Martyrs Bay Restaurant and Bar in Argyll & Bute

Located just by the ferry this is a great cafe. I recommend the Cullen Skink ( smoked haddock soup), really good. Friendly service too and good value.

We took the ferry here, and stopped in for lunch; it's cafeteria style. There is quite a choice of hot meals; I had soup, and cheese scone (the freshest, best cheese scone of the whole of our 2 week tour of Scotland!). It was a beautiful warm sunny day, with no wind, so we sat outside at the picnic tables beside the sea; magical! Thoroughly recommended!

The restaurant only serves Mussels or Fish and Chips in the early evening. The mussels were excellent but the fish and chips was very disappointing, it cost £16.95, the piece of fish was very small and definitely not value for money!

Dropped by for a cool drink awaiting the Ferry as a foot passenger. Staff friendly and had a decent selection of Beers/Cider . Enjoyed a Cider the prices were very competitive.

Came here during our 3 island tour. Ordered the mussels and they were really yummy. Served with bread and butter. They had outdoor seating which was nice on this sunny day. Very pleasant.

We stayed on Iona and this bar is where the locals go in the evening Better value than the hotel bars Friendly Open until 2100 and later some nights

Ok, so the food was ok at lunchtime, though nothing spectacular. The woman who served us in the restaurant was lovely and very polite and helpful - I would give her five stars. Later in the day, we went back for a couple of drinks. The restaurant was shut but the bar was open, so I nipped in to grab a couple of cans to take down to the beach with our picnic. The server was friendly enough but he was talking to a man at the bar who was smoking a roll-up cigarette. Now, sorry, but it's 2024, not 1974. Smoking isn't allowed in bars, so why on earth didn't the barman tell him to put it out or go outside? Thankfully I wasn't planning on sitting in but, come on Martyr's Bay, that's a pretty poor image to present.

First of all if you want food in iona - your options are limited to this bar or one of the two hotels. We chose the bar as we stayed in the rooms opposite. ( which I highly recommend:) ) Sadly they stop orders at 1900 and meals are a limited selection with no menu and only a set few to offer that day . In our case - Fish and chips Mussels Scampi Vegan nuggets No childrens menu available The Barman Ross took our order dourly and made us feel rather unwelcome:( sadly. He seemed much more keen to shut at 1900 promptly. As our party was split between the campsite and the rooms we ordered quickly as it was 1800. Two of our party sat in the dining room. Food was fast 1810 but … our party wasn’t complete. We asked them to wait which they did with good grace and when our party was complete, the two girls Siobhan and Tracy served us our meals cheerfully and politely. Our food was tasty and hot. Fish was tasty and the scampi was crisp and flavorful. Chips were served as sides between two people, rather than with the mains. There was more than enough to go around :) During the time that we waited for our meal, Ross was observed putting the umbrellas down on the outside tables whilst guests were sitting there. I don’t expect that made them feel welcome either.. maybe he was having a really bad day?? All being said, the food is tasty but rather expensive for what you get.

Ridiculous price for food. No price list - wonder whether the locals get a different price! Frozen fish, frozen scampi, frozen chips. The only thing fresh were the mussels. Service awful even though it was almost empty.

So you are on Iona and order Haddock and what do you get frozen fish ? dont waste you money the food here is even below cafe standards, and £48 for 2 ?

Our group from the ship descended on this place and they were excellent. Good hot food and fresh sandwiches. Nice bar too.

The building is nothing special and the restaurant is more of a cafeteria than a restaurant. There are spectacular views from the bar and the terrace. Despite being the only pub on Iona the bar closes at 7pm, even on the weekends so if you want to enjoy the views with a drink you will need to get in early. Quite a few thirsty potential customers who arrived around 7 were turned away while we were there .

We popped in here for lunch after a boat trip to Staffa. Lovely friendly staff. We had a mackerel salad and a prawn salad, tea and cake. All very nice, with a view!

Coffee was great as were the tray bakes. Well worth a visit. There is a choice of sitting in or out. Views are great.

