Cafe Arriba

Restaurant · Highland

Cafe Arriba

Restaurant · Highland
Quay Brae, Gladstone Buildings, Portree IV51 9DB, United Kingdom

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Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null
Cafe Arriba by null

Highlights

Colourful cafe with great views, vegetarian options  

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Quay Brae, Gladstone Buildings, Portree IV51 9DB, United Kingdom Get directions

cafearriba.co.uk
@cafearriba

£10–20 · Menu

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Quay Brae, Gladstone Buildings, Portree IV51 9DB, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 1478 611830
cafearriba.co.uk
@cafearriba

£10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 30, 2025

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Ebrahim Nouri

Google
We had breakfast here. It is quite cosy with a scenery view to the sea. If you wait a bit you can take those sits have a good view. The staff were quite friendly and nice.

d42mat

Google
I actually had a Lorne sausage and tattie scone that were nice!! The rest of the food was very good too. Staff were also really good and friendly. Well worth a visit. Would come to Portree again just for this place.

PaulS

Google
Ideal for lunch spot. Beer was great, food was good, price was right. It was extremely busy here and had to be patient for food to come out.

Basil

Google
Really nice people at this cafe! ☕ I was in a hurry to catch my bus, and they served me the food in no time—super appreciative of that! 🙌 I just wish they had more vegan options. 🌱 Still, a great spot with friendly service

Marissa Whitworth

Google
I wanted to love this place so badly! Our server, Clarice, was a 10! Absolute perfection. Informed. Knowledgeable. Friendly. Enthusiastic. They should be in charge of the whole restaurant. The issue was entirely with the kitchen and their utter lack of knowledge regarding the ingredients in the food they had prepared. One member of our party was a vegetarian who also had a nut allergy. He tried to order the veggie burger, but nobody on the kitchen crew had any idea if the veggie burger patties they prepared had any nuts in them. We were told the chef that prepared those patties had left earlier so there was no way to guarantee it was nut free. Okay.. so he ordered the Lentil Patties instead. Same thing. No one in the kitchen knew if nuts were included that day. Seriously? So, he tried to order a third time. This time he asked for the cauliflower tacos. Poor Clarice had to come back once again and tell us they were not available. At this point, we wanted to leave but because there was a music festival in town, every restaurant was slammed.. so he tried a FOURTH order.. he settled for the nachos. They arrived and were absolute mediocrity. My beef burger had more cheese on it than his order of nachos. It was really upsetting, after everything! And sooo irresponsible. Is there not a standard recipe used when preparing menu items? Do the chefs have total freedom to prepare whatever they want, HOWEVER they want, each and every day? If only one person on staff is informed on what items include allergens and that person leaves early, how can this cafe ever guarantee their food is safe to eat for anyone? If they want to give their chef creative liberties each day, fine. But set the standard on certain items, vegetarian and not, to have never contain major allergens. Get the chef’s phone number so you can call and ASK if they are not present. OR, mind blowing concept apparently, stick to one recipe. OR, have the chef write down the ingredients used in the food they made for that day. It was absolutely ridiculous. Do not recommend. Clarice, however, was perfection.

Geoff Dennis

Google
We popped into cafe Arriba with our two dogs and were instantly welcomed in wth the staff paying special attention to our dogs. Other customers/locals were so friendly, had a great chat and laugh with them all. We had coffee,tea,toast and jam and a crispy bacon roll just as ordered..all of it was fantastic. Would have loved to stay all day chatting and eating. Highly recommend a visit.

Keir Barraclough

Google
Great spot for lunch with amazing views, especially if you get a table by the window! Delicious food with great vegetarian options. Highly recommend the mac & cheese with haggis (also have delicious veggie haggis)! Very kind, helpful and enthusiastic staff. Bit of a queue when we went, but well worth the wait! Great decor. Pure vibes.

