Ghillies in Argyll & Bute

Booked an evening meal here and we’re a bit surprised at how basic and cafe like the restaurant is. However, the waiter was very friendly and helpful, menu choices covered every taste and the food was really good solid Scottish food. The steak pie was especially good.

We (a family of four) mainly decided to eat here because of the good variety of choices on their menu. Service was friendly and efficient. We didn't have a long wait between ordering and being served our food. All four of us had a different dish and each of us thoroughly enjoyed what was served.

Dined here 3 times during our stay on Bute. Great food and excellent service from the staff. One of us has food intolerances and this was well taken care of. Very reassuring. Hope to visit again soon.

Myself and a party of 9 in total came for lunch today at this establishment. The atmosphere of the room felt quite dull, echoey and the chairs rickety. Staff were polite however took quite a while to take orders and serve despite for most of our visit having only one to two other tables of people, neither particularly large. Throughout the meal the room was echoey and loud, unsuitable as multiple of our party including myself are neurodivergent and or have sensory issues. Starters were well presented and tasted okay overall however one or two of the mains were badly presented and the quality of wasn’t great. By the end, two of our party were very overstimulated and I physically had to leave the establishment for air as it was too loud. Overall, the staff were lovely but slow to serve, the food was mostly okay but nothing to sing about however the environment itself was harsh and unsuitable for SEN people.

Warm friendly welcome from Fay, Redtraunt busy, but she seemed unfazed despite being on her own. Helped usgreatly with her knowledge of the menu. Lots of good chat, good balance between chatty but not overly so, o real skill in the hospitality industry. Great food, well presented, not that expensive.2 happy customers.

Really good food and excellent service. Staff bent over backwards to be helpful and assisted in making a 60th Birthday very special for all involved. We will be back!

Me and the wife came here for dinner. The restaurant was lovely and the staff were very pleasant and polite. The food was delicious as well. We had the scallops with chorizo and black pudding and Cullen skink to start. Then we had chicken gujongs and chilli con carne. The bar had a good selection of drinks too. We didn't have to wait long on our food which was nice.

Great lunch here today. Portions are a good size and the food was piping hot. Very clean and comfortable. The lad on duty was very friendly, a real asset to the place.

Had an early dinner and was met by John, who was welcoming friendly and helpful. I ordered the Cullen Skink which came with a warm bread roll and was excellent. I took a risk on the second dish ordering haddock pakora for the first time and it was delicious. I’ll definitely be back.

We visited Ghillies on a day trip to Bute with friends. The Fish and Chips we ordered were excellent. The Gentleman behind the bar was polite and friendly. Would definitely recommend Ghillies.

Had Lunch today with family friendly service and excellent food 5 different dishes and everyone enjoyed their meals and excellent value….will definitely be back

There is not a huge choice of eateries in Rothesay as so many places are closed, even though we visited in the height of summer. Finding Ghillies open and right on the front we went in as it looked pleasant from the outside. There were several people eating there but only two staff, one of whom was being trained so service was slow but we didn’t think we were rushed for time. I ordered chicken and my husband ordered Mac and cheese. After about 30 minutes the member of staff in charge came and said they had no chicken (the problems of island living and the non arrival of a delivery)! I had to reorder which entailed waiting at least another 30 minutes for the food to arrive. By this time we need to order another drink which took some time to arrive. No apologies for the unbelievably slow service or offer of a drink to compensate waiting over an hour for the food . The food, when it arrived, was passable. Won’t be returning in a hurry.

Visited Rothesay for first time today. Ghillies looked like a lovely wee bistro. Took family in for lunch. Don’t get me wrong, the food was lovely & couldn’t fault it. But having to wait over an hour for it, with no apology, was a bit much. When I asked how much longer we would have to wait, the girl said she would check & went into the kitchen, came out & went directly to the bar & carried on working, without coming back to advise me. When food eventually arrived we were missing a side order of fries, so had to wait further on them, again with no apology. Nice food, but poor service!

Had a family meal here today when visiting Bute for the day. Such a lovely spot, great menu and amazing service. I think the waitress was called Sally, she went out her way for everyone and provided 5 star service. Really happy with our visit today and we loved the food, thank you!

