When you live in a big city, you don’t even know how blessed you are. Until you come to Orkney, during a pandemic, and suddenly there is no restaurant or coffee shop nearby or open, when you want grab some food. I never knew how fortunate we were on Shetland. But of course that was already years ago. So who knows how the current situation is. Anyway, bear with me and I will put together the list of places we visited for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Some even twice. Yours, Pollybert
The Harbour View Restaurant in Kirkwall: With limited choice available we went twice to Kirkwall hotel and its restaurant. Breakfast comes at a fixed price and includes everything from a small buffet as well as hot dishes from a menu. The restaurant itself is quite cozy and we came back for drinks another night, in the end we also stayed for dinner. Maybe it’s the books in the bar area which charmed me so much.
library in the Kirkwall Hotel @Orkney
tea and toast while waiting for the eggs @The Harbour View Restaurant
fish and chips @The Harbour View Restaurant
And since we came for drinks here is a picture of my Gin Tonic with the most beautiful bottle of gin according to the gin menu of the bar. This just wants to make me the Isle of Harris next.
Gin Tonic from Harris gin @The Harbour View Restaurant
We had an excellent lunch of soup and sandwiches, as well as cake, at the Birsay Bay Tearoom. Unfortunately during our time on Orkney strict Covid measures were in place. So when we came back after our tidal walk to the Brough of Birsay the tearoom was fully booked and of course you couldn’t share a table with others. There is not much else in the area, so it’s worth the hassle to reserve in advance.
On Hoy, after our hiking tour to the Old Man of Hoy, we didn’t find any open place. There are a couple of places though and I am sure it’s better in summer. We got some food at a small market (John M Groat & Sons Ltd) in Longhope though.
The first day we had a late lunch in a charity place on Victoria Street in Kirkwall. I was looking at the map just now and couldn’t say what it was for, but I remember that the food was delicious. I had a sandwich and the soup of the day, while my friend ate Jambalaya. Definitely an unusual place, but excellent home-cooked meals.
lunch in Kirkwall @Orkney
For breakfast in Kirkwall I can also recommend Trenabies Cafe Bistro. We only managed one meal there, but totally cozy with really nice service.
full Scottish breakfast @Trenabies Cafe Bistro
On our first evening we had an excellent meal at The Storehouse. For a starter I ordered hand dived scallops with sweet potato mash and bacon and ate the obligatory fish and chips as a main course. Both dishes were delightful and the service very friendly.
hand dived scallops with bacon @The Storehouse
fish and chips @The Storehouse
