Contrast Brasserie Inverness

You'll find yourself in one of Inverness's most characterful corners when you climb the steps to Contrast. It's housed in the Glenmoriston Town House, a handsome Victorian building that sits right on the banks of the Ness, and the dining room feels appropriately refined without ever tipping into stuffy. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing—this isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather execute seasonal European dishes with proper technique and decent ingredients. It's the sort of place where locals take visitors to impress them, and it actually delivers.