Varis House

A very sweet B and B. Rooms we clean, all necessities were available. Room was smaller than expected.

Brilliant

A cozy and comfortable B&B within walking distance of much of Lerwick. We had a fun and friendly host but we never saw him after check-in. Our door lock was broken or the key was faulty, only working with effort, until we were locked out on our last day after having breakfast in the very nice dining room. Calls to our host and an alternate number went unanswered, but we did finally get into our room after 20 minutes of trying and were able to check out. Our host did finally get back to us while we were on the road to our next destination. Other than the lock though, Varis House is a fine accommodation.

Excellent location and a wonderful experience overall! Will stay again if ever I come to Shetland again! View from top room absolutely amazing!

Always a pleasure to stay here.

The guest house was in a great position, just a few minutes walk from the harbour area. Our twin room with very comfy, great shower with loads of hot water. The room was quite compact but had everything we needed for our 4 night stay. We loved the breakfasts, continental style with the added bonus of Julie’s lovely home baking! Nigel and Julie were wonderful hosts. Recommended.

Liked the position in relation to the town and that there was parking. However for the money it was a disappointment. Everything about the place was tired and worn. Seriously needs an upgrade. Beds and bedding old and lumpy. Decor dusty and from the ‘80 s. Also we were refused a late checkout and when we left at the required time, there was no one to check us out! Not an enjoyable stay.

Friendly landlord, room and bed quite small

Very warm welcome

Ideal for Lerwick and getting about Shetland.

Convenient location with extensive breakfast options at any time of the day. Plenty of free of charge parking either at the property or close by. Lots of cafe / restaurant options within easy walking distance.

It is an inexpensive room. Similar to a basic self serve bed & breakfast. A very small old room with an ensuite in the original room and thin walls. Steep stairs to all rooms. Conveniently located, the water is hot and the bed is comfortable.

Guesthouse was clean. Nice gentleman called Johnny met us there. He was covering for the owner who was aware. Breakfast very good, continental. Plenty of choice. No other food catered for. Parking was an issue as there was a white van in the evening that blocked the cars in the small carpark. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. We contacted before the stay and asked for downstairs room. Never got a reply and was then put up on first floor. 16 steps on spiral staircase. Very tricky for my partner. Good value for money. Some leaflets in the room about Shetland would have been very helpful. Had to ask for room service half way through as not enough milk and teabags in the room. Could have left these in the dining room for convenience. Overall not too bad for a budget guesthouse.

A lovely B&B. Excellent location in Lerwick. An abundance of all you can eat continental breakfast. Home made bakes available 24/7. Very helpful staff. Not the most modern decor but recommended.

Last minute booking and really lucky to stumble upon this guest house

Comfortable stay

We had a nice room. It was on the third floor so a bit of a challenge for people who don't like stairs. The breakfast was continental and had everything you need. The hotel is ideally located to central Lerwick. Some on sight parking but plenty free parking nearby.

Nigel was an excellent host, very accommodating and went the exstra mile to help. First class!

The b&b was quaint, clean, and walkable. Check-in was very inconvenient. Also- parking is consistent.

The hotel has nice rooms and is well located in the center of Lerwick.

Varis house was close to town centre . Breakfast room was bright and airy. Continental breakfast had plenty of choice. Our room was very small, for 2 people with very little space to put things . The available space was taken by a table top fridge and tea making facilities leaving little space for personal items. A firmer mattress and pillows would have suited us better. There were no bedside tables just a small narrow shelf . The ensuite was very narrow, the width of a single shower cubicle. Overall we feelthe room is tired and in need of attention.

Love the pastries! Lovely room with a view and staff helpful. Location is very close to town and busses. Would recommend without reservation!

Stayed one night. Great room. Nigel putting binoculars in the room so you can make the most of the views as the place is situated high up and you can see down to the harbour is a great touch. Self serve breakfast, lots of choice including a couple of home baked items.

Great location, near the harbour and the centre of town. Lovely help yourself breakfast, with the addition of freshly made cakes in the afternoon. Handy little fridge in the room which was very quiet for sleeping. Friendly and helpful staff. No complaints whatsoever.

Great place to stay. The room was spacious, I had a great view of the harbour and the bed was very comfortable. I thought the mini fridge was a great bonus and the bottled water was appreciated. Varis House is located very close to many bars, restaurants and cafes etc. The next time I travel to Shetland with work I will 100% stay here again.

