Places to Eat in Shetland

Eating out in Shetland tends to mean cafes and gallery restaurants rather than formal dining, and the best of them make a virtue of it. Lerwick has the highest concentration, with the Peerie Shop Cafe and Fjara Cafe Bar Ltd. good for a coffee or a proper meal between ferry crossings, while Bonhoga Gallery combines food with art out at Weisdale.

Further afield, places like Da Moors Cafe, Hoswick Visitor Centre and Speldiburn Cafe reflect Shetland's spread-out geography, each serving as a welcome stop while touring the isles rather than a destination in its own right. Braewick Cafe and Caravan Park and Stakkadale suit those exploring the coastline, with views often as much the draw as the menu.

Choosing between them usually comes down to what else is on your route that day, since Shetland's restaurants and pubs sit close to visitor centres, harbours and heritage sites rather than in one obvious food quarter.