St Magnus Bay Hotel Restaurant in Shetland Islands

This is our fourth visit to Shetland, but the first time we've managed to find the hotel open for lunch. Friendly greeting, and we were told (almost apologetically) that they were 'only' doing sandwiches and soup for lunch. Have always wanted to eat here so we opted for the sandwiches. The guy behind the bar apologised that it would take a while (there were a few people in the hotel and only one member of staff in the kitchen). All I can say is that we won't be eating until very late tonight, if at all! Lovely sandwiches/toasties, a very large helping and good value for money. We both said we couldn't eat it all, but it was so good and nicely prepared that we felt it would be rude not to. It looks as though the hotel is undergoing a big refurbishment, so good luck to the owners, perhaps we'll plan a visit in the future and stay here. Brilliant, thank you.

I went to this hotel for their carvery lunch on 6th August. I was extremely disappointed with the attitude of the male owner of the hotel. While waiting in bar area I could hear a male employee being screamed at to get back to work. I was not the. Only person to hear this as the male employee was talking to other guests while this was happening. I decided at this point to leave as I was disgusted by the owners attitude. I will never ever return to Faulty Towers

Staying at the St. Magnus Bay Hotel in lovely Hillswick, we ate at the restaurant several times during the course of our days here. Not a single selection was a disappointment. The soups: First, we got a blended lentil and vegetable soup with roll. It was very well-seasoned, very tasty with the crusty sesame seed roll dipped in. Even better, it was served in a beautiful soup tureen to make it look particularly nice. This soup would hit the spot if you were chilly on a cold night – and does so even when you’re not. The next night, we got tomato and lentil soup – again, very nicely seasoned, this time with even more intense flavors. For Mr. Cuddles, it was better than the soup the night before; for Mrs. Cuddles, it was better than her korma entree. The entrees were, by and large, stunning. Among them: Pan seared scallops and monkfish - essentially seafood piccata, lemon, capers and butter. The biggest scallops Mr. Cuddles has ever been served. They were delicious, as was the monkfish, paired well with the potatoes and vegetables. This was a tasty, very filling meal of local seafood. Roasted red and green peppers, stuffed with couscous, feta and nice herbs for flavor, then artistically cut. Accompanied by salad topped with tasty balsamic drizzle. Chicken Korma with rice, salad, crispy flatbread, nicely flavored in a good-sized portion. Salad with balsamic drizzle was enjoyable once again. Sunday Dinner turned out to be lamb, gravy, a vegetable mix of broccoli and carrots and potatoes, Yorkshire pudding AND fried potatoes AND mashed potatoes. Topped by a good gravy, reasonably flavored and very tender lamb this was a classic English meal. (Four carbs was a bit nuts, but the gravy makes it so you’re not complaining.) Dessert: The sticky toffee pudding so good we got it twice. Wonderful with cream or ice cream, however you prefer. We had the included breakfast most mornings as well, which was a good, solid breakfast. It was the standard full English, including black pudding, plus tons of bread/toast options, cereal, granola and fruit. It’s good fuel to start a day of hiking over the lovely hills outside. It’s Hillswick’s only restaurant, but it’s quite a good one. If you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping in.

Was recommended St Magnus Bay Hotel for food by a friend that lived in Shetland. Went for the Sunday carvery. Honestly, it was the best carvery I’ve ever eaten. Five meats (yes you can have them all!) cooked perfectly, tender and moist. Roast tatties, mashed tatties, 3 different veggies, gravy & home made yorkshires. My plate was groaning under the weight of it all! On top there were a good selection of starters and alternatives for vegetarian/vegans and to round it off a selection of delicious puds (the sticky toffee pud was amazing!). Andrea on the carvery and her waiting staff were all so lovely! Thoroughly recommend!

not eaten here for years, but the reintroduction of the old Sunday Carverys, and the current owners tempted us back, five for lunch, amazing, enough to feed 50 of us!!!, comes highly recommended, thank you Andrea and Jodie, you did us proud

Here I had the very best meals! Scallops and monkfish - wow! And upon that sticky toffie pudding. Now tears in my eyes!! Cosy and friendly place. Loved it!

Finally got round to having lunch here despite only living 2 miles away... A fantastic experience; great service, good selection of drinks including Lerwick Brewery beer on tap which are a must try. The food was excellent- 3 of us had the carvery and were not disappointed- very generous portions and all well cooked and good quality. The desserts were equally delicious. Will definitely be back and really hope the standards are kept up when the hotel is sold.

Andrea looked after all 12 of us with tea, coffee, juice, caked etc the hotel was in fact closed but opened up just for us, thank you guys

Sunday carvery at the Magnus Bay Hotel in Hillswick cannot be beaten. Great food, lovely staff and a fantastic view. Can't wait to go again. Recommend booking as very popular.

