Town guide
Kirkwall food & drink
Orkney's capital — Highland Park, Scapa, and an island food culture all of its own
Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney and home to two working distilleries within easy walking distance — Highland Park (the world's most northerly Scotch whisky distillery) and Scapa. Highland Park's 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old are regularly listed among the world's best single malts; its heather-influenced peat character is distinctive even by Islands standards. Orkney has a properly serious local food culture: Orkney beef and lamb have PGI protection, Westray crab and lobster appear on most island menus, and the local cheese is widely respected. The Orkney Food and Drink Festival runs each year in September. The Orcadian shop on Albert Street and Kirkness & Gorie are the island's better food-and-drink retailers. Getting there: ferry from Scrabster (Caithness, north Highlands) or short flight from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, or Aberdeen.
- Highland Park Distillery — world's most northerly Scotch whisky distillery
- Scapa Distillery — also in Kirkwall
- Orkney beef and lamb — PGI-protected designation
- Orkney Food and Drink Festival — September
Whisky distilleries near Kirkwall
Breweries near Kirkwall
Scottish gin makers near Kirkwall
Kirkwall food & drink FAQ
+What's the best farmers market in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall has no confirmed-schedule market in our directory yet. The full list of Scottish farmers markets is at /local-produce/farmers-markets.
+Where can I taste whisky near Kirkwall?
1 distilleries within 50 km of Kirkwall are open to visitors. Highland Park are the closest. Each has a full tour and tasting guide on its TasteSCOT page.
+When is the next food or drink festival in Kirkwall?
No festivals scheduled in Kirkwall or nearby in the near future. See our full 2026 festivals calendar for what's coming up across Scotland.
+Where should I stay in Kirkwall for a food and drink trip?
Use the accommodation map below to find hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Kirkwall. For multi-day Scottish food and drink trips, Kirkwall is a sensible base if you want access to 2 distilleries and 1 breweries we cover in the surrounding 50 km.
+What is Kirkwall known for in Scottish food and drink?
Highland Park Distillery — world's most northerly Scotch whisky distillery. Scapa Distillery — also in Kirkwall. Orkney beef and lamb — PGI-protected designation. Orkney Food and Drink Festival — September.
Where to stay near Kirkwall
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Kirkwall.
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