Where to Drink on Skye: Pubs, Bars, and Drams with a View

There are no cocktail lounges or rooftop terraces here. Skye’s drinking spots lean into something quieter, warmer, and more rooted in place. The best bars on the island are often part of something else—a pub that’s doubled as a hikers’ base for generations, a hotel with shelves of single malts, or a distillery that’s added a modern bar to its old warehouses. You’re unlikely to stumble across these places by accident. But that’s part of the appeal.

In Broadford and Sligachan, you’ll find two very different options: Seamus’ Bar with its stock of over 400 whiskies and the Gabbro Bar at the home of Drambuie, where live music and pool give it a younger energy. In Portree, the bar at Scorrybreac serves seasonal cocktails with a local accent, while the Edinbane Inn combines ale and live folk sessions in a village setting.

Some of the oldest and most atmospheric places are found further out. The Stein Inn, dating to 1790, still feels like the heart of its community, with wood panelling, a fire, and 130 whiskies behind the bar. At Talisker, the newly designed tasting bar pairs whisky flights with well-informed chat, and just down the road, The Old Inn continues to offer a proper pub experience—CAMRA-approved, loch-facing, and popular with walkers.

Whether it’s gin distilled next door, ales brewed in view of the Cuillin, or just a dram by the fire with no distractions, Skye’s drinking spots encourage a slower pace. They’re not flashy, but they’re rarely forgettable.

BROADFORD & SURROUNDS

Seamus’ Bar, The Sligachan Hotel
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This lively bar, popular with walkers, is stocked with over 400 whiskies and is next door to the Cuillin Brewery, so you can sup a pint of beer made just staggering distance from the hotel.

The Gabbro Bar
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In the Broadford Hotel, the home of Drambuie, this new dog-friendly drinking den has a pool table and a programme of live gigs. In the hotel’s Spinnaker Bar, meanwhile, you can sip a Drambuie-infused cocktail.

PORTREE & CENTRAL SKYE

The Bar at Scorrybreac
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This sleek little bar upstairs from the restaurant has views over the harbour and an ever-evolving selection of seasonal cocktails with a Hebridean twist.

Edinbane Inn
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‘Eat, Drink, Tap your feet, Sleep’ says the tagline. There are regular live music sessions on Sundays in the bar and a good range of local craft beers, whiskies and gins on the menu.

Antlers Bar & Grill
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There’s quality pub grub to be had at this relaxed restaurant, which forms part of the Portree Hotel. Salads, burgers and seafood all figure.

WATERNISH, DUNVEGAN & DUIRINISH

The Stein Inn
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The oldest pub on the island dating back to 1790 has a roaring fire, cosy wood-panelling and a rustic vibe with Scottish ales on tap and around 130 malt whiskies.

MINGINISH & THE CUILLIN HILLS

The Bar at Talisker Distillery
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Offering a range of whisky flights as well as seasonally changing cocktails, the bar at Talisker is the perfect spot to discover your new favourite tipple. Expect a warm welcome from knowledgeable staff who will be more than happy to recommend a dram to suit your tastes.

The Old Inn
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A short stroll from the Talisker Distillery is this CAMRA-recommended lochside pub that draws hikers, dog-walkers and tourists – and for very good reason. The setting’s spectacular, the food ranges from fish and chips to vegan curries, and there’s decent B&B accommodation. It’s previously been named Skye’s best pub.

SLEAT
Bar Am Praban, Hotel Eilean Iarmain
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Producing their own whisky since the 1970s and small batch Gaelic gins distilled next door to the hotel, this cosy bar has an open fire and regular traditional music sessions.