The Royal an Lochan Restaurant in Argyll & Bute

New chef has a wonderful talent and the team that work in this hotel are great also views too die for wonderful bedrooms great drinks list

Well where do I start!!! I will start positively and say the view was amazing and the staff were welcoming. Unfortunately that’s where the positive points go!!! We read the reviews and a local farmer was glowing about the quality of the food and that the new chef was Michelin trained, how different experience we had. For starters we both ordered the Cullen Skink as this is one of my favourites and the manager said the chef had made a fresh batch and it was beautiful, when our arrived it looked amazing and then I put my spoon in, the soup was tepid at the most and not edible. We sent both back as both were the same and within 5 Minutes it came back roasting hot but the soup had clearly split and the milk/cream base had curdled and it tasted awful.. We declined to have a replacement and hoped for better with the main course, how wrong were we 😩 I was intrigued by the sausage and steak pie so ordered it and my wife chose the pan fried duck breast with a side portion of beer battered onion rings. Let’s start with mine. The plates were very Hot and the steak and sausage stew was topped with a puff pastry lid, one large new potato and veg. The stew was odd tasting and again not hot, it was awful!! The vegetables were almost cold and had been so overcooked they were mushy. As for the puff pastry lid it was poor and tasted stale. All in all not at all nice. My wife’s pan fried duck breast was overcooked and tepid, judging by the time it took to cook it must have been part cooked and warmed through. Her vegetables were as cold and overcooked as mine and the sauce tasted like bisto!! The onion rings looked amazing and were hot, which was a bonus, the shame was that they were awash with oil and it tasted dirty. We decided to pay and leave, thankfully the Cullan Skink was taken off the bill and it took all my reserve to not complain about the main course too. Ultimately it is a lovely location and the views are out of this world. The staff were really nice but the food was awful

Beautiful location on Argyll’s secret coast. Traditional style hotel with superb views over the loch, great restaurant, excellent local seafood on the menu and friendly staff. Good value and the triple cooked chips are a compulsory addition to any order as they are fantastic, seriously. Highly recommend.

Nice dinning room with lovely views of the scenery. Unfortunately the meal and service left a lot to be desired. The starter of haggis bon-bons was sparse with little garnish and in the main course of chilly chicken in a bun, the chicken was burnt to a cinder. On top of that the service was very slow. We will not be returning. .

We have become regulars at this lovely hotel restaurant during our stay in Tighnabruaich. We were only staying six nights in the village but because of the quality of the food put before us and the fact that we were made to feel so welcome with our little dog Hamish, we returned each night for our evening meal and we were not disappointed. Even when the hotel experienced a hiccup with their gas supply, they had a limited menu and a great choice. Thank you so much for accommodating us each evening. If we're ever in the area again, we will return. Highly recommended.

We booked this hotel ( 2 sea view rooms) months ago , as part of a trip with friends. It was part of a carefully chosen specific itinerary to give our friends the best experience of our favourite places . On the drive up yesterday I glanced at my emails - Booking.com had emailed me at 01.40 am to advise that the hotel had cancelled our booking due to plumbing issues with the room ! We were left ( 4 of us and 4 dogs) with no accommodation at peak holiday time . Booking.com found somewhere else - which is definitely not what we had wanted and not in the right place but a bed . I did speak to the hotel - who advised the rooms were cancelled at 21.00 the night before . If they had contacted us direct we could have at least considered what options we had - not easy looking for 2 dog friendly rooms . I appreciate things happen / go wrong - but you were obviously aware that it was a problem that couldn’t be resolved on Wednesday! So thank you very much An Lochan but we will not be chancing another booking with you .

The Menu was slightly different to the usual Pub Food offered in the area. The Staff were friendly and efficient.

Family reunion meal prebooked for a group of 14 early in August while on holiday in the area. All ready for us as promised on arrival with one large table at the end of the main restaurant. Very well looked after by Eleanor and her team. Gorgeous food with large variety of options to choose from. The GF and V requirements of two of the group were fully met. Beautifully presented in every case - high quality food for the prices charged. Drinks also at very reasonable prices. By pre-ordering the previous day from the supplied menu the service was slick- starters on the table soon after arrival. Wonderful traditional style hotel building with a marvellous sea view from the dining room in this most beautiful area. Hope to be back!.