Keane Wee

Google
A wonderful cafe with a cozy atmosphere with relaxing and chill vibes and a nice place to read a great novel or write a great story. The staff here are very friendly here and even made a couple of recommendations when we didn’t know what to get. The food here is pretty good especially the breakfast which is the speciality that they put most effort into. The Korean chicken with rice is pretty tasty too. The cheese used for the nachos is really good.
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Pete T.

Yelp
Portree's a very busy little town full of tourists and also a stopping point for cruise ships. It was super busy when we arrived. Service was 5 star, the food was excellent and ambiance definitely family.

Dawn T.

Yelp
Just the perfect breakfast in the coziest place. Staff was efficient - not friendly but timely and took care of our breakfast order getting it exactly correct!

Eric H.

Yelp
The very friendly host got us a great table by the window in a quite busy resturant. The coffee is described with a diagram on a chalkboard in case you don't know what a flat white is...very handy. I had the big breakfast and it was one of the best I've had in Scotland. The black pudding was definitely the best I've ever had. Nothing short of a great breakfast experience!
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Roger H.

Yelp
Great breakfast places for scones, tea, coffee, and several variations of a full Scottish breakfast. Mine had great black pudding...egg...sausage. Yum. Great selection of teas including chai and lapsang suchang. Terrific place.
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Rits M.

Yelp
Cute little breakfast place just by the Portree Harbour. They have windows where you can look out over the water and the skyline and see the boats coming in. Snag a table by the window if you can. The decor is super cute! Lots of little hanging items, they have a spoon chandelier and some glass pieces as a mobile. They also have cute little cows for salt and pepper shakers. Cups are adorable too, overall this place stands out for atmosphere and coffee The staff comes over to the table to take your order. I have to say the coffee here is outstanding, they also have different daily specials here on the blackboard and they do have pastries that you can grab and go. They also have free wifi. You do have to go to the counter and pay once you're done The full breakfast was just ok and the scotch pie the same- the food was good but I wouldnt say great. It is fresh and filling, no matter! This place is a great option in Portree.
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Rebecca M.

Yelp
Great service and friendly. Food is very standard-- Mac n cheese, burgers, soup... but as the only game in town for lunch at 330pm on a visit to Skye I'm bumping them up a star.

Tanner C.

Yelp
Better than four stars. The menu is little and very well done. We came for lunch and loved it so much we came back for breakfast. Both were five star. Unique, very well executed meals. The soup of the day was sweet potato. We couldn't get enough. We actually ordered the soup again for breakfast at 9am and they said they had some left--even better than the lunch the day before. * * * * * My boys got the lentil soup and devoured it. It was simple. Just a basic, nice lentil soup. The veggie breakfast was wonderful. Great sausage and amazing beans. Doing the simple things well makes a place. The service was great too. Really peaceful happy bunch. As an American, the hot chocolate needed a lump or two of sugar for me.
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Farrah F.

Yelp
The decor here is super cute! I love the window seats here! :] Great service, delicious food, convenient location, and free wifi here! What more could you ask for? ;P We came here twice for breakfast during our time in Skye, partly because it was one of the only places near us that was open early, but also because of he aforementioned tasty food and good service. The breakfast tea here is super good and comes in the cutest tea sets ever. The scones are also really tasty (I'm going to miss the scones here so much when I'm back in the states!)--they had blackberry apple the day that we ordered those! The Belgian waffle special here is really good! They've made it with honey, berries & bananas and another variation came with berries, oranges, apples, cranberries and maple syrup! We've also had the breakfast roll, which we originally thought came in a tortilla because, well, we're from California (haha), but in fact is actually a roll as in bread (basically like a sandwich!) and I've also had the smoked salmon wrap special. Food has been consistently delicious! The only thing I'd wish for would be somewhat cheaper prices, but since we're on vacation, it's cool. The bathrooms here are unisex and very unique. Very clean and fun decor though! :p Minimum of £10 for card!

Diana S.

Yelp
Wonderful atmosphere with a view of harbor. Great food, from burgers to lamb kofta. YUM!!

Joanne S.