Had amazing fish and chips, home made soup and home baking. Its a little pricy but worth every penny I enjoyed it so much the first day I came back the 2nd. The cafe closes early but you can get fish n chips in bar until 6.30 I think, double check with staff. Staff super friendly and helpful barman let me leave a bag to collect after my walk as was heavy rain. The cakes were superb. Lots of choice for vegetarians too.

2 x cheese an onion sandwiches 1 x bowl of homemade soup 2 x beers = £26.90 The food was average, I could have made a better soup and sandwich myself (and really wish I had now). Staff were rude, we sat down at a table outside and just as we started eating a member of staff was clearing tables. As he walked past our table he tutted, sighed, looked directly at us and said grumpily “I’ll just pick this up then SHALL I?!” About a butter packet that had been blown to the ground. I looked into the rubbish bag on our table and could see ours there, so accusing us of littering and being THAT rude about it sealed the deal. I mean, £26.90 for the above. £26.90!! It’s a lovely little island, and I so wanted to support the local businesses on the island, but I mean, really, £26.90?!?!?!?!?!

Excellent counter service and friendly/informative bartender. The fish pie was very good and the chowder was tasty. The "kids" behind the counter were awesome. Great personalities. You can not beat the view sitting outside.

When it comes to a bar with a view there is nowhere - and I mean NOWHERE - to compare. When the weather is kind (as it was last week) you can sit outside at the water's edge and when it's not so kind, the bar has panoramic windows that allow you to gaze across the Sound of Iona. Sightings of dolphins and seals are commonplace. A steady flow of visitors wishing to enjoy a drink before catching the ferry back to Ffionnphort mixes with a few local folk to create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere. The choice of beer on tap is good and the selection of whisky is impressive. We've been many times before but this visit is tinged with real sadness as, by the time this review was submitted, the bar has closed - possibly for good. We really hope the family and islanders will find a solution and that this iconic little bar will be able to be enjoyed by visitors to Iona for many years to come.

Had the fresh mussels that never made it to the mainland. Harvested same day and were fresh and tender as could be. Ate outside with a view of the islands and ocean. Don't go right away when a ferry or a boat docks as the line can be long and tough to find sitting. If you wait 30 minutes and explore the Island, It will work well for you

This restaurant is right at the end of the ferry slipway so was very busy on both occasions we visited. There are gluten free snacks and cakes but these are pre packed and not home made. The views from the windows are beautiful. The restaurant is clean and pleasant and staff friendly and welcoming.

We were on a tour and after climbing Dun, we had a bit of time before the ferry headed back to Mull. We stopped in and shared an order of mussels (caught fresh that day) and a draft beer that was delicious. We are looking forward to returning and getting multiple orders of mussels!

It is a fairly large restaurant with a bar, that is situated next to the ferry jetty on Iona. On a sunny day is offers a lovely view onto the Isle of Mull opposite. Having seen all that was there to see on Iona we went there for a late lunch and ordered deliciously fresh mussels with some wine. What a perfect way to end the day!

We were on Iona recently after being dropped off by Staffa Tours for an hour. The weather was horrendous with heavy rain and wind so we were looking forward to refreshments in this establishment.We have three medium sized, well behaved, dogs and we were not allowed inside the door. Our solution was to go to the pub next door but, again, told they do not allow dogs.Luckily, the gift shop opposite was extremely dog friendly so managed to shelter from the rain for a few minutes.Our only other place of shelter was the National Trust of Scotland’s cabin near the harbour.We travel everywhere with our dogs and 95% of pubs and cafes allow them in. It was a bitter disappointment to turned away from Martyrs Bar.If you are going to Iona with your dog 5he advice is to take a picnic as the local establishment do not want your money.