Stayed here before and love the hotel, but the new chef and manager take it to a whole new level. Everything we had was incredible & the seafood was exceptional

Food is amazing! Nachos out of this world and fresh lobsters from Local waters. Helpful staff New manager is a delight, parter of the new chef as well great team real hidden gem!

Wir waren für drei Tage in Tighnabruich und ab zwei Abenden hier essen. An beiden Tagen hatten wir Seafood von wirklich exzellenter Qualität. Wir haben das wirklich sehr genossen! Der Service war ebenfalls sehr nett und um unser Wohl besorgt, manchmal aber noch etwas 'unorganisiert'. Man merkt das scheinbar alle neu im Metier sind und noch zu lernen haben - hat aber nicht wirklich gestört und war teilweise sogar irgendwie charmant.

We were in Tighnabruaich for a few hours and called into the hotel for lunch. As yet they do not have a full lunch service, however, we were offered soup and sandwiches or an omelette by a very efficient member of staff whose customer service was exemplary. The food was lovely.

Last minute decision to get away for the weekend, and boy was it a good one! Huge rooms, en-suite bathroom was a whole room in itself with large shower, roll top bath and oodles of space. Bed was huge and lovely and firm, slept with curtains open to be awoken by the early dawn light glinting off the silvery Kyles of Bute. Breakfast was great, coffee awesome, all round great spot.

We booked as it was one of the hotels in the area we were staying. We chose not to take our dog as he takes up a lot of room but he would have been welcome. The hotel was very well styled but we were made to feel very relaxed on our arrival, the man in the waistcoat, likely the manager was full of wit and charm. The waitress was lovely and actively encouraged our napkin folding activity. The food was very good and we are glad we made this choice, we had a lovely chat with the 2 men and their dog (the dog didn't have much to say) at the next table. We would recommend for both the food and the atmosphere. Lovely evening.

We had a recommendation from a lovely local lady to try the Royal for food. Not disappointed, the meal was just lovely and so clean and tasty. Staff were very pleasant and most helpful. Added bonus, we could take our dog, they have a small section of the restaurant for four legged friends. When we next visit, we shall definitely be back. Thank you all so much.

Booked a 70th birthday meal for a group of 26. The event was a great success. Good communication with the staff in the run up to the meal. Plenty of choice and when the food came we all found it delicious.(Accidentally serving the children the...

Can highly recommend this place, food & service is excellent . The fish was so tasty. Breakfast was also fantastic

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here and service from bar staff to waiters was excellent! Highly recommend!

Eve Birthday stay. Spent a weekend at the Royal hotel for my wife birthday. Food was fantastic all weekend. David and all the staff went over and above to make our weekend special. Had paddle board with me to. Water was great. Will definitely stay...

There are three different dining areas in the hotel including one which could be used for a family gathering or special occasion. The latter and one of the other areas both overlook the water and hills at the front of the hotel so if your...

We stayed for 2 nights. Our room, No 4, was very comfortable and had a beautiful view looking over to the Kyles of Bute. Greg, the owner was very welcoming and helpful. We would definitely stay there again.

Booked one night in October. Delighted with room 2. Kyles' facing spacious room with very comfortable 4 poster bed. Had dinner in hotel. Small and sharing tapas on offer. All delicious but we ordered too many. Excellent breakfast. Very Covid wary and felt very safe....

Unique range of Scottish styled tapas at this restaurant. Great views across the Kyles of Bute. Friendly and helpful staff. Tapas included smoked salmon, tempura haddock, chicken satay, pancake roll, etc. Very different. Good quality food and all seemed home made. Service was not quick...

We stayed for a couple of nights in a wonderful room with fantastic views across the Kyles of Bute. To sit at the window and just take in the scenery was astounding. We ate wonderfully in the restaurant, although different with Covid-19 restrictions the staff...

Food and service was great, the tapas style menu was nice but was quite expensive for what you got. E.g. £10 a plate for 3 fish goujons or 2 wee chicken tacos with 2 chunks of chicken in each. Flavours were lovely just thought it...

dropped into the hotel late on Friday night with a late booking. Staff couldnt have been more helpful or friendly and was cycling so was warmly received. Very highly recommended!

Excellent quality food and well presented at a good price. The location is great with views over the kyles of Bute. Also loved the background music.

My wife and I arrived at the Royal An Lochan for our 2 night stay on 14th of February, we were taken to our room and I had ordered a bouquet of white lilies and a bottle of Prosecco to be in the room for...

