keep visiting maybe you should remember what customers order!!

First time here as we had last visited PB before it opened. Love the idea they are doing gluten free and vegetarian (maybe vegan?) soups and sweet things. Had a lovely if different strawberry tart with my earl grey and hubby enjoyed his croissant. Only spoiler were the two cyclists who despite the fact the window seats were free at the other side, pushed my husband's chair out the way to get into the window seat beside him. Waitress didn't seem to notice how cramped this made the space for him (he has slight mobility difficulties). Maybe want to re-think these window seats or lose the tables just behind them?

2nd time here and food is again incredible. What a hidden gem. The starters rainbow salad, falafel and hummus was amazing and I had salmon with rice (perfection),hubby had tangine (brilliant) and son had garlic chicken (he loved it) . Prob one of best meals out for ages - lots of attention to details and beautiful herbs used. Huge hearty portions and good value for money.

This was the second time I have visited the restaurant with my family. The first time was ok, but they wouldn’t offer the crepes on the desert menu and the lady was quite abrupt and couldn’t care less. The second time I was hoping for better but again the owner was not as friendly as you would hope. We asked if we could move table as the one we were placed in was not appropriate for a family of 5 (2 round tables flung together in front of the cash desk) while the whole restaurant was basically empty yet it wasn’t convenient for her to move us so we had to stay in the awkward seating. The food was great and the waitress was lovely but yet again we were told they were not making crepes for desert. The kitchen apparently closed at 9pm even though we had not finished our meal and were never informed about this. Quite frankly you shouldn’t take a booking if you are closing the kitchen half way through the meal and you can’t offer any deserts. I probably won’t come back again.

Eight of us enjoyed a brilliant meal tonight. Given that 7 of us wanted the mussels and it all arrived together and fresh we were very impressed. Will return and recommend.

Three of us plus collie dog stopped for a light lunch. Lovely home-made soup and snacks followed by good coffee and mouthwatering cakes. we'll be back.

Lovely cafe with good food. Perfect place to sit while you wait for the bus.

Great food and views, friendly service. Highly recommended!

This little gem, on the harbour front in Port Ballatyne, is a very friendly place to enjoy an evening meal. Donia is so very welcoming and attentive throughout your visit. The service was perfect and the food ordered was delivered in no time at all. The food was very tasty and the variety of dishes available makes the place ideal for all. I would definitely recommend CaleDonia to anyone staying in and around the Port Ballatyne area.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner with excellent service and a gracious hostess. I'd particularly recommend the tagine, and the sharing platters for a starter. The mussels were also excellent!

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here -- lovely dining room, nice service and great, simple food. Highly recommended!

This is a fantastic little cafe with an amazing choice of vegan and gluten free cakes and lunches and DOG FRIENDLY, so happy that this little place exists!! A very friendly port side cafe in the peaceful Port Bannatyne, the best coffee and the Tarte tatin is from heaven, this newer place is a real favourite.

This place looked ok but waitress/owner was a bit abrupt & had no patience. Couldn’t decide between 2 cakes & she tutted & told us to make ourminds up then almost threw one of them back in the display cabinet. Others in the restaurant were made to feel like an inconvenience when the ‘salmon & prawn salad’ did not state whether it was smoked or not! She snatched plate off the poor lady to take salmon off & threw plate back to her with a look of bother on her face! Will not be going back there! Port Bannatyne is a beautiful place, if you go-go to a different cafe!!

So good we went back a second time and we were only on the Island for 4 days. Fresh food and a lovely welcome.

Looking for a good lunch spot near Rothesay, the CaleDonia on the harbor at Port Bannatyne came highly recommended and proved to be well worth the short trip. This little cafe is unassuming and the harbor view is limited, but food and service were terrific. My wife had one of the day’s specials, Chicken Supreme, plentiful chunks of tender chicken in a tasty creamy sauce over rice with carrots and beans. I had the green lentil soup and fish & chips. The soup was lovely, the fish was outstanding - fresh, moist and only lightly breaded. We were too full for more, but the desserts looked wonderful as well, including an apple tart tatin and a lemon cheesecake.

Came across this gem of a bistro on a walk back from Ettrick Bay. So glad this lovely lady has chosen Bute for her restaurant. Well presented sandwiches and salad followed by a delicious tarts tatin! A large party of visitors at another table were having the soup and by the sounds they were making , it was the best!!This was our second visit and it will become our favourite place for lunch!

Just about the only eating place offering Sunday lunch in Port Bannatyne, this was a lovely surprise, with a wide range of things on the menu, including all day breakfast. We had eggs benedict, which were cooked to perfection, then a melt-in-the-mouth lemon cheesecake (one portion easily enough for two people). One family of five all chose the fish and chips and clearly loved them.

It may be small but it has a lot to offer - great coffee, delicious meals and cakes and friendly service. A short bus trip from Rothesay or a pleasant stop for the more energetic walkers & cyclists. A welcome addition to the Port Bannatyne community.

Visited here for lunch whilst on holiday. Nice atmosphere and accommodating of our family with two young children. Really tasty green lentil soup and toasties. Full Scottish breakfast was good value. The lady owner made a special ice cream for our daughter with unicorn sprinkles, which was a nice touch! Have recommended to family who live in the area and we'll be sure to return on our next visit. Thank you.

Not very pleasant staff supposed to be pet friendly however not suitable for dogs. The food was average and no options to pay with a bank card.

