Cool and Unusual Bars in Inverness: 2026 Guide

Cool bars at a glance

Bar	What it is	Fri and Sat until
Encore Une Fois The River Ness	Restaurant and bar	midnight
Gellion's Church Street and the High Street	Pub	3am
Perk Coffee & Doughnuts Church Street and the High Street	Coffee and doughnut shop	11:30pm
Playback Academy Street and Eastgate	Games bar	1am
Scotch & Rye Church Street and the High Street	Bar and grill	1am
The Malt Room Church Street and the High Street	Whisky bar	1am
The Wee Bar The River Ness	Bar	1am

Opening times, bookings and seating from Google Maps, checked 7 November. They change, so check with the venue.

Can't decide where to start?

Spin and we'll pick one of the 7 Inverness bars on this page.

Walk it in one night

The shortest walking order for 5 of these bars, about 9 minutes on foot in total.

Gellion's
Perk Coffee & DoughnutsAbout 3 minutes' walk from Gellion's
The Malt RoomAbout 2 minutes' walk from Perk Coffee & Doughnuts
Scotch & RyeAbout 2 minutes' walk from The Malt Room
PlaybackAbout 2 minutes' walk from Scotch & Rye

Walking route in Google Maps

Map of cool and unusual bars in Inverness

Numbers match the bars below. Tap a pin for the name.

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Encore Une Fois

Restaurant and bar · The River Ness · ££

Alcohol-free signature

A Highland restaurant and bar on Young Street inspired by Bonnie Prince Charlie, with hearty meat and fish and plenty of whisky.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureBubble Sugar Rush Smirnoff Red Label, Blue Curacao, Banana Liqueur, Apple Juice, Bubblegum Syrup, Lemon Juice, Pink Sugar Rim, Bubblegum

Alcohol-freeBubble Sugar Unrush

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to midnight, Sun noon to 11pm

5-9 Young St, Inverness, IV3 5BL

Website Directions

Gellion's

Pub · Church Street and the High Street · ££

Alcohol-free signature

A pub on Bridge Street that opened in 1841, with live music every night and a ceilidh on Saturdays.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureLove Bug Smirnoff Red Label, Grenadine, Cranberry Juice, Lemonade

Alcohol-freeOrange Blossom

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Thu 11am to 1am, Fri and Sat 11am to 3am, Sun 11am to 1am

14/17 Bridge St, Inverness, IV1 1HD

Website Directions

Perk Coffee & Doughnuts

Coffee and doughnut shop · Church Street and the High Street · £

Alcohol-free signature

A coffee and doughnut shop on Church Street.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureBiscoff It All Up Baileys, Coffee Liqueur, Vanilla Vodka, Espresso, Biscoff Syrup

Alcohol-freeIced Shaken Biscoff

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Wed 8am to 3pm, Thu 8am to 8pm, Fri and Sat 8am to 11:30pm, Sun 8am to 8pm

36 Church St, Inverness, IV1 1EH

Website Directions

Playback

Games bar · Academy Street and Eastgate · ££

Alcohol-free signature

A bar on Academy Street with games, food and music.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureSpring Fling Smirnoff Red Label, Elderflower Syrup, Lemon Juice, Cucumber, Lemonade

Alcohol-freeNon-Alc Spring Fling

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Thu noon to 11pm, Fri and Sat noon to 1am, Sun noon to 11pm

27-31 Academy St, Inverness, IV1 1JN

Website Instagram Directions

Scotch & Rye

Bar and grill · Church Street and the High Street · ££

Alcohol-free signature

A prohibition-style bar and grill on Queensgate with gastropub food and a long cocktail list.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureStrawberry & Kiwi Collins Tanqueray London Dry, Strawberry Liqueur, Strawberry & Kiwi Syrup, Lemon Juice, Soda