Enjoyed a superb evening at The Royal an Lochan on Valentine's night, which also happens to be our wedding anniversary. The restaurant was beautifully decorated with gorgeous red roses, chair sashes, hearts and candles. The menu interesting and varied. We both chose scallops with Vietnamese...

I’ve never written a review before but feel compelled to do so now. Me and my wife ate here based on the reviews, we were disappointed to say the least. We hadn’t booked and were told the kitchen was busy so we would have to...

Goede lekkere plaatselijke keuken. Zeer vriendelijk personeel en goede bediening. Het restaurant is vooraan aan de zijde van het meer.

Gorgeous food, there were 4 of us and we ate here on three separate nights, scallops, langoustines, haddock, gammon, duck, salmon were just some of the things tried by us on different nights, not one complaint or issue, all was delicious, and with views over looking the loch will definately be going back

Lunchtime food was good and staff very friendly so went back to eat on our last night away. My husband had the fish and chips and my daughter the steak, both of which were good. However, my Son and I chose the Sunday roast which happened to be Beef. It was only lukewarm when it arrived, so cold by the time we had finished it and the roast potatoes were very undercooked. The veg was something else.....I would actually say not even blanched but raw. Shame because lovely setting and rest of the food was good

We visited this restaurant based on its TripAdvisor rating and were really disappointed.Everything about the fish and chips was terrible; the fish was over cooked, the chips were frozen and the peas were not mushy.The staff are really friendly but the food leaves a lot to be desired.

I came here with my girlfriend as the reviews were good. The place exceeded expectations with good quality food, a really nice view and quality service. I had the best chicken and chorizo pie with roasted vegetables and a side of chips while my girlfriend had scampi and chips - although my girlfriend enjoyed her scampi she was jealous of my pie! We had some mayonnaise and tar tar sauce and they were the best sauces I’ve ever had. Reasonable prices for what you get, I would have happily paid more for what I had.

Staff were friendly and the lounge fires were on, making the sofa area cosy for pre dinner drinks.Food, sadly was a little lacking. definitely mediocre, and had expected better. Chicken was overcooked and tough, even slightly burnt. Monster chips were good tho. Could do better.

From the canapés through all seven courses finishing with Stilton and oatcakes everything plate was beautifully presented, perfectly cooked and delicious. Portions were just right and time between courses spot on to ensure each dish could be enjoyed without feeling too full. Service was, as always, efficient yet relaxed and friendly. Accompany all this with good wine, fireworks at the bells and live music meant a great night was enjoyed by all.

Our local sailing club held their AGM at the Royal an Lochan for 30+ members. Gill, Greg, Stacie, Georgia and Keannu could not have been more accommodating. The room was beautifully laid out with crisp white table cloths and Christmassy touches with red organza bows on the chairs and candles on the tables and fireplaces. After the AGM, prize giving and a talk on the Vic 32 we were treated to a delicious buffet with starters of soup or duck, mains of wild mushroom risotto, lamb tagine and salmon on oriental noodles followed by dessert of creme brulee, sundae or cheeses. Everything was superbly cooked and full of flavour.

We had a great dinner here. Relaxing surroundings and good service. The steak and the lamb main dishes were excellent. Starters and deserts also tasty. We were delighted to find a restaurant of this level in Tighnabruaich.It must be lovely in the summer overlooking the water.

Small menu but great food.cooked to perfection . Scallops were perfect. As was the lamb. Service was very personal and the right time between courses .

Staff could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. I’m both coeliac and vegetarian, so my main menu options were limited to gf pasta, however the food was lovely. We had booked a table for 8pm and had to wait in the lounge for 30 mins before being seated. Beautiful views of the water and the Kyles.

Had tried to get in earlier in the week but they were booked up so we booked for later in the week. Party of 8, all of us enjoyed our meals and the staff were very friendly and the service good. Would go back again. Remember to book in advance.

The new owners are friendly, warm and welcoming. The food was excellent. We will definitely be back!!

Spending a couple of days here and we are at, what transpired to be, an utterly fantastic dining experience. Highlights included scallops with mango (unbelievably good), mussels done to perfection, kippers at breakfast that Wolsley would’ve been proud to serve and a trio of ice creams that were obscenely good. This is a seriously talented chef who keeps it simple with intriguing, beguiling twists that stamp his take on the dishes and take it to another level. I’d happily travel back just to eat there again.

