This place is for civilised and cultured people. Polite crowd with a great atmosphere. Rustic. Great local beers. The best place in town.
Highly recommend my husband and I were here on Saturday what a amazing place bar staff very friendly warm and welcoming can't wait to come back music was amazing absolute love this place �xx
Stopped in on a Thursday night to hear some live music. I was pleasantly surprised. The place was packed...standing room only. More than half of the crowd was locals (always a good sign), the music was fantastic, the beer flowing, and everyone had a smile on their face.
Fantastic place live music loved it. Friendly bar staff. Who take time too chat too you. Thank you Emma and Neil great night
Good food and a chilled environment didn't liven up until the music started even though it was Valentine's day.
Would visit again but later in the evening.
Was in on Sunday night brill music and very friendly staff (don’t know who the musicians were but very talented) highly recommend
If you are in Inverness, this place is a must! Nice local beers and live music.
Only can review the ground floor (but might be back before I head home) but place is an absolute riot...it's all i need to say.
A must visit pub when your in Inverness,Rock music upstairs and Scottish Theme music from Deacon Blue to The Tartan Army downstairs.
First things first. The food in this bar is superb and also reasonably priced.
Secondly this bar literally has something for everyone music wise, traditional Scottish, folk or upstairs various genres from pop, rock,blues to jazz etc....
The main reason why I've always gone in this bar since it opened is because the staff have always been excellent and the music has always been of a high standard. Tonight however has been horrific, I can't speak for everyone but the idea of a bar like hoots doing karaoke simply makes me want to vomit. Such a shame.
Very friendly atmosphere ceilidh music was excellent would highly recommend for a very enjoyable afternoon
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Hootananny was an unexpected treat.
My friend wanted to try haggis. I wanted to drink. This was a perfect location for both! With Yelp already giving high praise I figured it was the best bet for lunch on this particular day.
We arrived just as they opened so we were the first to be seated. They have an amazing selection of whisky but being early I just wasn't quite wanting something so heavy so I opted for the cider which came in an impressively large bottle. My friend ordered a glass of whisky. I ordered the fish and chips and he ordered haggis.
Now I wasn't going to try haggis because it sounded not like something I would eat. My friend being half Filipino was more than willing to try everything and this was one of his goals. He typically likes everything as well. He did not like haggis. He took a few bites and said he just couldn't eat it. He had devoured the bangers and mash but not the haggis.
By this point I had devoured my absolutely delicious fish - so flaky! So plentiful! How disappointing it must be for people from the UK to visit the US and see our tiny little filets for fish and chips! - and eyed the haggis. I decided why not and took a bite. And I loved it. I ate it all. It had an interesting texture - smooth with a hint of granularity - and nutty but a bit spicy. It is hard to explain but it was really good.
My friend ate my chips and peas. He was pleased.
Everything was great here. The servers were super friendly and warm. The gentleman in the picture changed into his kilt for a young woman who popped in because she knew that the restaurant would be on The Bachelorette. I had never seen the show but she was thrilled to be there for that reason and grabbed a picture with him. It was a nice gesture. He was also willing to grab a picture with me which I liked since I will now always remember the place I first tried haggis and loved it.
Highly recommend!
A lot of people recommended the Hootananny for a real UK pub experience, and we certainly had a good time here.
There's a number of Black Isle beers to choose from, and they have music each night. We were able to listen to some local acts and enjoy a few pints with the locals of Inverness.
Just be warned that the kitchen closes around 8pm. Not terrible, but just make sure to come early.
This was a fantastic meal and the whiskey was wonderful. I had the baked salmon -- never had better. Also had a 21 year old GlenFiddich while my husband had a 12 year gold medal winner Tomatin. Both were great and we were treated to a group of school musicians playing fiddles! Tried to upload a short video of the fiddlers but yelp doesn't allow videos. They were truly wonderful!
We wanted a real pub experience while in Inverness. This was fun and the food was a hit. We all did the fish and chips, which seemed to be the go to for most everyone in the restaurant. Great fish quality with a flavorful, yet thin batter. They also had vinegar and a tarter sauce that you need to ask for. We also got the Cullen Skink soup. I thought this was one of the best I have tried. Light and flavorful. For dessert, they had several homemade options. The cheesecake was unique. We all liked it, but not a New York Cheesecake for sure. Much softer and has a bit more of tangy flavor. We really loved the toffee pudding. That was heavy, but the vanilla ice cream helped balance it perfectly.
We did not stay for the music, but most nights music starts at 8:30 or so. Seems fun if we weren't such early birds.
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While in Inverness last summer (yes, it's been a while...) my friend and I were in the area and looking for a local place to hang out after dark. This place popped up on Yelp and it seemed interesting, so we were able to walk after we checked out Gellions.