Came in and had to wait 1 hour to be served to be told we never ordered a starter and they're understaffed. Avoid at all costs. Useless

Great service, lovely chat with Denise, scallops highly recommended. All in a very good dining experience. Thank you.

We ate here recently, as a family of five who live and work on the island. Sadly the reception we received was anything but welcoming. the waitress was abrupt and frankly close to being rude! The food over cooked and therefore dry. Fortunately we were there to celebrate an occasion and we did that in spite of the service & the food.

had a meal upstairs same menu , good size portions and great food , some italian beer as well , good value for money

we stopped off for afternoon drinks during our stay, the gentleman behind the bar was friendly and remembered the drinks order. the first night we ate in their shared hotel above , however the second night we ate downstairs in Ghilles. we Both went for the Sunday dinner , the meat and veg were perfect and adequate portion sizes, it was much quieter on the Sunday night on Bute. The only thing i would say is if allowed have some quiet background music so as everyone's doesn't hear others conversations. we would certainly go back for food and drinks in the future

We enjoyed our meal in a pleasant atmosphere. Limited menu but for these strange times it was fine. House wine was good. The red wine jus was a bit to much bisto but it was tasty.

Not the most comfortable dining experience exacerbated by covid its all a bit odd. Service was efficient without being personable but the food itself was very good. Loved the scallops, chorizo and black pudding. Great combo

Had a great meal of scallops, black pudding and chorizo really beautifully cooked and friendly efficient service. All 3 of us felt safe and well cared for. Many thanks

Gorgeous meal, prawn cocktail, scallops, charioz and black pudding followed by strawberries and cream.

Booked dinner as Ghillie's had just reopened. They are taking part in Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Scallops & Prawn cocktail for starters. Lamb shank, steak pie and breaded haddock for mains. Apple pie and sticky toffee pudding with coffees. All beautifully cooked and served. £40 off bill very good too. Do eat out here every day. Always good value.

Missed the ferry - waiting for the next one- read good things- £9,40 for a pint of San Migeuel and a white wine!

HiGhillies is good value and ideally placed opposite the Discovery Centre. We often go for an early dinner with friends before going to the fabulous cinema (100 seats or so). Extensive menu with chef’s specials and a good range of drinks. Prefer the downstairs bistro to the more formal upstairs room - same menu in each.

We came as Harry Hawes was full, but were pleasantly surprised. Smallish eating area, and not the comfiest of seats/tables. Friendly service, and speed of food were positives

My partner and I booked a table here nfor 8.15pm. We waited and hour and 5 minutes for our starters. My partner had the mussels in white wine sauce. 60% of them were shrivelled. They had obviously sat too long before being served! The waitress was very apologetic throughout our wait for food. I don't think we'd go back.

Second time at this modern, very clean wee bistro. Starters of haggis bon bons and fish pakora were fabulous. Hubby had the fish platter which was huge and extremely tasty. I had chicken and chorizo pasta in an amazing sauce, absolutely delicious. Staff were very efficient and friendly. A nice relaxed atmosphere in the place. Can be busy, so book in advance.

Bute is not one of the culinary centres of the World. Ghillies is possibly among the better of the places in Rothesay, bur it's a long way from being somewhere you'd go out of your way for.By 8.30 we were the only people in there, and the atmosphere was, lets just, subdued.Menu? Well, think Pub.

I visited this Bistro with my family during a recent visit to Rothesay. The service was good and the food was nice but a little over priced for what it was compared to other restaurants in the town I had a traditional Scottish meal of mince and tatties with peas which was enjoyable without being exceptional. The young lady serving the bar and food was very efficient and helpful. Our experience was good but there is most definitely room for improvement.

Travelling to Bute for the first time for a weekend event, I was keen to try some Scottish seafood, since we were so close to the water. Ghillies Bistro was a popular lunch spot for many of us there for the event - for its handy location and good prices first of all, but also we were impressed with the food enough that we ate there repeatedly, despite plenty of other options nearby. I had two lunch meals there with different groups of friends, and really enjoyed both of my meals (scallops with black pudding and chorizo one day, cullen skink with a starter scallops dish another). Both were excellent. The friends I ate with all really enjoyed their meals too, ranging from haddock with salad to fish n chips to burgers to other dishes. The only down spot was one seafood-loving friend being underwhelmed by his langoustines (a special). Otherwise we were all very satisfied. I'll definitely eat here again the next time I'm in Bute.

