The Smithy in Orkney Islands

It's no longer a restaurant, but a help yourself facility that offers tea, coffee, biscuits, home made cakes etc, with suggested donations in a tin. Perfectly fine as a place to have a rest, a hot drink and a snack after a walk around this lovely island, and before taking the ferry back to Kirkwall. The local museum upstairs is an interesting place to visit, and the community-run gift shop has some nice produce and artwork on offer.

Dark Island cake was fabulous, and the rest of the food was very good too, lovely cafe on a pretty island

Åt dagens soppa, krabbsmörgås och cheesecake, allt utmärkt. Trevligt bemötande. Ett stenkast från hamnen. Rekommenderas!

We called in here whilst on Shapinsay. What a little gem. Good food, good service and a great atmosphere. A great find to cater for your needs whilst visiting this lovely island.

This is a lovely little cafe/restaurant - number one and only on Shapinsay! Excellent crab sandwiches on excellent home-made bread Good range of puddings/cakes/desserts Lovely friendly helpful people

We had the best crab sandwiches ever, fresh Orkney crab in home made bread, sitting in the garden, served by friendly ladies. Perfection!

Why not going on a short trip to Shapinsay (by ferry) and enjoy a tasty lunch in a very warm atmosphere at the Smithy? Unfortunately we only found this lovely place while on the island and already had our lunch picnic with us. So the only thing we could do was having a dessert and some drinks in the nice garden area opposite the restaurant. In addition we enjoyed a wonderful sea view and very caring staff. There's even a little museum and a shop with local souvenirs on the first floor of the building. Next time we're back for lunch!

We stopped for lunch here on our visit to the island. We highly recommend the set 'snack lunch' option which was excellent and filling. It includes a serving of one of the large choice of delicious cakes. With friendly hosts and situated near the ferry landing spot we couldn't have asked for a nicer lunch experience.

This was a wonderful experience, as we were stuck on the island all day as the ferry could not take us back as the doors would not open. Went in to cafe and was treated very good and had a excellent lunch Returned later and was offered a free whisky while waiting for the ferry to get repaired, The owner even gave my wife her recipe for bere meal bread, Could not have been a nicer host and will certainly be returning for another visit/ THANKYOU FOR A WONDERFUL DAY

Most lovely afternoon at The Smithy. A group of us headed out to Shapinsay for afternoon tea which was set out beautifully - a lovely spread of sandwiches, gorgeous nibbles and glorious cakes and scones mmm. And lashings of tea!

We could tell this was going to be a good experience from the off. Greeted with a smile and pleasant manner, lovely cakes and scones, and jam, good tea and coffee. Left feeling very happy we had visited.

We took a day trip to Shapinsay from Kirkwall. We drove around the island and found a lovely beach. It was such a beautiful day (warm enough to paddle in the sea!) that we regretted not bringing a picnic. However, visiting this café was the...

I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent place to eat on such a small island. I appreciated the plentiful supply of reading material and the gift shop upstairs was stocked with local items at a very good price.

Try this for an afternoon outing from Kirkwall. Foot passenger on the 2.00 ferry. Walk along the front passing The Smithy, promising to treat yourself on the way back. Pass the school and take the first left following the RSPB sign. Enter the hide which...

We popped over to Shapinsay for a day out on the ferry from Kirkwall and were very well looked after at the Smithy. They served a lovely home made soup and tasty burgers. The interior is really nicely done, very welcoming and cosy. Service was...

The Smithy is located just near where the ferry arrives from Kirkwall in the little village. We had a short walk around the village, seeing the community gardens, some seals and the interesting sea water shower before having lunch there. It's has a cosy, warm...

Called here for coffee on a visit to the area. Lovely big scone with butter and jam really nice coffee

We popped in here for coffee and cake which was so good that we decided to return for lunch an hour or two later. The proprietor is friendly, efficient and informative and the décor was bright and attractive. The range of choices was impressive for a place of this size, and every item we ate or drank was uniformly excellent. We were reluctant to leave and went back for seconds (and even thirds) of the home baking.Upstairs from the Smithy there is an interesting, and free, local history display which is also well worth a visit.If you are visiting Shapinsay, make sure you visit the Smithy.

