Quick info
About MacGregor's
MacGregor's is a bar on Academy St in Inverness, owned by Blazin Fiddles founder and BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bruce MacGregor, with live traditional Scottish music at its core. Musicians from the area play together in a 4pm session, so visitors can hear local players as well as the scheduled acts. The kitchen turns out pub dishes with a Scottish bent, including a haggis scotch egg, a steak and ale pie and baggies fries, a loaded portion topped with a black pudding and haggis mix and cheese. On the drinks side, the taps carry craft beer from local breweries, and a special selection of whiskies sits behind the bar. Whisky tastings can be booked ahead. Orders are placed at the bar, and dogs are welcome. MacGregor's also sells T-shirts.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid parking lot · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music sessions, steak and ale pie, haggis scotch egg and local craft beer.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music sessions, steak and ale pie, haggis scotch egg and local craft beer.
Customer Review Summary
Live traditional music is what reviewers raise most, from a Sunday afternoon session where local musicians play together to a musician performing tunes from the countries tourists come from, and one says the room feels like a local pub. Food comes close behind, with a steak pie, a steak and ale pie and a beef pie each singled out, along with fish and chips, mussels, and a burger with loaded fries. Several mention the haggis scotch egg, and one urges others to try it. Baggies fries, a mix of black pudding, haggis and cheese, also get a mention. Craft beer, a smooth stout and the special-selection whiskies draw praise too. Complaints are fewer. One diner found the Hero chicken burger small, with a dry bun and frozen-quality fries, and the ice cream beside the pudding had melted on arrival. That diner also found the haggis scotch egg already gone by evening. Another notes that ordering at the bar can be confusing. One group who booked ahead to celebrate a family milestone were gifted a t-shirt and shots of whiskey for the whole table.
Customer Review Summary
Live traditional music is what reviewers raise most, from a Sunday afternoon session where local musicians play together to a musician performing tunes from the countries tourists come from, and one says the room feels like a local pub. Food comes close behind, with a steak pie, a steak and ale pie and a beef pie each singled out, along with fish and chips, mussels, and a burger with loaded fries. Several mention the haggis scotch egg, and one urges others to try it. Baggies fries, a mix of black pudding, haggis and cheese, also get a mention. Craft beer, a smooth stout and the special-selection whiskies draw praise too. Complaints are fewer. One diner found the Hero chicken burger small, with a dry bun and frozen-quality fries, and the ice cream beside the pudding had melted on arrival. That diner also found the haggis scotch egg already gone by evening. Another notes that ordering at the bar can be confusing. One group who booked ahead to celebrate a family milestone were gifted a t-shirt and shots of whiskey for the whole table.
Featured reviews
- Julien Nivet
“Well well well… we came here cause the place looked nice and is in the TripAdvisor top 10 Inverness restaurants. At 7pm the Haggis Scotch Egg wasn’t avaible anymore. Maybe because it’s the only main who whorts it? So I took the chicken « the Hero » burger. For 17.8£ I had the joy to receive a small burger with dry industrial bun and frozen-quality « skin on fries ». My desert looked as in a hurry as me to leave this place, cause the vanille ice cream with my pudding was already melted when the plate was served to me. In french, we have an expression for that kind of thing: Péter plus haut que son c*l.”
- Antal Kolonics
“We looked at the place and we were surprised that people are willing to sit outside at 16 degrees. But than we tried this place and saw why. The atmosphere is amazing, the place really feel like a local pub, with even live music as well. There is not a big selection of food but everything was perfect and they were quite fast as well”
- Sara VanderWal
“Delicious burger and loaded fries! Incredibly fast service, though it can be a bit confusing to order at the bar. Met some locals and fellow travellers and bought a tshirt that honours my partner’s namesake.”
- Wojciech Martyniak
“our place in inverness, in the whole scotland! we ate mussels (delicious), fish and chips and a beef pie (perfect),we drank few tasty beers and drinks and watched the concert (amazing!), hope to come back again!”
- S C (Selb)
“Lucky chance find. Stopped by for a nightcap and chose 2 of the whiskies on special selection on the bar which were both good. Entertaining musician playing tunes from the various countries represented by tourists from around the world. A very welcoming place.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Home of the Highland Malt Whisky Experience and the Highlander Experience 'Best Music Bar in Scotland' 2024 SLTN awards 'Best Bar in Scotland' 2023 Visit Scotland Thistle Awards ‘Scotland’s Best independent bar’ 2021 SLTN awards ‘Best live music bar in Scotland’ 2020 SLTN; 'Scotland’s best bar’ Visit Scotland 2019 Thistle Awards Scottish craft beer and spirits bar with excellent food and superb live traditional Scottish music at its core. The absolute best in Scottish music at this bar owned by Blazin Fiddles founder and BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bruce MacGregor. Highlighted by US travel writer Rick Steves as a ‘must do’”
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Highlights· 5
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Parking· 1
- Paid street parking
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Bars near MacGregor's
- Jimmy Badgers4.54030.2 miWheelchair accessible
flatiron steak, steak pie, bucket of mussels
- Johnny Foxes4.43,6900.2 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
pints of Guinness, vegan menu options, live music
- Gellions Bar4.52,0490.2 mi£15–30
live Scottish music, 24 taps cask and craft, Scottish whiskies and gins
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacGregor'sReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.51,763 | — | £20–30 | live music sessions, steak and ale pie, haggis scotch egg |
| Jimmy BadgersWheelchair accessible | 4.5403 | 0.2 mi | — | flatiron steak, steak pie, bucket of mussels |
| Johnny FoxesReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.43,690 | 0.2 mi | £20–30 | pints of Guinness, vegan menu options, live music |
| Gellions Bar | 4.52,049 | 0.2 mi | £15–30 | live Scottish music, 24 taps cask and craft, Scottish whiskies and gins |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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