My seven year old daughter and I have just had a lovely 4 day break on Bute. Ghillie’s is a favourite place to eat. The quality of the food, portions, service, friendliness of staff and great value all add to a really nice experience. We had breakfast here everyday during our stay. My favourite was a beautifully cooked full Scottish and my daughter loved the French Toast and maple syrup. Give it a try next time your in Rothesay.

Last minute booking for 5, Sunday eve. Surf and turf, sirloin and prawns in batter with chips, salad, coleslaw & extra onion rings. A large 6oz excellently cooked medium rare steak, unfortunately let down by over enthusiastic application of black pepper on both sides. Nice battered prawns in crisp batter. Ok chips. Nice creamy coleslaw. Generous portion of onion rings. 8/10.Approx 6 dessert choice. Nice choice of ice creams, within the ice cream category.Pleasant & friendly service.Posh café atmosphere, it is a Bistro by name. Main course & dessert & 1 round of drinks £64 for 2 persons. Everybody was quite happy with their food. Would we go back? Definitely! Would we Rush back? No.

Having had a somewhat bizarre experience at Victoria’s, we decided to give the menu another chance by dining at Ghillie’s, the downstairs bar with menu. It had been recommended for seafood, so I was surprised to see no seafood among the specials. We both opted for scampi and chips, which were done well enough. Even without the harbor view, I liked it better than Victoria’s for its nicer decor, Rev James real ale, and friendly server. The street scene visible through the big windows was entertaining enough.

Had a very good lunch today Cullen Slink to start, it was very creamy and full of delicious smoked haddock. Main course I had the trio of fish platter which was excellent and very big and served with three dips,salad and a basket of handcut chips. It is recommended that you reserve a table at the weekend.Good service from a wee waitress, and the toilets were spotless, which is always a Good sign

Good location, great views, friendly staff, generous portions of tasty food. Slightly odd to get Mediterranean veg with a curry, but the curry was very good, so no complaints!

In the heart of the town overlooking the Winter Gardens. A warm and friendly welcome on arrival, a great menu to choose from. Meal portions are large, food hot.

Went here for dinner on Saturday of the Easter weekend. Its fair to say all the restaurants were busy in Rothesay. We were greetex as we entered by the young woman also running the bar. Too our surprise she then took our drinks and food order while clearing other tables. She managed the full downstairs area admirable while still being pleasant. Whoever owns this restaurant ought to give her a payrise and get her assistance. There arent many people who would put up with that.

Ghillies Bistro provided my friend and I a nearby place to eat dinner on his first visit to Rothesay.He was so enamoured by the island he said he wants to move there!

Was over on the island for work, ate in here once, it was small, big couches took up room that could have provided 4+ more covers, good menu and a wide choice, from snacks to big meals.food was presented really well on the plate, and it was tasty. Staff were very good and attentive. For me, the tables and chairs were wrong, just that little bit more thought and this would be a must eat place on the island.

Went here on recommendation for our last meal on the island and wasn’t disappointed with the food, lovely bar and food area, clean and looked after, food and drink order taken quite quickly after we had decided but the food took a while to come but it was worth the wait we will be back on our next visit in February

Lasagne was lovely, good portion size, wish I ordered garlic bread to go with it, small portions of chips came with

Did not go into the bistro below but did go upstairs in Ghillies. The food was fabulous and tasty. Portions are large. Service second to none Nd a lovely air about the place. Price's are reasonable. 9.95 for steak pie, same for fish. A good choice on the menu.

Good basic food, quickly served in a pleasant ground floor bistro/bar overlooking Rothesay Bay. Smallish place, with about 20 covers. A small but adequate menu.

Wir waren aufgrund einer Empfehlung unsere B&B; Gastgeberin im Bistro. Uns hatten Gäste vor Ort "Fish Platter" empfohlen. Wir waren begeistert. Auch die Scallops mit Black Pudding und Apfel-Chili Sauce waren hervorragend.

