Best Cocktails in Inverness
Where to drink in the Highland capital. Cocktail bars, whisky, wine, craft beer, and late nights - updated for 2026.
Looking for the best cocktails Inverness has to offer? This is the guide the locals use.
Inverness isn't Edinburgh or Glasgow when it comes to cocktail culture - but it's getting there. Over the past few years, the city has gone from a handful of pubs pouring spirits and mixers to a genuine drinks scene with proper cocktail bars, creative menus, and bartenders who know what they're doing.
Whether you're after a pre-dinner cocktail with a river view, a curated whisky flight, or a late-night espresso martini - here's where to drink in Inverness right now.
Best Cocktails Inverness Has to Offer
Coyote Burger
We're a burger restaurant first, but our drinks menu holds its own. We serve a full cocktail list alongside hardshakes - milkshakes loaded with a double shot of spirits - local organic beers from Black Isle Brewery, and a curated malt whisky list featuring 10 single malts from across Scotland. The cocktails change seasonally and we don't skimp on the measures. We were one of 23 venues selected for Inverness Cocktail Week 2026.
The setting makes the difference - floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the River Ness, 2000s punk rock on the speakers, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay all night. Order a cocktail while you wait for your burger - it's that kind of place.
Open 7 days until 9pm (10pm Fri-Sat). View the menu. Book a table.
Beira at the AC Marriott
The newest cocktail destination in Inverness. Beira sits inside the AC Hotel by Marriott on Glebe Street with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Ness. The signature cocktail menu is themed around the legend of Beira, the Queen of Winter - each drink reflects a part of the mythology. The Dark Beira (Tomatin Legacy, Kraken Rum, lemon) and the Bittersweet Melody (Inverness Gin, Loch Ness Honey, lemon) are both excellent and use local Highland spirits.
The bar wraps around a central island with illuminated bottle displays - it's a striking space. Good mocktail options too. Participated in Inverness Cocktail Week 2026.
Jimmy Badgers
A 1920s-inspired cocktail bar and kitchen on Church Street with neon accents, mood lighting, and its own throne (yes, really). The cocktail menu runs deep - classics, martini variations, and creative house specials like "Jimmy's Passion." The bar team has over 10 years' experience and can make whatever you want, on or off the menu.
Sister venue to Johnny Foxes, so there's a proven hospitality pedigree behind it. The small plates menu is strong too - haggis pakora, local mussels, flat iron steak. Participated in Inverness Cocktail Week 2026.
Fig & Thistle Bistro
Already on our best restaurants list for the food, but the cocktails here are genuinely good for a small bistro. They participated in Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 and have a menu that goes beyond the usual suspects. A good option if you want cocktails alongside a proper meal.
Rocpool
Rocpool's cocktails match its food - well-made, slightly upscale, and served in a buzzy brasserie setting with River Ness views. Worth arriving 30 minutes before your dinner reservation to have a drink at the bar.
Best for Whisky
Coyote Burger
You might not expect a burger restaurant to have a serious whisky list, but ours is curated with care. We carry 10 single malts mapped across a flavour profile chart - from the smoky peat of Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 to the rich sherry notes of Dalmore 15 and the smooth honeyed finish of Balvenie Doublewood 12. Highland Park, Oban, Glenfiddich Solera, Glenlivet, and Dalwhinnie round out the selection.
Every whisky on the list was chosen to represent a different corner of Scotland's distilling landscape. If you're new to whisky, the flavour map on our menu makes it easy. If you know what you like, we've probably got it.
MacGregors
Home to the Highland Malt Whisky Experience - a tasting session that mixes Scottish history, live music, and whisky. Part education, part entertainment, and worth doing at least once. Winner of Best Bar in Scotland - twice. The bar itself has a strong whisky selection and a properly Scottish atmosphere.
Hootananny
Over 100 malts behind the bar alongside the live music. Not a whisky bar per se, but the selection is serious and the staff can talk you through it. Read more in our restaurant guide.
Best for Wine
The Walrus and Corkscrew
Inverness's only dedicated wine bar, and it's a gem. Tucked away on the corner of Church Street and Church Lane, The Walrus and Corkscrew has around 260 wines on its list - some of which you won't find anywhere else in Scotland. The owner Rob spent 30 years in events before opening this as a passion project in 2021, and it's been in the Good Food Guide for the past two years.
The charcuterie and cheese platters use Highland produce - dry-cured meats from Bogrow Farm in Tain, local artisan cheeses, sourdough, oatcakes, and Scotch eggs. Small, cosy, and books up fast on weekends - call ahead. Dog-friendly too.
Best for Beer
Black Isle Bar
The taproom for Black Isle Brewery on Church Street. Organic, locally brewed beers including the Spider Monkey IPA and Red Kite Ale. If you care about your beer, start here.
Coyote Burger
We pour Black Isle beers on draught alongside a rotating selection. Great local beer with a burger and river views. See the full menu.
Best for a Late Night
Hootananny
Live music until late, multiple floors, and an atmosphere that builds as the evening goes on. Two shows a night - the second set is where the energy peaks. Gets packed on weekends so arrive early or book a table for food to secure your spot.
Johnny Foxes & The Den
Two bars in one venue by the river. Johnny Foxes is the pub side with food and live music. The Den is the cocktail bar that turns into more of a club after dark. Good for a late night out.
Inverness Cocktail Week
Inverness now has its own annual cocktail week, running each February. In 2026 it featured 23 venues across the city centre - including Coyote Burger, Beira, Jimmy Badgers, Fig & Thistle, and more - with a wristband scheme offering £5 signature cocktails. A great way to sample the city's drinks scene in one trip.
Drinking Tips
Hungry too? Read our full Inverness restaurant guide.
Planning a trip? See our guide to things to do in Inverness.
Fancy a Cocktail with a View?
27 Bank Street. Right on the River Ness. Open 7 days.
Coyote Burger - 27 Bank Street, Inverness IV1 1QU - 01463 220179
Mon-Thu 12:00-21:00 - Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00 - Sun 12:00-21:00