Vinimos aquí para nuestros amigos de Harry Potter temáticas despedida de soltera y Fiona no podía hacer lo suficiente para nosotros! La comida era fantástica, así como el entorno. Habíamos dado su decoración que ella preparó para nosotros y todo el mundo en la fiesta fue entusiasmado sobre todo! Casa fresca comida casera, que todo el mundo decía que volveríamos. No puedo esperar a volver de nuevo, vale la pena el corto viaje en barco a través! :)

What a find! Lovely home baking, gorgeous decor, fantastic efficient service with lovely warmth of welcome. We had beer bannocks with cheese which we had long wanted to try but there were lots of other options and a lovely display of cakes. The decor could hold its own anywhere - lots of cute touches like knitted tea cosies in the form of an aran jumper and different patterned napkins on each table. A digital photo frame with a display of pictures of the island oh and a pretty full choice of alcoholic drinks too. If you go to Shapinsay, make sure you don't miss this little gem.

Have to admit great coffee and cake but spoilt being stuck out in the garden as we had dogs and drinks went cold very quickly But they brought it all out to us and lovely people but still cannot see why Scotland does not seem to be very dog friendly

Probably the only place to eat in the village of Balfour on Shapinsay. The old Smithy has been converted into a cosy little café with a heritage centre upstairs. Excellent choice of light meals served by friendly staff. If we ever find ourselves on Shapinsay again we'd definitely go in here.

I enjoyed two visits here during my stay on Shapinsay. Firstly, a lunchtime visit where I ate a platter filled with local produce which was absolutely delicious and very filling. Secondly, a musical evening where two Orkney ladies performed and a buffet was provided. There was a lavish spread of the most delicious food. The music and food provided a great evening and was reasonably priced. The Smithy is decorated in a modern style and has a good range of food, most of which is very local. The service is impeccable. It is great to find somewhere of such high quality and with such high standards on such a remote island. As a visitor from London, I did not expect this! Well done to Fiona and her staff.

Although there was a limited choice, the food was tasty and served promptly. Perhaps some music would add to the ambiance of the room. Awkwardly quiet at times.

A group of us kayaked over from Kirkwall harbour, and descended on The Smithy when it opened at 10, looking forward to caffeine, pastries, and coziness. We found all of the above. The cappuccinos were splendid, perfect temperature and nice and creamy. The scones were perfect size - not ginormous monstrosities, but tender. And they came with 4 different types of jam, including an amazing rhubarb - yum! We enjoyed warming up with food and drink before setting out again on the water. BTW, if you don't want to kayak you can always take the ferry from Kirkwall :)

It was lunchtime when we got off the ferry(foot passengers ) so we visited the Smithy for a bite to eat. Excellent hot drinks , and toasted sandwiches(a good choice), freshly made. Good and friendly service from the cook/waitress. Highly recommended.

A wonderful warm welcome from Fiona . We stopped just for coffee and her delicious home baking. I envy the locals who visit regularly for meals and , I believe , fish and chips. If you visit the island be sure to call in to The Smithy !While you're there visit the small museum upstairs.

Just enjoyed home-made pork and apple sausage roll will an amazing side salad, ranch dressing and chutney. All for £5 excellent value for money - well done.

We stopped over on Shapinsay at lunchtime and had a toastie at the cafe. Lovely local cheese, and the salad was very fresh. Salad dressing was made up fresh when requested. The staff couldn't have been friendlier; it was a pleasure to sit and chat with them.

A trip to Shapinsay for lunch at the Smithy. Superb soup, lovely toasting and fantastic home bakes. A truly delightful little cafe with a very friendly proprietor.

I have had two evening meals here now and also a number of times had coffee and scones during the day. Perfect espresso which I didn't really expect. The food is truly excellent of very good quality - much of it local. The atmosphere fine and a good friendly welcome from the proprietors. Decent selection of wines. It cannot be easy to run such a quality place on a wee island with a 300 population so they also rely on visitors.. I suggest more folk come out from Kirkwall for an evening. Shapinsay has a charter boat service which runs back to Kirkwall late in the evening for £7 per head. You won't regret it!