A wonderful three course meal with locally sourced sea food, inspiringly prepared.. the scollops with mango were magnificent, the homemade ice cream was alarmingly moreish, and the kippers at breakfast... well, you just have to try them

We stayed close by and after looking at the internet decided to go for an evening meal. The service and meal was great. The staff treated my mum very well, she has dementia and has difficulty in communicating, but staff where very patient. Food excellent, location great. The only fault, I did not find the royal an lochan very inviting from the outside.

Stopped off for a couple of lunchtime drinks here. After looking at the reviews we were not sure but decided to stop anyway. Glad we did. It is under new management and the hosts are lovely friendly people. We sat on the waterside terrace and just watched the world go by. Highly recommended.

Immaculate service, spacious, quiet, well furnished room with great attention to detail. Hotel is perfect location for exploring the Cowal Peninsula. Beaches, coastal driving, woodlands, all within 20 mins of this hotel. If you fancy relaxing outside the hotel, just cross the road and you are at the shore which is part of the Cowal Way, coastal footpath. The breakfast was well prepared and plenty of it, most beautiful sea view from the dinning room. Very friendly staff, we would recommend it and we will be back ourselves.

The Royal an Lochan is now under new ownership and we wish them every success. We enjoyed fabulous food in a stunning setting with splendid service. The owners and staff made us feel very welcome and it was truly fine dining.

Lovely food from both the bar and restaurant menu, and the service was really friendly. Visited during the first week under the new management team. Place was busy,but nothing was too much trouble, even when we started mixing and matching between bar and restaurant menus. I would definitely recommend this place.

The "Royal" has a restaurant and a bar that does "Bar Meals". I think the menu is the same for both. Lovely welcoming place really nice atmosphere. Lovely log fire & good food.

Waitress was rude, seemed somewhat like she was better than us. Had an accent think it was Australian. Great food but owners were weird. Other than that I suppose it was ok. The location was lovely, great views and nice for tourists.

Visited during the week for lunch. The food was good, but the portion balance seemed a bit random. Items at similar prices were noticeably bigger and smaller than each other. The food quality itself was good.

Booked table for four we were met with a very welcoming helpful friendly lady the food was everything we had hoped for really tasty enjoyed every mouthful a bit pricey but had a really nice evening

We arrived Friday 7pm and decided to eat in the bar, three of our party ate from the restaurant menu, one ate bar food. The place was busy with weekenders, great atmosphere and Food delicious! There was a 'theme night' on the Saturday, had it...

No me puedo quejar de este hotel.

Magníficas vistas en un entorno confortable. Por desgracia, el chef combina una serie de ingredientes en una mezcla de algo parecido a un desastre, que eton arruinó completamente el venado. Sabor y apariencia visual es importante en el plato. El aspecto visual era nada de...

Menú encantador con mucho marisco - como quieren y esperan en esta zona. Muy bien presentado. El precio está a la par con otros de la zona

Navegué en tighnabruaich en una tarde soleada de viernes esperando para disfrutar de una cena en tierra. La botanica (Un encantador bistro) estaba lleno, así que indagó sobre una mesa para dos en el Royal. La agradable señora que hablé dijo la última mesa había...

Almorzamos aquí con un grupo grande de amigos y nos atendieron muy bien. Buena cerveza local y comida a precios razonables. Disfruté especialmente la ensalada que venía con mi comida - muy interesante! El grupo de 11 realmente disfrutamos de la visita, y el personal...

Me sirvieron un plato de mejillones frío/templado, cosas finas secaba en un líquido salado aburrido. Y sabían como habían sido mal superficial. Asqueroso! Cuando me quejé con el chico joven que nos sirve (no es su culpa) no sabía qué hacer. No mejillones repuestos -...

My wife and I, although being local, enjoyed an excellent three course meal and a very nice bottle of Merlot, being the house red. The service was first class, the meal deliciousand the view from the dining room fantastic.

My wife and I stopped here for lunch whilst driving around the Cowal Peninsula in our van conversion. We were made very welcome by the owner and as the weather was so good we had our lunch outside enjoying both the Easter sunshine and the glorious views of Bute opposite. We both had seafood (mussels and langoustines) which were excellent and reasonably priced. The interior of the looked very well presented too. Thoroughly recommend.

