About The Russian Tavern
THE FAMOUS RUSSIAN TAVERN is a seashore stone-built village inn at Port Bannatyne, a fishing and yacht bay on the Isle of Bute, about two miles north of Rothesay along the coast road. It was bought by a Russian family eight years ago and converted from a rundown bed and breakfast guesthouse into an award winning restaurant with four economic guest rooms. The views from the tavern are truly stunning, lokking across the yacht bay to the Argyll mountains.
The seafood is landed on the pier directly outside the front door.The Russian specialities have been carefully researched from the kitchen archives of The Tsar in St. Petersberg and faithfully reproduced using wild, organic or free range ingredients. Berries, seaweed, fungi and herbs (not to mention the seafood and game,) are all gathered from the wild on the island.
A twin or double room costs £64 including two substantial Russian breakfasts.
The island is an ideal vacation destination for sailing, golf, hiking, biking, fishing, birding, wandering along empty beaches spotting the seals or seeking out the spooky prehistoric Standing Stones. Travel information to Bute, and menus of the Tavern can be seen on
A car is not necessary to tour the area as there are buses, ships and trains everywhere.