I Really hope that the Pan fried scallops with black pudding and crispy bacon... will still be on the menu when I next visit.Thank you what a delightful evening we had.Iain & Elaine, Rob & Aileen.

We went to the Isle of Shapinsay for one day in 2013 and tasted the best latte we've ever had throughout Scotland. Also the home-baked scone was excellent and the service brilliant. Will come back in 2014...

wanted to support the smithy the tea was very weak and the toastie surprise was not brilliant. just white sliced bread. no brown bread at all. Although the lady did say it was the end of the season so didn't have much.

It took a while but this place grew on me. Coffee was not great and the atmosphere was a little odd but that's down to the mix of customers at any time. Moving on to a cheese and mushroom omelette worthy of the gods, and a return visit later in the afternoon yielded top hot chocolate and very fine coffee and walnut cake. Service friendly but a little slow but you're on Shapinsay. What are you in a hurry for?

Don't expect a quick bite - they are clearly cooking to order. Really good, tasty cafe standards - I loved the macaroni cheese, and the burger, soup and tart got the thumbs up from the rest of the party. Friendly service too.

I recently mulled over where best to spend my 9th anniversary with my wife. Living in Kirkwall and having read a recent article about the Smithy and their new ownership, we decided to give it a try. The article informed us that the Smithy is not regularly open for evening meals save for by request. I was a little apprehensive about phoning to request them to be open for only us... but any qualms about this were quickly abated by the warm phone call I had while making the booking. The timing of the boats to shapinsay couldn't have worked better, and the bookings were all handled by the Smithy. We got the last evening boat to Shapinsay at 5, which happened to have the fresh delivery of our fish on the same boat. That meant that we happened to meet our chef at the pier. She escorted us to the delightful little restaurant just a 30 second walk from the pier. The atmosphere was a delightful blend of antiquity (with the smithy fire being a feature of the room), and modernity. And our host did a very good job of welcoming us while still being sensitive to allowing us to enjoy our privacy. The food was fabulous, the monkfish being a real treat. However, the other diners that evening had what looked like a sirloin steak which they absolutely raved about. I wish I could have ordered two mains. The food was the right amount, cooked well, and at a very fair price. Then we were even offered a tour of the island! This was an extra bonus, and when we were dropped off at the chartered boat to go home, the sun was setting on a calm sea. The boat journeys each way only added to the romance of the evening, and were well worth the £9 it cost us return! (per person).So, all in all, I would highly recommend booking the Smithy for a special meal!.

The Smithy offered such high quality food and service that would not always be expected from a local bar on a tiny island!We called the night before to book our table and learned the Restaurant wasn't actually due to be open that night, but as we only get to visit our parents once a year they quite happily accommodated us. I cannot say I've ever known any other establishment to give up a night off and stay open later than usual to serve a small table of 4.The food itself was outstanding with great presentation and an amazing atmosphere was created. The owners even offer an island tour after the main course to show guests around before dessert!I cannot fault the service, food and overall evening spent in The Smithy!Can't wait to visit again! Best Steaks I've ever had!(I would suggest always phoning at least 24hours prior to make sure they can give you the best meal possible!)

My husband and I went for a day trip to Shapinsay and poked our head in the door of The Smithy around lunch time and realised right away they were absolutely packed. Every seat was taken. Disappointed we continued our wander down the road and a kindly lady chased after us and asked us if we were wanting lunch? We said yes, but realised they were quite busy. She explained if we didn't mind we could eat at a picnic table in their lovely garden. It was a fine day so we were delighted. You would think being outside that we would get slow service and be forgotten but that was not the case. No less than three folk came out to help us and the service was attentive and friendly. The food was fresh and fabulous and we were thankful that somebody cared enough to come after us to ask us to stay. I would definitely recommend The Smithy to others and we will definitely be back!

En la isla de Shapinsay , a solo 25 minutos en ferry desde Kirkwall , se encuentra este acogedor Café y Restaurante .La calidad y frescura del pescado y el buen aceite en el que lo preparan , hizo para mi la diferencia de este plato , tan famoso y común en todo el Reino Unido , con los que ya antes había probado . Además el lugar es muy acogedor , la atención muy rápida y muy cordial .También tienen un menú variado , con carnes , pollo y mariscos , para los que no gusten del pescado .