After previous good reviews including a Michlean chef we we're excited about trying with a view to moving in locally. We arrived about 6.30 with our teenage girls running ahead of us. Eventually somebody told them that only the bar was open but they couldn't go in. When we caught up we were snarled by the young barman into the bar which echoed the local Shanty teams couloirs and trophy so. Apparently they have been barred and now frequent the Kames Hotel. Very strange. Anyway. Feeling so unwelcome my Mum and I swallowed a courtesy glass of bad wine while hubby and kids refused. Went back to the Kames for a fabulous meal and evening! Take stock owners/ family. If you can't sell let someone manage before all your goodwill is destroyed!?

We dined here twice on a recent visit and the food was absolutely delicious both nights. The portions for the starters were very generous and although the mains look smaller in comparison, they are in fact very substantial. So much so that I had no room for dessert but didn't feel overly full. Would highly recommend.

Stayed at this Hotel. Food was so well presented and was fabulous. So enjoyed all our meals. One evening we had starters and main but could not manage a desert so the second night we had main and desert...It was worth waiting for !!!

Stopped yesterday for coffee, was told , no dogs, explained it was a guide dog. Then told go to the bar . Rude staff attitude when clearly not busy , only two other guests in the place. Waited , then walked out.. No wonder certain properties in Scotland give the country a bad name

Been touring the islands for nine day's staying at different hotels each night, this was the most expensive and in all aspects was the worst. Cleanliness in the bathroom could be better, hairs on bath surface. Water pressure from shower so weak could not rinse shampoo from hair, niether basin or bath plugs on a chain. Bed mattress not comfortable and could not make the slightest movement without the bed insanely squeaking, needed replacing. Hardly any choice on dinner menu and portions minute. Sign outside saying beef on menu, there was nothing on menu relating to any kind of beef. Breakfast one sausauge and the only hotel that served only one rasher of bacon, as earlier said portions minute. Manager told me that this establishment was the only place in village apart from store and post office. When we later walked around village there was 200 yards down the road a larger hotel that served food and drink and non residents were welcolme, another few yards along a food and wine bar. Why tell us that there was nothing else in village?

My wife and I would like to thank Christine and Keith for a fantastic 4 night stay. Nothing was too much trouble and the food in the restaurant was really very good.....I had scallops three nights out of the four.Our room which overlooked the loch had a great view of the Isle of Bute. The Royal an Lochan, Tighnabraich is on Argyll's secret coast it should not be a secret GO it is beautiful and stay at The Royal. We will be back.

We were staying locally and decided to go to the royal an Lochan for a meal one evening. We were told that the restaurant was fully booked ( at 7.30 pm only one table was occupied) and were told we could have a meal in the Shinty bar off the bar menu. The menu was almost exclusively seafood with the only non seafood options being chicken goujons or rump steak. We ordered a haddock and chips and a rare steak. When the food arrived, the presentation left a lot to be desired, with the fish covering the chips and onion rings and garnish covering the steak etc. The fish was served with horseradish sauce instead of tartare and the steak was overcooked to the point of being medium to well done, Once we got to the chips, they were swimming in grease, and the mushrooms that were served with the steak were burnt. Having read other reviews I can only surmise that food served in the restaurant is given considerably more attention to detail to the bar meals

This is a very friendly hotel overlooking the Kyles of Bute.The bar is a friendly not to busy place to enjoy the famous Scottish hospitality. And the restaurant is quite lovely looking through the large windows at the view.The food is of high quality and served professionally nothing is too much trouble for them.the Langoustines are lush, and the home made bread is divine.The Cowal peninsula is truly blessed with a plethora of good places to stay and dine.

Meals over priced your voucher will not cover and you will still be hungry. Owner Keith quite rude christine says one thing and he says another I think they have forgotten who pays there. Wages (The customer )

They call it Scotland’s Secret Coast and there is no better place to enjoy it than to stay in Tighnabruaich. My wife and I visited the Royal An Lachan at the weekend and, although they were busy, we were given a warm and friendly welcome by the owners, who seem to be very “hands on” and intermingle well with the guests. This gives the hotel a unique family atmosphere. We booked a table for dinner and went down at the allotted time for pre-dinner drinks in the conservatory. We then went through to our table which overlooked the Kyles of Bute. We both started with the langoustines which were perfectly cooked, perfectly presented and utterly delicious. My wife then had the salmon and I had the sea bass which again we could not fault, followed by chocolate fondant personally cooked by the owner. This was all washed down by a bottle of very reasonably priced Sauvignon Blanc.Breakfast in the morning was the usual fare, but there was a “special” also offered. You were able to order different portions, everything was freshly cooked and service was prompt. The staff at breakfast were accommodating and cheerful.So, if you want a relaxing atmosphere, great views, a friendly hotel with great food then this is where to stay. We shall certainly be going back.

