Grantown-on-Spey’s wide range of cafés and restaurants show-case the very best of fresh, local Highland produce. Here are a few ideas for exploring just some of what is available to enjoy.

If a pie and a pint is to your taste, then wander down to The Craig Bar on Woodside Avenue, where Robbie and Beryl will give you some banter with your refreshments. Offering a variety of tasty pies – including vegetarian and gluten free options – along with a great choice of beers and whiskies, the Craig Bar is family and pet-friendly. It also has a pool room and a great beer garden out the back.

Craggan Outdoors’ Clubhouse Cafe has a glorious situation within a pine cabin looking out over beautiful views. Nestled amidst the golf course, fishery and activity centre at Craggan Outdoors, accessed from the A95 just south of Grantown-on-Spey, it’s the perfect café to start, break or end your active day out. Tasty filled rolls, teas and coffees, soups, toasties, baked potatoes and of course cake are all available, as well as wine and beer. And if you’ve booked larger group activities at Craggan Outdoors, do get in touch to make catering arrangements to suit.

On long summer nights, the Craiglynne Hotel is a lovely spot for a drink in the spacious beer garden (local tip: apply midge repellent on still evenings!) Inside, the restaurant serves traditional Highland fare for breakfast and dinner, and afternoon tea is also available in the lounge.

You’ll find the popular Pagoda Café Bar on Seafield Avenue. Delicious food, great service and a comfortable environment provide the perfect dining experience. Coffee and cocktails are also recommended! It’s perfectly located to combine with other activities too: it’s home to Escape Cairngorms, a fantastic family team escape room experience for groups or families with older children aged over 10. And just a few steps next door is The Therapy Suite Spa, where you can enjoy a beautiful spa experience in luxurious surroundings.

No 7 Bistro on The Square is a fabulous choice for fantastic, fresh locally-sourced ingredients. Offering everything from breakfast, filled rolls, home bakes, tea/coffee to lunch and dinner, Stewart and Suzanne provide a warm welcome and professional service. During the season, No 7 specialises in seafood – lobster, crab, langoustine and fish from Sutherland’s of Portsoy. Booking recommended!

The Grant Arms Hotel prides itself on the quality of its food and service – the restaurant menu includes as much local, regional produce as possible, while the Capercaillie bar offers a great selection of Speyside malt whiskies and Scottish gins. Take the opportunity after dinner to sit back, relax and learn indoors at one of the hotel’s popular Evening Wildlife Talks.

The Ghillie Bar & Restaurant at The Speyside Hotel is a perfect spot for a delicious dinner, freshly cooked with local ingredients. After dinner, retreat to The Ghillie Whisky Snug to enjoy a fine dram of whisky by the open fire – bliss!

Maclean’s Highland Bakery on The Square combines a bakery, takeaway and coffee shop. Delicious home-made soups, baked potatoes, hot pies and an array of sandwiches will fuel you up at lunchtime. Throughout the day it’s a great place to stop for a cake and a cuppa.

Chaplin’s Coffee House & Ice Cream Parlour is an institution on our High Street, serving morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, light snacks, home-baking, afternoon tea and of course, delicious Rizza’s of Huntly ice cream and other desserts. Grab a cone to go, or sit in and enjoy an ice cream sundae!

Across the road, you’ll find Just Delicious, a lovely family-run deli and cafe/takeaway focusing on quality, fresh, home-made tasty food. The soups, quiches and sandwiches are indeed delicious, and there are gluten-free options too. Don’t miss trying some of the divine home-baking!

At Po Pia, situated within the Ben Mhor Hotel on the High Street, dynamic duo Callie and Bot serve up a fantastic, mouth-watering menu of authentic Thai food. Cooked fresh to order and very popular with locals, Po Pia provides sit-in or takeaway – do pre-book to avoid disappointment.