We were on a short trip to Iona with 3 hours ashore. So we decided to have a quick lunch in the Martyrs Bay cafe. It is to the left of the ferry jetty and quickly fills up. We found lots of seating in the far dining area, and had a great view over the sea. The meals are self service, with hot meals served by very friendly ladies. I was mistakenly overcharged, without me even realising. The lady came all round the restaurant to find me, to apologise and return my money. Really honest.The snacks were hot and cold options and were fine for us. Others had the recommended mussels and they seemed very happy. We went back for cups of tea before catching the ferry, and sat out on the picnic benches. Nice place, and honest people.

During a tour of the the Inner Hebrides we went here for lunch. The place is sectioned into a cafe type restaurant area, a lounge area and a bar all with fantastic views of the bay. We ordered at the restaurant and ate our meals in the bar with drinks. The place has a great atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff and the food was great. I would definitely return should I do the tour again.

An inspiring restaurant, with sensational views from Iona The food was ok, but seemed a little tired.

We have visited Iona a number of times. The two hotels are both good, but for us the Martyr's Bay restaurant offers excellent service, excellent food, and as stated above, quite amazing views. Watch the sunset light up the port village of Fionnphort across the water. Dream of maybe taking the boat to Staffa and Fingal's Cave the next day. Wonderful.

Thank you to John and all members of staff we came here during our stay in Iona. It's a great place and my husband loved the Guinness in particular. I particularly enjoyed the Iona whisky. Thanks again we hope to return soon. Meg and Drew

Love this canteen-style restaurant with a variety of well-known British foods. But very special is the generous plate of local mussels cooked in garlic and white wine and served with chunks of French loaf. And the outlook across the Sound of Mull is Heavenly, whatever the weather. Service is efficient and friendly.

Lovely meal with my mum and my aunties. Food was great and service was excellent. The bonus is definitely the view.

From the outside and on entering this place feels like a boisterous sports or working men’s club bar. But first impressions can be deceiving: the food is excellent and, if you get the right table, comes with a sea view too. I’d cycled all day from Oban to reach Iona and, boy, the steak tasted good. Quick service too despite being very busy. Booking pretty much essential in high season if only a few hours in advance like we did.

Ate here after touring the nunnery. They were out of muscles so we had to get sandwiches. The food was fine and we were hungry! The staff was friendly

It may look simple, but the mussels we had here were the freshest I've ever had. It is conveniently close to the ferry. Strongly recommend it.

Nach der Besichtigung des Klosters Columban begann es plötzlich zu regnen. Da waren wir froh, im nahegelegenen Martyr's Bay Restaurant einen feinen Kaffee und warme Scones geniessen zu können. Das Lokal liegt wunderschön am Wasser. Bei diesem Wetter leider eine schlechte Option.

Good range of hot food and drinks. Friendly staff and a fantastic position right on the beach and next to the pier. Highly recommended.

An obvious lunch spot for the day-trippers as many on tours arrive at 2 or 3 o'clock. Big dining room(s) and friendly staff with a wide variety of sensible, if uninspiring, food options. Great views, particularly if seated outside, sadly not possible on the wind and rain-swept day we visited.

As we waited for the ferry we went in for a couple bowls of soup....very good and fit our needs. There was a nice selection of pastries and scones. Others said they enjoyed some mussels.

Siamo stati nel lounge bar, un ottimo te e un dolce prima del ritorno a Mull dopo una splendida giornata a visitare Iona.

Sehr gutes Restaurant mit leckeren Muscheln in Weißwein Knoblauch Marinade. Sehr frisch. Auch die Kuchenauswahl ist groß und der Schokoladen Kuchen war sehr gut mit Betonung auf Schokolade und nicht pappsüß!

we stopped for a bite before visiting the abbey. srrivce was quick with a smile and we enjoyed a mussel treat. ! to be recommended and very reasonable too

Nice place, lots of sweet treats with your coffee or tea. But when asked if they do a bacon and egg, or sausage and egg role. We don't do that. Wow!

On a lovely visit to Iona we stopped at the cafe for a snack.

We were lucky to have excellent weather for our visit to this interesting island. We enjoyed lunch at this restaurant. The view of the bay was excellent. The menu was interesting and the food was good.

