Business Details
Social Enterprise Cafe in the Highlands
Cafe Artysans is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering young people aged 16-25 who face personal challenges that may hinder their future prospects. Through hands-on work experience in our cafe and catering services, we help participants develop essential life and employment skills such as teamwork, time management, customer service, and confidence building. Our programs are tailored to individual needs, incorporating personal development, travel support, digital skills, and CV preparation. As part of the Calman Group, we combine vocational training with community impact, reinvesting all profits into improving opportunities for young people in the Scottish Highlands. Our partnerships with local suppliers ensure fresh, high-quality ingredients while supporting the regional economy.We offer a range of services including a hearty Scottish menu, vegan options, takeaway, and bespoke catering for events. Every aspect of our operation is designed to create meaningful work experiences that lead to sustainable employment or further education. Our team collaborates closely with participants to address barriers to employment, providing both practical skills and emotional resilience. The cafe serves as a hub for community engagement, blending social enterprise with hospitality to deliver both economic and social value. With a focus on sustainability and local sourcing, we aim to be a catalyst for positive change in the Highlands.
Services
Cafe Menu
Takeaway Service
Event Catering
Vegan Options
Work Experience Programs
Highlights and features
- We support young people aged 16-25 through tailored work experience programs
- Our menu features fresh, locally-sourced ingredients from Highland suppliers
- All profits fund youth development initiatives in the community
- We offer bespoke catering services with reinvestment into social programs
- Participants gain practical skills in hospitality and customer service
What people say
Delicious food
Excellent service
Fresh ingredients
Beautiful presentation
Commendable community impact
Services
Cafe Menu
Our cafe offers a Scottish-inspired menu featuring hearty breakfasts, comforting lunches, and homemade baked goods. Using ingredients from local suppliers like Biagiotti of Beauly and Duncan Fraser Fishmonger, we serve fresh, seasonal dishes daily. The menu includes vegan breakfasts and lunch specials alongside traditional Highland fare, all prepared on-site using locally-roasted coffee and loose-leaf tea.
Takeaway Service
Artysans To Go provides quick, fresh takeaway options including coffee, sandwiches, and snacks. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-3pm, this service offers convenient meal solutions for busy professionals and commuters. Pre-order options ensure hot meals are ready for collection, while creating valuable work experience opportunities for young people in food service roles.
Event Catering
We deliver professional catering services for events and meetings using the same quality standards as our cafe. Our team creates bespoke menus to meet specific dietary requirements, with all profits reinvested into youth development programs. Clients praise our fresh, beautifully presented food and reliable service, making us a preferred choice for businesses and organizations across the Highlands.
Work Experience Programs
Our structured programs help young people develop employability skills through hands-on experience in hospitality roles. Participants learn customer service, time management, and teamwork while gaining confidence and practical work habits. Each placement forms part of a personalized learning plan that may include travel support, digital skills training, and CV development to prepare for sustainable employment.
Vegan Options
We offer specially designed vegan breakfasts and lunch specials that showcase the best of Scottish plant-based cuisine. Our vegan dishes use fresh, locally-sourced ingredients prepared to the same high standards as our traditional menu items. This inclusive offering ensures all customers can enjoy delicious, nutritious meals while supporting our social enterprise mission.
Questions
How does Cafe Artysans support young people?
We provide work experience programs that develop employability skills through hands-on roles in our cafe and catering services, with personalized learning plans for each participant.
What areas do you cater to?
We provide catering services across the Scottish Highlands, with a focus on Inverness and surrounding areas.
Can I pre-order takeaway food?
Yes, our Artysans To Go service allows pre-ordering for lunch collections during our operating hours Monday-Saturday.
Do you offer vegan menu options?
Yes, we have specially designed vegan breakfasts and lunch specials using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
What are your opening hours?
We're open Monday-Saturday 8:30am-4pm for cafe services and Artysans To Go takeaway between 9am-3pm.
How do you source your ingredients?
We partner with local Highland suppliers including Biagiotti of Beauly, Duncan Fraser Fishmonger, and Inverness Coffee Roasting Co. for fresh, seasonal produce.
Reviews (7)
Richard Richardson
Dec 05, 2021
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Quality food at reasonable prices. All freshly prepared and hot. Waiting staff rushed off their feet but friendly and helpful. Recommended.
Bev Deveaux-Smith
Oct 24, 2021
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Amazing Food, great to see that the cafe has so many young people working for them, gaining experience and knowledge in the food industry. The cafe was extremely well set out and clean. Exceptional Service from all employees. Would highly recommend if living/visiting Inverness
Alex Barrett
Oct 20, 2021
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This clean and busy caf nestled between the railway and bus stations, served me a delicious breakfast while I had some time before my train home. It has an open kitchen which is a feature I did not know how much I enjoy and it provides great confidence I the professionalism of the staff.
Sadly a star is almost lost due to the broken toilet (I had to use the one intended for wheelchair users). Good access for those with needs. The menu suggests vegetarians and vegans would be happy here too.
Sadly a star is almost lost due to the broken toilet (I had to use the one intended for wheelchair users). Good access for those with needs. The menu suggests vegetarians and vegans would be happy here too.
Babs Aitken
Sep 23, 2021
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A small group of us attended for breakfast and all our orders were fulfilled by pleasant and courteous staff. Cafe Artysans is all on street level making it extremely wheelchair friendly. Covid rules were insitu. A very enjoyable experience and prices are both competitive and reasonable. Would highly recommend a visit here when in town centre
Kat Cheng
Sep 12, 2021
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Breakfast was great - very generous portion and delicious. French toast was out of the world. Friendly staff. Very reasonably priced too.
Neil Davidson
Aug 24, 2021
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Excellent service and delicious breakfast. Each element was cooked to perfection and staff very accommodating to meet children's particular preferences. Yummy!
Davy P.
Aug 12, 2021
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Staff are friendly, pleasant and professional.
Spacious surroundings.
Minestrone soup is a meal in itself.
Decent pot of tea, enough for a refill. The orange and pistachio cake is moist and flavoursome. I will return the next time I'm in town.
Spacious surroundings.
Minestrone soup is a meal in itself.
Decent pot of tea, enough for a refill. The orange and pistachio cake is moist and flavoursome. I will return the next time I'm in town.
