Ferry Inn in Orkney Islands

Great place to stay breakfast amazing.lovely bar people are so nice.speak to the locals all friendly have a laugh and enjoy yourself nice place to be for work or a break all staff in ferry inn made me feel welcome.They are all so lovely to speak to.So pack those dusty bags of and start your packing come and meet the people of stromness.thanks Brian from Glasgow

Very busy for midweek evening out of season. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff and good quality pub food. We ate at several “upmarket” establishments, but this was better quality and value.

Had high expectations, but the seafood trio was disappointing. The salmon had no taste and one of the two scallops, was chewy. The presentation could also be so much nicer. Other meat dishes looked better, but in Orkney, thought this muse be the dish to have. We also felt ignored and had to ask for service.

It's a pub, but smart inside. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Like all of the north of Scotland, vegetarian dishes are basic, not much imagination from the chef. However, our meals were served with a smile and we enjoyed the evening. If you would like something different ie not meat or fish, I would recommend letting the establishment know beforehand, don't forget that logistics are tricky this far north.

Eine urgemütliche Kneipe, wo sich die Einheimischen treffen. Die Speisekarte bietet etwas mehr als der Durchschnitt, z. B. auch Heilbutt in Pernod-Sauce. Die Vorspeisen sind besonders interessant. Wir waren sehr zufrieden.

Very busy restaurant, quick service, friendly staff, good variety and well cooked food, what’s not to like, well done everyone, enjoyable experience.

Eaten here quite a lot on diving trips over the years. Ate here a couple of times on a trip last week and the food was superb. Delicious, plentiful and beautifully presented. Great selection of malts too..

A very friendly and helpful pub and an excellent restaurant. Booking is necessary . Our second visit and it didn't disappoint. A good range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, many 'malts' The food was quickly severed for such a busy pub. The crab tart was very well presented, a good size slice and had a well-rounded taste. The Tempera Vegetables had a very light batter and were a good light starter. The creamy haddock dish certainly lived up to its name. The Whitefish curry was well spiced but not too hot. The rice was very well cooked, separate and the curry was srved with mango chutney, rhita and a papadum. We opted to have a side salad with these. The desserts, chia and coconut with mango and carrot and coconut bake were delicious and unlike a lot of desserts not too sweet A really good meal with a glass of wine and Brewdog beer priced around £85 per couple

Great pub atmosphere. The staff were helpful and pleasant and the food was beautifully cooked and presented and was very tasty. Wish I’d booked a room here instead of the Stromness hotel.

All servers and bar staff helpful and friendly. Good atmosphere. Food was great local produce well cooked and served. Obviously the beers were well kept and served with a smile, what more could you want?!

Sadly, we did not eat or stay at the Ferry Inn, but across our four days and three nights in Stromness we were regular visitors to their bar for drinks and conversation with the pleasant and knowledgeable barmen. My travel companion was guided through many whiskey tastings, which he quite enjoyed, and one barman gave us insider tips about side trips and local happenings giving the trip more depth for us than we might have gotten to from our own research. One such tip centered on a fairly new archaeological site, Ness of Brogdor. Our barman told us the site would be hosting an open day for tourists on our last full day in Orkney. What a great tip, because we found the spot easily, joined a tour group free of charge, and learned a ton about the excavation that had been happening since the site was discovered in Orkney nearly 20 years prior. What a find AND we had an incredible weather day to top it all off. Another tip from the same barman included guidance for a ferry ride from Stromness to Scrabster - about 90 minutes, which took us past simply breathtaking vantages of Hoy and other islands in the archipelago. We were thrilled with the tip and so happy we found the Ferry Inn and their warm, welcoming, and informative staff with local tips for us travelers. We’ll be back, hopefully for a stay and/or a meal.