We stayed in August, a 2 day break that was to be the culmination of a fortnight touring northern and western Scotland. The hotel exterior and decor looks lovely and the view is quite simply beautiful. Check in fine and i liked the wooden fish key ring. Decor in the room was fine a large front facing view was lovely. Downstairs for dinner and now issues start to arise, my partner is a vegetarian and was told 2 weeks before we arrived that ''her vegetarianism would be catered for'', not a ringing endorsement and so it proved. No vegetarian dishes on the menu when she asked a dish was cobbled together from the veg option from the other meat dishes. She chose a starter with added veg she did say it was lovely however and so was my lamb dish. One worrying moment continued the trend of unsettlement. While i was looking at menus in the reception area i was abruptly asked if i needed a hand i believed it was because i was wearing shorts, this was proven the following day when i was referred to as the man in shorts even though i was wearing trousers. Many moments occurred with other guests which led to an uncomfortable atmosphere. Working in hospitality for many years myself, you do not question guests tastes or preferences this happened a few times. Breakfast starts at 8.30 i chose to have bacon, sausage and egg , i got one of each, as i wasn't hungry that morning that was fine but on the second day i had to request 3 slice of bacon and 2 eggs to make sure i had enough, with much amusement i noticed the other guests did too. The second nights dinner was again lovely i chose duck with the same veg from the lamb dish, i wasn't keen on the choice for the duck. My partner was called ''the awkward one'' by the manager serving us. She had to point out that she was not awkward but had been given assurances that a vegetarian dish would be available it was a stuffed courgette good and tasty but not inspiring. So a difficult place to review. we were encouraged to offer feedback when my partner did we were met with excuses and argument. That is not what professional managers do. This is not the finest hotel ive been in for anything. The food is good, the rooms comfortable and the serving staff were friendly and efficient,thank you Maggie and Eddie but management wise it leaves an awful lot to be desired. A few tweaks and this hotel could be outstanding but customers are left to feel uncomfortable and on occasions an ''awkward'' inconvenience.

Went to this hotel for a coffee in the afternoon, we were greeted by a very unsmiling man, tried to engage him in a conversation about the areas scar(y)crows and was made to feel like an idiot for asking!! It's no wonder the bar/restaurant was empty.The only saving grace was the beautiful view.

The menu was excellent, with the seafood a particular speciality - absolutely fresh and delicious. My wife is a vegetarian, and she was also delighted with the options available to her.

Was ok but top restaurant prices when you can get just as nice food elsewhere. Nice view from the restaurant window though

Staying local in holiday let. Emailed to ask if I could come to eat with my puppy. No reply, went anyway, were made welcome. Steak was tough and overcooked despite reuesting medium done, pepper sauce I requested was horrible. Said to memberb of staff but it was included in the bill. Scallops were undercooked but edible. Wont be back ever

Lovely ambience, very helpful and friendly manager, great food. Had scallops, lamb, rhubarb tiramisu and cheese and biscuits- all excellent and good value.

We ate here entirely opportunistically while exploring the Tighnabruaich area, and were delighted we did. We had a warm welcome and enjoyed perusing the original artwork on the walls (mainly Stuart Herd and Anne Hewitt in the part of the building we sat in) and prints in the lounge area. Then we settled down in the Shinty Bar with a menu, overlooking the water. I chose the pan seared local scallops while my friend had the Royal burger. We couldn't resist a side order of onion rings. The food was brilliant. My king scallops were so tasty I am still thinking about them a week later, and they were served with mussels, crayfish tails, potato croquettes in a delicious sauce. Superb. My friend's burger was really tasty and the onion ringers were perfectly prepared and crispy. We also enjoyed some Scottish real ale. I wasn't as bowled over by the dessert (we shared a sticky toffee pudding), but those scallops....

Don't arrive after 8pm if you want food that's the best tip. After a long day traveling we headed the 100m or so from the house to the hotel for a portion or two of the food people rave about - to be met with a rather condescending "it's after 8pm we stop service at 8pm" - not what you want to hear and with no offer to make a snack or build out a week long food relationship we decided to leave - not convinced a hard rule of 8pm on a Saturday night at the end of April is the right approach to tourism especially when the chef is clearly visible through the kitchen door preparing food still. So as a family we decided we would could not be bothered with this arrogant establishment and took our trade for the week elsewhere. Best wishes to the Royal - hope you get sold soon and tourist friendly managers take over.