It was an incredibly lively pub, even on a Monday night. There was hardly any seating room, and it was by some luck that my friend and I ended up finding a table near the wall with our requisite pints. Which brings me to the live music. The first night we were there, it was more traditional, with bagpipe playing, and we were there for a while, enjoying the lively, excitable atmosphere and the good vibes this place exudes. Afterwards, we went to several other pubs around the area. We had such a good time here, however, that we actually came back the next night, which is something I try to avoid doing when on vacation, but that should show you how much of a good time we had. The next night it was quite as packed, but it was still very full. The live music was an interesting conglomeration of sounds: spoons, guitar, fiddle, keyboard, stomping.
It was here that we made the acquaintance of several Scottish gentlemen who were driving their motorcycles across the country. We'd seen them in an earlier pub, and then again here, and we struck up an amused conversation at having seen each other again at two different places in the same night. We ended up going to several local pubs with them, having a blast at each one, dancing, drinking... They even made sure we got to our Airbnb safely, and they were a part of the whole experience that would make me really love Scotland. Only outside of your home can you strike up a conversation with a group of strangers who are fun, funny, and genuinely decent people who have no ulterior motives other than to have fun.
So 5 stars for the great music, lively patrons, and just being one of my favorite pubs that I saw in all of Scotland.
I came here for a good drink and some good music and was very satisfied with both. Not much like a good cider and live bagpipes. I do hope to come here again! Prices were reasonable and the music amazing.
Found Hootananny on our first day in Town, stopped in to grab a bite to eat, kitchen was closing in 10 minutes, kept it open for three hungry Americans Great pub ! Fish n chips ruled, local beers on tap and whiskey from all over ! Staff friendly and helpful, like being at a friends house !
Drinks are slightly more expensive than places around here but that's totally worth it for real Scottish music at night! Vibe is awesome and would totally come spend a night here again :)
Great pub atmosphere. Great food. Scottish music playing. We had Steak & Ale Pie and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
All the things necessary to make a good bar are present here- great atmosphere, music, and interesting people.
This was one of the first places we visited in Scotland and we loved every minute of it.
If you happen to be in the area, drop in. You won't regret it:)
Since we visited Scotland, we've been able to sample lots of meat and potatoes kind of dishes. Hootenanny made a steak and ale stew/pie as good as any we'd had all trip. There are a few cask ales available, as well as regular draughts. Wine and spirits are available too, but I didn't sample any Scotch whiskey here, of which you can find a mix of regional brands both well-known and more obscure.
The live music this place is known for draws a crowd. And while the musical genres differ, it is likely to be something lively and energetic. If you are here in high season, or get here the same night as a cruise docks, call ahead and get a reservation. If you are at a lower volume time, it seems easy enough to walk in and find a place.
Fun place if you like beer, music and people! It really is a great vibe. Went 2 evenings, it was always packed. They stop serving dinner early so if you're a tourist going after 8:30pm you'll have to get dinner elsewhere.
I recommend dinner reservations at least a day in advance. While we were eating we watched more than a dozen small (2) and large (8) parties get turned away.
Great meals and atmosphere. Staff is great with a wonderful selection of single malts and beers. My father and I ordered the salmon and it was fantastic. My mom (mum) had the meat and ale pie that came with an amazing puff pastry. Prices were very reasonable and very comfortable atmosphere for my elderly parents and myself.
The deserts were great ....ok...better than great. I ordered a second order of the sticky toffee chocolate cake.
One of the more enjoyable evening locations on our trip to Scotland.
They recently won the best Scottish Restaurant in the highlands.
FUN! FUN! FUN!! The fish & chips were nice & crispy & not oily at all. The steak meh... The Guinness from the tap was so fresh & tasted amazing. They have a Scottish band playing every night. This place has good food, great local band & amazing Guinness...a recipe for a FUN night.
Amazing soup, amazing music! A nice place to hang out and relax the night away with friends! Bring a tabletop game... and hang out. Lovely little pub.
Great beer and music!
Came here with the wife and her mum while waiting for our dinner to be ready. Filled up quick. Would come back again!
Lively crowd with solid music. Got a local beer that was excellent. Great energy. Walls covered with old newspapers or colored dark red giving it a warm feel. Not enough seating but it adds to the energy having people stand.
What a fun place! Our waitress was very kind and answered all of our questions with a smile. The food was pretty good and a good selection of beer. A dram of whiskey is the same price, regardless of the brand which is great. We stuck around for the live music and it was a blast!
Dropped in here after a meal just up the road in what used to be Cool Runnings, it was packed out (Saturday night) and there was some live music courtesy of a boy on the irish pipes and a lad on guitar.
Atmosphere was great, didn't go upstairs, but he bar was well stocked, good fast service and reasonable prices, all in all one of the best places in Inverness for a drink and a bit of entertainment.
Decor is also pretty mad, with old wooden arches and stalls being used round the room.
I tried haggis and it was way better than I thought! The 2 servers working were very friendly. I tried 2 different Whitley Neill Gins tonight and both were great. We all loved our meals. We will be back and recommend you stop and give them a try.