This is the hotel restaurant for the Ferry Inn. The menu is heavily slanted to local food although there are some Indian options on the menu. You will definitely want to have reservations here, as is true with any of the limited options in Stromness. The dining room is comfortable and despite being small wasn't too loud. I had a really large (10oz) sirloin steak that was wonderfully prepared. My wife had the fish and chips which she found to be excellent. We also had dessert which was also quite good. The service was polite, attentive and quite prompt.

It was a get them in get them out sort of place. Food came quickly so presumably they have prepared a lot prior to sittings. Had the lobster plate the first night, it was ok for for £29 it was quite expensive. 2nd night had the lamb shoulder and it was overpowered by the mint sauce. Ok for pub grub but certainly not fine dining.

Super Service, tolles Ambiente und sehr gutes Essen, sowohl Fisch, Fleisch und auch Vegetarisch, alles exzellent zubereitet!

Been twice this week - first time great - second time disappointing. First time we had a bar meal which was very good - fish and chips and vegan roasted cauliflower -friendly service and chat. Second time -pre booked the restaurant (same menu as the bar) - not so friendly - 2 waiting staff who didn’t seem to know what or if we had ordered- I had the cauliflower again - very good but my husband ordered the ‘slow roasted lamb’. When it came it clearly hadn’t been slow roasted -in fact maybe not roasted at all as the fat had not rendered down in any way - disappointing- we mentioned it to the waiter but nothing came of it. Then decided to go to the bar for a drink rather than take up space at a restaurant table but couldn’t be served by the restaurant staff for some reason- although they were happy to add it to our bill ; we were then directed to a table in the bar - we sat down for a minute only to be told that we had to move as there might be someone coming for the table! We sat at the bar -it’s quite a busy thoroughfare- had a whiskey and decided to leave - the table we had been moved from was still empty! If the place is quiet we might go back -but we won’t be in a hurry.

My friends and I arrived today for a 10 day holiday. All 3 of us appreciated the food very much, and local beer was great. Staff where friendly and helpful. I can really recommend this. I am sure we will have an other meal here during our stay.

Great location in the historic town centre, just in front of the ferry terminal (… can you believe that??) but with an incredible availability of parking spots, including those dedicated to motorcycles. Nice and friendly staff coming from all over the World. Interesting menu, with a good variety of local and sustainable ingredients. Don’t forgot to book a table in advance! It is not a secret that there is important shortage of chief the cuisine in the whole UK, and Stromness is in fact in the UK. Anyway you should try the “affogato”

We ordered soup for two and haddock for two. Haddock arrived without receiving the soup. Quickly removed but we rapidly decided to accept the main course dishes and order dessert in place of the soup. Food was good but service poor. When we went to...

Stayed one night while in transit, wish I could have stayed longer. Owners and staff are helpful and accommodating. Very comfortable, clean and modern room. Resto and pub ate good, and the included breakfast is top notch. And you can't get any more convenient for...

We came on the evening ferry and were warmly greeted and had a lovely dinner, fish and chips and haggis stuffed chicken. All was delicious, and great service. We spent the night and enjoyed a lovely scottish breakfast too. Wonderfull little place with friendly hosts!

What a great place! Great food and drinks with wonderful service. Plenty of parking is right across the street. Explore the village after or before dinner. Neat place.

Needing somewhere to eat for the couple of nights we stayed on Orkney, we were more than pleased to find the Ferry Inn. Both evenings we were there it was very busy but staff were friendly and welcoming. Service was good. Food excellent. If on...

We were told to sit at the bar by a staff member who said he would just be a minute. Several customers who arrived after us were then served. 3 out of the 6 members of staff actually looked us in the eye and failed...

Fantastic, friendly service in a lovely setting. The food was delicious … in particular I’d recommend the white fish curry, it was just perfect.

Granny, parents and very young children head out for family meal. Doesn't look too fancy outside but great inside and staff so good. Very interesting original menu but still has something for everyone. Fish is super fresh and the chicken actually tastes of chicken. It...