Stayed there for a work trip and facilities more than met my needs. Lovely breakfast with home baking

Shower head didn’t spray just poured water like an open pipe. Breakfast a bit odd, basically help yourself from the containers or fridge, plenty of variety but not sure how long things had been open. Quite steep stairs in the house if you are not so mobile. Room ok but window needed to be jammed open (with the piece of wood provided), could a trapped finger risk. Generally adequate for a short time but generally underwhelming.

Very nice and quiet Comfortable beds

Thank you Johnny for your kind service and the support when needed. Varis House was a lovely stay, we will be back

Check in was awful. No one theree when I arrived eaarly, but I did talk with owner abd that was OK. Arrived back from t our about 1530 and still no one to answer doorbell - and my phone was out of battery. About 30 minutes later someone with a phone showed up, and I got in. Bathroom was very small. I could not bend over in the shower to wash my lower legs. I needed to go into the bedroom to dry off. A trash basket would have been nice, except there was no room fr one in the bathroom. Breakfast was unattended. Pancakes and bread had to go through the toaster. Continental at best. The bed mattress was lumpy, with very little support. Woke up with stiff back both mornings.

Parking was difficult at the property. The showerhead kept falling off the bracket as it had obviously been changed but did not stay in place. Should have changed the holder as well as the head. The room was quiet and tidy. Breakfast was help yourself and was ok. Nothing cooked. Manager seemed nice and showed me all around just got relaxed and he knocked on the door to discuss payment! Then the next morning he was talking about payment issues with other guests. I beleive there were some issues but dont think they were handled with professionalism. In general it was a nice clean and tidy place in the Heart of Lerwick

My room was depressing. Window overlooked a small yard that was fully of junk. Window couldn't be opened and blind cord was too high for me to reach. Small desk was covered by a small fridge, tea-making facilities etc all of which had to be moved before I could use it. Stuffy. On the plus side the shower gave a good,hot water supply. Breakfast was set up the previous day. All tables were set so nowhere to sit and write or watch TV. Breakfast was plentiful. Worst aspect for me was the absence of any staff. Except for when I returned for check-in late on my day of arrival the owner was most interested in explaining the breakfast arrangements. I had to ask him to change my bed because the bottom sheet was so worn. The mattress could do with replacing. With the tourist office closed a landlord who can give advice, information etc is invaluable. Not even a map of the town available. I cut my losses and left a day early to stay somewhere more pleasant.

It is important to arrive at a mid-afternoon check-in time or arrange with the owners in advance. There is limited parking on site, but there is a nearby lot which is usually available. The owners are not located on site so there was some delay in paying the remaining amount. The room was upstairs and reasonably comfortable. It was an easy walk to the downtown. Restaurants are available nearby but it is important to book in advance to ensure a table.

This was a lovely spot to stay for my short stay in Lerwick. The host was friendly and helpful, and their self-serve breakfast room is a lovely place for a bite to eat to start the day. The room is open at all times, so a quick bite is always available. And the home-made baked goods are DELICIOUS - loved the carrot cak. My only minor quibble is that the ferry arrives so early in the morning and the check-in isn't until much later in the day. Would be great to have an earlier check in option. Highly recommend if visiting Lerwick!

Excellent location to town for access to local restaurants and bars.

Great stay. Jonny was a great host!

The Jonny was very friendly. Rooms clean breakfast facilities where great.

The room was TINY. The bathroom was even smaller. Our room needed a good clean. Maybe a scrub or even paint. The breakfast was very good. All we needed and then the baking was a great extra.

It was hard to find since the online mapping bearings were a bit off. But once I found it with the help of locals, everything was fine. Great night

We had a wonderful stay at the Varis Hotel in Lerwick. The place was clean, comfortable, and offered great value for money. The location is excellent, making it easy to explore the area. Nigel, the owner, was incredibly welcoming and provided lots of helpful information. The self-serve breakfast was ideal, with a great selection to choose from. I would highly recommend this B&B and will definitely rebook in the future.”

I enjoyed my stay, nice choice for continental breakfast and there was some homemade cakes to take away. The rooms were warm and clean. Its not far from the town centre.