Alcohol-freeNon-Alc Strawberry & Kiwi Collins

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to 11pm

21 Queensgate, Inverness, IV1 1DF

Website Instagram Directions

The Malt Room

Whisky bar · Church Street and the High Street · ££

Alcohol-free signature

An intimate bar on Church Street with over 350 single malt whiskies, local craft beer and cocktails.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatureJohnnie's Highball Johnnie Walker Black Label, Soda, Lemon Twist

Alcohol-freeStrawberry Twister 0%

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Sat noon to 1am, Sun 3pm to 1am

34 Church St, Inverness, IV1 1EH

Website Instagram Directions

The Wee Bar

Bar · The River Ness · ££

Alcohol-free signature

A bar upstairs on Ness Walk, by the river, with music.

Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signaturePink Rum Riot Captain Morgan Tiki, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Puree, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit Soda

Alcohol-freePink Pineapple Riot

Opening times from Google Maps, checked 7 NovemberMon to Thu 5pm to midnight, Fri 5pm to 1am, Sat 1pm to 1am, Sun 5pm to midnight

Upstairs, 4-6 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5NE

Website Instagram Directions

Cool and unusual bars in Inverness: your questions

What are the coolest bars in Inverness?

Start with Encore Une Fois, Gellion's, Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, Playback, Scotch & Rye and The Malt Room.

Do they do alcohol-free cocktails?

Yes. 7 of these made an alcohol-free signature for Inverness Cocktail Week 2026, including Bubble Sugar Unrush at Encore Une Fois, Orange Blossom at Gellion's and Iced Shaken Biscoff at Perk Coffee & Doughnuts.

Can I walk between them?

Yes. Gellion's, Perk Coffee & Doughnuts, The Malt Room, Scotch & Rye and Playback are about 9 minutes' walk end to end, in that order. The walking route is on this page.

When is the next Inverness Cocktail Week?

The next Inverness Cocktail Week runs 19 to 28 February 2027. Signature cocktails start from £5 with a wristband, and every venue serves an alcohol-free option.

What a Cocktail Week night looks like

Ten days of friends, signature cocktails and Inverness's best bars. Here's a taste from our events.

Friends out at Cocktail Week — Cheers to that

More Inverness bar guides

All 20 best cocktail bars in Inverness Things to do in Inverness at night Best bars and pubs in Inverness Date night bars in Inverness Hidden bars and speakeasies in Inverness Beer gardens and terraces in Inverness Mocktails and alcohol-free cocktails in Inverness

Inverness Cocktail Week 2027

One wristband, Inverness's best bars

The next Inverness Cocktail Week runs 19 to 28 February 2027. One wristband gets you a signature cocktail from £5 in bars across Inverness, an alcohol-free version in every venue, and extra wristband deals.

A signature cocktail created for the week in every venue taking part, from £5
An alcohol-free drink in every venue
Extra deals for wristband holders

Get your wristband See the line-up

Sunlit Berry BloomCaptain CompassBath Tub GinBahama ColadaBubble Sugar RushFig & ThistleLove BugHighland FlingAppletiniCaptain's MojitoMaple Gin GimletBiscoff It All UpSpring FlingStrawberry & Kiwi CollinsRaspberry RippleSpicy PalomaOne LoveJohnnie's HighballPink Rum RiotLife's A PeachSunlit Berry BloomCaptain CompassBath Tub GinBahama ColadaBubble Sugar RushFig & ThistleLove BugHighland FlingAppletiniCaptain's MojitoMaple Gin GimletBiscoff It All UpSpring FlingStrawberry & Kiwi CollinsRaspberry RippleSpicy PalomaOne LoveJohnnie's HighballPink Rum RiotLife's A Peach

Bars were checked against each venue and local listings on 7 November 2026. Photos were supplied by the venues for Inverness Cocktail Week 2026. The cocktails named are the Inverness Cocktail Week 2026 signatures and may not be on the menu all year. Opening times and menus change, so check with the venue before you go. Price guide: £ good value, ££ mid-range, £££ special occasion.