The Galleon Bistro Tobermory in Argyll & Bute

Wow, cannot believe the positive reviews this place has. The server (owner?) had a bad attitude from the start which made us feel quite uncomfortable. Ordered a Corona from the menu only to be told they didn't have any. The fillet steak both had a huge lump of chewy, inedible fat in it and was cooked way rarer than the medium-rare ordered - this was grudgingly accepted back after the 'server' consulted with the 'chef' (her husband?) and a 'bad cut from the supplier' blamed - it's hard to accept the chef couldn't tell the cut was bad before cooking it, and we feel they tried to pass it off to us as tourists hoping we would just accept it and not complain. After a replacement alternate dish was provided (it was fine, if in no way outstanding, same with the pasta dish also ordered) and we had finished eating we asked for the bill and were instead handed packets of moist towelettes (?) and told to go to the bar when ready. Zero apology for the bad steak, no discount, not even our drinks comped, nothing. The whole experience was super uncomfortable. Neither the food nor the service nor the decor (laminated placemats, 'gift shop' art) nor the ambiance (loud generic music) justify the high prices charged here (£37 pounds for said fillet steak, £28 for a pasta). There's a reason the Tobermory Hotel down the road is packed every night (we ate there the night before and it was pumping) with both locals and tourists and the Galleon Bistro had only us and two other couples dining (neither of whom looked very happy either). Overall a super disappointing experience.

The langoustine tagliatelle was excellent

From the moment we walked into the Galleon to reserve a table, the menu suggested we’d be in for a culinary delight and indeed we were. Using local produce- lovely fresh scallops to start for me & my wife had wonderful chicken Karaage, then we had fillet steaks cooked to perfection with peppercorn sauce, potato Rosti & creamed spinach, then topped off with Mull Mess for dessert. We are fortunate to travel a lot and this meal ranks highly amongst our most memorable. The Galleon is a must visit whilst in Tobermory but be sure to book in advance so not to be disappointed.

When we visit Mull, which is every year, we always try and visit The Galleon if we’re staying in the North of the island. We ate there on Friday 4th April 2025, our fourth visit I think. We both had scallops, and then fillet steak, and shared a Galleon Mess pud. The scallops and steaks were cooked to perfection, and the pudding was great. A special mention for the Parmesan and Truffle fries we had as extra with the steaks, amazing. Elaine our host as friendly and efficient as ever, and with a decent bottle of wine the bill was totally fine. I seldom can be persuaded to give five ⭐️ for everything, hence my overall rating, but would I recommend eating there, absolutely yes.

Nestled in the picturesque town of Tobermory, the Galleon Bistro stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, captivating both locals and visitors with its exceptional dining experience. The mastermind behind this gastronomic haven is none other than Martin whose unparalleled expertise and innovative vision have elevated the bistro to remarkable heights. Chef demonstrates an extraordinary ability to curate a menu that harmoniously blends traditional flavors with contemporary flair. Each dish is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality. The use of locally sourced, fresh ingredients not only supports the community but also ensures that every plate bursts with authentic taste and superior quality. The menu offers a diverse array of options, catering to a wide range of palates. From succulent seafood dishes that pay homage to Tobermory’s coastal heritage to exquisitely prepared meat and vegetarian options, there is something to delight every diner. The chef’s signature creations, in particular, showcase his culinary prowess and innovative spirit, leaving patrons eagerly anticipating their next visit. In essence, the Galleon Bistro is not merely a dining establishment; it is a culinary journey orchestrated by the exceptional talent of Martin. His dedication to crafting outstanding dishes with the finest ingredients sets a new standard in the gastronomic scene of Tobermory. For those seeking an unforgettable dining experience marked by excellence and creativity, the Galleon Bistro is an unmissable destination.

It’s all ok. Feel like we spent a lot of money on an average meal. We had the Langoustines Linguine special. It was £32 but needed seasoning and more depth of flavour. Service was nice as was the wine. I feel this restaurants online presence perhaps heightened my expectations.