We came in here for a quick drink on a Saturday afternoon. I had a G&T; and my partner had a wine spritzer. The place wasn't overly busy, but the barman wasn't terribly engaging and although there was a decent choice of gins on offer, the choice of tonics extended to regular or slimline. Not terribly cheap either, given the wide range of cheaper, friendlier alternative bars in the area.

Beautiful cakes all made on premises lovely friendly kind young man served us highly recommend this place it’s well worth a visit and make sure you have a cake 🍰

Nice place on the front. Good food and real ale which was good There was four of us for a meal and everyone enjoyed their food and drink.

A cool summer day was enhanced by two bowls of great soup and a sandwich combo, We had taken the ferry from Wemyss Bay for fun and stopped here for lunch. Great service and delicious food.

Popped in for lunch in our sand covered boots, the sea food platter was delicious and reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend.

This was the only restaurant we found open on a Tuesday night. Specials menu was a bit brief and the main menu a little dated. We were told seafood a specialty but had to settle for deep fried haddock and prawns. My wife had the scallops but she found them more queenie than kingy. The meal was enjoyable and the barman/waiter was very polite, he was of Scottish /Italian decent and was very talkative and polite. He explained that the town is very quiet Sunday to Thursday and you would find it difficult to get dinner after 8.30.we enjoyed it and the staff were Great. Thank you

Booked to eat here with 30 minutes notice and they were very accommodating of us on a busy night. We agreed to be finished before a large booking came in and we were served in plenty of time to not feel rushed. I had the fish platter, which was my best meal all week, and it was massive and very well cooked. Kids fish and chips was very substantial for the price. Tables are tight but we didn’t feel over crowded even when all tables were occupied. Worth the visit for the fish platter alone!!!

We had a fantastic meal and service was great. We were a family of three adults and two children. All our food was lovely but of particular note was the fish platter which served both my husband and our daughter and the children’s fish and chips which was almost the size of an adult portion but which was quickly eaten and much enjoyed!

Visited twice in two days, it was that good!

There were five in my party. We all had various meals from the very extensive menu. The service was fast and efficient, every meal was lovely, well cooked and the portions generous. I can recommend the fish platter.

We ate at Ghillies twice and enjoyed both our meals and our ale. The service was attentive. On our second visit, our waiter recalled exactly what we had ordered previously. The highlight of each visit was the appetizer: Dukah - Secret Ground Spices, Rustic Bread, Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar. Everything was good, but the spice combination in the Dukakis was exceptional.

A pity that the baked potato I ordered as the only gluten free option available was one of the blandest I'd ever tasted and appeared to have been microwaved, not baked. A beautiful setting, but the food needs work and the service could use some improvement. I will not be returning...

Looking for a place to eat in Rothesay on a busy Saturday night, we wandered into Ghillies..and I'm very glad we did. The restaurant was clean and the atmosphere very relaxed which I liked. Drinks and food ordered and both were great.

Six hour drive to Bute, famished, looking for some Sunday lunch. Great roast beef dinner although the roast potatoes were a little hard but okay and the apple pie and ice cream for dessert was to die for.

This is a lovely restaurant with high-quality food and friendly, hardworking staff- who always seemed to be kept busy at all times. We visited several times during our stay and always felt welcome. There is a large range of food to choose from, including lots of fish dishes, burgers, steaks, pasta and light bites such as paninis. This was the only cocktail place we could find in Rothesay also and the cocktails were great- a range of classics and creative ones available. We especially liked the peppercorn sauce- which came as a large jugful.

This bistro uses the Victoria Hotel kitchens so brilliant food in a bistro setting. The price is keaner also. Has its own salad dressing which is sweet. Been there twice over the weekend.

Really nice place, we were a large number plus a baby who came for breakfast. The waiter put some tables together for us all, was really friendly and promptly took our order. Myself and my partner had the Scottish breakfast with toast. It was delicious!...

Been to Rothesay many times,first time we tried Gillies Bistro,have to say it was more than expected.food was beautiful,and very well priced,will return here next time we holiday in Rothesay.

good friendly service in a nice atmosphere, nice view from the large windows, clean toilets. Wire chairs aren't the most comfortable and it can be a bit chilly. Used to be the best battered haddock in town but not so now... different recipe?