Wonderful and welcoming restaurant in downtown Stromness. We had a delicious dinner here of the locally caught scallops. The staff and service was terrific and very welcoming. Please note that they do have gluten-free options.

Thank you Karen and team for everything you did for me, Gemma, Mark and all of Dad's family and friends when you provided a very fitting wake for Dad (Manchester Dave). You made our stay so welcoming and the catering and breakfasts were excellent! We'll...

Had just reopened after winter when we booked for dinner. Staff were good meal was great and place was very clean

Food was very good, we ate there 2 nights and enjoyed both times. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go back

Joined a group of new friends on a diving trip to scapa flow and decided to eat here, the food was very nice but when we decided to pay the bill we asked to split the bill so we could each pay for what we...

We ended up here almost by accident as it's the only place open on a Monday night in Stromness. So glad we did, the food was really good - definitely a cut above your average pub grub - The chef oviously takes pride in his/her...

A very popular place in Stomness and deservedly so. The food is excellent - the lobster linguine was devine. A shame it only serves food from 1700 onwards

Massively disappointed on arrival as I’d been led to believe that the Ferry Inn is dog-friendly and I had planned to eat dinner here most evenings during my eleven night stay elsewhere in Stromness. This, apparently, changed a few weeks ago and now NO DOGS...

Excellent. All staff professional and friendly. Good choice of evening meals, booking was advised , food served quickly even when restaurant was full. Hearty breakfast , meat supplied by local butchers and included black pudding and haggis. Room was spotless.

Nice pub atmosphere with great service. Get the fish and chips - best ever! Also nice rhubarb gin and ginger ale rounds out the meals

had a good meal in the restaurant (not staying there)- friendly staff and great selection of whiskey and gin

We stayed 3 nights and had dinner 1 night. The breakfasts and the dinner were all delicious. Staff very friendly. The room was very comfortable although it took ages for the shower to heat up in the morning. The restaurant is pretty much the only...

There isn't a lot of choice for eating out in Stromness but but don't underestimate the quality of food and service here. We booked for 6:30, rocked up at 5:30 hoping to get a drink beforehand and we were found a nice table and able...

Food is delicious! Local fish, crab, lobster, scallops, as well as Orkney lamb and some good vegi options too. We became fans of their Scapa IPA. Staff are friendly and welcoming and service is quick. Booking is essential, tho as it is very popular. We...

We have been here a number of times for drinks whilst staying in Stromness and once to eat. They appear to be the only realistic option to "dine in" at the moment within Stromness which would be very easy to let standards slip with no...

Great food, great beer, and great service all at a reasonable price. Make sure you book. Nothing bad to say. Excellent

Plan on making a reservation! You will not want to miss this! We had the Orkney Lamb which was fantastic!

We had dinner in this pretty pleasant pub plus restaurant. My girlfriend ate a good broccoli and courgette soup, followed by vegetable biriyani. I started with scallops and then had slow cooked lamb with mashed potatoes and butternut squash. It was all tasty and enjoyable....

Before we booked I telephoned to ask about fresh fish and they said they did fresh fish dishes (when available). I looked at the menu on line and it looked interesting. We ate there on Friday the 26th May. I has Orkney Scallops with apple...

We ere staying in a nearby B&B and asked the proprietor where to get a decent seafood dinner. We ate there for the 2 nights we were in town. Had the scallops and the Salmon the first night and it was perfect. Tonight we both...

A venue at Stromness harbour with an atmospheric ambience. Helpful staff, lovely meal in easy-comfort surroundings.

Their online booking system is great, easy to navigate and you reconfirm with them 24 hours before via a link. Stopped here for our last night in Orkney, received a friendly welcome which was lovely and the food arrived promptly. I chose deep fried local...

Associated with the Royal Hotel and owned by the same people. We ate 3 times in our 6 night stay in Stromness. Good menu, good food, well presented, supported with a good wine menu and a remarkable selection of local whiskies and gins. Service is...