Dined here with friends. This is the only option for an evening meal out in Iona apart from the two hotels, as far as I am aware. The food was good and the staff friendly; my roast beef was delicious. The staff were very helpful in assisting my wife to choose a meal as she has to be gluten and dairy free. The view from the large windows across to Mull is great. Note that in the evenings the restaurant closes at 7.30.

Iona has a lot of day trippers, and being so near to the landing stage this is a convenient place to call in for a meal or a snack. The outside looks so very ordinary but it improves on the inside and gets even better on the terrace at the back, with lovely views over towards Mull. The view makes the limited day time food selection much more acceptable. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I think they cater for a quick turnover for the day trippers who want to fit as much as possible into the time they have on this lovely island. From other comments it seems that the evening menu is much better, but by then the day trippers will all be gone.

Stopped for light lunch whilst visiting Iona. Serves sandwiches, salads, drinks, cakes, hot foods, soups etc, Staff friendly, food hot and basics on offer. Lovely seating outside if weather is good, with stunning views.

Wasn’t impressed with this restaurant. Although the food was okay the restaurant itself was very dated. The cutlery wasn’t clean. The staff however were lovely and friendly

We booked one dinner here - very good- good, fresh food, well cooked. Could not compete with the Argyll, but much better than the meal we had at the St Columba - and much cheaper than either of the hotels - there are just the three eating places on Iona in the evening..

The wait staff was friendly and helpful. Food was served quickly. It was a lovely place to eat. Lovely view from the restaurant. Great seafood. Good soups.

My friend and I had dinner at Martyr's Bay Restaurant three times during the four nights we were on Iona. The quality of the food, excellent service from Jasmine and Katrina (spelling?), and fine view across the water to the Isle of Mull (when it wasn't foggy) kept us coming back. Many thanks for contributing to a wonderful time on Iona!

We ended up eating at this restaurant twice for dinner. The two dishes I had were mussels and vegetarian haggis. Both were delicious! The views are an added bonus as there are large windows looking out to the water. My husband had a steak that he really liked and a chicken curry the other day which he also enjoyed. There is a full bar which was nice. They only serve dinner from 6:00-7:30 so be aware of that. The staff was attentive and nice.

Highly recommended when you are on the Island as the staff are really friendly and helpful when booking as well as serving.The food is very fresh as it overlooks the sea.Especially recommended are the fish dishes and the mussels.We ate there twice !.

For our last dinner on Iona we chose to sit out on the deck of this restaurant . The views across to Mull and out to sea were superb. I had a really good, substantial lentil cottage pie which was gluten free and vegetarian. On an earlier visit, I had the smoked salmon which was lovely. The staff are really helpful and work hard. There is a good choice of gluten free meals and the chef is willing to adapt things for people with dietary requirements.

We were in on Saturday during our 3 island tour this was the only place serving lunch as it was after 2pm , 2 of our party got pasties and chips which were ok , I got mussels they were fine but however the brose was disgusting, my cousin got a chicken and mushroom pie when she checked there was no chicken in the pie she then exchanged it for macaroni which was soggy so overall it was a very expensive lunch as we had to stop at the shop and buy sandwiches

Martyrs Bay Inn on Iona is a nice restaurant and bar by the ferry landing point. In a very pretty location and convenient for the Abbey and Monastery. I had mussels for lunch and they were excellent. The bar area is nice too. A good place to rest weary feet, enjoy food and a drink. I’d love to go back.

This automat style restaurant allows you to pick and choose as you slide your tray in front of the various cases. We recommend the chicken and mushrrom "pies." The lamb one was a little dry. Hot toddy a great idea on a cold day, w/ a modest shot of hard liquor.

