The best restaurants in Kirkwall East Orkney Islands Highlands and Islands

If you're travelling to the Orkneys chances are you like Whisky, vikings or it's a stop at your cruise. If you do like Whisky you're in for a treat with this one!

We had dinner there twice during our stay in Kirkwall. The food was superb both times. The venue and the service were excellent. Highly recommended.

Just back from staying 3 nights in the wonderful very dog friendly Lynnfield Hotel in Kirkwall. We have stayed in several other hotels in Kirkwall but none of them came up to the standard of the Lynnfield Hotel. Malcolm and his staff couldn’t have made us feel more welcome than they did. Our room, the Melsetter Suite was just wonderful. A fantastic mira shower and a space age jacuzzi bath etc etc! The food was simply delicious. We had intended eating elsewhere on one of the nights but after dinner in the Lynnfield Hotel the first night we continued to eat in house for the duration of our stay. For dog owners, look no further. All the staff are very dog friendly. Rusty our Welsh terrier can’t wait to go back! Very highly recommended.

Coffee was nice but there was a member of staff who was exceptionally rude, with extremely poor customer service. She knew we were waiting, we even made eye contact twice as she proceed to then potter around doing nothing whilst we waited, and a queue of others formed behind us. Eventually the poor barista who was already rushed off of his feet took everyone’s orders whilst this member of staff chatted to people in the kitchen and drank water.

The food we had today was of mixed quality and the price structure seems a bit odd - the 'panini' was overpriced and burnt and tasted more like a toasted roll, the toastie was good and the cakes were nice quality. Some of the staff were friendly and helpful whereas some of the others need to work on their customer service skills a little bit. We normally enjoy going here, so I might write this off to being a bad day! I will also read the menu a bit more carefully next time as some items definitely seem to represent much better value for money than others!

Got some salt and chilli chips this time around. their food never disappoints, very tasty! Chinese food and usual fish and chip food.

After a bit of a walk for a disabled person this place is permanently closed. We ended up at the St Magnus Cafe opposite St Magnus Cathedral. This seems to be one of the few places offering breakfast in Kirkwall if your self catering.

Very unsuspecting place when you walk inside but greeted by some very friendly staff. Traditional Italian vibe inside with a nice sized menu and each dish (either pizza or pasta) that was ordered was really lovely. Left feeling satisfied with full bellies. Thanks again 😊

Great chippy with the best Patties. Staff really friendly. Highly recommend to all.

Opposite the Cathedral, has an excellent selection of locally sourced food and drink, cheerfully served in a spotless cafe/restaurant. The shop has an excellent selection of Orkney knitwear and locally made gifts. Super staff!

This restaurant is a hidden gem. It's not at the harbour front, but near the cathedral. We ate the best steak in kirkwall, perfectly cooked (rare as we ordered), good whisky and peppercorn sauce. The chips are great as well. As a starter try the smoked fish plate.

5/5 for friendly service, great tasting coffee and the bacon roll was yummy - nice soft roll and the bacon was well cooked and thick!!!

After standing for several minutes, feeling invisible, we finally got offered a table. The server was slow to clean it from the previous customer, and it was left bare. Thankfully, the table next to us offered their menu. I could see that all staff were working at the speed of slugs and with the personalities of potatoes, so we kept out order simple... 2 lattes, and two soups with cheese scones. The lattes were slopped down, saucers swimming in coffee, with no apology or napkins offered. Oddly, they both looked completely different too! The soup was so salty it was inedible, so I went up to the counter to inform them. After blank stares, she shuffled off to the kitchen, and came back offering a refund. No food replacement was offered, and not even the vaguest of apologies given. Needless to say I won't be back, but would strongly advise that the staff get training, even in the most basic skills such as smiling and welcoming people. They all looked so miserable, and were collectively as charismatic as a single cell amoeba.