Beneth'iIl Cafe — Restaurant in Scotland

A visit to Hoy is always highly scheduled for visiting Australians and today was no exception. The Dwarfie Stane, Old Man of Hoy, Longhope, Scapa Flow museum, Martello Tower, family and a LOT of driving in between... One fabulous break from the road was at what's known by our family as the Hoy Cafe. If you visit Hoy (and you should, it's uniquely special), you would be mad to not include a lunch at Beneth'ill Cafe. It's licenced too (bonus) but the menu offers a LOT of flexibility which I loved (don't eat bread much). So, in the sandwich and soup menu, you pick your sandwich base (roll, bread etc) or you can build your fillings onto a salad (love this!!). Same goes for the burger menu - well done guys, this was so appealing to me I was almost disappointed I couldn't try it. This was easily mitigated by the 2 dozen oyters grown on Hoy (14 miles from tide to table) that we got to celebrate a birthday. It is no understatement that these are possibly the best oysters I've had in my (reasonably long) life! And I've had a lot of oysters... These were SO fresh, it's so rare to find this so please take advantage if you're visiting. Not into oysters, don't fret - the menu has fries as well and lots of cake options. The folk who run it are doing an amazing job and are super friendly too. We sat outside in the yellow cone...

Beneth'ill is undoubtedly my favourite establishment on earth. I have had my past two birthdays there and my partner's too.

The food is delectable, service from consummate professionals -attentive enthusiasts blessed with charm and pulchritudinous.

Whether heading into the Hoy hills and her manifold gullies or perigrinating over to Rackwick or indeed returning...this fine establishment sets one in fine fettle and good mirth for a bracing meander or a restorative swage.

A last bastion of homely, kitchen led, hospitality...the kind we rue of our abandonment, something from yesteryear that Eric Blair nods to in his Defense of English Cooking. Unpretentious, well priced, purposeful.

The location is second to none, bracing, bucolic, stunning. A slight breeze to alleviate the ennui of modern life. A call to abandon ones cares and woes, discard - if only temporarily - all technological distraction and be.

As someone who lives and works in Orkney (in hospitality), I am always rewarded making the trip out here, it has started to feel like...

This is a fantastic family run cafe in a superb location with amazing views in all directions. The food is homely and well prepared with a variety to suit all tastes from the humble burger to the superb and locally sourced seafood and much in between. The staff are friendly, helpful and happy to share information on the local area ensuring you make the most of your visit to Hoy. You can finish off with a beer or some lovely home baking while you watch the superb video which runs on a loop showing some amazing Scottish scenery. There are outside seating areas for those of us who have dogs looking over to the hills. There is also a shelter for inclement weather you can take the dog into and a play area for kids. Great...