First night in Inverness and we booked this place ages back. This was great because the 6 of us got a table up front near the band for the night, Tartan Paint. Excellent atmosphere. Food was ok.
Great live music (make a reservation!). We grabbed drinks at the bar while waiting for our table to be ready. Cullen skink was delicious. We did not enjoy the cheese plate. We both got dessert & each were spectacular (cheesecake - different from what we are used to in Canada however super delicious & sticky toffee pudding - very yummy).
Visited Inverness for a couple of days , just happened to come across this bar , OMG what an amazing experience, 🎻🎸🪈🍺🪕🪗🏴🎼🎵🎶 ........20 musicians randomly attended .....and kindly played my request "march to the midden" my late dad's favourite tune to play at many a ceileh (apologies for spelling).....this is a definite to add to your "to do list " .....thanks again
Great place. The food was very good. The atmosphere was super fun. Good pricing, too. Just make sure you have reservations.
Such a fun atmosphere and delicious food! We went for the Scottish music jam session on Sunday evening (make sure to make reservations!!). We had the cheese board and the chicken, leek, and bacon pie and both were incredible! The pints were quick and cold, and the live music was perfection! A must do in Scotland!
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Our party of 4 had ate at 5 just about the perfect time imo. My wife ordered haggis topped with mash potatoes. It was the first time she had ever had it. Very tasty. I ordered the steak pie with new potatoes. The bread was maybe the best bread I’ve ever eaten. I didn’t get it but the fish and chips looked amazing. This was the first restaurant we’ve eaten at abroad. We went on Sunday evening and got to listen to the live music. Reservations are a must we must of watched 10 people get turned away. There were a few walk in’s that were able to eat but I believe they stood at the bar. I ordered the prawn cocktail for an appetizer. It was NOT what I was expecting. I was expecting shrimp hanging off a glass of red cocktail sauce, what I got was shrimp salad. I ate the shrimp out and gave the salad to my wife. It may be normal in Scotland but don’t expect speedy service. The pace of the restaurant is much slower than I am use to really the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars. Food was HOT and delicious. Atmosphere was really cool
We went to Hootananny to eat since our host recommended that place and I'm glad we did because we had an absolutely wonderful evening! We ordered haggis, a beef burger, a piece of cheesecake and a cheese board. The food was excellent, we loved every single dish and I believe that was the creamiest cheesecake I've ever had. The staff was very friendly and helpful and there was Scottish music playing in the background which only added to the experience. What a great place.
Great drinks, and even better live music. Colum MacPhail and Sean Cousins were incredible on a Monday night.
An lovely pub-y place with traditional food. The atmosphere is quite chill and the staff very friendly. When we arrived all the tables were reserved yet the staff found a nice table for us and squeezed us in before another reservation!
The food was excellent. We ordered a burger and a pie, both delicious. A very small nitpick: the salad on the side of the burger had a strong mustard dressing, I wish that would have been on the side or advertised in the menu. Everything else was perfect.
Expect to spend about £20 per person for a meal and a drink, at least.
Overall excellent spot!
Superb Saturday afternoon and evening. Very atmospheric with great Scottish music
Atmosphere and music were great. Food was amazing.
Had venison burgers which were great. Place is very nice and decor good. Most of the staff were lovely but 1 waitress was rude and unpleasant. She spilled beer etc off her tray onto my daughters bag and she stood there glaring at us. She was rude every time she came to the table. Definitely spoiled our experience and didn't bother to go again
Hootananny is a wonderful experience all around. The food is amazing, the steak and ale pie does not disappoint and the accompanying vegetables were perfection. They have a great rotation for live music, which is always a wonderful time. Good brews on tap, which is always ideal, and the staff is friendly and personable. Finishing the night with one of the best sticky toffee puddings I had on my trip to Scotland was both no small feat and the perfect end to the night! Reservations ahead of time definitely required, and worth every bit of it especially with the fun live music times!
Spectacular food, great and friendly service and live music. This place is Ace!
Absolutely wonderful restaurant, AMAZING staff, and the food was AMAZING!!!
The whisky selection was AMAZING!!!!
I would totally recommend
(a good idea to make reservations or to show up at opening, it fills up quick!)
First order of business, MAKE A RESERVATION! We enjoyed the food and local music. Music begins later in the evening, check their schedule. Food and dessert were fantastic!! An easy walk from our accommodations. Another pro-tip, use the toilet before the music starts…the standing room only crowd is tough to navigate!!
Lovely place full of character, tartan pillars, great music and a fine selection of whiskies. The food's delicious too. I had their haggis, neeps and tatties which were served bubblin' hawt and were scrumptious and nicely filling.
The place is accessible with an accessible loo.
Great for live music and fun atmosphere with good pub food, beer, and spirits. We had a great time. They don’t make cocktails, so skip if you want a cosmo or old fashioned, but they will do mixed drinks like a gin and tonic. Friendly service as well.
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