A very limited menu and not as advertised, eg no seafood. Also very expensive, £22.95 for a sirloin steak. Two stars salvaged by friendly staff and well cooked pub grub.

stunning views and good food, recommend! Right by the ferry with panoramic views all around, can't find a better place to have a drink and something to eat. Beautiful

We stopped here for lunch while on a cruise to Staffa and Iona and found this restaurant, close to the wharf, very convenient. After queuing to order our food we found a nice table with a view out to the water. One of us very much enjoyed the plate of mussels (smaller mussels than we are used to but there were plenty of them) while the other enjoyed a pie. We weren't inclined to have dessert as we had limited time to see the island.

We had a very light lunch here during our day tour from Oban to Mull and Iona. This is a spacious self service cafe ( with an adjacent pub with glorious views ) but they would probably provide assistance if needed. The location is on the edge of the sea with wonderful views to Mull. Disappointed that there is no menu which is rather strange as we like to know what's available prior to ordering and especially how much things are ( not many prices shown ). The carrot and coriander soup was good with nice quality bread. The homemade apple pie with tablet ice cream was excellent...a really good portion size and good value. The hot chocolate was superb. Other food looked good especially the pies. 3.5 stars.

Popped in here for a pint while waiting for the ferry back to Mull. An excellent location after a stunning time on Iona. Pleasant bar but with also some good seating outside. Was charged £9.80 for two pints, Really?

Excellent well balanced chowder and great service. Lovely views too. A friendly atmosphere and good value.

Well the staff at the bar here are flawlessly friendly! We had a great time drinking prosecco and beer plus whiskey waiting for the ferry (which can be seen from the windows of this very clean and updated lounge). They have a small cafeteria style restaurant that looked good though we didn't eat here. Amazing views and next door to the ferry landing.

Very convenient by the ferry port, this reasonably priced restaurant served good quality lunch including jacket potatoes and pasties. Good views from outside or a window seat.

We ate here on all three nights that we stayed on Iona; there was a good selection of food with particularly decent starters. We're both vegetarians and we found enough of a selection to keep us going! It was really astonishing on the third night enjoying a good meal and watching the ferry being thrown around by the wind and the waves! Staff were great - friendly and cheerful.

Right near the ferry port, this restaurant/pub is a handy place to get a nice meal. The view from the patio area is amazing. The food was good and prices were reasonable.

OK, it is often busy, as it is the closest eatery to the ferry, so loads of folks may arrive around lunchtime - so just make sure to get ahead of them. But you will likely get whatever food you are looking for here. We enjoyed it as a pit stop, but were impressed with the choice and organized nature of it. Wi-Fi was no problem.

A huge selection of hot and cold food catering for dietary needs. Great value. Set overlooking the bay.

We sat on the terrace above the sea waiting for the ferry and were tempted by the Mull mussels. Simple menu that was really well done - best place to enjoy Moules frites. Serving food all day with fab views thrown in!

Lovely seafood in an informal and friendly setting, great portions and fresh, local produce - great view too!

Omtänksam och vänlig personal i baren m/restaurangen som verkligen ville hjälpa till! Dessutom enkel men väldigt mat och trevlig atmosfär. Ett jättetrevligt ställe!

The lovely team managed to squeeze us in at last minute, in the bar area as the dining room was full. We were perfectly comfortable, the food was spot on, the service great and the views are just stunning.

This restaurant is in a physically perfect situation. It's not some posh, expensive restaurant, it's more like a canteen-type cafe which is surely what most people are looking for on Iona. We just had sandwiches before exploring but the seafood smelled delicious. A large menu and the staff cope very well with large crowds.

We have been eating here regularly in summer for the last 15 to 20 years. The food is fantastic. Freshly caught seafood is not to be missed- scallops, langoustines, lobster and the steak is always amazing. Lovely tablet ice cream to finish.

disappointing in the extreme .Undercooked baked potato with tiny potion of cheese , soup good though , and a sandwich which was just OK. Felt it overpriced for what we got too .

This is the second time I have called in here. The soup, coffee and cakes were lovely, I have not had a full meal as on both occasions it was a quick call in whilst waiting for the ferry back to Mull. There were people eating meals that looked delicious.