Yelp
Interesting food and good service. Expected Spanish or Mexican food given the name but it had eclectic food. I had a veggie pie with onion chutney, salad and potatoes. They and many restaurants in the town of Portree close early so if you want food at Portree after a long day rounding the isle of Skye get to the town before 3:30.

Alexis W.

Yelp
Not clean. And not a versatile menu unfortunately - Would not go back. Better places in Portree.

Cameron T.

Yelp
Good food. Good service. You will probably have to wait for a table but we only had to wait about 10 -15 minutes. They have limited space for tables.
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Edward W.

Yelp
Tried coming for breakfast one day but they were open at 7AM like advertised. We came for lunch and it was open! We had seats overlooking the harbor which was nice. Limited number of items on the menu itself. English breakfast plus a bunch of different specials on the wall. Ordered the English breakfast and it came with lots of variety: beans, black sausage, egg, roast tomato, bacon, Scottish sausage, potato scone, mushroom. Potato scone was fried and very hard. Egg yolk so yellow. Black sausage was tasty. Loved everything about this style of breakfast. Lots of protein and fats makes for a very hearty meal perfect for refueling. Also ordered a salmon pie that comes with a side of mixed greens and a lot of rice. This dish was very average and lacked flavor. Pay at the bar once you're done.
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Morgan And Kyrsten J.

Yelp
This was one of the very few places open on a Sunday morning, so bonus points for that. The atmosphere of the place is great, and we were seated at a nice window table with views of the water. The service was prompt and friendly. The lattes were alright, nothing to rave about. We got a sausage, potato, and onion frittata. It was alright, heavy on the potato and could use a bit more seasoning. We also got the breakfast burrito (both were specials). It was another decent dish, nothing to write home about. Overall it was a good spot for what was available, and the food and service met our needs.
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Colin D.

Yelp
This place is amazing. My wife and I were on our 2-years-late honeymoon in Scotland and we spend 4 nights in Portree during which we ate at Cafe Arriba for 4 meals which easily accounted for the best 4 meals we had in Scotland. The food is good and local with interesting local greens, fantastic local lamb and all spiced up with great things including chorizo, goat cheese and fantastic sauces. In addition to phenomenal food, they had the best espresso I had in Scotland brewing it with Green Mountain coffee specially imported. If you are ever in Portree, eat here. You will not be disappointed in the least.
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Holly S.

Yelp
I think this is Portree's hidden gem, especially because they always seem to be open when other nearby restaurants are closed. I think we came by three times in four days. Don't let the small menu posted online deter you - they have a good number of daily breakfast and lunch specials. Everything we had was fresh and delicious. The restaurant is small, but anytime we had to wait, the line seemed to move quickly.

Beth P.

Yelp
The restaurant was quite busy for lunch, but we were able to sit down within 15 minutes. The food was good, and there were many vegetarian options.
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Daniel K.

Yelp
Food was A-OK! It's a small place on the 2nd floor, maybe about 30+ ppl. It was definitely busy around lunch time, but didn't have to wait too long. I grabbed the big breakfast to get a little bit of everything. Bacon, sausage, toast, black pudding, egg sunny side up, and beans. The bacon was memorable, a thick slab, more meaty than fatty, which was a nice contrast from American eats. Also had black pudding for the first time, yes, it has coagulated blood in it, so has a pretty irony, pasty taste to it. I really enjoyed my friend's bacon and leek flatbread over my meal. As for the enchilada and nachos, they were OK. Coming from an area with a heavy Latino influence, it just didn't taste right :P Service was wonderful, very helpful and attentive.
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Nory B.

Yelp
The only place you can get breakfast at 8am on Sunday in town. Ambiance is fun and funky, and they have great WiFi! Scones were a bit dry but the cappuccino was good and service was friendly. They also have a couple of outdoor tables as well.
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Jennifer P.

