Whilst Perthshire has long been famed for its big trees and stunning autumn colours, it is the village of Dunkeld which is now giving this most gentile of Scotland’s regions a rather large dose of cool.
On the banks of the River Tay in the heart of Dunkeld sits The Taybank – a contender for your new favourite hotel, bar and restaurant in Scotland.
Welcome to Dunkeld and The Taybank
There has always been a sleepy historic charm to the Perthshire village of Dunkeld with its 17th-century cottages restored by the National Trust and its magnificent cathedral all sitting on the River Tay.
However, the village is also home to a thriving young artist community with a bustling high street full of independent shops, cafes, smart hotels and great pubs.
Some people would put the catalyst for Dunkeld’s recent revival down to the arrival of Great British Bake Off’s Flora Sheldun’s Aran Bakery, but down on the banks of the river the refurbishment and relaunch of The Taybank hotel, restaurant and bar has a good claim to driving this village’s new found fame too.
We were invited for a weekend on the River Tay and discovered our new favourite place to stay in Scotland. Let’s check in.
A stay at The Taybank Hotel
Alongside its popular bar and huge beer garden, The Taybank is a super cool and stylish boutique hotel.
Upstairs from the bar and restaurant are five individually designed bedrooms. Our room, number 1, had a super comfy king bed and leafy, garden views. Room 4 has a smart slipper tub, or if you have kids in tow, room 5 is a suite with an extra sleeping nook and a spectacular bath. If you need more space, The Taybank Hotel also has two apartments.
All of the rooms (and throughout the hotel) are dog friendly and our super king room had plenty of space and overlooking the garden had peace and quiet in the evening for us and our two pups – we all slept very well under crisp Laura Thomas Egyptian cotton linen.
In the morning, a luxurious continental breakfast was delivered to our room in a pretty wicker hamper – there are trays outside your room for breakfast in bed or there is a breakfast room across the hall. We were lucky enough to be able to take our hamper outside to eat breakfast by the river in the sunshine.
Inside our hamper we found huge buttery, flakey croissants from the famous Aran Bakery – I split mine with Galloway Lodge jam and then indulged in the Inverloch goats milk cheddar and Great Glen Charcuterie salami.
There was also Katy Rogers yoghurt which I mixed with the Taybank’s own delicious fruit, nut and seed granola alongside a big dollop of a seasonal fruit compote from their garden – ours was a tangy apple.
We’d carefully carried our mugs made by local potter Ellen at Kiln Creative in neighbouring Birnam full of the Taybank’s own filter coffee comes from the Bean Shop in Perth down to the river.
The best bit about staying at the Taybank? Check out is a super accommodating and relaxing 12pm – so there is no need to rush away. A perfect nights stay!
Food at the Taybank
Dining at the Taybank is available in both the riverside garden and in the hotel. As the sun was splitting the sky (and we had the pups in tow) we opted for the Garden Kitchen which serves up seasonal pizzas and picky bits such as spring pea, lemon and mozzarella arancini and chickpea panisse with tomato and feta salad.
The pizzas are wood-fired and delicious – we tried the Great Glen salami pizza with pickles, chilli and honey bu I also had my eye on the truffle pig with parmesan and mushrooms, and the smokey haggis with brown sauce and crispy onions.
Inside, the Taybank’s restaurant serves up a local and very seasonal menu. Choose from a starter of scallops with prosciutto, blood orange, green mustard & scallop roe bisque and mains such as beef short rib, salt baked celeriac, green mustards & salsa verde, or goats curd agnolotti, asparagus, chard, brown butter, parmesan & walnut. Ooft so good!
In 2022, the Taybank Hotel took over a four-acre walled garden with the goal of growing as much of the produce for the restaurant themselves – chemical free – including rocket for pizzas, a salad mix and every variety of veg you can think of. A restaurant which is truly acting on its seasonal and local pledge.
Events and live music at the Taybank
The Taybank has a long history of supporting live music and the bar is home to an assortment of musicians on Wednesdays (Bluegrass and Americana with the Boat Road Sessions) and Thursdays (Scottish trad).
Come early and be prepared to squeeze in, the sessions are hugely popular. We grabbed a seat by the bar (and the window!) to enjoy three hours of brilliant Scottish music in a friendly atmosphere – packed full of locals and visitors alike.
In summer, the Taybank’s garden also hosts ‘long tables’ – where locally sourced produce and veg from the Taybank’s own garden is cooked over an open fire alongside fire pits and outdoor live music.
In winter (November until the end of March) The Taybank wood-fired sauna and plunge pool sits on the banks of the River Tay. There are also cinema sessions on their big screen.
So, is the Taybank Hotel a contender for you new favourite hotel in Scotland? With fabulous food, stylish rooms, that brilliant beer garden and live music bar – as well as as all the brilliant Dunkeld on your doorstep – why would you go anywhere else?
Love from Scotland x
> Read more: things to do in Dunkeld
> The complete guide to things to do in Perthshire
Thanks to Taybank for having us to stay. Our stay at the hotel complimentary, the gushing is all my own! This post contains affiliate links which we may make commission from.
The travel blogger and photographer behind Love from Scotland