Smoo Cave Hotel in Highland

We walked to this hotel from the other end of the village (45mins). We hadn't booked, and the friendly busy waitress had to check she had enough free tables for residents, but we were in luck, and were seated. The menu was of good solid fare. I had scallops from the starter menu for my main course, with a plate of chips, all fine and tasty. My mate had salmon, also fine. He had 2 pts of red ale, and I had 2 glasses of red. £80 for two.

Hier hebben we met een groep genoten van een lekkere lunch, voordat we de Smoo Cave bezochten. De lunch was uitgebreid en smaakvol. En gezellig om te zitten. Het personeel is attent en heel vriendelijk. Dit restaurant van het hotel is zeker een aanrader!

We popped in for a quick lunch while visiting smoo cave. We were sat in the bar area as we had our dog with us To start with the barmaid seemed very pleasant We ordered drinks and food but on 2 separate orders. My mum ordered for herself my dad and sister Then when I went up to order for myself partner and kids I was told food would be half an hour as a coach full of people was due to arrive soon and they were a priority Had we known this my parents probably wouldn’t have bothered ordering. Anyway food didn’t take long after all but they gave me the wrong thing. I stated I ordered a king rib but the waiter told me it was a red pudding, the bar maid then proceeded to come over and tell me I did order a red pudding. I told her I didn’t but my dad did ( he already had his) Food was terrible My 5 year old ordered the haddock and chips and it was inedible, the batter was rock hard and the fish was pretty much rock solid because of how overcooked it was Everything was sooo over done and greasy. After driving home myself and my partner are feeling abit queasy. I think it’s just from the sheer lack of grease that was on everything

As a family group of 5, we were told when we asked for a table that we would have to sit on 2 seperate ones. When we asked if we could move one a metre, allowing us to sit together, we were rudely told “we’re not moving tables tonight”. If there had been any other option of places to eat, we’d have left immediately. After a long wait to order and a longer wait for food to arrive (the starter had been requested as a side order with the main but arrived in advance of the main meals), the two burgers arrived plain and with no chips! When we asked where they were, the waitress (who had been pleasant until this point) was very defensive and said that we’d ordered them plain (we had ordered the chicken burger plain, specifying no salad or sauce - we expected the venison burger to have some salad, ssuce or something!) - we hadn’t said we didn’t want chips! From start to end, a pretty unpleasant experience!

Place well worth visiting.. All the staff, especially the owner Frances are very friendly. Service is efficient and food very tasty. Smoo Cave hotel is a spot you shouldn't miss when visiting Durness.

Little gem. Nothing fussy, very basic. But lovely. Stunning views. Probably the best meal I had on our NC500 trip. Lovely breakfast. 5 minute walk to caves and John Lennon memorial.

A small but decent enough menu that everyone would be able to eat from. Staff were nice enough, pub side was a bit clique. Food was really nice. Only reason for the 4 star is there was a new start and the manager spoke to her in the kitchen very loudly and quite awfully which the whole restaurant heard. I think there would definitely have been a nicer way to speak to this girl because she made a genuine mistake and this could have been done in private. Didn’t give me hope that she treats her staff well.

We had lunch here when touring the top of Scotland. Food was very good and the service was very very friendly. A good place to stop after a visit to the cave.

We stopped there coming back from visiting the cave. The staff was super nice, friendly and welcoming. We had a coke and a tea, quickly served in a nice ambiance. There was a dart board we could have played with, and a super modern jukebox playing " all the songs in the world" the chief told us. A nice place to spend a moment! We didn't try the food nor the room.

As this is mainly the only place to get a meal in Durness we spent 2 nights here. Both the chilli and vegetarian curry were delicious and just enough for me (it may not feed someone with a hearty appetite). All.meals were good pub grub. The waiting staff are attentive and friendly and the reason for returning. Nice atmosphere

Very welcoming on arrival, randomly staff from up ayrshire way 😂 . Dinner good, breakfast superb. Room was comfortable and clean (I’m not a four in a bedder so all was great by my standard for an over nighter on the nc500) however shower use goes 🥵/🥶 in seconds! Lassies in the bar were also very attentive and full of chat. 10/10 recommend x