Exceptional service in French... Who could imagine that? The atmosphere of "Ye Auld Inn" is somehow intact... With a smiling service.

Just back from Shapinsay and stayed at Hilton Farmhouse for Bed and Breakfast. We had our evening meal at The Smithy which is run by the same people Catherine and Stanley. They coul n't have been more helpful and friendly and breakfast and evening meal were beautifully prepared. The home baking is superb. A great stay.

Well went there yesterday (16th June 2011) for a Lunch after visiting the Island of Shapinsay for the first time. It was a very wet day and we shelter just inside the door as did a few other people at 12pm who where holidaying in the Orkney Isles. The new owner came out the door of Smithy's gave us all a odd look and walked right past to the Toilet then on her way back pushed past us and never uttered a word and closed the door then behind her! On this happening one of the lady's visiting stated that "We must be an inconvenience to her i get the feeling" and everyone agreed! So for the warm welcome it was not ............. !We eventually all decided to enter rather gingerly as we were still unsure if we were aloud to even be in there there alto the Opening Hour's are clear on the door 12pm-4pm and this was now 12.08pm!On entering she said she "wondered why no one was coming in" (haha funny joke there love) then we decided to order some food and i ordered Juice to which i requested Ice in and i got just fine but my partner decided to have just Tap Water then when i was requesting if he would or would not like Ice in it she then informed me "You don't get Ice in Tap Water" to this i looked surprised and before i could say a word she flounced off.The service was appalling as people were barley finishing there food around us the owner and the younger girl weather related or not were rushing around all the table to get cleared up, we and the other people beside us ate rather fast as we felt like she was in a rush to get us back out and tidied up. I felt very sorry for the visitors next to us one of the lady's got Toasties which was rather blackened but as she stated back waiting on the boat to us all she was "To scared to ask for another one as the owner seem's not to friendly and in rather a foul mood". Our meal was medioaker, nothing special for the price and the Side Salad was really, really warm which was a big disappointment to.So this sum's up The Smithy rather unfortunately with there new management/owners:- We shall most certainly not be going back there after the appalling welcome, rude host, and the not so nice atmosphere, poor service and the no ice aloud in tap water and the food was nothing special just normal Pub Grub or exactly the same as a Chippy which would of both been much, much cheaper!If this was Mrs Swannie we would of had the warmest of welcomes and she would make conversation with everyone as she was a super host. I think the new owner needs to address her People Skills.Read more: http://orkneyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=9725#ixzz1PWj4Z8CF

It was the day of the annual Shapinsay Show and we popped in to the Smithy for a coffee and sandwich on the way back to the ferry to return to Kirkwall.One young girl on duty was doing everything and harassed in the extreme. In the restaurant/cafe there was but one small family group and a single lady. The lady walked out, apparently fed up with waiting. The waitress rushed upstairs with a plate of food, muttering 'sorry' again and again. She explained that the chef was working at the Show and she'd been left on her own.After all that waiting we had no time to sit down. She served my partner a takeaway coffee from a machine at breakneck speed and pointed to the selection of patisserie - a couple of chocolate buns. We declined and departed.This restaurant's sister establishment, Smiddy's in Kirkwall, was even worse. One woman there was working that evening as receptionist, maitre d', barmaid, chef and kitchen porter! You couldn't make that scenario up. An advertisement for much that is wrong with customer service in the Scottish hospitality industry.

Lovely place for something to eat, whether it be a lunch or an evening meal. The staff are lovely and the food is very high quality.All I would recommend is calling ahead in advance when you want to visit to check they are open as they aren't always open when you think they are. Much better to give them a call and check than turn up especially to visit and find out they are not open (like we have many times!).Highly recommended, food excellent, staff excellent and atmosphere excellent also.

The Smithy is a small restaurant on Shainsay. It is situated on the road from the harbour (B 9059) It is small and very cosy. The food is freah and they use local caught sea food. It is well worth a visit and a meal here will not break the bank!!