Staying in the Victoria hotel for a night so decided to try the bar downstairs rather than the main restaurant. Not disappointed, nice comfortable and modern feel to the place. For starters my wife had the tomato soup which was really good and I had...

This was my first visit to Ghillies Bistro where my friend had recommended for lunch. The staff were friendly and welcoming. I was pleased to see an extensive menu with plenty of choice especially for vegetarians. My friend opted for the veggie burger which looked...

From the external appearance of many places, we where struggling to establish if there was a decent eating place in the area— a local business woman obliged— Ghillies or Victorias she recommended With enthusiasm and without hesitation! We checked it out! Meanwhile Harry Haws was...

Had a really nice lunch at Ghillies. Can highly recommend the sizzling Tandoori chicken with sweet potato chips.

Walked in on Saturday night about 8pm. Bute was dead so most of the restaurants and pubs seemed delighted with...

Good Food and service is always guaranteed.The barman/waiter provides first class service and has excellent knowledge of the food and...

Stopped in for a drink and a light snack. Ideal. Good menu choice and reasonably priced. Pleasant service.

Had an awful experience in the Ghillies restaurant , the food took over an hour to come out when it...

A great venue for a drink or a meal. Great service and staff and a lovely meal in a nicely...

Food was great - we both had variety of fish which was fresh and beautifully cooked. Wonderful caramel shortcake as well.

Have been twice recently and enjoyed both occasions. Great food and always a happy service.Food is Fairly priced, I advise you try there " Strawberry And Rhubarb cider " it was very refreshing.Will be coming here for my birthday next month. Can't wait.

Food perfect. Delicious and well cooked. Service friendly and efficient. Couldn't fault the whole experience. Good value for money. Ambience could be better though.

Lovely place for Coffee and a bun scone came with a pot of cream and a pot of jam, lovely Fruit slice so full of fruit I couldn't eat for hours free papers and comfortable sofas,

Having visited a friend's holiday house in Kilchattan Bay several times this year, we usually ate in the Kingarth hotel for convenience. However, on our most recent visit in July we decided to head into Rothesay to see what we could find. We opted for Ghillies as it was onThe sea front and looked very nice from the outside. Having had a look at the menu we decided to give it a try. All I can say is that after the first visit we ate here on two more occasions over the next few days. The menu was extensive, beautifully cooked, very tasty, well presented, large portions all representing outstanding value for money. Staff were all utterly delightful. We had invited some family members to join us for the day during the holiday and we took them to Ghillies for lunch. They were equally impressed. Given the number of overtly 'tourist' establishments in Rothesay, some of which have seen better days, this was a most welcome find along the sea front. It is decorated simply but stylishly and we loved it.

Ghillies serves excellant meals at sensible prices,with a good choice,friendly service friendly staff,dont forget to try the cocktails

Were able to accommodate our group of 12 with no problem. Staff were very helpful and friendly, food tasty and fresh and view from first floor was excellent. Would def be back

Excellent little bar and grill. Friendly staff and decent food. Comfortable sofas and a great view over Rothesay Bay. Spot on.

Went for lunch again to Ghillies for lunch with a friend have to say was a bit disappointed with our food on this occasion we only had TOASTIE'S but Chef still managed to burn it was not the best!! We did inform our waiter that our food was not great but he did not seem that interested. Oh well time for us to try somewhere else!!

Had dinner in here our first night in Rothesay. We didn't have a reservation but managed to get a table.The food was nice, big portions. Both food and drink were reasonably price. Good service.

8 of us ate there as it was one of our friends 70th birthday we were there just for lunch recently and the food and service was excellent especially the Haddock

Enjoyed a pleasant meal here after a long days work. All of the dishes we ordered were of a good standard and the service was good. Not totally sure the combination of restaurant tables and a few sofas really worked, but good nevertheless. Apparently popular with the locals.

On overnight business visit to Bute and stopped into Ghillies for a bite to eat. Opted for the beef pie with mash which was just the ticket. Plenty of tender meat with puff pastry, creamy mash potatoes and peas.

