The Clachan Inn Restaurant in Dumfries & Galloway

Visited recently with my family to celebrate the 91st birthday of my mother. We all really enjoyed it. The welcome and the service was excellent. The food was wonderful - again everyone agreed. I had the grilled halloumi and loved it - others had haddock and the burger, again first class. But the highlight had to be the desserts - fantastic. Great service, great food and all at a very reasonable price. I am happy to recommend - and wish the owners well. Regards

What a good find this pub was. Lovely atmosphere and great food. Family of 4 and all our courses were top-notch. We had a dog and ate in the bar area, the dining area looks great, we will return next time we are in the area.

Enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Clachan Inn. I had the chicken wrap which so good! A great menu and very reasonably priced. Lovely people serving too. Would definitely recommend.

Had a great meal at the Clachan Inn on Friday evening with a couple of very good friends who were treating us to a golden wedding celebration. The food was excellent, the choice of menu, the service and the staff were all first class. The atmosphere and decor are great and we would definitely eat there again when in the area. We highly recommend the Clachan.

Have been to the Clachan once or twice before. Meals always good. Just one word of warning, .......the flooring in the dining room seems to have been renewed, and if it's raining outside and you come in with wet feet, it is absolutely treacherous. The waitress wholeheartedly agreed with us !

Thank you for a great evening. Came up from the Midlands for the weekend to celebrate my 60th. As ever thoroughly enjoyed it

Arrived without a reservation on a busy evening when they were fully booked, but helpful staff offered a limited menu if we ate in the bar or beer garden. One of our party enjoyed the best halloumi burger she'd ever had. Also good fish and chips. The dessert menu made it tough to choose as all looked so good. As it was the sticky toffee pudding with caramelised bananas was amazing, as was the rhubarb cheesecake. Thoroughly recommended. Not from the area but would travel again to return for the full menu. Thank you.

This is our second 2night trip to stay in this lovely Inn at the heart of Dalry. Dinner has been excellent on all 4 dining experiences. Breakfasts are beautifully presented as well with meticulous attention to both temperature of the food and the presentation. The dinner menus pay close attention to the local foods , seasonally changing and with very high provenance. Service is attentive and very friendly . The owner and her lovely staff have perfected service to be “spot on” with spacing between courses . We love it there and cannot praise highly enough.

Lovely characterful pub with a warm welcome. Lunch was an exquisite taste of quality. With local ingredients being made into sublime dishes. Staff are unobtrusive and friendly. We live relatively locally and we can't wait to return.

Delicious food and great service, highly recommend for a meal. Specials menu plus a good variety on the main menu.

We luckily got a table due to a cancellation, and their loss was definitely our gain. As we entered the restaurant, with the open fires crackling, and the low lighting I just knew instantly we had stumbled upon something special. My daughter and I had the rump and sirloin steaks, which were both cooked to perfection (medium rare) with the triple cooked chips and creamed mash potato a lovely accompiament. My wife had the haddock, and my other daughter had the fish and chips from the children's menu, both were equally delicious. The puddings we had were also really nice. The cheese cake and the chocolate dome. Great selection of beers on tap and the service was faultless. Thank you Clachan, for an exceptional meal

The best meal I've ever had in a 'pub'! Wonderful food from starter through to dessert. The staff even provided the most stunning vegan fare when we had requested vegan food on booking. All six in the party had the most fabulous food. We sat in the bat by the fire as we had 2 dogs with us. The staff were most polite and attentive . And good beer too!

Booked to stay here to facilitate a nearby activity the following morning, with friends. What a find, a fantastic cosy. olde world style pub with wonderful friendly staff. Accommodation was excellent, comfortable spotless rooms. The food was absolutely delicious and we cannot recommend this place highly enough. I hope we have a reason to return to this area, in fact we will return, even if it's just to dine here again.t

I have visited here several times and we are never disappointed. The Shetland mussels were back on the menu, so tasty. Unfortunately no pictures of the rest of our food. I would recommend a visit for lunch or dinner but book in advance to avoid disappointment. Can't wait to return.