An absolute gem of a restaurant. The food was fantastic, in a really nice relaxed and friendly environment. Our dog was also allowed in and made to feel welcome. Highly recommend this bistro if you’re looking for somewhere for lunch or dinner. Worth noting that google maps had the incorrect opening hours, luckily we checked their website which showed it was open for that evening!

Awesome experience! Friendly staff, great food. I high recommend this small cozy bistro. The dinner was top shelf!

We booked for a big party in early March and the owners were brilliantly accommodating. Food was outstanding, With the kids seated and served first so we could all relax (including the kids!). In this day and age, the bill when it came was also a pleasant surprise. Happy to recommend to family, friends, everyone

Great ambience, and friendly staff. Good menu selection cooked well and served at a friendly pace.

Memorable food, the kind that makes your time to savour. A must when in Tobermory

Absolutely divine. Possibly one of the best steaks I’ve ever had in my life and the scallops were delicious. Definitely worth stopping at, would even go out of my way to eat here. Well worth it!

A brilliant menu in a brilliant restaurant would highly recommend

Galleon Bistro’s online aesthetic, unfortunately, doesn’t quite match up to the real-life experience. On a positive note, one thing we’ve consistently found on the Isle of Mull is how welcoming places are for dog owners, and we applaud the bistro for this. I really appreciate how challenging the industry is for independent restaurants at the moment and am happy to pay a bit more to support them, but it’s a fine line—and for me, the bistro crossed it. The meal, while fine, wasn’t anything special and didn’t quite justify the price tag. That said, the friendly atmosphere and dog-friendly attitude were definite highlights, and I hope they continue to refine their offering to match the potential their online presence suggests.

One of the best places I’ve had the pleasure of eating at. Elaine is an excellent host and the chef’s cooking is amazing! This is a must if you’re in Tobermory, you will not be disappointed. (also Elaine’s Tobermory prints are very cool, I’ll be framing them!). Also, it was lovely to be able to have our dog with us so he wasn’t left alone

Amazing food and atmosphere, thank you Elaine!

We ordered Ribeye, a large glass of wine, soup, and popcorn cauliflower. Honestly food is very good quality and a good place to try out local food. Food portions were less, meat dish was not cooked as asked. Menu had lack of choices but there was effort in the service. I would recommend it if you would like to have some quality food.

Great service, excellent value for money because there are very large quantities of lamb on the plate. Succulent taste! I recommend!

Very friendly staff and fantastic food. Highly recommend the garlic bread. Hidden gem just off the high street

Very good steak. Really enjoyed this dinner. Lamb was great too. Easy to miss and looks a bit more like a bar than a bistro, but well worth a visit when in Tobermory.

Delicious food and drinks, and relaxed atmosphere!

Most amazing restaurant on Isle of Mull in Tobermory. My husband and I visited this restaurant on a motorhome trip. You are missing out on excellent local food that is delicious and well-presented. We had scrumptious mussels, mac ‘n’ cheese, whitebait and scampi! Amazing service and wonderful ambience in a cozy place tucked away in a corner. Highly recommend!

Crayfish cooked fresh and just right, scallops delicious and equally grilled just right. Quality raw materials, small restaurant. The decoration and floor would deserve a review. Advisable. Be careful, booking is a bit complicated, you have to send an email, they do not respond on the day or if it is full as happened to us the second time, they did not consider it necessary to respond.

We had a great lunch at The Galleon after a boat trip from Tobermory. The muscles were particularly good - fresh, well cooked and tasty.

Easily the most disappointing meal of our Scottish vacation, especially given our elevated expectations based on the reviews. The service was chilly at best and the entire ambiance was uncomfortable. The food was mostly decent overall, although the sauce for my lamb rump was essentially vinegar and inedible and the scallops, while very tasty, were cold in the middle. The portions were enormous, which precluded us from sampling desserts, unfortunately. We paid more for this meal than we did for truly outstanding meals in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Tobermory itself has at least one better option for fine dining and fortunately, we found that one the day before.