Our tour group was booked to have lunch here, so in we went! No one appeared to tell us where to go, so we all headed into what looked like a restaurant/bar area. Still no one appeared! After a few minutes, our guide came in and told us that we needed to go through a closed door on the other side of the hallway. Here was a room laid out with tables for our lunch! Several ladies served us, but none seemed particularly happy to have us there. We were all given potato and leek soup (which was very good) and bread, and there was a plate of scones plus mixed cakes per table - enough for a scone each, plus one extra, with maybe one or two cakes each as well as long as you were flexible on what you had. The scones were very nice but I don't think any of my table thought that the cakes were that great. Tea and coffee were brought round in large jugs and it was luck to the quality - my neighbour's tea was the last from one jug, and was incredibly stewed, whereas I got the beginning of the next jug and that was incredibly weak! An odd experience all round - we didn't see a single other person in the building apart from the ladies who served us.

Friendly hosts welcomed us to a very special dinner at this hotel. A very varied and extensive menu, the fish dishes and lamb were particularly enjoyable. Lots of choices for vegetarians. Great starters and desserts. Extensive wine list. Not to be missed if you are anywhere near the area. Nice views of the sea from the restaurant and near to some spectacular coastal scenery. A very special evening.

Although challenged by the effects of Covid-19 restrictions Our hosts produced an excellent meal. The menu was extensive with several fish dishes and a large vegetarian option. The dishes were imaginative and beautifully presented with creative sauces. Portions were generous and the vegetables were fresh and well cooked. The dining room reflected its historic surroundings and our hosts were very friendly and welcoming.

Three years after our first (drinks) visit whilst VFR, we came back to dine. The owners have, and are, making a very significant investment in this wonderfully historic venue. Our dinner of monkfish and whitebait starter, then mains of seafood chowder and lamb were superb. The waiter and chef were a delight to chat too, as was Paul the co-owner. This northern-most Shetland mainland hotel deserves to do well. Thank you and see you next time.

Stopped here with some friends for a drink and ended up having a good dinner. One of our party has a particular allergy and the staff couldn't be more helpful in finding appropriate dishes for her. Had a very tasty lamb curry made with local lamb. The other 5 in our party all enjoyed their choices. Service was also very good. It was a little expensive but worth it given limited options in the region. Would come back again when next in the area.

Stopped in for a quick bite to eat, and a beer. The restaurant/bar has been renovated and is casual but nice. Had a nice beer from Lerwick, with their mussels. Both were very good. Some other friends had potato and leek soup that was served nice and hot as well as delicious. Very nice, quaint, and quiet with the beautiful countryside view.

We stopped here from lunch as we were driving round and stumbled across a real gem. It has everything I want from a restaurant. Good feel to it, fantastic view, friendly host and amazing food. Their seafood is all freshly caught locally and it's hard to chose from the selection on the specials board. I had the Seafood Chowder. Not only did it look amazing, but it tasted amazing too. We had a meal in the bar, but I am so glad we found it at the beginning of our holiday. That gives us chance to go back and try the restaurant menu.

We ate here a few times as it’s the only option in Hillswick if you don’t want to drive. Andrea and Paul are lovely and they work hard. The service can stumble at times but the food is well cooked and tasty. It’s a shame there are no local beers on draft, it’s only bottles.The place is a bit tired looking but don’t be put off, you will receive a very warm welcome.

Pleasant restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Friendly staff, superb Scottish cuisine. Great atmosphere. Lovely place to comfort themselves in a wet and greyish day.

We booked in for a meal on a Wednesday night for a family reunion. As there was a lot of us and they’d put us at different tables we asked to move tables so we could sit together they were happy to do this for us. There was one gluten free person and one lactose free person and as the menu didn’t specify the owner came and went through everything on there of what they could have. They offered for the kids to have their food at the same time as the adults starters so that was good. Then when the food came the portion sizes were huge and the food was delicious. Delicious food and reasonable prices. Would definitely go back.

Went for dinner one night. Turned up unbooked and not long before they stopped serving but were made welcome and soon seated. Building is a bit quirky and could do with a bit of renovation, but had a certain charm to it. Decent selection of the usual suspects on the menu, plus some more unusual options. Food arrived reasonably quicky and was good. Nice and tasty and very fresh. Staff were friendly although not always fully up to speed on what they were doing. Overall a positive experience and I wouldn't hesistate to go back. Did think it a little overpriced though.

We stayed in Hillswick for our holiday. The owner of Zoar recommended St Magnus Bay for the Sunday carving. So we thought, could be ok for dinner on Thursday night. What a dissappointment: a part of the menu wasn't available and when my baked salmon arrived, the black plastic underlayment of the supermarket package was also served! The only thing the waiter could say that he would inform the kitchen.

