The Three Chimneys

It seems a small miracle that this solitary, windswept eatery on Skye's remote northwestern coast should have survived for almost thirty years with sheep, seals and sea eagles for neighbors, let alone captured the attention of big-city critics. But when Frank Bruni visited during a Highlands road trip, the place – and the meal – stole his heart, prompting him to list it among his five favorite restaurants in the world. The Three Chimneys' nightly tasting menu is indeed a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to the Hebridean crofters and divers who supply its fresh local fare. The restaurant maintains an adjacent inn for diners who prefer to sleep off the "Seven Courses of Skye," and for those without an overnight to spare, lunch is served from mid-March through October. For those who would prefer to avoid the drive altogether, a patch of reedy ground between the restaurant and Loch Dunvegan doubles as a helicopter pad.