Ommmm, so Seaview Hotel is about the only place we could find that was open before a 7:30 pm…read moresailing from Gills Bay on the Pentland Ferries (Pro tip learned quickly in Scotland: outside major cities, everything shuts up tighter than a drum in the evenings). Plus, it's just fun to say "John o' Groats." We scoped the bar area -- depressingly run down, but happily full of rowdy locals -- and the dining room -- clearly going for the "executive ballroom" feel, and probably where everyone in John o' Groats holds their wedding reception. We went with the dining room which, apparently, boasts the moniker "Groatie Room." Service was excellent, friendly and accommodating, as at most places in Scotland. Also, a variety of local craft brews was on offer, as at most places in Scotland. Food, however, perfectly matched the stuffy, outdated dining room. Exactly what you'd expect from a sit-down reception catered by Sodexho. A bland Caprese salad, run-of-the-mill paninis, season-less steamed veggies. But, considering Seaview was about the only thing going in John o' Groats and put much need sustenance in our bellies, it garners the A-OK rating.

My husband and I stayed at the very lovely Anchorage B&B during our September trip to John…read moreO'Groats. The owners of the Anchorage recommended the Seaview for our dinner and we even ran into them there that night. Admittedly, this pub is not much to look at. It's dated and a bit run down. However, don't let that deter you. If you love fish, this is the place to go. We started with scallops and they were the best scallops that we have ever eaten. We live in Los Angeles and frequently eat at high end restaurants...the Seaview had them beat! For my main, I had a grilled haddock that was amazing. My husband had a burger made from local beef. Fresh food makes all of the difference. Our meals were fantastic! Beyond that, this is clearly a place filled with locals and everyone was exceptionally welcoming. John O'Groats has the friendliest people that we encountered during our UK trip. Go here, trust me!

Nearest accommodation to the Pentland (Orkney Islands) Ferry terminal in Gills Bay. Beautiful open…read morelocation, comfortable building, large rooms, panoramic views, very friendly proprietors. What's not to like? We picked this randomly from the roadside and were delighted with our choice. The price of GBP 60 with breakfast for a double in May was very reasonable. They probably could charge more because there are very few choices in the area.

Really nice guest house and very central. We only stayed a couple of nights but were impressed and…read morevery comfortable. Next to the bank, the guest house was the former bank manager's house and is an elegant historic building with fine Victorian period features and reasonably spacious rooms. Tastefully decorated by the owners: a friendly and efficient local couple: a fireman and his seamstress wife. The wife's sister and mother also help out, making it a truly local family business. The rooms are all individual, with custom-made soft furnishings and elegant decor. There are no ground floor rooms. The stairs are fairly steep and there's a couple of flights to climb to get to the bedrooms, but there were offers of help with the luggage. The dining room is on the first floor. Breakfast was excellent and served on elegant plates. The rooms were en suite and well fitted out. A flask of port on the landing is available for any guest to help themselves to a nightcap a nice touch. Recommended.

The location of the hotel is great. The people that work here are friendly. The breakfast is…read morestandard, the bar/restaurant has a decent selection of food and drinks. The rooms have an electric kettle with coffee and tea, a small TV and hot shower. I'm on a budget and not looking for luxury so the Royal Hotel fits me just fine. Easy walking distance to shops and the sea front. If you travel by bus or train it is a 10 minute or so walk from the station.

B&B run by a very nice lady and her daughter. Comfortable, well appointed rooms, beautiful views…read moreof the bay, the hills, the sheep, and the horses, terrific WiFi. Excellent breakfast - cereal, fruit, bread, meat and cheese plate served at your table with seconds if you wish. All for a reasonable price. About a mile walk uphill from the ferry terminal. (A half mile by shortcut for the surefooted. She'll show you the path). Yvonne will give you directions when you book. Just don't chicken out -- keep heading up the last road until you see the sign.

There's a pub attached to the St Ola Hotel and if you walk through the bar area it takes you to a…read moresmall dining area (there's also an outside side entrance). Very straightforward, just a couple of booths and tables. We weren't terribly hungry so we got the soup of the day (Basil and Tomato), cajun fries and a very good Steak and Orkney Ale Pie. (Steak & Orkney Ale Pie £14.95 Orkney Ale Braised Beef Pie served with Mash Potato and Buttered Greens). The pie came with a massive but tasteless puff pastry topping and a delicious beef interior. My only complaint was there wasn't enough sauce, it was a little dry. I'd have asked for more sauce but the dining area wasn't really staffed well that night. The beef was memorable and delicious though. Quiet, even though the bar was busy, it was great for a quick, casual bite.

This review is for the restaurant at St. Ola Hotel. I came here for dinner with my husband and…read moreanother couple and our experience was not so great. My first impressions of the environment and ambiance were good. It was a pretty standard-looking pub. It looked like a chill environment. There were tvs and it was very relaxed. We sat down at a table and it took quite awhile before our server asked us if we wanted any drinks. My husband and I shared the "Orkney Farmhouse Crispy Cheese" as a starter. It was alright. It was nice that the cheese was local from the island, but other than that it wasn't too special. I tried to order the "Beef, Bacon, & Grimbister Cheese" specialty stuffed burger, but they were all out of it so I was bummed about that. I ended up ordering the "Ola Burger with Chili" and again, this was nothing special. I was starving but only finished half of my burger. It was just sort of bland and didn't taste very fresh. Our server never came by our table once to see how we were doing. We all had no water in our glasses for a long time. I kept trying to track down a server and no one was coming over. I was so thirsty that I eventually just walked all the way to the bar and asked if we could get a pitcher of water. She said yes, but then she continued to talk with her co-worker for awhile before she even thought about getting the pitcher of water. The prices were not bad. Overall, I was not impressed. We were all very chill about this because we were on vacation and just going with the flow, but I was pretty disappointed. I'm giving it 2 stars because the food was not the most terrible that I have ever had and the restaurant was clean, but the service was severely lacking.

we are in the river house, it's charming with a beautiful garden, birds flying about their…read morebusiness, salmon jumping about and wild flowers stretching out toward the sun. The bar in the main house is amazing as is the restaurant. All the staff are warm and friendly. we are here for 3 days, wish it was a week

A part of my heart will always be in Kirkwall and the Orkney Hotel…read more I was there under unusual circumstances, and the kindness and professionalism these people showed me were simply unbelievable; I will always be grateful. The hotel is quirky because it is an old and extremely charming place. The food, the pub, and the room were outstanding. The location couldn't be better. Please book a room there only if you want to be surrounded by kind, friendly folks, sleep well in your comfy bed, wake up to a lovely breakfast in the bright and beautiful room looking out onto the garden, and enjoy all this amazing town has to offer. I will definitely be back, I wouln't miss it if I were you!

The Orkney Hotel (or Royal Hotel as it used to be called) can be a bit hit and miss for food. I've…read morenever stayed there so can't comment first hand on that, but do know several other people who have stayed there who would happily stay there again, which is generally a good sign. The bar - the Wild West Saloon - is popular and gets very busy at weekends. There's quite a good atmosphere there, and a good range of beers available. The restaurant is the bit that can be hit and miss. It's a little pricey - and for those prices you'd expect quality all the time, not just some of the time. Sometimes the food can be fantastic but the service very slow. And other times the service can be great and the food less so - such as puddings with what was supposed to be a caramelised topping which turned out to be about 6 teaspoons full of sugar!! Now I like sweet things, but really..