Yelp
It was AMAZING. Easily the best meal of our entire trip - and we all agreed on that. I had the cheese fritters, and now I'm googling recipes to try to recreate them at home. It seems to be the only place in Portree that serves food all day (ie doesn't close between lunch and dinner), so if you're there at an off time be prepared to wait in the stairwell for a table to open it...it's worth it, I promise! If possible, try to get a table with a view of the water. It was absolutely beautiful!
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Rachael C.

Yelp
Central and easy to find near the harbour in Portree this cafe has a great menu and even better views. We arrived for a late lunch and it was full but the staff were friendly and it was only a 5 minute wait for a table. The menu is on blackboards on the walls and is a good selection of soup, sandwiches, pasta, nachos and specials. They also do a wide range of tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks, including local beers. The service was efficient without feeling rushed especially as the food was cooked to order. Both pasta dishes that we had were tasty and quite large portions.
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A F.

Yelp
Interesting little eclectic restaurant with great service. Unfortunately by the time we arrived many of the dishes had been sold out. What we did have was wonderful. I loved the halloumi cheese!
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Stefan P.

Yelp
Overall a really nice café with a little bit of a vibe, but not anything special. After reading the tip about Café Arriba in Lonely Planet, maybe my expectations was just a little bit high... They do open already at 7am, so a perfect place to get a breakfast before heading out on a hike or catching a bus. Menu and drinks are a bit limited in terms of selection (no juice/smoothies) but you can get a bagel or traditional English breakfast for a hearty start of the day.
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Brande W.

Yelp
We found this fabulous place, thank goodness! We had the French Toast special, which was not what we, as Americans expect of French Toast. It was AMAZING!!! We also had the Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg Croissant. Oh. My. God. Yes! All of this! Also, bonus points for the bathrooms.
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Pablo D.

Yelp
We visited this charming, informal and colourful first-floor bistro on a very busy and rainy August day and, even though there was a long queue on the stairs, we were sat after 7 minutes as the place was packed. Note that most restaurants, gastro-pubs and eateries in Portree are closed during the afternoon leaving Café Arriba (the only open one) to cater for all the hungry hordes of tourists and locals alike. I ordered a homemade Bacon Cheese Burger which was tasty, juicy and filling. My mate got the yummy Veggie Haggis Lasagna (from the Specials' Board) which was meticulously deconstructed in a matter of minutes. So, all in order in the food department. Even though the front of house waitress was friendly and efficient, table service was a bit inconsistent as we were waited by 3 different people (2 cool waitresses and one I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing -here waiter, but nothing that a good training session can fix) All in all a positive culinary experience in beautiful Portree.
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Holly S.

Yelp
Came for a really late lunch and were able to be seated right away by the window with a view to the harbor. The ambience is very warm and comfortable, and the food was great. I had the bacon, leek, and cheese flatbread which was divine, and the spicy chips. My husband had one of the specials, a Spanish pork stew that he really enjoyed. We were very happy to have wandered in and enjoyed delicious food at a good price!
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Dustin N.

Yelp
My wife and I had breakfast and lunch here during our visit to the Isle of Skye. The food was excellent and the wait staff were very friendly and helpful. A must dine at hole in the wall in Portree.
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Em C.

Yelp
Cafe Arriba is my favourite place to eat in Portree. Tasty, diverse menu, colourful, fun decor inside, a fantastic view out to the bay - you can't ask for anything more. Come in for breakfast on a peaceful summer morning, have a cup of tea with the sun streaming in and setting fire to the bay outside, with all its lovely colours. Or have a cosy winter feast, store up on stodge before you brave the elements again - staff will always greet you at any time of year with a friendly demeanour and the food is amazing. Primary colours adorn the walls, giving it a cute, kitschy feel. It's warm, welcoming and the food - from pastas and sweet baked potatoes to burritos - is incredible. Freshly prepared, full of veg, light and filling with a wide selection on the menu. My friend stays on skye so I come here as often as I'm there, if that makes any sense. It's very popular with tourists and one of the most reasonably priced and diverse dining experiences on the island - you won't be disappointed! It's a one of a kind wee gem and my favourite place to go with friends or alone for some tranquil reflective time.
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Gordon N.