Great pub, great food , great beer, great staff and atmosphere. Not to mention exceptional value . Menu is predominately fishy but I had the ribeye and it was fab. All those in our party who had fish said their meals were delicious.

What an amazing restaurant, pleasant and helpful staff, food of alacarte standard suitable for whole family, would recommend the specials, when we go back to the Orkneys this will be our first night meal and the last night.. Highly recommend a visit when in the...

The food here was amazing, will definitely come back. Smoked haddock with a Parmesan sauce was incredible. The seafood was really great.

Visited Stromness for few days. Went to Ferry Inn last minute. Staff squeezed us in as they were very busy. Never tasted fish and chips like It. Totally delicious. Lovely attentive staff as well

We had a nice pub meal here twice. The food was good, with some local elements including lobster and scallops. We were in the bar as it takes dogs - this was much appreciated although it made for very much a pub rather than a...

This is a pub which has some great food. It is pub food but it’s the top end of that as everything is cooked well and they know how to cook fish without it being tasteless and over cooked. Enjoyable after a long day walking....

We had a nice meal here while staying in stromness. Both of our meals were nicely cooked and tasty and the service was good. Four stars not five just because it is quite expensive, but what you get for your money is good

Not many places to choose from but this had good reviews. It was busy, but maybe because there was not that much choice! If you like fish & chips, then this is the place for you, but otherwise, it was not thrilling in terms of...

We enjoyed a nice meal here and would certainly go back if we were in the area again. We had booked a table which was fortunate as they were fully booked.

Booked in for dinner after our trip to Skara Brae. The staff were efficient and the food was very nice, battered haddock and a very ample burger. The staff were kind enough to substitute the Drambuie in my Affogato for brandy (sacrilege I know!). The...

After a sketchy start to eating in Orkney, I was delighted to see the Ferry Inn had a proper dish, and not the cheese salad I was offered at another establishment. We had stopped by a couple of nights previously. The bar is well stocked...

Mmmm it was disappointing. Looked forward to lobster but found it tough. Chips far too pale and slaw not too nice. Then there was the coconut and chia pudding! A weird pudding, indeed! And, it was expensive! I don’t mind paying if delighted with food...

We stayed at the Ferry Inn for 3 nights, and ate there each evening. The Room was comfy - not large, but then we were not expecting it to be so, and it suited us fine. Breakfast was fantastic. The best we had at any...

We had a family meal out in the early evening at the Ferry inn in Stromness (parents, 14yo and 11yo). It was a very pleasant evening and we all enjoyed our meals. Between us we had the scallops starter, soup of the day and trio...

During our visit to Orkney we decided to eat out at Ferry Inn for a second time. As was the case on our first visit both the meal and service were excellent. On this occasion, for starters we had 3 seafood chowder and one Thai...

The Ferry Inn was pretty much the only place that was open during the semi-lockdown last autumn, but that was actually a good thing, as it gave us the opportunity to eat here four or five times. It is a great place for supper, especially...

Straight off the boat and in for lunch. Well worth the stopover before heading to our holiday let. Staff were friendly and helpful and the food was tasty

Arrived for dinner and greeted by Freya. service was prompt and attentive. Seafood chowder for starters very tasty and good serving. Steak was very tasty and good size. If you are in Stromness, this is a great place to eat, good atmosphere well worth it

We popped into the Ferry Inn while on a tour of the Orkneys from our cruise ship. It was around 11am, so the place was completely empty. We tried some local Orcadian brewed beer, which was really good. Not bad for a bar in an...

The hotel & staff are coping well with the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. All staff wear masks and social distances are adhered to, with table spacing inside & outside seating/tables in small marquees. The food is very good, but it is essential to...

The food was excellent & staff was friendly. Great service. Definitely recommend based on our experience but definitely need to book.