We were down in St John's Town of Dalry on a break and a friend recommended this restaurant. The restaurant is so pretty from the outside and warm and welcoming inside, a real treat on a driech evening in December, roaring fire and warm radiators, restaurant was busy, service was attentive, really friendly staff. The food! it was out of this world, I could have eaten my whole 3 course meal again! Thank you so much, hopefully we will have time in the future to visit the area again and enjoy another 5 star experience!

Had an amazing dinner at the Clachan. We were a very large group but Laura and her team were super helpful in organising. The food and service were amazing and the bothy room we were in had plenty of space but was also very cosy.

I stopped for one night and the room with en-suite was more than adequate. The evening meal was excellent and the menu choice was superb. We had booked for breakfast before we left and the options available seemed to cover all needs. Unfortunately, we had...

Our third visit proves the reliability of the very high quality of cuisine and service offered by the Clachan.

Thank you everyone at The Clachan. What a superb meal we had last night, attentive friendly staff and as ever fantastic food. Jenny & Dougie Milby

I never expected such lovely food. My friends commented that unlike other 'gastro pubs' this lunch tasted like you knew the chef was involved. In fact, it is almost an insult to call Clachan Inn a 'gastro pub'. It was warm, friendly, well served and...

Visited the Clachan with friends in a Sunday for lunch. The food was amazing, portions were healthy and very reasonably priced. This place is well worth a visit.

What a lucky break, phoned last minute and we were told there had been a cancellation, had this not been the case we think we might have missed the best meal we have had together ever. The staff deserve praise, it was busy but they...

Lovely old character Scottish Inn. Evening meal for 4 and the food was superb. Starters - haggis scotch egg with piccalilli was amazing as was the duck and pea risotto. Fish main and also the steak Very good. Staff very pleasant. Good choice of real...

Fantastic food and top hospitality guaranteed whenever we visit. Regularly travel through from Dumfries to eat. Favourite place in the region to eat!

The food is amazing, pork ribeye with hispi cabbage, wow! 40 mile round trip for lunch but so worth it will be back next week for the same dish

Wonderful food and very reasonable. The menu changes regularly, inventive dishes with local produce and everything I’ve ever ordered has been brilliant. I can’t recommend highly enough for lunch or dinner. Jealous of the people who live nearby - I would eat there every day...

Amazing meal for three families catching up together. 6 adults and 5 teens feed and watered for a great price! The goats cheese roulade was delicious, beef burgers almost too big eat and the Shetland mussels starters were exceptional! Excellent service and we will be...

We had an excellent lunch here on 4 June - starting with chargrilled octopus followed by similarly cooked seabream and sirloin steak. More fish on the menu than on previous visits which suits us down to the ground - courtesy of Messrs Pieroni of Ayr....

We ate here yesterday , and I have to say it is the best meal that either my husband or myself can remember eating in a very long time. Every course was delicious and memorable. The oysters that we started with are the best I...

In summer eat outside, in winter inside the toasty warm confines of this restauranty pub. Good food, locally sourced, cooked well and reasonably priced. Plus hand-pulled real ale which is a really rare thing in this part of Scotland. Lovely.

Absolutely fantastic weekend spent at the The Clachann Inn. Phil, Laura and there fabulous friendly team were wonderful hosts, the food was amazing, and the room was stylish, clean and comfortable, we’ll be back for sure!

I have just returned from a weekend stay and already can’t wait to return! The rooms are comfortable and quiet, the food is delicious and the service is fabulous… Thank you so much to the team at The Clachan Inn!!

Stayed in Dalry for the weekend and had no idea there was a local pub with amazing food ..we popped in for a pint and bar food and immediately saw we were somewhere special. the staff were exceptional.. so welcoming and professional. we had dinner...

Husband and I had an amazing lunch in an amazing pub. Had heard many great reports about this inn and decided to try it for ourselves. Not disappointed. Menu was so different and we were spoiled for choice. We had butternut squash and ginger soup...

As usual the service and ambience were outstanding. This was our third time visiting and we are going again in May to stay. The choice of food was excellent with food pairings which are unusual but perfect. The food is beautifully presented and tastes divine....

Had a fantastic meal here for our wedding anniversary. We have not eaten here for a while, the food used to very good, but they have really upped their game and the food is exceptional. My husband really enjoyed his thoughtful, delicious and really well...