Visited here earlier and the staff were quite rude, the cafe stated they were dog friendly however we felt as though our dogs were not welcome. The food was ok However I would not recommend

Amazing little place with not only excellent food, but friendly staff. Veggie breakfast and burger were delicious. Definitely worth a visit if your on the island. Great view too.

Thoroughly enjoyed a lovely Saturday evening meal in this delightful little bistro. Charming hostess and great chef - and it's a BYO without corkage charges! Well worth a visit.

My wife and I visited CaleDonia during a cycle around Bute - the cafe owner and staff were extremely welcoming and the cafe has a fantastic view out over the bay.The menu is imaginative and also bolstered by an imaginative specials board. We are both vegan and there were plenty of vegan options for us (the home made falafel was superb!) as well as milk alternatives too. Can't wait to visit again!Very easy to get to from Rothesay (10 minutes by bike) too so a great way to finish (or start!) a cycle on the island.

The meal was lovely. We both got the fish goujons and the batter was so light and crispy. A lovely setting with friendly staff. We will go back soon

Warm welcome/ friendly service. Delicious food. Lots of veggie options. Great view. BYOB. Highly recommended.

If you like good quality food then give this place a miss. We ordered the only soup they offered and it was absolutely disgusting, it was served up like coloured water with a handful of spice thrown in, also service without a smile and a main course salad that was not bad but nothing special. There are better places to eat than here.

Service was great and the food was so fresh and tasty.I had the Burger which was spot on 👌 Mrs had the bruschetta and eggs benedict, well presented and the taste matched the look. Definitely will be back for more.

Popped in here for lunch with family before long trip to Inverness. Was absolutely superb! The food was so fresh and delicious. I'm terrible about not finishing my meals ........ ate every drop. So tasty both main and dessert were to die for (chicken supreme and tarte tatin). Oh we will definitely be back ! Hosting so friendly ....worth the walk from Rothsay to to port. Well done guys

We visit Caledonia regularly and always enjoy a chat with Donita and sample the specials menu. Last week we had excellent mussels and the coffee etc are just perfect. (Take your own wine - no corkage charge). Additional staff mean that the service is very prompt. Good if you fancy a good flat walk from the ferry or are stopping off on the West Island Way. The Port Inn is nearby if you fancy another drink after your meal!

Becoming our ‘go to’ place on Bute. Varied menu, great flavours and relaxed atmosphere. Had New Years dinner there this year and birthday lunch today. Veggie casserole with haloumi and falafel was particularly good . Also serves up French conversation evenings and a book club for the community. A real asset to the island.

I have been here several times. Every time I feel welcomed and have a delicious meal which is well priced. I have taken friends and family here as I know that there will be something on the menu to suit them, whether it be a meal, a snack or a drink.

Superb food. Friendly and attentive staff. An absolute delight! Will definitely be back and we’ll bring our own wine next time. Because you can! 🍷🍷🍷😁😁😁

I usually have the lovely fish and chips, and my mum has the filled crepes....BUT next time I am definitely having 1 of the French casseroles..maybe a delicious vegetarian/vegan one...(there is so much choice for anybody of any particular diet...far more choice than is usual)The owner is French. the food is wonderful...the view is gorgeous....and there is a bus stop right outside the door (every 30 minutes).AND it isBring your own wineANDespecially important for people on holiday...bring your own well-behaved dog !

Interesting and delicious food, simple and stylish decor, friendly owner. It’ll be a regular haunt whenever I’m on Bute!

I visit at least once a month. I love the food and coffee. My favourite cafe on the isle of Bute Great vegetarian meals too

My sister and I were on Bute recently for a weekend and visited this cafe twice - for brunch on both days. The food was great, and the ambience excellent. The views were fantastic too!

Wonderful cafe that is relatively new to the island. Had heard some good things from other people so decided to give it a go. I went along with my mum and since it was a very wet day, we had no trouble getting a table. The cafe is cosy but for its size is well laid out. I love that the menu was kept simple (1 page) but still had enough options that I couldn't decide what to have! Ended up trying the Falafel from the specials board and was not disappointed. The seasoning was spot on and the beetroot hummus paired perfectly with it. My mum ordered the Moroccan soup which was just a nice and was a generous portion served with pitta bread. It was obvious that the food is homemade and made to order which I love.Fantastic cafe and very reasonably priced too. Will definitely be back for lunch again and also for dinner.

Place was about to close but they still accommodated us and the food was great as was the coffee. Quirky place and menu and nice and peaceful setting in Port Bannatyne would defo go back, very friendly. Only criticism was the windows were steamed up so could t see the bay outside maybe better ventilation needed but still 5 stars.

Within walking distance of our home, we LOVE this café/bistro! Owner Donia is a lovely, welcoming presence and is always smiling. Her passion for food is evident in the gorgeous mussels that bring me back time and again; coupled with chef's presentation and you have a lovely dining experience. Tarte Tatin not to be missed and the scones rival any on the island. Set in the peaceful hamlet known as Port Bannatyne, Caledonia is a wee gem on our beautiful isle. Even if all you want is a coffee, drink it taking in the water view, wheel of the seagulls and gazing at the hills across the bay. Can you tell, we love this special place ❤️

Been 3 or 4 times for lunch, great atmosphere just what this Island needs. Sort of chic restaurant one would see in Suburbs if London or Edinburgh. Excellent

Stopped for coffee on a Friday. Came back in the evening for live music with local singer and great puddings