Cafes, pubs, restaurants

The Old Armoury .  01796 474281 Opposite the entrance to The Observatory – is a real asset.  Quality cuisine is available less than five minutes from the front door.  The food is modern Scottish, with heavy emphasis on quality ingredients. For many years it was the closest that Pitlochry came to an ‘event’ place for an evening meal.  Lunch for two usually comes in at around £15, evening meals around £30.

Port-na-Craig is currently not open. The premises have sold - local gossip suggests that the building will become a private house.

The Prince of India.  01796 472275 & 473770 In a major city this might be regarded as no better than a standard curry house.  For the Highlands it is exceptional: friendly service, year round opening, take always (but not, to my knowledge, deliveries) and the standard range of curried favorites.  It is perfectly possible to phone from The Observatory, walk to the curry house and be back with your meal in 20 minutes.  Take away for two, around £15, around £20 if you sit in. How to find the Prince of India

McKay’s.  McKay’s was once a temperance hotel – but no longer.  Until recently it was the only bar in town with a late licence and was consequently packed with youth. It now appears to be undergoing another make over.

The Old Mill. Behind the Royal Bank of Scotland on Atholl Road. A recent revamp has given The Old Mill the look of a first generation Avimore social club. Nevertheless, the beer is acceptable, if not very interesting, and the pub fayre menu is a touch above average. There is also a no-smoking section and they admit children to one area.

Fern Cottage. Walk down Atholl Road, past Fisher's Hotel and past the war memorial. To your right, before Victoria's, is Ferry Road - it leads under the railway. Fern Cottage is on the left, before you reach the railway bridge. The restaurant still has the appearance of the tea room that it once was, but don't let that put you off. The owner/chef is Turkish and has injected a good deal of Mediterranean flavour into his menu. On my one evening venture there the food was fantastic: freshly cooked, from quality ingredients and full of delightfully flavoursome surprises. Dinner from approximately £40 for two, lunch and pre-theatre is cheaper. 01796 473840

The Spice of India. A recently-opened rival curry house is a short walk down Atholl Road, close by the Tourist Information Centre. It attracts less trade than the other Indian at the moment, but arguably the food has the edge. It is standard curry house issue, but arguably a little tastier and fresher than you would expect. There service is also friendly. They also do take aways. 01796 474400 How to find the Spice of India

The Moulin Inn.  01796 472196  About a mile’s walk – turn off Atholl Road opposite WH Smith, past the Coop.  Is a gentle climb to the older village of Moulin.  The Inn brews its own beer and does top quality pub food, or rather posher fare in their restaurant. The Braveheart ale is excellent and, if you are of a mind to do so, you will easily find someone to chat with in the small public bar. http://www.pitlochryhotels.co.uk/moulinhotel/hospitality.cfm

The same management also run the Bothy Bar in Blair Atholl. Time your evening right and you can travel to and fro Blair Atholl for the evening by train.

The House of Bruar.   01796 483236 Drive up the A9 (it is around 6 miles) to Blair Atholl and carry on until the next junction.  The House of Bruar is signposted.  The café would be excellent anywhere - you can get a hearty Sunday lunch style meal, or a wonderful plate of smoked fish for £7 - £10 a person. The cakes are good too. The Spectator called it 'the only civilized motorway service station in the UK. There is also an extraordinary retail experience – it is an out-of-town mall devoted to country clothing, golf and gardening.  However, behind the shop is a path up the side of the hill, along the banks of a steep mountain stream.  A romantically-inclined Duke of Atholl added bridges and paths from which to appreciated the profusion of waterfalls and pools.  The café is welcome upon your descent from the hill.  How to find the House of Bruar

The House of Menzies. 01887 829666 a car drive, but worth the journey.  From Aberfeldy, take the road to Tummel Bridge.  And already attractive round farm steading, beautifully converted by Edinburgh architect, Michael Gray.  The café is quality modern.  They sell interesting art and deal in Antipodean wines.  How to find The House of Menzies

Farleyer 01887 820 332 Also a car drive, it is on the same road as the House of Menzies. Taken over in the summer of 2003 by a young South African who is making a real go of the place and makes the journey well worth it. Also runs a 'booze bus' to take diners home at the end of the evening. I suspect that Pitlochry is in general beyond his normal range, but he might be persuaded for a larger party, by prior arrangement. (In the summer you could either get the bus to Balanluig, walk up the Strath, have dinner and then get the bus home, or get a bus to Kinloch Rannoch and walk over the hill). www.farleyer.com

Victorias Pitlochry - How to find Victorias