Had lunch here one day and just coffee the next but both very good. It has a nice, contemporary decor, good service and tasty food. I had a delicious cheese omelette. Nice place to meet up with friends and chat over lunch and a drink on the cosy sofas. Well situated overlooking the bay.

We were staying in the Victoria Hotel, just above Ghillies and decided to try it out. The views from the window onto the promenade are great. We both ordered a starter and main course. You get a big portion of food and we were both absolutely full by the end. Prices are reasonable, food was excellent quality. Would recommend to anyone looking for somewhere to eat in Rothesay.

Arrived in Rothesay late afternoon on a wet and miserable Monday. That evening we decided to order a take away from another establishment. (Posted negative on Trip Advisor). Next day we strolled along the front and at street level of the Victoria Hotel we saw the big comfy brown leather settees inside Ghillies Bar/Restaurant. Gave it a try. Friendly welcome from the waiting staff. Ordered a drink from the wide selection of beers (including local Bute Brews) and spirits/cocktails. Also teas and coffees. The snack and main meal menu was realty good with some specialities. We loved "Duklah" ?. A starter dish with a brown and a white small crusty roll, A small dish of balsamic vinegar/ olive oil mix and a small dish with "secret" spices. Really tasty. main courses of Scallops and black pudding with prawns and a small side salad. Pakora battered fish with spicy wedges. A vegetarian option of chic pea and cauliflower tagine. How's that for something different. We were hooked ! No other place in Rothesay tempted us enough to eat any where else the rest of the week. We ate upstairs in the restaurant of the Victoria Hotel one evening which offers the same menu but a bit more formal. Sitting in the window on those comfy settees and the piping hot quality food really made a great end to our days sightseeing..

Called in for a coffee and scone on a Sunday lunchtime for two. Really nice space and well presented.Unfortunately the cream that came with the scones was off. This was replaced for us, but we had to ask for a new scone to replace the one we had started eating.We would go back again on another visit as we have heard good things about the hotel from friends. We had tried to visit for dinner the evening before but the place was full so booking would be recommended. Even at lunchtime it was busy and filled up fast.

Both the food and service were very good. We visited on Friday evening without a reservation and they were able to seat us

After struggling to find somewhere for a light lunch we found this place opposite the pier. The extensive menu covered all the lunch basics as well as seafood and pasta. We enjoyed a very well filled panini and cajun fries as well as a slightly odd but very drinkable rhubarb & strawberry cider. The room was a bit soul-less but it was fine for lunch.

I liked this restaurant. It was recommended by the B&B landlady. I particularly liked my starter which was basically bread, a dip and a small bowl of seasoning. I know it doesn't sound that appetising but the 'secret recipe' seasoning blended well with the sweetness of the the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip to create a wonderful fusion of taste. My main was a mixed grill that consisted of meat, chips and peas ( nothing fancy here) and dessert was sticky toffee pudding. Simple food cooked reasonably well.

I enjoyed our meal here. It was ell presented and served by a very pleasant waiter. The menu was quite extensive and offered 3 courses if desired.

Good food-very pleasant and helpful staff who also suggested places to visit. Very reasonable pricing. Shall go back

Visited by accident and did not regret it.Went for four starters between 2, and no mains.The Goat cheese cake is to kill for.Service was prompt, polite and efficient.Would return again.

Popped in for a quick bite and a large drink after a successful (but only just!!!) mooring at the pontoons. Great food, we had kids meals for the boys and we shared a selection of starters - haggis bonbons are awesome. Great service and good wine. We will be back, hopefully for an evening meal soon.

We booked a table tonight for Ghillies restaurant, we arrived 15 mins early but were seated in a lounge area to peruse the menu while we sipped our drinks, all very nice, relaxed and old fashioned. We were shown to our table, overlooking the Cowell Peninsula and the Winter Gardens, magnificent. The meals, when they arrived were first class, the service, by a blonde local lady, unobtrusive but attentive. Highly recommended.

Popped in Ghillies, right on the waterfront, for a cup of tea and a scone on a recent rainy Saturday afternoon.Clean, low-key bistro with a mix of sofa and table-and-chair seating. Good place to regroup between tourist attractions in Rothesay.