Girvan's Restaurant, Inverness

Sometimes all you want is a simple lunch.

I hope you know what I mean when I say this. It's the kind of cosy spot that has everything you'd want for lunch. Whether that's soup or a baked potato or a toastie, there's something so special about a place where you can get a cosy, hearty and wonderfully predictable lunch. The kind of place you can rely on to fill your mid-day food needs.

For me, the ultimate simple lunch spot in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, is Girvan's. Girvan's Restaurant is the perfect little city centre cafe, with reliable options that would suit a wide range of needs. On a Christmas shopping trip to Inverness recently, I met one of my best friends at Girvan's for a bit of lunch. It's only the third time I've actually eaten here, but everytime I visit, I'm reminded about just how much I love this fantastic wee spot. It's a great place for meeting people, with plenty of seats inside (although it's so popular that there can often be a bit of queue outside).

During this visit to Girvan's in December 2025, I had a sweet chilli chicken and mozzarella wrap, whilst my friend Olivia had a BLTC (bacon, lettuce, tomato, chicken) toastie. Both dishes came with added salad and coleslaw, which was much needed in the run up to Christmas.

Girvan's is also a great spot to enjoy some cake in the middle of Inverness. Although we only had lunch on this day, there are loads of other options for cakes and desserts in their cake cabinet, which entices you as you enter Girvan's. They have some great looking cheesecake options that I hope to try in the future.

Looking for more recommendations on how to spend a day in Inverness? You might want to check out my recommendations on how to spend 1 Day in Inverness.