Yelp
Went there one morning after "One night in Portree" starring me and the bird. The Scottish Highlands are a complete mystery to me. Such beautiful scenery coupled with strange shops, and hit or miss restaurants. We travelled the 4.5 drive to see one of our favourite bands and naturally I was feeling slightly delicate the next morning. I needed sustenance before braving the journey back to Glasgow. Pulled out the iPhone, fired up Yelp and spotted Cafe Arriba was only 0.1miles away from the hotel. Pretty well received and already open...jackpot. Ordered a full fry up with green mountain black coffee. What a nice surprise. Hit the spot perfectly. Nicely presented, quality ingredients, served by a friendly waitress. Decor is fun...Spanish themed! Arriba...get it. Got a homemade banana muffin to go. Lasted about 15 miles before it got chomped. Also very tasty. If you're ever in Portree and are looking for a nice eatery, check this place out.
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Annie S.

Yelp
Cafe Arriba is great on all levels. The decor is whimsical and eclectic and makes for a fun atmosphere. We had great service and left very full. I had the Macaroni Cheese with bacon and was definitely not disappointed. All of the other members of my group were pleased with their meals, as well. We had a small wait when we got there (right around lunch time) as the restaurant is not very big, but we did not have to wait long and it turned out to be well worth it. Highly recommend!
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Marissa M.

Yelp
Not bad. The coffee sizes are so small - maybe I'm just being American. Cute place that overlooks the water.
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Sierra D.

Yelp
Wow cafe arriba is super super bomb. I had lentil soup and coffee both were great. The coffee was delightfully black and strong (can be hard to find in UK). Hear about the brownies when I walked in and had to try one-- full of nuts and covered in frosting. Amaze. Staff were fun and friendly. If there isn't a table they will seat people here and there to make sure everyone gets fed ASAP. Atmosphere is cozy and warm. All around greatness.
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Annemarie V.

Yelp
Cafe Ariba is the cutest little upstairs Mexican colored place in Scotland, you've ever seen. Brilliant food, lovely girls that service you, it's smoking busy in there all the time, people are standing on the top of the stairs to wait for a seat! I had a great soup. Evrybody around me was enjoying themselves. If you stay longer in Portree, you will find your way back to this hippie place!
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Bernard V.

Yelp
Finding good quality coffee in a cozy, nice and inviting atmosphere is sometimes a challenge in Britain. Cafe Arriba is a good exception to that rule ... you step back in time a couple of decades here. Everything is still hand made and fresh here and the coffee (in many varieties) is very good! Great place also for lunch.

James N.

Yelp
We spent almost a month in England and Scotland eating basically all of our lunches and dinners in restaurants, and without a doubt, this ranked as one of the top three restaurants out of all of them that we tried. Before our arrival in Britain, I googled the towns, cities and villages we intended on visiting for "organic, vegetarian food" and I am THRILLED that we found Cafe Arriba in Portree. The food here is AMAZING! Home made everything. Even their breads! This place is for omnivores, but for vegetarians, you will actually have quite a few choices. In fact we ate there 4 times in two days and I still was not able to try everything I would have liked to have tried. I was tempted to try their macaroni and cheese at lunchtime, but with all the dishes that actually had vegetables in them, I had to get some vitamins in my body while presented with the opportunity. If we had not paid our hotel for breakfast, we would have had breakfast here too. (In fact the last couple mornings I came here for my organic coffee-I will only have coffee once a day and when I do, I want it to be organic if possible.) I also had a delicious organic beer there too. Special emphasis on FRESH! These guys change their menu three times a day, EVERYDAY! They have blackboards where they list their meals. They have a few chefs working here who are ALL so talented with their recipe creations, it's mind boggling! Here are some of the dishes we tried: one meal we split was 1/2 a butternut squash with mini potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms and other yummy stuff. One time we tried something like a salad sampler and once I had a filo stuffed with mixed and grilled veggies and cheese, accompanied by sweet garbanzo beans, a sampling of spinach & goat cheese dip, and sauteed fresh mushrooms in a delicious sauce. It was all INCREDIBLE! Seriously, after the first bite from our first meal there (lunch), there was no way we were going to eat anywhere else. The fresh ingredients, freshly prepared with creative recipes, fair pricing and friendly service made it impossible to go anywhere else while in Portree. Service was super friendly. The place is sparkling clean. They don't have a ton of tables, and I don't know if they take reservations or not. We got lucky each time we dined there but I did see some people leave due to tables being full. It was awesome eating here and I am so happy to be the first one to encourage you to try this place. You won't regret it, I promise. OH! I forgot to mention that you must try the home made desserts too. Mamma mia, soooooo good!
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Bryan D.

