Why the Isle of Skye Should Be on Your 2025 Travel List
The Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most breathtaking destinations, is ready to welcome visitors for the 2025 season. Known for its rugged landscapes, mystical folklore, and exceptional local produce, the island’s businesses have reopened their doors for 2025, offering warm island hospitality once again. Here’s our quick take on the best places to eat in Skye.
Here’s how to best spend a few days on the Misty Isle.
Sample the best brunch in the Hebrides
Founded by Skye-born Clare Coghill, the award-winning Café Cùil celebrates the island’s wild larder, using locally sourced, sustainable produce to create a fresh take on brunch and lunch. Through floor-to-ceiling windows, diners can watch as Skye’s ever-changing weather paints rainbows over the village of Drynoch and across the loch. Expect dishes featuring local shellfish, Isle of Skye black pudding, hand-foraged mushrooms, and berries, alongside their famous Bloody Màiris.
Some current menu favourites include:
Burrata on toast with Scottish chorizo, stewed tomatoes, and wild garlic pesto
Blood orange and beetroot cured trout with sourdough toast, pickled cucumber, and crowdie crème fraîche
Sweetcorn and spring onion fritters with Highland labneh, fried egg, and crispy chilli oil
Top tip from Clare Coghill: “One of the best ways to experience island life is to get the ferry over to Raasay for the day. The short journey has beautiful views of Skye, and you can enjoy a whisky tasting at Raasay Distillery before getting the ferry back.”
Café Cùil operates a walk-ins-only policy and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-4pm.
Stay and dine at a 4 AA Rosette restaurant with rooms
For a taste of island luxury, Edinbane Lodge is a must-visit. Founded by award-winning chef-patron Calum Montgomery, it’s the only restaurant in the Highlands to hold a prestigious 4-AA Rosette award. Centrally located, just a 20-minute drive from Portree, it’s the perfect base for exploring Skye.
Calum sources produce from local crofts, seas, and artisan producers, with much now grown and foraged on the lodge’s grounds. Their ‘A Taste of Skye’ tasting menu showcases the island’s best ingredients, while a newly introduced three-course à la carte menu offers a more relaxed dining option.
Edinbane Lodge also boasts six beautifully designed bedrooms, including two Riverside Rooms completed in 2024. With private patios and roll-top baths overlooking the River Coishletter, they provide the ultimate serene escape.
Top tip from Calum Montgomery: “If you’re looking to catch a sunset while on the island, head to the west coast. The Stein Inn is just a 15-minute drive from Edinbane Lodge, and as the oldest inn on the island, it’s the perfect spot for a pint of Guinness while watching the sun set over Loch Bay and out across the Outer Hebrides.”
Booking is essential for both the restaurant and rooms. Visit www.edinbanelodge.com to secure a spot.
Fuel up on specialty coffee and fresh pastries
Set up by Niall Munro in 2020, Birch is Skye’s go-to coffee destination. Inspired by Melbourne’s café culture, Birch blends beautifully roasted, ethically sourced coffee with the finest Highland produce. Their Portree café serves up coffee, brunch, and lunch, while the newly opened Birch Bakery & Roastery (March 2025) offers French pastries with a Scottish twist, made with foraged island ingredients.
Top tip from Niall Munro: “While visiting Portree, make sure to stop in at Scorrybreac restaurant for lunch or dinner. It’s a really special spot for outstanding food in a relaxed setting, with unmatched views over the colourful Portree Harbour.”
Birch Café and Birch Bakery & Roastery both operate a walk-ins-only policy. Birch Café is open seven days a week from 8am-5pm, while Birch Bakery & Roastery is open Thursday-Saturday from 9:30am-2pm.
For more information, visit birch.coffee.
Indulge in relaxed fine dining with a view
For an intimate dining experience, Scorrybreac is the place to be. Founded in 2013 by chef Calum Munro—who recently represented Scotland on BBC Two’s Great British Menu—the restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide and offers stunning views over Portree Harbour. Using the finest seasonal produce, including ingredients hand-foraged by Calum himself, Scorrybreac delivers a modern Scottish tasting menu in a setting as memorable as the food.
Top tip from Calum Munro: “If you want to experience traditional Scottish music while on Skye, head to The Old Inn at Carbost. If you’re there on a Sunday, you’ll likely catch a lively trad session—perfect for soaking up the Scottish and Gaelic culture. And don’t miss their Sunday roast!”
Scorrybreac offers a six-course set menu that changes weekly. Booking is essential. Visit www.scorrybreac.com for reservations.
From award-winning brunch spots to fine dining with breathtaking views, Skye’s food scene is thriving. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a taste of Scotland’s finest produce, the Misty Isle is ready to welcome you in 2025.