The Isle of Skye is home to rugged landscapes, medieval castles, and picturesque fishing villages, with even more sublime attractions to explore. The Scottish Highlands are one of the most popular spots in Scotland, with the Isle of Skye topping lists for go-to places outside the Scottish Mainland.
And in addition to delicious drams of whisky and gin at Talisker Distillery or tasty Hebridean Scottish cheeses, one of the best ways to experience the island is with a warm cup of artisan coffee. Whether it’s to start the day or wind down after an attraction, make sure to stop by one of the many coffee shops within the Isle of Skye.
We’ve listed the most popular spots for a coffee on the Isle, with an accompanying sandwich or coffee cake, too, if you’re feeling peckish. Don’t forget to add at least one of the hidden gems we’ve mentioned here.
Birch Coffee
Portree is the central city of the Isle of Skye, which means it is home to several excellent places to grab a coffee before you explore the rest of the island. One of the most popular is Birch Coffee, in the heart of this bubbly city.
Birch Coffee offers a casual and cosy atmosphere, as you’ll see by its understated and minimal furniture. You’ll see a few Australian symbology and art around, and Birch Cafe provides a taste of one of the coffee Meccas of the world, from Melbourne right to Portree.
In addition to a relaxed Aussie design, you can expect delicious artisan coffee brewed to inspire. Pair one of their seasonal hot drinks with the cafe’s sandwiches, and you’re set.
Bog Myrtle Skye
As you navigate the Isle of Skye, you may pass through the small town of Stuan. If you’re feeling starving or want a pick-me-up, then make sure to stop by Bog Myrtle Skye! Not only is this a family-run cafe and bakery, but there’s also an indie bookstore where you can peruse your favourite novels while you enjoy baked goods and delicious coffee.
One of our favourite parts of Bog Myrtle Skye is the spectacular views you can enjoy while indulging in one of the best Skye coffee roasters. If you’re with children, this will undoubtedly be a popular spot to stop at as you move from attraction to attraction.
We recommend trying one of the delicious freshly baked bread and the cafe coffee when driving along the west coast of Scotland’s Isle of Skye.
Cafe Lephin
Neist Point is one of the foremost attractions on the Isle of Skye, and along your way to it, you may begin to see the humble Cafe Lephin. This family-run cafe serves excellent coffee and hearty meals in the heart of Glendale. Local ales are also readily available if you want to sample local creations.
Sometimes the location where you enjoy coffee elevates your coffee-drinking experience, and Glendale is a fantastic place to indulge in your morning brew. If you want to grab your coffee for takeaway, the nearby Neist Point is one of the most stunning places on the Isle, where you can just sit, relax, and enjoy your coffee with a tremendous view. Just be sure to pack some lunch breads, deli meats, and other snacks to eat along the way if you’re planning to stay a while.
The variety of ales and hearty meals offered by Cafe Lephin makes it an unmissable attraction while exploring the Isle of Skye.
Caora Dhubh Coffee Company
Coara Dhubh Coffee Company is a unique and stunning business dedicated to the Scottish independent coffee scene. Not only do they serve great coffee, but they also focus on ethical trading, locally sourced ingredients and sustainable produce that has a positive impact on the Isle.
Caora Dhubh means black sheep in the traditional Scottish dialect, which perfectly describes this coffee company. Freshly ground coffee (gluten-free optional) beans from all over Scotland are brought together to create an intimate and stimulating coffee experience.
You can find Caora Dhubh Coffee Company in the village of Carbost on the Isle of Skye, near the banks of Loch Harport.
Isle of Skye Baking Company
You’ll see the local produce from the Isle of Skye Baking Company wherever you are in Scotland, so no matter if you’re visiting their farmer’s market in Inverness or planning to visit their homestead on the Isle, you’re in for a treat.
Their leading shop is based in Portree, and you can enjoy a comprehensive sampling of delicious cakes, scones, and bread with your coffee! You must pay attention to this indulgent treat when exploring the streets of the colourful city.
Sometimes a great coffee doesn’t quite cut it, and you need a complementary treat to go along with it. If that’s the case when you’re enjoying a fresh brew, you’ll love the choices for sweet and savoury treats at the Isle of Skye Baking Company. Pick up one of their delicious cakes or rich desserts in this beautiful town.
Dunvegan Castle
Home to the mighty MacLeod clan, Dunvegan Castle is one of the most popular spots to see while on the Isle of Skye. And while you’re immersing yourself in the history of the Isle, you can also enjoy a drink or some incredible food while on the grounds.
The gardens and grounds of Dunvegan Castle are the perfect setting for top-quality coffee, which is the ideal way to wind down an afternoon of learning about one of the most famous clans in the country. Remember that you’ll have to book your visit to take a tour, so you may have to preplan your stay here before you decide to stop by.
Wander through the Castle’s tea room, kitchens, and the rest of the interior space that makes up the stunning Dunvegan Castle.