I was very excited to go having read all the reviews. Unfortunately it didn’t quite live up to expectations. I would give the service and ambience 3 stars as it didn’t feel friendly and welcoming like some of the other restaurants we visited in Mull. The langoustines were very nice but scallops slightly overdone. The chips were very good. It was more expensive compared to other places we had visited which were similar or better in food quality. Overall though, we had a nice evening and meal

Fantastic food and service. Filet steak is a must. 10/10

One of the best meals I’ve had in a few years. Food absolutely excellent, service was fantastic.

Wow! Our lunch today was exceptional. The seafood so fresh! My wife and I have a passion for seafood, whilst on Mull we have sought out quality places to eat and The Galleon is just perfect for us. We sampled whitebait, scampi, oysters and langoustine, all top notch. Make sure you book or you maybe disappointed, we heard 3 people being turned away as they were full in the evenings.

Passing by on a day trip to Mull and dropped in for lunch. Great food, attentive service, fair prices. Doing a really good job of presenting local ingredients. Thank you for the memories froom the Canadian couple.

We had a beautiful dinner here whilst staying in Tobermory. If we had stayed another night, we would have wanted to come back!! I loved the specials boards with fresh catches of the day, and loving seafood we tried the local oysters, scallops, langoustines and salmon, as well as chicken bites which sound basic but most definitely were not! Saw another table order the steak which also looked incredible. The chef and service was amazing, a great selection of wines and whiskeys. Also loved the decor, all in all a wonderful place where we would like to return one day.

Amazing restaurant! If you find yourself in Tobermory this is MUST try. We went back 2 of the three nights we were in town. One of the most delicious meals we’ve ever had. It’s a very small restaurant so everything has exquisite attention to detail. Highly recommend the lamb rump and the steak!

Very kindly squeezed us in earlier than we’d booked. Best salmon I’ve ever had – the food here is absolutely amazing. The atmosphere and staff were very friendly. Definitely the one to go to in Tobermory!

I had the pleasure of eating at the Galleon twice during my month long stay in Tobermory. Both times the food was out of this world—I had langoustines once and a steak filet (which was one of the best I’ve ever eaten). The wine and drinks list are well curated and the service was impeccable. Worth every penny.

Wonderful, friendly staff. Very accommodating and allow dogs! Best meal I've had on the island so far. Fully recommend.

Third visit here and I can't wait to go again. Absolutely delicious food. The best. You must go, really you must. Third visit and can't wait to go again. Everything is delicious. The best. You have to go....really.

We had soup, scampi, karaage chicken, oysters and mussels. Soup was amazing and great start to our meals. You can tell that the chef is good from the way the soup was presented and tasted just as good as it looks. Try the mussels - generous serving and fresh.

Adorable little bistro with the freshest seafood ever. We very much enjoyed our meal and the coffee was delicious as well. Would return if we’re ever in Mull again. Thank you to the staff!

Fabulous little bistro with friendly & hard working owners who deserve recognition for the great food, service and intimate atmosphere created, I would highly recommend a visit to the Galleon.

Visited the bistro last night after checking out reviews for resturants on Tobermory and so glad we booked the Galleon. We had the Oysters then starters of smoked Trout ,scallops followed by fillet steak and the lamb .The food was perfectly cooked with great flavours,then had to try the deserts as it would have been rude not to🤣 which were lovely all washed down with a lovely bottle of red wine.Friendly owners and relaxed atmosphere. Wish we had booked a day earlier and we would have been able to sample the lunch menu before we left the island .

I'm quite bad for getting home from a trip knowing I want to write reviews, then life getting in the way and putting it off/forgetting. Sorry folks! I had the mussels here when I was on a solo trip to Tobermory in August, seated as a walk in for lunch. The mussels were marinated in Thistly Cross cider and were amazing! Still thinking about them nearly 7 months later. Friendly place and good vibes, would definitely go back!