The quality of the food is really good. Great variety of dishes and very well cooked. The staff is so nice!! Really thoughtful

Having previously eaten in multiple Michelin starred restaurants I can honestly say that the scallops I had for starter were the best I have ever eaten. The standard continued into the main course where the steak was absolutely exceptional (this is also a credit to...

There is an online booking system and we managed to get the last slot that suited our timescale even though it was quite last minute. My Husband had the chowder to start which he said had plenty fish in it and was very tasty. I...

Despite the current situation the food and the service were excellent. This is a must eat place in Stromness and well worth the visit

On a recent trip to Orkney we took the bus from Kirkwall to Stromness on a lovely sunny evening. After exploring the town we took up our booked table in the pub. Possibly because of Covid restrictions and the fact it was a Sunday night...

We had dinner here on our recent trip to Orkney, we had booked in advance and got a table inside in the restaurant area. Staff were welcoming and friendly and we were shown to our table without delay. It was quite busy but there was...

As lockdown travel restrictions eased we decided to make a long-weekend visit to help support the local economy in Orkney. The Ferry Inn was our only sit-in evening option in Stromness and it was great to have somewhere to mix with the very welcoming locals....

After 5 1/2 months of shielding my wife and I were in Stromness and saw that the Ferry Inn was open and stating that they had all the procedures in place to operate safely so we thought let’s give it a try ,From the minute we walked in to the time we left we felt totally safe and everything that could possibly be done was and the staff were trying really hard to make it an enjoyable evening , the COVID procedures didn’t in any way affect the standard of both food and service both of which were excellent and I would highly recommend a visit

Ci siamo stati due volte, in entrambe le occasioni restando molto soddisfatti. Ottimo l'haddock, il nasello, la zuppa di granchio. Molto buona anche la semplice insalata della casa e la zuppa del giorno. Prezzi ok, servizio rapido e cortese

Having accepted a booking and taken contact details this venue has decided to not participate in the government Eat out to help out scheme having been listed officially and accepted bookings.Only warning was a note in A4 on the door. No chance to book elsewhere. Very poor.

We had been here before, in October 2019 and enjoyed the food then. Came back again this year, wondering if it would be as good and yes it was ! Had scallops, then catch of the day, followed by ginger pudding - all delicious. Yes maybe a bit more expensive than some other pub grub - but I thought the food was worth it. Tables have to be booked in advance now, which we did, thank goodness, as the restaurant was full. All the customers were wearing masks when not at their tables and we felt quite safe and there was enough space between us. A very enjoyable evening and we will return!

Very quiet, not many locals in the pub. A few people eating meals, mainly visiting divers. Food is good but a bit expensive for pub grub.

On a mangé deux fois dans le Ferry Inn, des moules la première fois, très fraiches et très bonnes et le fish & chips la deuxième fois, le meilleur qu'on a goûté pendant notre séjour!Le personnel est très accueillant et souriant, on y retournera!

Lovely pub on the waterfront. Went in and ordered fish and chips, which I was amazed to find arrived at the table in about 5 minutes flat. Very hot crisp and tasty. Time of day was 6 oclock and pub was busy but clean and had a friendly atmosphere. There was tv but it wasn't turned up so loud that it spoiled my dinner. As far as I was concerned a great success all round. prices also reasonable.

I gave feedback to the staff in person quietly which was very well-received, despite a few quibbles about my meal. It’s a much fairer way to let an establishment know what was not to your liking. We ate most of what we were given, so turned down the offered discount. To me, how an establishment responds to constructive criticism is very important. The ingredients were all locally sourced and the menu varied enough for most tastes. The place is clean and bright and all the staff we encountered were pleasant.If you need a meal in a hurry going on or off the ferry at Stromness, the food and service is more than adequate.

