A stay at the Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa feels like having the city at your doorstep, with one seriously beautiful view waiting upstairs. Set along the River Ness directly across from Inverness Castle, it’s the kind of location that makes exploring the city ridiculously easy.
My room was huge and gorgeous, with a bay window looking straight across the river to the castle. Add a spa, an indoor pool and Starbucks coffee without leaving the hotel, and it quickly became one of my favorite places I’ve stayed in Inverness.
Here’s what I’d want to know before booking.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. My stay at The Palace Hotel & Spa was complimentary as part of a hosted press trip with Visit Inverness. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own. Thank you for supporting Tartan & Teacups.
Why I Loved Staying at The Palace Hotel & Spa
Location is one of the biggest reasons to choose the Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa. The hotel sits at 8 Ness Walk, with restaurants, shops, Inverness Cathedral and riverside walking paths all within an easy walk.
That makes it particularly convenient if you’re visiting Inverness without a car. I could head out to explore, come back to the hotel when I needed a break and walk to dinner later without worrying about transportation.
The Palace dates to 1890 and has grown to include additional Victorian accommodation at Ten at the Palace, along with a modern garden cottage. It’s AA four-star rated and part of WorldHotels Distinctive.
The staff made my stay even better. Everyone I encountered was genuinely helpful, and they happily stored my luggage when I needed somewhere to leave it outside my room time.
It’s a small detail until you’re standing in Inverness with a suitcase and several hours before your next train or tour. Then it’s exactly the kind of hotel service you appreciate.
My River & Castle View Room
If there’s one upgrade I’d seriously consider here, it’s a River & Castle View room.
My room was enormous, but the bay window was easily my favorite part. There was a seating area tucked into it, with a view straight across the River Ness to Inverness Castle.
It became one of those hotel-room features that actually changed how I used the space. Instead of treating my room as somewhere to sleep between sightseeing, I could sit by the window with a cup of tea and watch Inverness go by outside.
The hotel has several other room categories, including Classic rooms, Family rooms, Single rooms and smaller Cosy Doubles. Because the Palace includes different buildings and accommodation styles, I’d pay close attention to the specific room category you’re booking.
If you’ve fallen in love with the castle views you’ve seen in photos, don’t assume every room has them. Book a River & Castle View room specifically.
Pool, Spa and Leisure Club
The Palace also has an amenity I really appreciate in a city hotel…a full leisure club.
There’s a roughly 50-foot heated indoor pool along with a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and gym. The pool also has a shallow end, which may be useful for families traveling with younger children.
Current leisure club hours are listed from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., although I’d confirm hours and guest-access information before your stay.
For an Inverness itinerary, I love having this option. You can spend the day exploring Loch Ness, Culloden or the surrounding Highlands and come back for a swim or sauna before dinner.
The hotel’s treatment space is currently called the Pretty Woman Spa. You’ll still find older references online to the Sleeping Beauty Spa, so don’t be confused if you encounter both names while researching your stay.
Treatments include options such as massages, facials and beauty treatments. If spa time is an important part of your trip, I’d book in advance rather than waiting until you arrive.
Where to Eat and Drink at Inverness Palace Hotel
Eight on the River is the main restaurant, and its setting overlooking the River Ness makes it particularly lovely for dinner. After a full day exploring the Highlands, there’s also something to be said for having a genuinely good meal without needing to go anywhere afterward.
The hotel also has its Brasserie, Bar and lounge for more relaxed food and drinks.
Breakfast is available, although whether it’s included depends on the rate you book. Check your reservation rather than assuming it’s part of the room price.
And then there’s one decidedly less Scottish amenity that I nevertheless loved…they serve Starbucks coffee inside the hotel.
No, you aren’t traveling all the way to Scotland for Starbucks. But when you have an early Highland tour, it’s raining outside or you just want coffee without having to go searching for a cafe, it’s incredibly convenient.
What to Know Before Booking Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
A few practical details are worth knowing before you reserve your room.
Check-in currently begins at 3 p.m., with check-out by 11 a.m. Policies can change, so confirm the latest information with the hotel before your trip.
There is parking at the hotel, but spaces are limited. EV charging is also available, so I’d contact the property ahead of time if you’re arriving by car and parking is important to you.
Rates vary considerably depending on the season, room category and booking terms. Summer is an especially busy time in Inverness, so I’d book early if you’re traveling during peak Highland season or have your heart set on a River & Castle View room.
The hotel also offers Family rooms, and the pool makes this a property I’d consider for an Inverness family trip. If you’re traveling with children, confirm the capacity of your specific room and any cot or additional-bed requirements before booking.
A Few Things I’d Keep in Mind
The biggest consideration here is price. The Palace isn’t necessarily going to be the least expensive hotel you find in Inverness, particularly during the busy summer season or if you’re looking at one of the rooms facing the river.
Parking is another consideration if you’re driving, since on-site spaces are limited.
For me, neither takes away from what the hotel does particularly well. You’re paying for a very central location, substantial leisure facilities and, depending on the room you choose, one of the loveliest hotel views in Inverness.
Who Is Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa Best For?
I’d particularly recommend the Palace for first-time visitors to Inverness, travelers exploring without a car and anyone who wants to be able to walk almost everywhere in the city center.
Couples can easily turn it into a more romantic Highland stay by booking a River & Castle View room and adding a spa treatment. Families have the pool and larger room options, while travelers using Inverness as a base for the Highlands get the convenience of coming back to restaurants, drinks and leisure facilities under one roof.
Most of all, I think it works for travelers who want Inverness itself to be part of the trip rather than simply somewhere to sleep between Highland day trips.
Is Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa Worth It?
For me, yes.
The location makes exploring Inverness incredibly easy, the staff was wonderful, I enjoyed dinner at the hotel and having the pool and leisure club gave me somewhere to slow down between much busier days exploring the Highlands.
But my room is what made the stay particularly memorable.
If your budget allows, I’d book the River & Castle View room. Sitting in that bay window looking across the River Ness toward Inverness Castle gave me exactly the kind of quiet Scotland moment I want from a hotel and it’s the first thing I remember when I think about my stay.