A real pleasure to meet the owners and their dog Hamish. We visited off season so the menu was limited in terms of choice. The food was fantastic as was the service. Can't wait to visit when you're in full swing!

Truly scrumptious. We were warmly welcomed and had a beautiful meal. The popcorn shrimp and garlic bread were super tasty. Everything was so delicious and yummy. The langoustine were so fresh as were the scallops. This is five star food at it it’s very very best. Highly recommend a visit, the menu is magnificent.

We were enjoying a short break in Tobermory and decided to have dinner here. We cannot find fault with anything. The owners are so friendly and very professional at the same time.The food is some of the best we’ve ever tasted and the detail in some of the dishes and the different flavours are works of pure artistry. The setting is relaxed and comfortable and it is also dog friendly. We were there in February so were able to book a table earlier in the day when I met one of the owners with her dog, Hamish, but once the season starts, I recommend booking well ahead. I wish we lived nearer so that we could visit more often but when we are back in Tobermory, we’ll definitely be back here for dinner. 😋😋

Wonderful experience. Excellent food in an intimate yet homely atmosphere. We had all the starters and the lobster tagliatelle - everything was delicious!

We went looking for a restaurant with good food and were blown away by the starter: a cauliflower soup. It made me a believer. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

We went there for lunch and had the best meal in a long time, made with love and with the kindest welcome. After lunch we immediately booked for dinner the next night! Best food on Mull and beyond!

Everytime I'm on Mull I like to come to The Galleon for food for my birthday. This year it was exceptionally good and the pudding was something else. The 'Apple' was something of sublime quality. I've never tasted such an exquisite pudding. Stunning. Great atmosphere and great service. This is why I return. 10/10

It’s been two years since my friend Dan and I visited here on a uni break and I still think about the food! Vegetarian options were slightly limited at the time but there was a gorgeous parsnip soup on offer which I am now attempting to recreate at home because it was so good, and made me a firm convert to the joys of neeps. I also had the fruit crumble, and the chef kindly prepared it with custard on request. Dan also enjoyed his main and dessert, but I forget exactly what he had. Sorry for the late review team and hope you’re doing well! Cheers.

Best food we'd had on the island, shrimp popcorn, scallops starter, delightful with melt in the mouth lamb for a main, pleasant staff, well worth a return visit

What a wonderful little Bistro. The local produce was cooked and presented perfectly. Well worth a visit. The staff, atmosphere, food and drinks were awesome

Lovely place met nice friends had great food and wine

Excellent toddy’s, particularly Espresso Martini, Asian chicken bites were yummy, Portuguese cod with white beans was inspired, lamb was perfectly cooked. Great wine list.

The food was amazing and so was the service. They were very friendIy and helpful. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Excellent food, great service. Would go again if it wasn't so damn far away! :D

Absolutely one of our highlights of trip to Tobermory! We dropped in for lunch upon friends recommendation, was blown away by the Carrot Soup and Mussels. Came back for dinner and everything was so beyond our expectations. This is a not to be missed culinary delight. Matin and Eleane the proprietors are our kinda people.

Outstanding lunch and dinner, fresh produce, cooked to perfection! amazing friendly staff ...highly recommended

Such a memorable experience! Visiting with a larger group, the restaurant presented us with a tasting menu to choose from. The ambiance was everything you’d hope for from an upscale bistro — cozy and inviting. The dishes were incredible, and bountiful (one could argue almost too much, but no one ever complains about that..) Towards the end of the evening, as we sluggishly became the last patrons to leave, we had the pleasure of chatting with the owners – a lovely husband and wife duo. It was cool to hear their story and learn about how The Galleon came to be. As they say, great food alone can't make a restaurant experience memorable; it's the exceptional service and interactions with the staff that elevate it to another level, and The Galleon did just that.

