River House Inverness Review (2026): The Best Seafood Restaurant in Inverness?
Look no further than The River House in Inverness.
This cosy restaurant is a hidden gem just five minutes on foot from the centre of Inverness, tucked away on Greig Street with stunning views overlooking the River Ness.
From the moment you step inside, you’re met with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly, professional, and extremely accommodating.
Despite its small size, the restaurant feels intimate in the best way. The décor is tasteful, the lighting is soft, and the whole place has a relaxed, comfortable feel that makes you want to settle in and enjoy the evening properly.
But of course, the real star of the show here is the fresh seafood.
Fresh local seafood, cooked perfectly
River House Inverness sources its seafood locally, and the quality and freshness is obvious in every dish.
Our party of four tried a variety of seafood, from oysters to smoked mackerel pâté, and the standout of the night was The River House Fish Stew. It was a generous portion packed with some of the best fresh seafood around, including:
- Scallops
- Mussels
- Prawns
- Langoustine
- Haddock
- And other seasonal delights from the sea
Most of it was local, or locally sourced produce from the Highlands.
Every single dish was cooked to perfection, and the service was spot on throughout. Even the rib-eye steak (the only non-seafood dish we had) was excellent and cooked exactly as requested.
Great for families too
River House is also very accommodating for families with children. They offer smaller portions from their fantastic menu, so kids don’t miss out.
Our kids loved the seafood options, and we really appreciated how well the restaurant catered to them.
Oyster Hour at River House
We were lucky enough to visit during the restaurant’s “Oyster Hour”, which runs daily from 4.30pm to 6pm.
At just £1.50 per shuck, it’s unbeatable value and the perfect way to start your meal.
We also tried the grilled oysters, and they were simply amazing. Completely different from natural oysters and packed with flavour. We couldn’t help ourselves and dived straight in before taking a photo, so there was only one left on the plate by the time we remembered.
Table time and booking advice
It’s worth noting that River House has a two-hour policy per table, which we found to be more than enough time to enjoy the meal without feeling rushed.
And it’s no surprise the restaurant is regularly fully booked, because the service really is five-star. The staff go above and beyond to make it a memorable dining experience.
Book well in advance, especially during peak season.
River House Inverness opening times
River House Inverness is open Tuesday through Saturday from 3pm to 10pm, with last orders at 8.30pm.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
What we ate at River House (highly recommended)
We were keen to try a variety of dishes and shared quite a few plates across the table.
Here’s what we tried:
Grilled Oysters
Grilled with parmesan and pancetta. These were outstanding and a completely different taste and experience compared to natural oysters. We all thoroughly enjoyed them and would absolutely recommend trying them.
Natural Oysters (Oyster Hour)
We then took full advantage of Oyster Hour and ordered 12 natural oysters, with various dipping sauces and caviar to accompany. Trying the different combinations is half the fun.
Fritto Misto
Served with a lemon wedge and garlic aioli. This changes daily and comes with a great selection of seafood surprises. A brilliant starter or sharing dish. Ours included whitebait, king prawns, and haddock, and nothing disappointed.
Smoked Mackerel Pâté
A perfect addition alongside the starters, and a great contrast to the oysters.
Main dishes
For mains we had:
The River House Seafood Stew
A perfectly cooked rib-eye steak
Seafood pasta
A lot of restaurants scatter a token bit of seafood through pasta, but River House does it properly. The seafood is the focus, and the flavours are spot on.
Booking River House Inverness
If you’re visiting Inverness on a tour or holiday, or you live locally, River House is absolutely worth a visit.
If you’re travelling to Inverness, booking in advance is strongly recommended.
River House Inverness
1 Greig Street, Inverness, IV3 5PT
Tel: +44 1463 222033
Final thoughts
If you’re a seafood lover in Inverness, River House is a must-visit.
With fantastic food, a cosy atmosphere, and a brilliant location overlooking the River Ness, River House Inverness is genuinely our favourite and best choice for seafood in the city.
Visiting Inverness?
If you are touring the Highlands with us, we are happy to recommend River House and help with a booking. See our best things to do in Inverness for more local recommendations, or browse our private tours from Inverness and day tours from Inverness.
For a broader look at Inverness and the surrounding area, including food, history and local knowledge, see our Inverness and Surrounding Highlands guide.
