Places to eat

Kinloch Rannoch is a small Highland village, so the places to eat are few, but they are good. Between the village square, the shores of Loch Rannoch and the remote end of the road at Rannoch Station, you’ll find a homely café, hotel restaurants with loch views, a platform tearoom famous for its cakes and one of Highland Perthshire’s most acclaimed dinner destinations.

Opening hours here change with the seasons, and several places close for part of the winter or need booking well in advance. Use this guide to plan where to stop for coffee after a walk, where to book a special dinner, and which spots are worth the drive along the loch.

In Kinloch Rannoch Village

The Riverbank Cafe

Right on The Square, the Riverbank Cafe is the village’s go-to stop for homemade food, good coffee and home baking, with a small gift shop to browse while you wait. It’s an easy place to refuel before or after a walk up Schiehallion or along the loch.

Open Tuesdays to Sundays
Summer times 10am – 5pm
Winter times 10.30am – 4pm
Closed Mondays

The Square, Kinloch Rannoch,
PH16 5PZ

Call: 01882 632333

Dunalastair Hotel Suites

Overlooking the village square, Dunalastair Hotel Suites welcomes non-residents to its restaurant, Monadh. The menu is built around seasonal Scottish produce, think local venison, fish and garden vegetables, served from breakfast through to dinner. For a special occasion, the hotel’s intimate fine-dining room, The Library, offers a multi-course tasting menu. Booking is advised.

Around Loch Rannoch

Loch Rannoch Hotel

Just outside the village on the shore of the loch, with views across to Schiehallion, the Loch Rannoch Hotel is open to non-residents and offers several ways to eat. The Estate Room is the hotel’s more formal evening restaurant, the Wild Brownie Bar serves relaxed pub meals and snacks (and is dog friendly, with an outdoor terrace), and the Rannoch Larder offers a brasserie-style menu. Afternoon tea is also available. Booking is recommended for dinner and essential for afternoon tea.

Bridge of Gaur Guest House

At the western end of Loch Rannoch, Bridge of Gaur Guest House is known for hearty home cooking in a quiet, remote setting. It’s a handy option if you’re exploring the west end of the loch or the Black Wood of Rannoch. Booking is essential.

Rannoch Station & Rannoch Moor

The road west from Kinloch Rannoch runs for around 16 miles along the loch and out onto Rannoch Moor, ending at Rannoch Station on the West Highland Line. It’s one of the most scenic drives in Scotland, and there are two very different places to eat when you get there.

Rannoch Station Tearoom

Set right on the station platform, this much-loved tearoom serves breakfasts, light lunches, soups and a famous range of home baking. Ingredients come from local and Scottish suppliers wherever possible. The tearoom is seasonal and usually closes over the winter, when an honesty box with tea, coffee and biscuits is left for walkers and travellers. Note that access is over a footbridge with steps, so it isn’t wheelchair accessible.

Moor of Rannoch Restaurant & Rooms

A short walk from the station, the Moor of Rannoch is a destination in its own right. This award-winning restaurant with rooms (two AA Rosettes) serves a daily-changing tasting menu built on seasonal produce, ingredients foraged from the moor and vegetables from its own kitchen garden, all by the glow of a wood-burning stove. Non-residents can book for dinner, but tables are limited and fill up months ahead, so reserve early. The restaurant closes for part of the winter.

A Short Drive Away

Heading east towards Tummel Bridge, or over the hill road past Schiehallion, there are more pubs and inns well worth the journey.

The Inn at Loch Tummel

Perched above Loch Tummel on the road between Tummel Bridge and Queen’s View, this refurbished inn has a bar and restaurant with superb loch views. It’s dog friendly and popular for Sunday roasts.

The Struan Inn

A traditional Highland inn on the B847 near Calvine, the Struan Inn is a convenient stop if you’re heading to or from the A9. Open to non-residents; booking essential.

Fortingall Hotel

Around 25 minutes away via the Schiehallion road, the Fortingall Hotel in Glen Lyon is known for good food and a welcoming atmosphere, and pairs well with a visit to the famous Fortingall Yew. Booking required.

Pitlochry

For the widest choice, Pitlochry is around 40 minutes’ drive. Favourites include the historic Moulin Inn with its own brewed ales, the Port-na-Craig Inn by the river below Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the Killiecrankie Hotel and East Haugh just outside town.

Tips for Eating Out in Rannoch

Book ahead. With only a handful of restaurants, evening tables go quickly, especially in summer and at weekends.
Check seasonal hours. Several places reduce hours or close between late autumn and early spring. Call ahead in winter.
Mondays are quiet. The Riverbank Cafe is closed on Mondays, so plan lunch elsewhere or pack a picnic.
Pack a picnic. The village shop is handy for supplies, and there are lovely picnic spots along the loch shore and at the Black Wood of Rannoch.
Bringing the dog? The Wild Brownie Bar at the Loch Rannoch Hotel, the Inn at Loch Tummel and the Moor of Rannoch all welcome dogs.

Staying a few nights? Browse accommodation in Kinloch Rannoch, plan your days with our walking guide, or find everything on the local map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there restaurants in Kinloch Rannoch?

Yes. In and around the village you’ll find the Riverbank Cafe, the restaurant at Dunalastair Hotel Suites and the restaurant and bar at the Loch Rannoch Hotel, all open to non-residents.

Where can I eat at Rannoch Station?

Rannoch Station Tearoom serves breakfasts, lunches and home baking on the platform during its open season, and the Moor of Rannoch Restaurant & Rooms nearby serves a tasting menu at dinner by reservation.

Do I need to book a table?

For dinner, yes. Booking is strongly recommended at all the evening restaurants, and the Moor of Rannoch can be booked up months in advance.

Are places to eat open in winter?

Some are. The Riverbank Cafe runs shorter winter hours and the hotels stay open, but the Rannoch Station Tearoom and the Moor of Rannoch close for part of the winter. Check before you travel.