Decided to eat & drink in the shinty bar at the back. Nice log burning stove, very friendly staff. Bar food menu very impressive. We had a mixture I'd starters and mains , all excellent, my scallops were stunning with garnish of mussels and clams. Beer and bar drinks were reasonable and good selection.

After a warm-ish welcome and a choice of where to eat our lunch, overlooking the water or in the shinty bar by a roaring log burning stove, we started to decide on what to eat. We opted for the soup of the day (carrot & coriander), steak and onion brioche roll and a children's chicken goujons with fries. There was a distinct lack of seasoning across everything bar the chips, which promised a lot being clearly hand-cut with skins on, but were gritty as they obviously hadn't been cleaned properly. The brioche sandwich was passable. My carrot soup was appalling - hardly carroty, laced with cream (?) and no seasoning. It was served with a little roll...could have been homemade but lacked any flavour. I asked for a little butter for the roll and a small slab of unsalted, cold butter was brought back. This is a fairly well presented establishment with prices to match - there were some expensive fish dishes on the menu and it had some Michelin stickers on the door however, if they can't produce the basics, it's extremely worrying! So disappointing!

My husband and i arrived on the 31st December and left on the 2nd Jan 2016.As we have stayed before we knew we would enjoy our stay as Christine and Keith are the perfect host and hostess.They pride their selves in attention to detail and that is what you get.Beautiful food as always and lovely afternoon tea and coffee both days with some of Keith's home made goodies Good live music enjoyed by hotel guests and locals also.Throughout the hotel displayed are some really beautiful paintings for sale so we cannot think of a better way to sit and enjoy your evening in the lovely lounge area.

Beautiful place to sit and enjoy a great meal. The food is exquisite. Beautifully presented and good value for money.

We ate here one evening as we were staying in a nearby holiday cottage. The staff are friendly but we were surprised to find it empty. The bar area is traditional but that's a good thing. It's warm and quirky and I'm sure has a great atmosphere when it's full. We mixed bar and restaurant food and the latter was better. There's not much for veggies. Overall we ate up. The fish and chips was not the best and we wouldn't order it again. We would visit again but wouldn't want to be the only ones. Maybe we went out of season but the Kames Hotel was much busier. Maybe a more measured approach to responses from the owner on TA could help. I can see negative responses can be annoying when you work hard but sometimes the proof is in the pudding.

Had an evening meal in the Shinty Bar as we had our two dogs with us. The wood burning stove was loaded up & giving out a good heat. Whilst we looked at the menu the dogs were given some dog biscuits & a bowl of water. Tried a local Loch Fyne ale called Jarl. Very strange taste ! I don`t think I`ll ever try it again. We both had steaks which were well cooked & quite tasty, though a bit gristly. Very large portion indeed. Bar empty apart from us, which gave a bit of a strange atmosphere. Lots of pictures of Shinty teams on the walls, but the rest of the area was badly in need of a brightening up. If the place had been busier it may have been a more enjoyable visit.

Ate in the Shinty Bar after being recommended at our b&b.The starters of scallops and langoustine were generous and pretty good.The main courses ,both fish and chips, less acceptable. The fish was verging on the burnt and dried out. Yes , I do eat fish and chips regularly and know what I like and how good they can be. The chips were possibly the worst I've had recently . Nothing against eating potato skins per se but the chips were limp and undercooked in the middle while looking dark on the outside. I see from a reply to a similar criticism that us customers are wrong. Please rethink the cooking methodology. Finally the Belhaven Best beer was off. I thank you for the refund on that. I am truly disappointed for such a local business in this lovely area.

I have eaten at the restaurant int this Hotel a few times and whenever I visit the area, i book in advance as they are often booked up.. on this visit I brought along 6 friends.. the service is excellent, Christine is so friendly and great fun.. the food is superb.. the choice of food is wonderful and the prices are reasonable ... once again, we had a fabulous evening and look forward to returning again.. if you are in the area, you really should book a table..

