Food and Drink Highlights

Slanj - Tarbet

Loch Lomond & Trossachs Food Highlights

In this article, we want to give you a flavour of the fantastic food and drink served and sold in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Food is part of the experience of any trip or holiday, and you won’t be disappointed in your trip to the National Park.

We’ll cover everything from a quick coffee to a fine dining experience, including the provenance, recommending food and drink produced here. Also, we’ll mention the places with great ambience and good views.

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The Clachan, Drymen

Loch Lomond & Trossachs Pubs

We start by mentioning a few of the excellent pubs, serving good Scottish food and drink, maybe some haggis, steak pie, fish & chips, burgers etc. Starting in Balmaha with the renowned Oak Tree Inn, a multi-award-winning family business. More about them later. Not far away in Drymen is The Clachan, Scotland’s oldest licenced pub and home to some excellent food. Also, your waiter will be wearing a kilt at The Slanj, between Tarbet and Arrochar. Finally, The Lade Inn at Callander is on this list (although we will add more as we sample them).

Restaurants with Loch views

For good food with a view, visit Duck Bay Hotel and Restaurant on the A82 just after Balloch. Further north at Luss is The Lodge on Loch Lomond, which has panoramic views across to Inchmurrin Island. In the Trossachs Karma Hotel and Restaurant is alongside the Lake of Menteith, providing fine views whilst dining. Whilst at Lochgoilhead, The View Bar & Restaurant at Drimsynie Estate Hotel also enjoy good views.

Loch Lomond Coffee

We’ve covered coffee shops and cafes in another guide, recommending a selection of the best ones in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs. Back to Balmaha and St Mocha next to The Oak Tree, where coffee is roasted on-site by the Loch Lomond Coffee Co, the park’s first coffee roastery. You can buy bags of the coffee (take home a taste of Loch Lomond) or get a cup from the first and only drive-thru artisan coffee shop in the UK at Carbeth (on the approach to Loch Lomond from Glasgow), St Mocha in Balmaha or The Station in Aberfoyle.

As well as the coffee, The Oak Tree and St Mocha also have their own homemade Loch Lomond Ice Cream, and also their coffee is used to make delicious espresso chocolate bars.

Loch Lomond & Trossachs Distilleries

Staying on drink and the Loch Lomond distillery at Alexandria doesn’t have a visitor centre and tours, but the malt whisky it distils sells in shops across the UK. Three nearby distilleries, Glengoyne (by Killearn) and Deanston (by Doune) and Auchentoshan (near Clydebank), have visitor tours.

Loch Lomond & Trossachs Gin

Turning to gin and with a nation that has many fine craft gins, with the provenance of some of the most well-known Scottish locations, it is unsurprising that Loch Lomond and The Trossachs have good examples. Ben Lomond Gin, Arrochar Alps & Sonsie (both by Slanj), Falls of Dochart Gin and Loch Goil Gin are all available in the area.

Ben Lomond Gin

Loch Lomond Brewery

Loch Lomond Brewery is based in Alexandria and has a popular range of beers on tap in local pubs and cans sold across Scotland. This business goes from strength to strength, and its branding is incredible, featuring contemporary graphics of Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond Brewery

Loch Lomond Shores, Ballcoh

Loch Lomond Food Festivals

A mention too for Loch Lomond Shores in Balloch; they hold food festivals and have monthly markets where local producers sell a range of items, including locally produced food and drink.

Support Local Producers

In most Loch Lomond and Trossachs villages, you will find some excellent delis, bakeries, butchers etc. Supporting them helps the local communities.

Monachye Mhor, Balquhidder

Let’s finish with something special, fine dining and special occasions. We recommend Monachyle Mhor in Balquhidder; incredible food is part of the experience of staying at this boutique hotel set in fantastic scenery by Loch Voil. Watch the video below that we produced for Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs profiling owner Tom Lewis.

Cameron House Hotel

Finally, Cameron House Hotel is back open after a major refurbishment. Where do we start here? The Boat House is by the water and has a New England-style vibe; Cameron Grill is excellent, especially the Scottish Salmon starter. The Tamburrini & Wishart tasting menu is our pick for the ultimate Loch Lomond fine dining experience.

Farmers Market, Balloch

Local Food & Drink

The quality of food and drink in Scotland continues to get better and better. There is so much passion for excellence from businesses in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, from a simple cup of coffee to craft beer, to whisky to pub food to fine dining. Enjoy great food and drink on your next visit.

Just a few words of warning when reading this, check with venues before visiting to check opening times and availability. For transparency, we work with some of these businesses but are not paid for any mentions in the editorial.

See Loch Lomond Book…

For more ideas of what to see and do on your next visit, purchase our book - 101 things to do in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, either here or from stockists throughout the National Park.

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Thanks for reading

Words and photography by Paul Saunders. Visit Paul’s Marketing and Photography websites for details of his services in Scotland.

Please let us know if you found the guide helpful in the comments section below.