Badly Drawn Cat

Where Art and Appetite Meet

Badly Drawn Cat stands as Kirkwall's most distinctive cultural gathering space, seamlessly merging visual art with thoughtfully prepared vegan cuisine. Housed in a converted townhouse on Albert Street, the venue occupies a prime location within walking distance of the town's historic center. The café functions as both a working gallery and intimate dining space, where rotating exhibitions of contemporary art share walls with comfortable seating and a carefully curated menu. This dual identity reflects the owner's vision of creating a space where creativity nourishes both the eye and the palate.

The Gallery Experience

The walls of Badly Drawn Cat serve as a living canvas for local and visiting artists. Rather than operating as a static museum, the space hosts regular exhibitions that change throughout the year, encouraging repeat visits and fostering an active dialogue between the community and the creative process. Past exhibitions have featured abstract art and contemporary works that challenge and inspire. The intimate scale of the gallery—with its modest dimensions and close proximity between viewer and artwork—creates an unusually personal encounter with each piece. Visitors often find themselves lingering longer than anticipated, drawn into conversations about the work on display or discovering unexpected artistic connections.

Culinary Philosophy and Menu

The kitchen at Badly Drawn Cat embraces plant-based cooking as both a culinary challenge and a philosophical commitment. The menu features hearty soups, fresh salads, and creative main courses that demonstrate how vegan cuisine can be satisfying and flavorful rather than restrictive. Seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers inform the rotating menu, ensuring that dishes reflect Orkney's agricultural character. The café also offers hot beverages, cold drinks, and homemade baked goods that pair well with the relaxed, browsing atmosphere. This approach to food service positions the venue as a welcoming destination for vegans and non-vegans alike, proving that dietary preferences need not divide a dining experience.

Atmosphere and Community Role

The cozy interior of Badly Drawn Cat cultivates an atmosphere of creative ease and genuine hospitality. Friendly staff members contribute significantly to the welcoming environment, treating each visitor as a valued participant in the space rather than a mere customer. The eclectic décor—combining gallery-quality artwork with comfortable furnishings—invites people to settle in for extended visits. The venue has become a natural gathering point for Kirkwall's creative community, attracting artists, writers, students, and culturally curious travelers. On any given day, you might encounter a local artist discussing their work, a group of friends catching up over lunch, or a solo traveler sketching in a corner while sipping tea.

Practical Considerations for Visitors

The café operates from its intimate Albert Street location, accessible on foot from Kirkwall's main shopping and historic districts. The modest size of the space means that during peak hours, seating can become limited, particularly on rainy days when foot traffic increases. The venue's focus on vegan cuisine makes it an essential stop for plant-based travelers in Orkney, where such options remain relatively scarce. The combination of art viewing and casual dining means visitors can structure their time flexibly—a quick coffee and browse might take thirty minutes, while a full meal with gallery exploration could easily extend to two hours or more.