Sitting on the tip of the Black Isle peninsula, Cromarty offers a surprising dining scene for such a small historic fishing village. Despite having fewer than 1,000 residents, this charming spot packs a proper punch when it comes to food, blending traditional Scottish fare with modern culinary innovation.
From restaurants mentioned in the Michelin Guide to cosy pubs pouring locally brewed ales, Cromarty’s food landscape stays true to its hyper-local roots while embracing contemporary dining trends. Several spots have gained national recognition for their sustainable practices, making this village worth a special journey for food lovers touring the Highlands.
Here’s where to eat when visiting Cromarty:
Sutor Creek
Found on Bank Street with cracking waterfront views, Sutor Creek stands as Cromarty’s culinary star, having kept its Michelin Guide mention for three years running.
Their wood-fired oven takes centre stage, turning out brilliant Neapolitan-style pizzas with Scottish twists. Top picks include the Smoked Dunnet Bay Crowdie Cheese & Black Isle Bacon pizza and the lavish Loch Fyne Oysters with Seaweed Butter pizza.
Beyond pizza, their seasonal seafood menu shows off Scotland’s winter catches. Try the Roasted North Sea Monkfish with celeriac purée and burnt apple glaze, or the Smoked Haddock Rarebit using Findon haddock from Peterhead.
Open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 PM, Sutor Creek keep prices reasonable with lunch specials like the Fisherman’s Platter featuring fresh mussels, langoustines, and crab toast.
The Fishertown Inn
The Fishertown Inn is a dog-friendly Georgian pub on Church Street and has expanded its menu under new head chef Eilidh MacLeod, who previously worked at Edinburgh’s acclaimed restaurant The Kitchin.
Menu highlights include the Venison Haggis Wellington with whisky jus and the Cromarty Crab Thermidor served in the shell. Their winter specials feature dishes like Smoked Partridge Breast with beetroot three ways and a vegetarian-friendly Neep & Tatties Filo Parcel with mushroom velouté.
The real draw, however, remains the Fishertown’s Black Isle Brewery Tap Takeovers, offering exclusive cask ales like the robust 8.2% ABV Midnight Stout.
The Royal Hotel
The Royal Hotel‘s restaurant on Marine Terrace takes farm-to-table dining seriously, sourcing ingredients from the owner’s 300-acre family farm.
Their menu showcases exceptional beef and seafood, with standouts including the 21-Day Dry-Aged Ribeye with bone marrow butter and the Cullen Skink using haddock smoked in-house.
The Royal’s Sustainable Seafood Programme features a Daily Catch Menu (5:30-8 PM) with prices that change based on market rates. Options include Whole Cromarty Lobster and Line-Caught Sea Bass with samphire.
In winter 2025, they introduced an innovative Zero-Waste Tasting Menu, using offcuts and byproducts in creative dishes like blood pudding crumble.
Cromarty Bakery
Cromarty Bakery on Church Street has built a reputation for its artisanal breads and morning pastries using heritage grains.
Their Black Isle Sourdough, made with stone-ground Bere barley, and Venison Sausage Rolls with juniper pastry are particularly popular. Seasonal specials like the Smoked Plum & Whisky Danish showcase local produce from Gloagburn Farm.
Emerging Food Trends in Cromarty
Despite its small size, Cromarty is at the forefront of several exciting culinary movements:
Hyper-Local Foraging Menus
Several establishments now have full-time foragers on staff, with dishes like the Fishertown Inn‘s Seaweed Salad using dulse harvested from Cromarty Firth, and the Royal Hotel‘s Pine Needle Sorbet made with Caledonian pine.
Climate-Conscious Pricing
2025 has seen the introduction of Tidal Pricing at waterfront venues, with 10% discounts during storm warnings to encourage off-peak dining and changing seafood pricing based on catch sustainability ratings.
Heritage Recipe Revival
Menus increasingly reference 19th-century Scottish cookbooks, with dishes like Sutor Creek‘s Clootie Dumpling steamed in linen and the Royal Hotel‘s traditional Cock-a-Leekie soup with prunes.
Navigating Dietary Requirements
Cromarty’s chefs have significantly improved allergen management in recent years:
- Sutor Creek offers gluten-free pizza bases for a small extra charge
- Fishertown Inn provides detailed foraging maps showing ingredient origins
- The Royal Hotel now lists carbon footprint calculations for each dish
Where are your favourite places to eat in Cromarty?
Let us know in the comments below!