The Red Brick Cafe @ Jans
A DIY shop isn’t the first place you’d think of when craving a hot chocolate or cup of coffee, but the Red Brick Cafe @ Jans breaks that mould and provides good coffee and fresh home baking while looking for hardware supplies.
Even if you’re just there for a bit of home-cooked caffeine, the novelty of the Red Brick Cafe is more than enough to justify a visit here. You can find the Red Brick Cafe @ Jans just outside of Portree along the A87, and you can enjoy everything from flat whites, cappuccinos, chai lattes, and every other caffeinated beverage you could think of before you start your day.
Best of all, if you need a way to navigate the Isle, you can hire one of @Jans vans if you want a unique way to travel. @Jansvans is a locally owned business that has combined its love for hardware with coffee, and you can taste that passion with every sip.
Cafe Arriba
If you love nothing more than that first sip of coffee in the morning, preferably intending to match, then you’re looking for Cafe Arriba. This colourful and inviting cafe is found in Quay Brae, Portree, and has views out to Portree Harbour and its wide selection of foods and coffees.
Arriba offers an all-day breakfast that is to die for, especially if you’re planning to head out of town and see the Isle’s best attractions. And along with a proper Scottish breakfast, guests can enjoy homemade coffee.
The artisanal vibe of this space certainly makes it one of the best cafes to stop by while within Skye’s central city, so if you require lunch bread, pizza, or just a morning cup of coffee, then Cafe Arriba is an excellent choice.
Cafe Sia & Siaway
For coffee lovers who want a bit more of an artisanal twist to their cup of coffee, Cafe Sia & Siaway has shown time and time again that they can offer the best coffee that the Isle of Skye has seen. They offer artisan, drum-fire coffees that have been roasted in-house to perfection.
This cafe is a superb stop for their coffees and an excellent menu of foods you can sample too! Their wood-fired pizza is delicious and goes perfectly with a hearty mocha or cappuccino. And if you’re in love with drum-fire coffees, then you’ll be glad to know that you’ll find plenty for sale at the Sia store, along with other artisanal goods. They’re great gifts and memoirs to remember your trip by.
Cafe Sia & Siaway is located in Broadford in the southern parts of Skye. The A87 runs right through the town, so you have no reason not to try the top artisanal coffee places on the island.
Cuillin Coffee Co
The fairy pools are one of Skye’s biggest attractions, with the mystical and wondrous pools drawing visitors from all over the world. But only a few know that should you continue down the River Brittle stream until it reaches the coast, you can enjoy a fairy tale cup of coffee too!
The Cuillin Coffee Co is well-known on the Isle, and they provide hot and steaming cups at many of the major attractions, including MacLeod Castle. You can find their main cafe at the Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe, which may have already been on your list if you love the outdoors. Cuillin Coffee Co is dead set on providing coffee that tastes just as good as Cuillin looks, with a modern design that couples well with their coffee.
Savour the views of Skye’s west coast with a piping hot coffee and maybe a slice of carrot cake the next time you pass through.
Deli Gasta
Broadford is one of the premier places on the Isle of Skye to try artisanal foods, and Deli Gasta stands as one of the best of those places to dine while passing through this idyllic town. The Deli serves delicious foods made with local produce, including gourmet sandwiches, wraps, bagels, and hearty breakfast options that pair well with their coffee options.
Choose from all the coffee staples with a Scottish twist, like Deli Gasta’s cappuccino, latte, mocha, or even a babyccino for the little one tagging with you. And while you’re sipping your coffee, ensure you take in the wondrous decor that makes Deli Gasta a delightful restaurant experience and an atmospheric one.
Their food and drinks are filled with good-for-you ingredients lovingly made from local farms and roasteries, so ensure you stop by.
Columba 1400
Head north from Portree, and you’ll eventually pass through the quaint town of Staffin, where you can find Columba 1400 – a cafe that offers more than just a coffee and a place to take in the Isle of Skye’s natural beauty.
Columba 1400 offers a delectable choice of fragrant coffee, toasties, and home baking at their Social Enterprise Cafe, where the youth of Isle of Skye can realise their full potential. Columba 1400’s mission is to help youth experience and enjoy leadership roles in many different communities and hope to inspire them to change the world for the better.
If you want to try speciality teas and hot coffees and engage in chats with one of the Isle of Skye’s most promising initiatives. In that case, Columba 1400 is a location that needs no more recommendations.
Cafe 1925
The Armadale Ferry is one of the most popular ways to reach the Isle of Skye, so if you need a warm, roasted cup of coffee after your voyage, stop by Cafe 1925 in Ardvasar. This cafe has humble beginnings, starting as a post office in, you guessed it, 1925 before slowly transforming into a hub for the local community.
And where there’s a community, there’s coffee. Using coffee beans made by local roasters who are just as passionate about coffee as you are, you can enjoy a cup while soaking in the 1950s aesthetic of this beautiful cafe. The cafe also offers light lunches, all freshly made and home baking.
You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you continue by this vibrant and delicious hub while exploring Skye’s southern parts.