Yelp
Funky café with a creative and delicious chalk board menu. I ended up having Wild Boar cassoulet. Filled with locals and tourist, its worth the wait. Fun place for lunch!

Jl B.

Yelp
Very disappointing! Bagel not cooked, salmon in bagel tasteless. Scone mealy. Coffees either too short (double expresso has size of single) or too long (latte has so much milk than u cannot feel coffee at all).
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K B.

Yelp
Great location, ambiance, views. Quirky and fun. I had terrific soup, though my son learned a valuable life lesson: "nachos" outside of California... not so much. Really good espresso and nice staff. (Wifi!!! A treat on Skye.)

Qype User (SJLInn…)

Yelp
Live here and this is still my favourite place to eat on the island - relaxed but vibrant surroundings, friendly staff, great food whether you're a vegetarian or carnivore and very reasonable prices. Add to this, an emphasis on good quality local ingredients and a menu that changes every day. Child-friendly and teenager proof, the loyal local customer base proves that Linda and Jenny are getting it just right, which should encourage any visitor.

Coco W.

Yelp
American dishes (you think) with a twist of their on. Nachos, burgers, flatbread, French fries, soup. All wonderful and with a view! Wished I could go back.

Diana D.

Yelp
The sample breakfast was the most satisfying meal we had while in Scotland. Perfectly done. The coffee was strong and with the rain pouring outside, it was the most cozy morning we had throughout our travels. We drove all the way from Milovaig back to Portree, just to have this meal a second time before we left the Highlands. Thank you Cafe Arriba, for being so incredibly excellent.
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Mary M.

Yelp
I travelled to Skye this week in search of snow clad mountains and the Cuillin range stepped up to the plate,so cheers "oh mountain oh", local patter!,i swear to all that is holy. .The Cuillins have been around for hunners and hunners of years so the locals have had plenty of time to get their act together to serve up some great grub in a relaxing place in which you can park your freezing ass.The Cafe Arriba fits the bill. good and proper.Firstly i checked out the toilets,if it aint clean how can i trust your grub?!,they passed., The lavvys were colourful clean and as much as i enjoyed the stencils on the walls and the the few bits and bobs in the form of decor , i feel that the pennies would have been better spent on coat hooks for the back of the door,, but it was clean,so nae cmplaints.The cafe is homely,cplourful and the lassies who serve the grub are friendly and have a bit of character about them,nae dour faces or the "huh" attitude about them.Their is plenty of choice of grub, i opted for macaroni and cheese with leeks,it was well tasty and plentiful,.The coffee could have been organic?the beans could have been hand picked by yaks,it doesnt matter to me,if its fair trade i am happy,was it?i dont know, but it tasted good,,latte was my choice,,one shot of coffee and green milk ,smile,The views were beautiful,i sat by the window and gazed upon Portree Harbour.and felt at peace with the world well until i read the paper supplied,,my choice i know. The Cafe Arriba is worth a visit,enjoy,

Vadim B.

Yelp
Ate there on the way through Portree, was not very impressed with the interior design, but am glad we stayed to eat there, as the food was very good for the price.

Qype User (freedo…)

Yelp
Great value food - Stunning service - Very tasty. Loved our visit here in Sept 2010 whilst on holiday in Scotland. Highly Recommended