Wonderfully tasteful and beautifully plated food. Atmosphere also cozy and lovely. Amazing service. An amazing place to eat local food!

The Galleon was the best restaurant of our two week trip around Scotland. Amazing, creative food!

This husband and wife team have created a superb dining experience in Tobermory. They have brought a wealth of international culinary knowledge and fused this with the best of local produce. The chef certainly knows what he is doing. Each dish has layers of taste and texture that maintains one's attention for every forkful. If you love food you will love this restaurant.

You can tell why this bistro is so popular. The food is beyond excellent, the chef/owner is passionate about his craft and it shows throughout the whole experience. Backed by his wife, as front of house, it made this one of the most enjoyable evenings we’ve had and well worth the journey from England

The Galleon was great, one of our highlights of the western isles. Only regret would be not getting to sample more of the menu. Will gladly return soon hopefully.

Great small discovery in Tobermory. Small menu for lunch…but unbelievably good. Best salmon in Scotland. Incredible wine. Very friendly staff. A definite MUST when here.

We just had the most amazing family meal at the galleon. The food was faultless and the service was impeccable. We will certainly be back!

It was an amazing experience, the food was delicicious, well cooked and the service wad on the same level ! We really loved chatting with the owners, and sharing oversea's experiences !

The food was amazing- the carrot coriander soup was among the best I’ve ever tasted. And I’d go back for the Mac n cheese too. If I weren’t nicely full from the delicious chocolate dessert.

Some of the very best food that I’ve had in Scotland, hands down, no contest. Worth traveling ten hours just to eat these deeply flavoursome, expertly crafted dishes, delivered with passion and care, by the chef, his team, and the excellent front of house owner! The Roasted Rump of Lamb Creamed Savoy Cabbage was a sensation, and the scotch-eggs cooked to perfection- thank you!!

Dropped in on a wet day in August and enjoyed a fabulous seafood lunch. Super fresh Loch Na Keal oysters and a large helping of excellent Inverlussa mussels. Highly recommended 👌

We had the best meal ever at The Galleon during our trip to Mull on the 8th August. My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and had been to The Galleon the year before when we visited Tobermory so knew we were in for a treat! The langoustines were to die for, the fillet steak cooked to perfection and the tiramisu and treacle tart heavenly. The hosts were so friendly and it was good to be able to share with them how impressed we were with their little bistro that has continued to develop and get even better. Thank you for the most wonderful evening ❤️

My wife and I enjoyed a fabulous dinner at The Galleon in Tobermory last night. Great choices, including freshly caught local seafood, lovely decor and atmosphere, and our hosts, Martin & Elaine were fabulous hosts who were engaging and welcoming.

Amazing service and even better Oysters! So fresh and delicious 😋

Super restaurant. Très bonne cuisine.

Excellent lunch, delicious, good value for money, beautiful presentation and great service. Take two steps off the high street and enjoy this cosy bistro.

Wonderful place - superb food (the fillet steak was faultless), great wine and wonderful staff. Just a fantastic place to eat and spend time. Was in with my 13 year old and he loved it just as much. Says it all!!

Had an amazing meal at the Galleon Bistro last week. The steak was superb - even better than Gaucho & Hawksmoor. Can’t give higher praise than that! They also made our dog, Charlie, so welcome.

Food is brilliant, seafood are so fresh, and delicious. Very satisfied

Heerlijke kreeft en prima service. Aanrader!

Beautiful food, very good quality ingredients. I enjoyed the lamb and pea risotto and my husband had the salmon. We also enjoyed the carachan (?) the traditional Scottish dessert

We really liked our visit to the Galleon Bistro in Tobermory. Great food, great service. Nothing too difficult. Only problem, it was too easy to eat too much :-)

Glad l got in this beautiful gourmet restaurant just chanced going as sent an email request then telephoned, but decided just to jump in the taxi and see for myself luckily l didn't have to wait too long and got a good seat, it made my night. Great food, service and ambiance. If l had waited l would have missed out as they don't open the rest of the time am here. Thank you!