The gift shop had lots of locally made items including scarfs in Iona colors (pink/white/navy) and puffin trivets. Lots of glass wares and souvenir items. The cafe had sandwiches, drinks, ice cream, beer. There were vegetarian sandwich options available and restrooms inside.

While waiting for our ferry we stopped in here and you can pass through a line and see and pick what you want. Reasonably priced. We had the meat pies and fries. Very good. You can sit inside or out.

Visited with family for an evening meal and choice was ok but not suitable for young children as no alternative menu for them. Food was hot but very basic for the price paid Staff were friendly and attentive.

Lovely selection of food and drink, and friendly staff. Ideal place to stock up before you get the ferry back to Mull

It was too cold to eat outside which would have been a better option. Not a lot of choice of food. basically fish and chips or burger and chips or a cake.

This obviously gets a lot of trade next to ferry dock, with fast help yourself servery. Still food is good hot and in a prime location to take in views etc.

Popped in for dinner my first night on Iona. My scallops were very fresh and expertly cooked. Good beer selection. It's not cheap but is probably a bit less expensive than the hotels. Warm, attentive service. Highly recommended.

Le piège à touriste, la mauvaise cafétéria aux prix élevés. On ne s’est régalé avec rien...le fish n chips est nul et le reste très bas de gamme cependant la note, elle, est haut de gamme...

If you enjoy breath taking views, delicious freshly made food sourced from the finest ingredients, then this is the place for you. Catriona, Sheila and their team deliver delicious mouthwatering, freshly cooked food whether its brunch, lunch, tea or dinner, its well worth a visit.

This place looks right over the beautiful bay and out towards the mainland and you an happily eat and drink while watching the white waves crash against the rocks. The view is better than the food, which is ok, but still a fantastic place to eat.

The food is amazing and the island is so glorious and magical! Everyone on our tour really appreciated everything being so close to all activities.The wait staff and food are delightful! Have the mussels/wine and Sticky toffee pudding!

Instead of having the food, we went to the bar for a pint and to enjoy the great view of the water from their large windows. It is the perfect spot for a break and to enjoy the island from a sheltered place out of the wind and sun. They also serve tea of you need to warm yourself more.

Enjoyed sea bass with a wonderful view of Mull. Really lovely staff and food. Great to have water on the table rather than having to ask too! Also recommend the B&B; opposite - a delightful stay all round

Although this restaurant and bar look unattractive from the outside it is a great place to eat. Generous portions of good basic food. Efficient friendly staff. Beautiful views from the interior.

We visited Iona just before the spring season, so not many places were open. We were really pleased to stumble upon this place for a warm lunch and some shelter from the wind. We had fish goujons and chips - piping hot and filling. There was a lovely view of the sea and a quiet atmosphere. Very friendly staff.

Me and my family eat lunch at Martyrs Bay Restaurant, we very enjoyed our fish and chips, perfect chip. Definitely we will be back next Sumer . Amazing view from our table next to the window on ferry

Nice view of the bay from the dining room - we were able to wait here for about an hour for the winds to subside enough for the small walking ferry to come over so we could return to Mull. This rarely happens, according to the friendly staff (many of whom live across the water on Mull) and we made the best of it with clean bathrooms, a spot of tea, and pleasant reflections on our walk up to the nunnery, Abbey, and small town of Iona.

The service was nice, but the whole experience took me back to the UK of my childhood. Terrible food, sterile...

Went here in October 2017. Had the beef and veggie pastry thingy and it confirmed my opinion that British people...

The dining options on Iona are limited. We had lunch here and found it to be decent, basic fare. The...

We have been going to Mull and Iona on holiday every year since 1995 and always stop at Martyrs Bay...

Fantastic decking area to enjoy al fresco lunches (weather permitting!) and a friendly bar to spend sociable evenings.

We went for our lunch here, we were hungry and couldn't find anything else so it had to do. I...

Had a lovely Birthday meal celebrating one of my friends birthday. Staff were very friendly and the hospitality was excellent....