Dumfries and Galloway is a hidden gem of the UK - off the beaten track but well worth a visit, and the Clachan is a hidden gem within Dumfries and Galloway. Dalry takes a bit of getting to from just about anywhere, but what a...

Having just arrived for a weekend in Galloway, we called in for drinks and food, not realising you had to book. The girls went out of their way to fit us in. The food was outstanding and made a great start to a windy weekend

Stayed for 3 nights, the accommodation was spotless and food was spectacular. We will definitely be back and I do hope the mussels will be on the menu. Thank you Laura and Phil, you've definitely improved the whole experience 👏

Booked lunch for 5 to meet friends. We all agreed it was the best meal we had enjoyed for ages. Lovely country pub with fire going provided a perfect atmosphere for a wet day. The menu read so enticingly we all struggled to choose. Cooking...

I enjoyed the best Sunday Roast (Pork Belly) here a few weeks ago, we were a table of 8 and all the food was delivered smoothly. The scallop starter, chicken dish main and desserts were all great as was the service. The only thing to...

Once again a fabulous meal at the Clachan. This time it was Sunday lunch. A delicious starter of Kirkcudbright scallops followed by roast chicken served with a medley of cauliflower cheese, puréed turnip, red cabbage, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and lashings of tasty gravy. A...

Wow!! Possibly the best restaurant we have ever eaten in. Fresh oysters, beautiful scallops, lamb, duck.. all perfectly cooked and delicious. Exquisitely designed plates with tasty accompaniments. Could not fault it at all.

I'm a regular visitor to D&G for over 30 years (and still not *that* old thankyouverymuch!). I first popped in to this place, which is just up from the Galloway Activity Centre, a number of years ago, and it continues to be excellent. Whether for...

Mixed group of adults, teenage kids, meat eaters and veggies. This restaurant ticked the boxes for us all. Every dish - starters, main courses and puddings - was excellent. Drinks menu is great and wine list reasonable. Staff wonderful from start to finish (and even...

What a delicious lunch we had on Saturday. The menu was very varied and was something different. I had pork ribeye steak and it was delicious and husband had battered haddock and said it was the best fish he had tasted for a very long...

Recommend by our air bnb host who booked for us. It was stunning! Harissa lamb shoulder and wood pigeon starter were so tasty. The sea bream my partner had for main was beautifully cooked. My blade of beef simply melted. Creme brûlée and a cheese...

We had our table booked for 7pm but fancied an early meal, 'phoned up at 6pm and were told 'no problem see you as soon as you like!' Service was just right, friendly and warm, efficient without rush, plenty of room between tables. The menu...

We have now been to The Clachan twice and are trying to work out how we can justify more journeys there from Dumfries! The food is incredible in terms of taste, quality and portions. We both had venison pie on our most recent trip and...

Had the most fabulous meal last night at the Clachan. Phil and his team are still truly on form! Succulent Kirkcudbright king scallops cooked in chilli and ginger butter served with a fennel and coriander salad. For my main a delicious orzo, wild garlic, asparagus...

Just a superb meal on the opening day, our first chance to visit from Ayrshire. Outside in a lovely sheltered setting with cover in case of a shower. Great service and a superb menu that was better than described. Everyone came away from the lunch...

Just about all round perfect - good food, pleasant unobtrusive staff, warm atmosphere. Everything was well managed to cope with the restrictions but again unobtrusive. A very cheering experience in these difficult times. Thank you

Booked a table for 6.30pm. Had to wait for someone to come and seat us which was ok. All table service due to current guidelines. Prices very reasonable. Things went down hill for my husband, he wanted the venison, they had ran out. Then ordered...

We stopped here yesterday on our trip to Visit some deer in the forest. After originally planning to stop at a tea room which was shut a quick glance in trip advisor made us end up coming to the Clachan for lunch and the menu...

Excellent food and service. Mussels where the best we have ever eaten. Would definitely recommend. Very well organised and following COVID-19 safety rules and regulations.

The young couple that run this inn have adapted to all the new regulations since March and continue to run a busy, friendly establishment. From takeaways in lockdown to heated outdoor areas this weekend. The quality of the food is very good from a ever...