Food is outstanding. Have eaten in many hotels and this is by far the best for quality,portion size and feel good factor from staff.Highly recommended you won't be disappointed

We were so impressed with the personalized attention at St Magnus. We learned about the building, the area, and of course the food. What a wonderful compliment to a visit to Eshaness. The seafood chowder was something seriously special. Amazing.

We wanted to get the Sunday carvery, but it was not on because of some school holiday, and we therefore picked luncheon off the menu. We both ended up eating lamb, because the duck which my partner had ordered turned out not to be available, Anyroad, the meal was tickety-boo and served with lots of sauce, complemented with a good bottle of Rioja.

Hier ist alles perfekt, wenn man Landschaft und Briten liebt. Tolle Auswahl an Ciders, Ales und britischen Speisen. Besonders freundliches Personal, das jeden Wunsch erfüllt. Musikbox mit tollen Songs und Dartscheibe. Typisch britische Einrichtung,... hier muss man sich wohlfühlen!

Agradable comedor con vistas a la bahía.

Comme mentionné dans mon commentaire sur l'hôtel, les plats sont bon mais le service n'est pas à la hauteur, étant extrêmement lent même pour les boissons.

Had breakfast and dinner. The food was good but for me too much. But because there are a lot of oilguys who stay in the hotel the kitchen serves a lot of food.

Paramos aquí para el almuerzo y tenía una comida maravillosa y visita. El propietario es absolutamente encantador y acogedor, y me sentí como ella prepararía cualquier cosa que podía haber pedido. Todo era casero y excelente, especialmente las sopas y los dulces. Servicio maravilloso y amable, y una fantástica relación calidad-precio. No hay mucho de que manera de elegir, pero usted no puede errar.

Después de un largo viaje en un frío y ventoso domingo de Agosto, estaba deseando mi comida aquí. Pedí el bistec con patatas fritas y para mi sorpresa el bistec aunque bien preparado llegó sin ninguna salsa. No me di cuenta de que tenía que pedir una salsa por separado y la camarera no hizo ningún esfuerzo para iluminar mí. Así me dejaron munch mi carne seca y patatas fritas. Mi marido tenía el pescado y patatas fritas que disfrutó, pero mi hija empezó quejándose de un dolor de estómago en el momento en que ella tomó el primer bocado de su pollo y patatas fritas.

Fuimos a este hotel para el brunch de los domingos, la comida era muy mala, el servicio que recibimos fue asqueroso. Esta era la segunda vez que visitamos este hotel, la primera vez estaba mal, culo fue mucho mejor que la última vez.

El personal era amable, pero inexperto. Cada pregunta que le hicimos, tenían que ir lejos y verifica. Lo que era la sopa del día? No sirven capuchino? Por desgracia, cuando llegó a pedir espresso, la camarera parecía confiar en que podría proporcionar esta... Entonces ella regresó con una gran taza de té y un cafetiere que presentó como "espresso". No fue así. Es una pena, ya con algo de entrenamiento básico, estoy seguro de que el personal lo hacen muy bien.

Merece la pena visitar el Hotel Bahía de St Magnus para el edificio y su posición solo - Hillswick es un lugar con una historia y el hotel es parte de eso. Está construido de madera, y fue importado en forma fabricadas en 1900 durante el xix/principios de boom del siglo XX. pesca Afortunadamente, hay bastante más a su restaurante de historia: es bastante grande, de estilo y la comida es bastante buena también! El menú es convencional, pero nos dieron una cálida bienvenida lo suficiente de un domingo por la tarde después de un día de viaje. El cordero asado, era delicioso, y los precios no eran excesivos. Vale la pena notar que el hotel está experimentando una renovación en serio en el momento, pero bien vale la pena poner en la lista si estás visitando Northmavine.

We stopped off here for morning coffee and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the coffee, which was served with hot milk and delicious home-made traybakes. The building looked in need of attention but there were several positives - new tarmac on the driveway, good toilet facilities, friendly service and a good location.

We came here twice - first for a bar snack, and returned the next day to eat in the opulent dining room. The food was delicious, the highlight for me was the chicken, but the salmon that my wife had was also terrific. And both were served with perfectly cooked mange tout peas.The Hotel owner, Paul, is friendly and knowledgeable and can recognise a Bristol Zagato in his car park, so for other Bristo car owners at least, is a legend!Good wine list, nice selection of beers, amazing views.

Delicious selection of meats well cooked. The sticky toffee pudding is the best I have ever tasted. Great place for Sunday lunch - very welcoming and good price

Stopped in for lunch, had two baguette sandwichs, which were ok, and coffee which came with desert. Overall good for a quick easy lunch.

Superb Sunday Carvery, worth the drive up to Hillswick even if it was a wet and miserable day weather wise. Will definitely be back.