What a wonderful surprise to find such a restaurant in Mull island ! All is good, mussels, lobster, smoked salmon, salad… a nice meeting ! I recommend

A Feast of Fish - what a cracking dog friendly find. The Langoustines were sensational, as were the Mussels! Not to mention the Lobster Mac'n'Cheese... all washed down with a bottle of Picpoul. Everything was spot on and you can even order Scampi as a side! The food is local and seasonal (as it should be) so come with an open mind and an empty stomach. Martin and Elaine were super accomodating of both people and pooch and we hope to make it back again soon.

Amazing, simply put- this is one of the best meals I've ever had. The food was superb. We had scallops, and a beetroot starter, followed by salmon and monkfish mains. All expertly cooked and presented, such amazing tastes. Well done chef, well done. Highly highly recommended. An absolute must if you're visiting Tobermory

Excellent in every way, highly recommended if you like nice food and good service 😀

Super restaurant. Fresh, local food. Great staff. Worth a trip to Mull for on its own.

A must when visiting Mull - excellent food. Ensure you book ahead

Great meal in a beautiful setting, on the patio overlooking the harbour. Service was friendly and prompt. Would highly recommend.

There is nothing more to say than this place is culinary magic!

Een pareltje! Heerlijke sfeer, goed opgezette bistro. En bovenal een mooie variatie op de menukaart. Uiteraard een goede keus uit lokaal verkregen ingrediënten. Een absolute aanrader dus.

The food was amazing but the service very cold and unfriendly. Shame as we loved everything else about this place.

Another delicious meal at The Galleon bistro, one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. The service was excellent, didn’t feel rushed and was totally relaxed. We will definitely be back and thoroughly recommend if you’re ever in Tobermory.

Had an amazing dinner, super fresh lobster, great service!

We found the Galleon on Google, and after reading the great reviews, our visit was a must! The restaurant is nicely decorated and has a lovely feeling to it. We were nicely greated by Elaine, and she made sure we had everything we needed in every moment. The food was SUPERB. Everything was perfectly cooked and extremely fresh. We had scallops, lobster and ribeye steak, and we simply loved everything. When we finished we had a nice chat with Elaine and Martin, we will be waiting for your future visit to the Basque Country! Our dinner was clearly one of our highlights of our Scotland tour! Eider and Dani

Tried the starters, main courses and dessert at Galleon's for dinner yesterday and would highly recommend the scallops as starters as well as the lamb and half lobster main courses. All the dishes were flavourful and the seafood items were very fresh. Martin and Elaine were also very patient and personable which made the whole dining experience very memorable. Kudos for the hard work and will recommend this place to anyone visiting Tobermory!

Best lobster I have had. Other diners said thier selections were equally good. Really good service and atmosphere.

Très bon établissement tenu par un couple très accueillant et chaleureux. A noter une carte de Cocktails originale et très bien présentés. Je me suis régalée de l'apéritif au dessert: excellente cuisine aux produits très frais !

Best place to eat in Tobermory! Fantastic customer service! Super clean bathrooms!

Delighted that the Galleon were able to squeeze us (and our dog!) in at the last minute during a brief trip to Mull. Definitely the best meal we had during our stay - really good cooking and the best of Mull’s local ingredients. Fantastic stuff!

The Galleon Bistro was an absolute delight to eat at. I don't think I've ever had mussels cooked to such perfection and my partner had the best lamb he'd ever eaten. Usually I don't eat meat and the owners said they'd be more than happy to cook vegetarian/vegan food if booked in advance. It was a pleasure to talk to the owners about their business and their love of good food and wine. Their cocktails are a classic boozy dream and the wine selection is great. Scott and myself will definitely be returning to the restaurant on our next venture to Mull, to sample some more phenomenal, well-balanced food and welcoming service. I could've stayed for a very long time! Thank you so much to the owners, I hope you are both doing well!