We visited for dinner. Circumstances were unusual due to COVID restrictions which meant we couldn't drink alcohol indoors or eat after 6pm, but this didn't take away from our experience. The food was absolutely delicious, service was quick, staff were friendly and welcoming, COVID precautions...

Booked in advance due to increased Covid 19 measures. Lovely Sunday lunch with soft drinks (no alcohol allowed) and an amazing desert. Staff very friendly and attentive and all food cooked beautifully. After the meal we enjoyed a cheeky alcohol drink in the beer garden....

Two wonderful meals, after being recommended the Inn by our B&B. Top quality, imaginative dishes, great service and really good value. What is not to like ?

we’ve lived in Scotland one year and about 25 miles from Dalry. We called in for a drink and lunch whilst passing through and really wish we had a pub like this where we are. Good atmosphere, cosy seating, fires, nice decor and friendly staff....

A return visit (last was August 2019) and just as good! Friendly staff (taking all necessary Covid restrictions) and efficient service. Excellent meals in a cosy atmosphere.

Absolutely fantastic stay. The staff are friendly and attentive. The selection of food and real ales is absolutely amazing. We had a brilliant time and will be back again very soon.

Two fantastic evening meals at the Clachan! We stayed in New Galloway for a week and we visited on the Weds & returned on the Fri as it was so good! We had Blade of Beef on our first visit, which was excellent. Our second visit we had three courses - Squid, followed by a lamb shank and an amazing duck breast with a spring roll and pak choi. We then had a sticky toffee and a pavlova, which were both delicious. Thanks to all the Team for a lovely evening (twice)!!

Just passing through St Johns town of Dalry and thought Id Sit down outside and order some food after my cycle. It is by far the best meal I’ve paid for in a long time. The attention to detail and tastes on my plate were superb. Couldn’t rate it highly enough and was really surprised at the quality. I’m coming back for more as I need to try more of the menu.

Such a lovely pub! We reserved a table in the bar area as we had our dog with us. We were very impressed with the Covid 19 procedures and how these were adhered to and enforced; We felt very safe. The menu was inspiring and the food was delicious. Even our usually fussy 8 year old cleared her plate!

The worst part about dining at the Clachan is having to limit ourselves and not order the entire menu! Everything sounds so amazing that myself and my husband often spend a good 15 minutes in intense deliberation trying to decide what to choose!We dined on Sunday with our daughter and the food, as always, did not disappoint.Crispy squid with fennel & green chilli, paprika aioli for starter was a stand out dish - delicious. Followed by Cod Ayrshire potatoes, leek, mussels, bacon & cider clotted cream. ( I was also heavily swaying towards the topside roast Sunday dinner which is one of the best I have ever eaten, the Scottish beer-battered haddock which I have previously viewed enviously at other diners tables & the blade of beef!)Hubby opted for chorizo scotch egg with romesco sauce followed by the Angus cheese and bacon burger. A Scottish berry pavlova with elderflower curd and clotted cream for pudding.The children's menu caters for the more discerning junior diner with options including haggis, neeps and tatties and a small-sized portion of the aforementioned Sunday Roast, fish & chips, bangers & mash. They are also happy to accommodate any children's requirements or requests which they have done for us previously.My 4 year old polished off a bowl of haggis neeps and tatties with pepper sauce and declared it to be yummy followed by the caramelised rice pudding with salted caramel ice-cream (another stand out).The service was very friendly and efficient and the COVID precautions were excellent. We felt extremely safe and relaxed during our visit.Highly recommend!

Another visit to the Clachan and yet again another great meal. Highly recommend the feather blade of beef - meat was so tender and the duck leg was very yummy too. A safe and enjoyable dinning experience post COVID, staff gone above and beyond guidelines.

Excellent food and service. Table service inside and out with gazebo's over the tables. Professional staff adhering to covid 19 regs. Food not cheap but you get what you pay for and I'd rather pay for good quality. Chef even made adaptations to the meal ingredients to cater for my family's pescatarian diet! Will definitely be returning.

Faultless meal throughout with great service. The pork belly with black pudding and apple sauce is really excellent, but so is everything else!

