Playback

Walk into Playback and you're stepping into the sort of place that's become genuinely central to Inverness's social fabric. Academy Street's been buzzing more in recent years, and this pub's right in the thick of it. You'll find yourself among locals nursing craft beers, mates catching up over decent cocktails, and groups that start at the bar and somehow end up closing the place. The vibe is unpretentious—no faffing about with pretension, just good drinks and better company. High ratings suggest they've nailed both the drinks menu and that intangible thing: making people actually want to be there.