Oban Bay Hotel

You're walking along the Corran Esplanade and the bay spreads out in front of you—this is where the Oban Bay Hotel plants itself, right in the thick of it. It's the kind of spot where you can watch the ferries come and go from your room, which beats staring at a car park. The hotel does the business for both tourists and locals looking for a decent meal without the faffing about. Food-wise, they take it seriously enough that you'll actually want to eat in rather than wandering down to find something else. It's got that solid, unfussy Highlands hotel thing going on—comfortable rather than trying too hard, which is exactly what Oban needs.