What can I say - if the white wine had been the same temperature as the ham and the ham the temperature of the white wine it might have been a better experience. Then waiting 20 minutes for a bowl of chips that consisted of 2 chips and the rest "scraps" - despite asking 3 times for them. I know we live if difficult times but if it's table service only then serve don't just abandon people in a corner. This must be our 5th or 6th visit to The Clachan but will be our last.Really quite dreadful and very sad as we have spent many happy, lazy lunches with you.

So very pleased we can eat at the Clachan again. I’ve sorely missed the lovely Laura and Phil’s excellent food. This review covers two experiences. One a take away fish and chips eaten in their beer garden, hubby had pork belly chop. Fabulous chocolate tart for afters. Second experience was Kirkcudbright King Scallops with Asian Salad and a Flat Iron Steak. I can’t tell you how good my two courses were. Hubby had the chargrilled Scottish Squid and Pork Belly to follow. We shared the peach tart tatin. All social distancing measures are in place. I felt very safe. Waitresses had PPE on. Strange new normal but it worked. Laura and Phil have also redecorated the restaurant and I gave to say it looks lovely and fresh. Well done both of you on reinventing the Clachan post lockdown.

Superb lunch at The Clachan. You should all visit and eat here. Lovely. Duck spring roll then cod with mussels samphire and cider bacon and clotted cream sauce.

Served by friendly, attentive staff as always the amazing food delivered in a relaxed atmosphere makes this the best place to eat in Galloway. None of the country inn charm has been lost by the makeover but now much brighter inside with such a feeling of space. My wife and kids have all missed this place hugely - we work in hospitality so to find a space to relax for an hour or two has been a huge loss. Wishing Laura and the team all the best

This was our first meal in a restaurant since incarceration during which time we both notched up another year and have our wedding anniversary tomorrow. Most impressed with the makeover that the Inn has had over the shutdown and the arrangements for hygiene and social distancing - there was an air of tranquility in The Bothy and we both felt completely safe.The food was excellent as always - we had squid and scallops for starters followed by belly pork and a steakburger and pannacotta for dessert.The staff were charming and efficiently introduced the way things are done in Covid land.

Just had a wonderful takeaway from The Clachan - just as good as eating in the restaurant. Great local restaurant/pub that we are lucky to have in the area.

This local restaurant is providing carry - outs during COVID 19. Fabulous way of taking orders and payment so no contact (just remember to wash your hands after dishing your meal onto your plates). They are constantly changing the menu and have specials on occasionally (check the News and Events section of the website). Laura and Phil are now on their own getting all this done so three cheers to them. Although we at home have plenty of food this is a way of breaking up the week and keeping sane as I can't leave the house for three months or more!

We had something to celebrate and went to our favourite restaurant locally - warm welcome by friendly staff and a log fire, excellent food (we had rabbit and venison) at a reasonable price.

We found this pub/hotel last year so we definitely wanted to dine here again this time. It didn't disappoint. A cosy charming old pub with a real fire.A good menu with plenty of choice and friendly service.Well priced too. Set in a lovely little town with beautiful surroundings,we'll definitely be back next time

Beautiful menu, cosy environment, food cooked to perfection, polite friendly service all at a reasonable price for quality food. What's not to like

Stayed here for just one night, staff very friendly really good atmosphere and amazing food would highly recommend thank you for making me feel extremely welcome...

Stayed here for one night during our time in Galloway. Lovely cosy atmosphere, dinner by the open fire with great food. A really special experience.

Friendly, warm atmosphere and the food was very very good.

We stayed overnight at the Clachan Inn, and were given a lovely welcome on arrival, the room had been recently refurbished but the lighting was so low that we could hardly read. It was clean however .Our window , at the back, overlooked the garden area which definitely needs attention. Dinner was lovely , the service was excellent and the ladies at breakfast were smashing. Well done them.

We had the scotch egg to start and it was gorgeous, the piccalilli served with it is so tasty. My partner had the bacon chop and I had steak for mains again really good. Highly recommend this pub for food.

We were staying in the area for a long weekend and went out for dinner. The menu is not huge which to me is a good thing. The goats cheese,beetroot and pear was lovely, and the venison scotch egg fab. We both had the venison haunch special and very pleased we did,very tender and local.,always a bonus. The cheese board was a great mix but the rice pudding finished the other half off,great but just tipped him over. Very pleased we went.