Having had an excellent restaurant meal at The Royal an Lochan previously, I recommended to a friend that we try them for Sunday lunch. I phoned to book a table but was told it wasn't necessary to book for a Sunday. We were a bit disappointed to find the restaurant closed (sorry, this wasn't very obvious from you website, and not clear from the telephone conversation either) but stayed for a bar meal. While my friends burger was perfectly OK, sadly my steak & onion sandwich was so overcooked and dry I could not eat it. The advertised ciabatta bun was substituted with something like a brioche or burger bun and wasn't very nice. The steak was cut into tiny pieces and was very tough and rubbery. In all fairness, I was offered another meal, but I didn't fancy anything else after that. We weren't charged for it (so I haven't given a very low mark!)I would return in future, but would recommend making sure it is a restaurant meal, not a bar meal

We went to Tighnabruaich for a weeks holiday and while there twice ate at the Royal An Lochan.Our first visit was without booking but we were lucky enough to get a table in the bar which isn't very big. We had soup and steaks and langoustines all of which were very nice.Our second trip there we booked in advance and ate in the restaurant. It's far more spacious but the food is more along the lines of fine dining. It's lovely if that is what you want but we much preferred the bar meals.

Had a great family meal .There were 8 of us. Really enjoyed my starter of scallops followed by langonstines. Did opt to have chips with them and needed but knew that anyway. My son had the duck and really enjoyed but probably should had ordered some chips for him as well but probably because he is a big eater lol. Would recommend highly all well presented felt very spoilt. I enjoyed cheese board for end to meal . Lovely views out of restaurant. Made to feel.very welcome would go again

My wife and I had dinner at The Royal whilst staying in Tighnabruaich. The location is fabulous with the dining room giving a commanding view over the water and across to the Isle of Bute. The menu was varied and nice with lots of local produce. The waiter that looked after us all night was brilliant - very welcoming and knowledgable. The food was very well presented and really tasty with desert being a particular joy!There are several negative reviews talking about the owners and their attitude. We talked to them during the evening and they both seemed nice; however, I can understand why some people may think they are a little offhand and I believe they could avoid this by being a little more friendly up front. However, they were certainly not rude in any way to us and we would like to return.

We had both a bar meal and a me in the restaurant, both were very good.There is a great view from the restaurant and the lounge over the water and the service was warm and friendly.

Had a bowl of soup here for lunch. Soup was ok, bread served with it was a bit peculiar (some type of focaccia muffin?). Reasonably priced but nothing special. Restaurant lacked atmosphere.

I had a couple of Canadian relatives visiting Scotland last month and decided to take them to Tighnabruich for lunch in the Royal Hotel as I was aware of its restaurant's previous reputation for excellent food. How disappointing. The restaurant was closed so we opted for a bar meal instead. The extremely limited menu meant we all went for the battered fish and chips which were terrible. The fish looked and tasted like it was from a box in the freezer, and as for the chips: if I want the skin on I ask for my potato to be baked not chipped. They weren't even well cooked. We will not be going back and would certainly not recommend the Royal Hotel for its food. Suggest trying the Kames Hotel instead.

All the dishes were very well presented. The seafood was delicious and fresh. The lamb was cooked just the way we'd asked for.

Had dinner one evening: very expensive and the food was not that brilliant. The waiter was unfriendly. The owner downright rude and totally inflexible - "his way of the highway". I have read other reviews for this hotel and am appalled at the responses given by this individual. Not open to feedback whatsoever. Avoid at all costs.

Just popped into this place after a pretty disappointing visit to Portavardi in search of some good seafood. How lucky we were that Portavardi is the dullest place on earth, causing us to leave in a hurry! The Royal was pretty dead, but we were treated to a warm welcome, superb fresh seafood (at a good price) and excellent service - particularly entertaining the kids with live langoustines and scallops from the kitchen! I'd particularly recommend the langoustines (which come from the water right outside the front door) and the mussels, which were the best I'd ever tasted.

Moseying out to "Argyll's secret coast", as it now branded, beyond the Cowal peninsula and the Kyles of Bute, on a sunlit, balmy West Highland day which encourages you to linger, what a treat to come across the Royal an Lochan at Tighnabruaich. We actually ate in the friendly Shinty Bar, foregoing the better views from the formal restaurant, but the menu is more or less the same and the kitchen certainly is. Plump Scallops, fat langoustine, mussels and other goodies, local ales (from the Loch Fyne brewery), cheery staff. What could be nicer? Had a quick nosey around the hotel part; looked very comfortable and well appointed.