Special on the menu board was oven baked smoked salmon/salad /brown bread as a starter £11.50 asked if I could have as a main bar staff said yes not a problem so ordered my meal , when it arrived the salmon was stone cold , I had expected hot oven baked salmon, I sent it back was asked if I wanted it heated up but it was already really over cooked so opted for a different meal which was tasty enough, when we got bill we had been charged £23 for salmon I had sent back because it was not as advertised , i got told by bar staff smoked salmon was served cold and basically not there problem I didn’t like it that way , the place was busy and I was embarrassed so didn’t argue the point that the board said oven baked smoked salmon, really dissatisfied & disappointed in the customer service we received, we visited Durness every year but sadly we will never go back to the smoo cave hotel

Great hotel, food and staff. Room was very clean with a beautiful view of the North Sea. Highly recommend for any type of visitor. Will definitely be back

We stayed at Aiden House to attend the Highland Gathering and had dinner at the Smoo Cave Hotel. A bustling, busy bar with a fantastic atmosphere and views of the beautiful countryside right outside the door. Staff were friendly, helpful and hospitable and the food was delicious. All very reasonably priced as well. Highly recommended.

We walked up to here from the campsite as wanted a good tea. We took our dog with us and after a 1/2 walk received a lovely welcome from the lady behind the bar. The menu had a good choice and the food was beautiful. Proper home cooked fresh food. Compliments to the chef. Definitely worth a visit

We said here as a family of 3 we got the annex room 6 this was separate from the hotel with our own kitchen and bathroom. Hot chocolate and biscuits waiting for us. We ate dinner in the restaurant and the food was fantastic we had the fish and chips followed y dessert of chocolate cake and apple crumble. Our beds were comfortable and a good sleep Was had by all. Breakfast was lovley best porridge I’ve had in a while. Within walking distance to smoo cave and the beaches.the staff were all super friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. My husband left his wallet behind and the owner called us straight away and drove to meet us with it. Thanks again for a fantastic stay. Hopefully we can return one day. Lee,Dean & Thea x

Always a warm welcome and delicious food and great beer at the Smoo Hotel. Very enjoyable but go early, it's always busy.

Excellent lunch, had the crab and it was delicious. It was really fresh and plenty of it. Super friendly staff. Everywhere was spotless. Will be returning

Très déçu : très peu de choix à la carte, burger insipide sans sauce ni garniture - pain et viande ! L’emplacement n’a rien d’exceptionnel.

We were at mid point of the NC500 cycle ride and carrying our own kit. I had phoned the hotel the day before to let them no we were on the way. When we arrived arrangements had been made to put our bikes securely under cover. Our room was very comfortable and the shower fantastic. We were then asked if we needed anything washing at no extra charge and as you can imagine the provided basked was filled. All our meals were excellent. Overall an extremely pleasant stay. Close by the amazing Smoo Cave. A wonder if Mother Nature.

Superb place to stay when doing the NC500. Great welcome, great rooms and the food is of a very high standard. If we venture this way again we would probable use this as our base.

Very busy when we were there but still the service and welcome were excellent. Everyone enjoyed their food and they happily customised my meal. Dog friendly too.

Great little place!! Phoned and was told rally busy but we went anyways, waited for our table and the fantastic staff looked after us .. clearly rushed of there feet making time for everyone. Food was fantastic and respectfully priced ……even got a lift back to the camper park by the owner. Fantastic venue highly recommended

Exceptional hotel. Staff very pleasant. Homemade food was excellent really tasty and well presented Rooms clean and comfortable They have a large dining room which is only used for guests at the moment because of staff shortages. So visitors ate in the bar. All in...

The worst restaurant where I have never been. The staff very bad manners. Not more options in this area I would have preferred not to eat. They told us that we have not a table to dinner and this dinning room was empty. Amazing! After...

We camped up in Durness night of Tuesday 4 October and went here for a meal in the evening. The food was amazing - the fish was perfect and the wine went down a treat. The staff were helpful and friendly. Toilets nice and clean....

We're Travelling the NC500 and Reviewing as we go along, and the Smoo Hotel was very accommodating during our trip. Its located in Durness and not far from the Smoo Caves, but still very rural, but worth making this a stopping point in the NC500....

We’re do you go for food in Durness HERE we’ll not much to choose from but relax this pub is really good nice vibe locals having beers the menu is simple but offers home cooked food and gluten free options had lasagne and my wife...