Brilliant location for Ferry, only 200 yards or so. Room was great, comfortable, and clean. Staff helpful, and very accommodating. We ate at the Ferry Inn, and the meal was great. We didn't have breakfast as we were catching the 6.30am ferry, though we were offered a breakfast box.We had a little trouble with getting out of the hotel at 5.30am, as it's not manned 24hr I managed to work how to open the front door and lock it shut. Maybe some advise from the hotel would have been useful on this point

First visit since refurbishment. Friendly, good pub meal of fish and chips. Beer in great condition (draft Scapa Special). What’s not to love

Our group wanted to have a nice meal and selected the Ferry Inn. We're glad we did.Our server was personable and helpful. The menu was diverse with an emphasis, of course, on seafood. The atmosphere was chummy and pleasant. All in all we're glad we came.

On a day trip to the Orkney Islands it was a stop in Stromness for lunch, and the Ferry Inn was close to where our coach parked. It was very pleasant inside and service was very prompt they are obviously used to people on day trips coming in. The food came very quickly but was very tasty and we also had time for dessert, and it still gave us time to have a stroll around Stromness afterwards

This is a very late review, apologies! My Mum and I ate here in May 2019. The food always absolutely lovely - we both had the Monkfish curry. And the cheeses were amazing for dessert! Hope to be back!

We ate here twice. Once in the restaurant and once in the bar. Both times, the food was superb. The staff are fabulous, special mention to Ingrid, who was absolutely FANTASTIC. Gave us a local insight into places to see and extremely professional in her work. Would highly recommend, and, if you are lucky enough to get Ingrid, as your server, you are in for interesting facts and a good local laugh.

Pranzo ottimo a base di fish and chips, cheesecake salata e tris di pesce come antipasto, tutto davvero ottimo!

Went in here for lunch when on trip to Orkney was recommended by your guide.

Visited STromness on a very wet and windy day - the Ferry Inn was lovely and warm and very welcoming. We had a lovely lunch of fish soup. Children and dogs were welcome - just a nice place to be on a cold wet day.

What a lovely place for a meal. The atmosphere was great, service was fantastic, great range of beer and wines and incredible food! To start we had the local fried cheese followed by the fish and chips and the monkfish and prawn curry. Both absolutely fantastic meals. Do not miss this place when visiting Stromness!

Durante la nostra visita giornaliera abbiamo mangiato in questo locale attaccato al porto. Essendo cosi vicino al porto e chiudendo alle 15 è ideale per chi, come noi, in giornata ha visitato l'isola. Abbiamo consumato un tagliere di formaggi e pane scozzesi e la zuppa con il salmone. Tutto buono, chiaramente con sapore tipico di questo paese. Unica pecca la birra calda. Camerieri super.

The Ferry Inn is centrally located and unsurprisngly near the Graemsay ferry berth. The interior is a bit dark but there are tables and chairs outside. We chose the Ferry Inn after looking a menus elsewhere and enjoyed a very good meal. There is only limited parking right outside but there is plenty of parking elsewhere in Stromness.

Very friendly, excellent evening meal (steak was exceptional). We stayed 2 nights as part of the '500' to also include a day trip to Orkney.

Loved our two meals at the ferry inn - very good all round and warm and friendly service. We felt at home in this Inn and a perfect stop for catching the ferry back to Thurso (over the Road).

In vacanza qui vicino, veniamo la sera per prendere una birra e vedere l'ambiente. Molte persone all'interno, classico pub anglosassone. Il barista ci spiega le caratteristiche delle 4 birre prodotte sull'isola e noi le assaggeremo tutte, un paio alla volta. La sorpresa arriva quando le assaggiamo : sono spillate a mano, quindi a temperatura ambiente. Qui le gustano così. Non essendo abituati, la cosa lascia perplessi e, forse, qualche grado in meno esalterebbe il sapore, che comunque è buonissimo. Fanno anche ristorante, vi faremo sapere......

I have eaten here twice and the food was tasty and the fish very fresh. The bar is friendly and I didn’t feel awkward sitting alone. As with many places it can become overwhelmed with coach loads arriving but they seems to manage well.