Had an overnight here last week having booked a few months ago after reading the Times review. It’s not a part of Scotland we know at all and it was a very pleasant drive down from Glasgow.

After trying and failing to secure a table here for months finally managed one all. I can say is worth the wait, beautiful starts of pigoen and mussels followed by equally delicious beef cheeks and skate wing, must say don't find skate on many menus and I don't know why it's a beautiful cut prepared to perfection here, the atmos is great proper country pub feel really enjoyed the meal, service and atmos will defo be back, all I can say is book early

My father and I went for lunch today probably the third time this year we have been , made a phone booking as it’s advisable, the meal was fantastic as usual, serving great local produce which caters for gluten free and vegan requirements.would definitely recommend a try .

I had the most enormous skate wing with a perfectly salty and creamy sauce. Sitting by the fire with a glass of red wine and enjoying the atmosphere of this great little bar and restaurant. Stayed over and the breakfast was pretty epic too.

Went here for our 10th wedding anniversary for an evening meal and wow , loved every minute of it... food was off the highest standard as was the service, will be back very shortly.. loved the atmosphere decor the lot,

We visit St John’s Town of Dalry on a regular basis and always love coming to the Clachan. The vibrant friendly atmosphere of the pub combined with excellent standard of food always make for a great time. Couldn’t recommend the pub enough.

Booked a table at the Clachan Inn for my birthday. Only 3 tables left when we booked and that was a Thursday night.....tells you something. Fantastic period pub with open fires and had we been earlier, we would have been in the pub area for dinner, but as we were late, we were in The Bothy. It is a bit barn like, the decor needs attention and it is a total contrast to the main area. Not my favourite I have to say. That said, the food was excellent and the service friendly. Would certainly go back and even consider staying there next time.

Lunch was excellent no complaints. Although busy service was polite. Menu was based on local products. Will return more often but may book next time

We spent some time around the Galloway area over the September weekend had a meal at The Clachan Inn on a recommendation. Most of the meal was good but the battered fish was greasy also if I had known that there were dead animals heads and skulls on the walls I think that we would have given it a miss, really not a thing for this day and age and not the type of thing children would want to see.

Very good pub dinner: Giles Coren reviewed this place very positively in The Times recently, and he is right; it is outstanding! Attention to every detail; kale was just right and with no stalks: delicious jus, beautiful smooth but firm textured mash potato. Standout dishes were starters of wood pigeon, and of crispy squid (slightly chilified with Siracha mayonnaise). We also had a melting featherblade of beef off the specials board, and caramelised rice pudding. All the ice creams and sorbets were home made and the ones we had, just right. There is a short and good value wine list. The price was very reasonable for the dinner we enjoyed.

We always have at least one meal here when we stay in the area, the quality of the food never disappoints, the menu has plenty of choice and food is freshly prepared, staff are very pleasant and attentive, and last nights visit was no exception, hopefully we will get another visit in before the weekend.

read about this place in a review by Giles Coren and since we were down this way we decided yo pop in.

Up visiting again and went for our usual trip to the clachan. The place goes from strength to strength and you need to book to ensure you don't miss out. Great food with a changing specials board. This is also the village local so always a few characters in the bar!!

Venison was really tough, burger not brilliant, puddings better, ambience and decor good, just overall okish but we expected much better for the money.

We have just spent 3 nights at the Clachan Hotel. What a delightful find. In all our years traveling around Scotland we can honestly say we have never had finer hospitality and food than at the Clachan. Each evening meal was absolutely the best ever. Local venison , steak and fish cooked to the highest tastiest standard we have ever experienced. We have travelled the world and eaten in some of the finest restaurants - but the guys in the kitchen at the Clachan have surpassed every expectation and made our evening meals very very special. Something to remember. And not to mention the breakfast which was absolutely memorable. ( thanks Anne. ) . The staff are delightful - so very professional and Gillie looked after us superbly . Everything about the place made our short stay very special. It will not be long before we book to stay again. Can’t wait to pay another visit. Thank you to all at the Clachan for making our little stay memorable for all the right reasons. Cheers guys.