As near locals ourselves who enjoys scenic walks on our doorstep , we stayed 2 nights at Smoo Cave Hotel . It was great, lovely room with fab views , great food & drink , lovely warm hospitality from the staff & owners who Can't...

Overnight stop while touring. Fantastic location with amazing views all around. Very friendly staff and lovely food. Rooms was great - very clean and perfect for a 1 or 2 nights stay.

We popped in for dinner on a night when the restaurant was closed due to a lack of staff but were accommodated in the bar. Although incredibly busy, the staff were jolly and friendly. The food was wholesome and well cooked. Locally sourced monkfish was...

Pernottavamo in un b&b a 7 miglia e questo era il locale più vicino che servisse cena. Atmosfera semplice e...

We enjoyed a casual dinner at this pub. We were able to walk to and from the hotel from our lodgings, which was very good. Our beverages of a gin and tonic and a pint were very good. The special of the day was Monk...

Nice welcoming pub, clean and cosy. Ordered lasagne for dinner, was disappointed that it only came with side salad and garlic bread, expected a few chips for £14! Food was nice enough but off putting as so expensive for so little. Suppose it’s a captured...

Good honest pub grub and a pint - can’t beat it! Western though, it says that they serve real ale, but there were no hand pulls, just the cold fizzy stuff, but a good choice You can’t book, but we got there around 6pm and...

Honestly. Not giving 1 star is tough. If you know me you know I give a positive all the time. The staff said they couldn’t sit 8 of us. I’m not talking little kids. All upper teens and my partner and myself. We order. Couples...

We booked a table in Feb 2022, but on arriving, found that the hotel doesn't take bookings.. Not to worry, we were given a table and had a very enjoyable meal. Landlady super friendly. Would recommend.

We stayed here as part of our NC500 road trip. The premises were more of a cafe/restaurant with rooms than a full blown hotel -- but all set in a stunning landscape. Our upstairs bedroom had wonderful views and very comfortable. The ensuite was a...

Sympathique. Une ambiance très particulière au bout du monde. Les plats sont copieux et fait maison. Le poisson est très...

Stunning location. Beautiful hotel with very clean modern room. Food and service was amazing. Such friendly welcoming people running the place and we felt so comfortable and at home during our short stay. Highly recommended

My wife and I had an excellent meal here and the fish we had was so fresh and tasty. The Orkney Beer was delicious too. Nice little pub to eat at and recommended

Lovely little hotel with bar, including pool table, dart board, juke box, and TV showing sports. Food was lovely, great choice of breakfast, and staff couldnt have been better. It was lovely to chat to the staff, the locals and other people on their holiday....

Walked from nearby Sango Bay site to the hotel.non residents can walk in after 5 for food! Recommend the freshly caught haddock! Staff were lovely, toilets were very clean. Can’t fault the place! Would definitely return

Visited the Smoo cave hotel a couple of times during our stay in Durness and both times were fantastic. The food is excellent and can’t wait to go back 👍

Great place to stay overnight. The evening meal was excellent, I had the salmon and my husband had the gammon. Each was excellent as was the breakfast. Our room was comfortable with nice toiletries. Friendly people with Covid precautions in place.

A homely bar and hotel with basic, clean and perfectly adequate rooms. The staff were welcoming and attentive. Our locally caught haddock and chips was very good as was our sons cheeseburger. A couple of good real ales too which kept everyone happy. Breakfast was...

From very first enquiry via the website about booking for a night the response was fast, polite and friendly. We phoned in the morning to say we might arrive late, the reception were very relaxed and told us that the kitchen was open until 7.45pm...

The Smoo Cave Hotel had a good selection of food on the menu, and we each had a starter and main. The fishcakes were a large portion and really delicious. I had the haggis scotch egg which is served hot and with a runny yolk....

Welcoming, friendly staff,who allowed us to check-in early and get out of the poor weather & get some food & drink at the bar. Bedroom number 3 above the bar was cosy, quiet & had lovely views of the coastline. Just a one night stay,...

Food and drink was lovely and the prices were great. Just a shame they advertise as non-residents welcome yet the hospitality says otherwise. We were asked on arrival to not take too long, not quite sure why as there were many empty tables during our...

Absolutely loved this place and wished there were more places like it along the NC500! Great veggie and vegan options as others have mentioned. The veggie lasagne and chilli were proper comfort food options, perfect after a day of hiking in the fresh air. It...