We had a Sunday carvery here it was lovely. The plate may have been small but I was given all the meat they could fit on it! The dining room was small and a bit grotty and they could have used a few extra staff.

This is a very generous restaurant with good food and large portions, whether at the popular carvery or evening meals. Friendly owners and staff contribute to what, from the outside, can look like a building a bit in need of TLC. However, on the inside you start to see glimpses of it's gradual refurbishment and whatever they do, they do it with real style. The fabulous chandeliers imported from Italy, and the beautiful heavy curtains over massive windows in the downstairs rooms give an inkling of this, but walk into the refurbished Ladies' toilets and you get a feeling of real glamour and style. This has also has been used in the upgrading of some of the bedrooms, another gradual improvement, where gorgeous antique furniture has been used to create a lavish period feel in the main building and more contemporary style used to create light and comfortable rooms in the annexe. Given a few more years of gradual improvements, this hotel, with it's gorgeous views, could certainly give the top hotels in Shetland a run for their money.

Sunday lunch is great value here - but has to be viewed with affectionate reminiscences. The menu is simple, the fare is very safe and 1960s / 1970s... prawn cocktail, deep fried mushrooms, carvery, neuked vegetables (definitely definitely definitely cooked!), sticky toffee pudding. All good "coronary on a plate" stuff - but great for Sunday lunch with friends (plan a LONG walk afterwards!). Shetland isn't great on food presentation - and this is no exception. But enjoy the flavours. Minus point - carvery served for you, which freaked out one of my visiting friends who is Muslim: the same knife was used for carving all of the meats, including the gammon and pork :(.

me and my partner decided to go to hillswick for a run and book into the st Magnus Bay for Sunday Carvery and were not disappointed. all of the sunday roasts you could think was on offer and cooked to perfection. the home made Yorkshire puddings were to die for. my partner went up for second helpings as he loved it so much. and the home made puddings were delicious also. I had the banoffee cheese cake and loved it. we will defs be going back in the very near future.

Sunday lunch here is great - a choice of 5 meats and the usual veg. The Yorkshire puddings are a big disappointing but everything else is amazing - particularly the Champ (mash with a ton of butter and spring onion). You get given enough meat for a family!Decor is desperately needing a complete overhaul - tired wall paper with usual Viking/Up Helly Aa stuff on the walls. Bathrooms pretty awful (carpet tiles rising off the floors and pretty dank). Use the loo at home and come here for a fabulous, friendly lunch, homemade puddings (treacle tart amazing!) and fabulous attentive service. Coffee and biscuits can be eaten outside in the sumer too.

Went here with the family for Sunday Lunch, it was a carvery which had roast chicken, pork, beef, lamb, and ham. carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, new potatoes, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and gravy... WOW...Good homely cooking, we just loved it. we have promised to take the family there once every 6 weeks for the Sunday carvery, as they just loved it. the helpings are huge and the service is fantastic and the owner Andrea, is lovely and speaks away to everyone making them feel right at home.

Were reccommended to go for a steak meal. It lived up to its expectation. The service was good and was good value for money.The surroundings on the other hand were deplorable. For a hotel believed to be booked throughout the year by OIL industry in some respects was no better than a working mens hostel. while we were there there was a table on men some in working overalls. Says it all

This hotel needs an awful lot of attention to improve it's overall appearance, so pleased we hadn't been booked to stay here. However although the restaurant has seen better days and was rather gloomy the service was quick and efficient and the roast dinner was huge and wholesome. It's in a lovely part of the island and could have lots of potential.

A shadow of its former self. The present owners are working on the fabric to restore it to its former glory. It is in a perfect position for exploring the northern part of the island. Sad that it is so shabby.

This is obviously a love it or loathe it kind of place, and perhaps we just struck a bad night. We didn't stay here: if the rooms were as discouraging as the restaurant I'm glad we didn't. The building has definitely seen better days and could do with a lick of paint inside and out. The bar was dingy and very shabby and the amazing crystal chandeliers in the dining room only served to highlight the general air of gloom. The staff appeared miserable and demoralised and we weren't always given what we'd ordered. The bar didn't stock any Shetland beer. The Belhaven which we ordered was high on gas and low on flavour. Our neighbour returned his pint of Tennants: we should have done the same. The only reason for giving the place a "poor" rating rather than "Terrible" was that our haddock was quite nice - but it arrived swimming in grease on cold plates accompanied by soggy chips and salads that were drowned in vinegary water. We gave up on our meal without subjecting ourselves to the puddings. Prices were only slightly lower than the excellent dishes which we enjoyed the next night in the bar restaurant of the glorious Busta Hotel some 10 miles away. Hillswick is in a beautiful area - we were staying nearby and didn't want to drive too far - but nothing would make us go to the St Magnus Bay Hotel again: we'd sooner be hungry