Quick stop off for eveningeal as we were staying in the area. Great bar and restaurant with some amazing food at good prices, lovely staff. Just what we needed, will go again.

We had tea and drinks here while waiting for the main road to open up after an incident. Great service and staff and picnic tables outside for dry days. We would have stayed for a meal but the road re-opened! Great location for Smoo caves.

The hotel was full so we were accommodated in a holiday cottage opposite which was beautifully fitted out inside and we had a shed to store our bikes. Staff were very friendly and we had an enjoyable evening meal. Breakfast was good and set us...

Had two meals here recently when staying in Durness. Was able to get a table both nights. The food and drink was great value. The staff were amazing and friendly especially Kirsten who lit up the room with her cheerful personality. Good staff like her...

The restaurant offers a wide section of food, and lots of vegetarian and vegan options! The service we received from the waitress was fantastic!!!! Such a warm and attentive demeanour and really made each evening special- thank you

Warm welcome from the female server at this hotel restaurant which was really the only viable option for dinner the two nights we were in the area but food and hospitality did not disappoint. Fresh fish specials. The crab starter and monkfish main were superb,...

We had a lovely dinner at Smoo Cave Hotel, the food is simple but well cooked! Couldn’t book a table but we got there early as we were advised they are busy 6-8 and it’s first come first served. I had the fish and chips...

Me and my partner just recently enjoyed a 2 night stay in Durness and ate here both nights for our meals. The food was lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed it both nights. Unfortunately both nights there were quite a few items not available from the...

We stayed in the wee house Bothan Beag and it was just perfect, just what we need. Plenty of space, very clean. We didn’t want to leave!

Visited the hotel restaurant on the off chance they had space available- they fitted us in with no fuss. Lovely staff and fantastic food- great value for money. Went away full and happy!

Yes. Lovely staff amazeballs food. YES! Fresh pizza for the youngest, gammon for me and eldest and a nice pint of McKewans :)

My wife and I stopped here for lunch after checking out the cave. The staff were very helpful and friendly upon arrival and were pleasantly surprised to see that they allow dogs into the bar, I miss that from a pub. We both had the...

Stopped over at smoo cave on our NC500 trip, Hugh and staff were excellent, very comfortable and clean room, thoroughly enjoyed our stay, would highly recommend

Lovely find, wee really enjoyed our meal. Waitress for very chatty and informative about local area. Scallop starter was amazing, special monkfish was delicious, my son and hubby had the haggis scotch eggs which were to die for. My son made had pizza which he...

Thank you to Frances for ensuring our stay at Durness was an overall extremely enjoyable one! The staff working in the hotel were very helpful and went out of their way to ensure we felt accommodated. The food was fresh, good portion size and a...

Stayed for one night as part of our NC500 trip. Staff very nice especially Kirstin. Great fish and chips and loved the haddock with poached eggs for breakfast. Comfortable room and slept well.

The management and staff at the hotel could not have done more to make our stay more pleasant despite our extensive arrangements being very last minute. The standard of food and accommodation for our large party was excellent despite the limitations of Covid. The waitresses...

Really good pub grub. Fresh seafood. Delicious real chips. Bar has surprisingly wide range of drinks. Excellent, friendly efficient service - especially from the girl with the arty tattoos.

This was our third stop on the nc500 The hotel is just two minutes off the main road Our room was clean and tidy,a bit of rust on top of the radiator Our view was out of rear of the hotel We also that a...

Friendly and efficient staff. Quality of the food was excellent. The room in the cottage was well presented and quite tranquil. Absolutely no negative comments.

Spent two nights in the annex with the family. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Kate and Kirsten are so good at interacting with customers and make everyone feel at home. Everyone down to earth and a great place to stay.

We tried to book here but were told walk-ins only, which is totally fine by us, we just decided to get here early to ensure we got a table. When we arrived we found out they don't allow dogs inside, which again is completely fine...

Several of us were recently on our annual week to Durness and tried to eat at the hotel. We called to book a table and were told no bookings, just turn up. So we did and after a short wait were given a table. A...

Great staff and lovely food. The waitresses were all so cheerful and lovely which made our meal very enjoyable. We stayed at Mackays in Durness and arrived quite late after climbing Ben Hope in the day. This was the only place open and they usually...

Great wee Inn, with a separate dining area. Good choice on menu, we were all happy with our meals, Good size portions all left full!

What a great hotel, staff very friendly, food was excellent, ate our evening meal & breakfast here, great quality & very enjoyable. Totally COVID-19 safe in bar & restaurant area’s. Our room had views along the coast in both directions - definitely recommend a stay

We did not stay at this hotel, we simply ate in their lovely restaurant. We ate at both lunchtime and evening. The menu was very good, lots of options that were gluten free and vegetarian. The food was delicious, well presented and very tasty. The...

Menu was partly available, things crossed out and notified as not available. Everything was too much effort for the waitress, questions and even a basic order! We were surprised as it looked promising, but can’t recommend!

Turned up as a party of 6 at 12:30 lunchtime for food & drinks. We were told they don't serve food until 13:00 with a reluctant attitude that we could have a drink before food. Then when we asked for the menu to prepare for...

Stayed to two nights in June sadly the weather was more like October…wild wind and rain. However the Smoo Cave Hotel provided a good place to stay & eat. We stayed in room number 3. Great views out of the windows. The room was comfortable...

The fish and chips were just yum. Can get busy so early arrival recommended. Good selection of local beers too.

We visited here (twice) in June 2021 after seeing reviews saying vegan options were available. There is a separate vegetarian/vegan menu with 5 vegan options (chilli, lasagne, thai curry, chickpea curry and pizza). We tried everything except for the pizza and enjoyed what we had....

In my opinion the restaurant was over priced and over rated. The food was mediocre. two couples out dining, 4 alcoholic drinks, 2 glasses of diet irn bru, 3 simple starters and one piece of cheesecake, 3 steak dinners & a small ball of chilli...

I am super particular about where I eat and up in the very north there really is no choice. We walked from our RV and it was worth the walk. We shared 3 starters which were all good.

We stopped by to get some food as we were doing the NC500, and safe to say we were not disappointed! The chicken fillets were to die for and we were served with a smile the whole way through. We were served by Becka who...

Lovely hidden gem of a hotel close to Smoo Cabe naturally, Rispond Beach, Balnakeil and of course Durness. Lovely pub with affordable prices. Evening meal and breakfast were also cooked to perfection with plenty choice. We stayed in the family annex and it was perfect...

Flowing a long journey, the food served by Lorna, we were pleasantly surprised by the ample choice of fare alongside great quality and fair prices, well worth a stop on the north coast

Called in here after a visit to Smoo Caves. One of the best meals of our whole NC500 trip it was outstanding

We really enjoyed our meal at the Smoo Cave Hotel. Despite arriving during the evening rush, we got a table pretty quickly and the service was great and friendly. The food itself was really good and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Durness!

We came here on the last night of the break. The food is excellent and I believe all local produce. Hugh and his wife are great hosts and very knowledgeable about the local area. Great portions and would recommend the scallops , steak and lasagne.

A friendly and welcoming hotel. Helpful owners and staff. Great choice of meals with prompt service. Rooms are spacious, clean and modern. Shower was great in the ensuite and the bed was really comfy. Thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and would highly recommend it to...

We stayed for one night on our NC500. The room was clean but very small. We booked for an evening meal and did feel the tables were a little too close but with a little shuffling felt a bit more secure. the food was excellent....

We were staying in Durness for 2 nights, and Smoo Cave Hotel was the only place to get a meal. They were really busy, we had to wait a short time for a table. the first meal we had was great, I had salmon, my...

Being the only place to get an evening meal around Durness, we turned up quite late at 8pm to be told they were totally full for the evening and could only do a takeaway. It was my Mum's birthday so I was a bit disappointed...

Myself and husband stayed at this hotel in August. We had such a lovely warm welcome from Frances who showed us to our room and gave us lots of information about places/beaches to visit in the area. Our room was very clean and modern with...

Visited here for an evening meal and drinks. Found it very rushed and no atmosphere, felt like herds of cattle. Average food. Special areas for “locals” - summed up ..... Bland !

Friendly staff and the food was pleasant. We had the dressed crab followed by fish and gammon steal, good wholesome food.

Lovely room, very nice meal and a great breakfast. Walking distance to Smoo Cave. Who knew there was a John Lennon Memorial garden in the area.

This was a fabulous place to eat and just a mile walk from our campsite on glorious Sango Sands. Great food and really wonderful staff. Strongly recommend