Never used a B&B before…..lovely historical building….close to everything in Lerwick!…..quiet, comfortable, definitely would recommend……contributed to a wonderful trip to the Shetland Islands……meet many great people on the Islands….including the Varis House owner and staff!

Great if you like to fend for yourself. Don't expect much in terms of support or service. They set you up fine then leave you alone (all the while keeping an eye on you with their cctv).

Great location, within walking distance to Lerwick

Easy walking to town

Wonderful place to stay. Nothing is really walkable in Shetland, but I would say Varis House is great for walking to the main shopping street. Our room was neat and clean. There was parking on the premises, but there were trucks filling it when we were there. There was also parking across the street, so it was not a big deal. Lots of pastry, cereal, fruit, meat and cheese options for breakfast. I would definitely stay there again. Make sure you speak with someone before you book if stairs are not good for you, so you can make sure you get floor accommodations. There are no elevators.

Stay for 3 nights the bed was never made and The towels were never changed, The breakfast was averaged, The Location was good.

Great friendly service and welcome, nice selection of breakfast food, very walkable to town center and other attractions

This stay was just what I needed. The staff were very helpful and on hand to ensure all was as one would expect. I would strongly recommend that anyone that comes to stay in Lerwick looks this place up to stay. The room was spacious and had everything that you would expect. The breakfast was just outstanding as there was so much choice. The location is perfect too, not too far out and easily reached from the town centre. Overall there is an absolutely wonderful experience to be had by anyone who stays at the Varis House. Thank you so so so much to both Nigel and Julie for making my stay an extremely worthwhile visit to the Shetland islands.

Convenient location with fresh breakfast.

Nice place to stay in a 200 year old town house less than 5 minute walk to Lerwick centre. Good value, good host, and free public parking. across street

The management were extremely helpful in arranging an easier access room when I forgot to inform them that my wife who is partially disabled had difficulty with stairs,.and the other member of staff who dealt with us--I think her name was Caroline was really nice and helpful..

Very friendly and helpful staff great location.

This was an interesting experience. Very much DIY, once you had been met and shown your room you were on your own, did not see any staff again. Breakfast was set out, help yourselves, if its not visible its in the fridge, cereal, toast, juice, yoghurt. The plumbing in our room left a lot to be desired, very noisy pump for water and loo. On the plus side, very central, easy walk to the harbour area. Necessary ingredients to make sandwiches for the day, cake and fruit available.

Varis house was opposite a free car park and positioned a short walk from Lerwick's main street, which contained shops and restaurants.

Well location near the town center. Limited onsite parking. There's cold breakfast available but no cooked option. Nice and friendly proprietor.

Not kept up with property. Beds and pillows uncomfortable. Room TINY for 2pp. Location close to center of Lerwick but so is everything, Lerwick quiet small.

Room was small with no storage Breakfast was self service cereal and toast, and told to clear crockery away without breaking it. Room was not cleaned or checked during 5 night stay

Lovely comfortable room, amazing hot shower, and bountiful self-service breakfast. Couldn't ask for more!

It's good to have the property back as a guesthouse at a reasonable price in a good location.

Beautiful old home, tastefully decorated and a very comfortable and relatively spacious room.

Other than the smallness of everything, it was ok

Lovely B&B, conveniently located for walking about Lerwick. Pleasant, helpful management and well supplied breakfast.

Extremely quick check in and great location and facilities. Awesome hospitality

Friendly host, short walk to town centre, secure parking and good breakfast choice.

Welcoming host but the location was more noisy than expected, especially with the window open.

Very friendly staff, excellent location, nice and clean, plentiful continental breakfast, including delicious home made cakes. Real value for money, would definitely recommend staying here.

Great place to stay. Very clean. Reasonably priced

It was a really great location, very close to the commercial Street.

Top marks for location and also helpful

Good location, easy contact with host, installation could be updated.

Lovely accommodation Warm welcome on arrival Good facilities especially very comfortable beds, well presented room Superb breakfast with excellent choices to eat and enjoy the continental spread offering. Host very helpful Recommend Varis House to anyone wanting to visit Lerwick without any hesitation. No negative comments to make

Really enjoyed our stay at Varis. We were able to drop our luggage off early after getting off the ferry. Breakfast was amazing, choices of toast, cereals, fruit,yoghurt and spreads were great.

Very friendly and accommodating staff. Plentiful breakfast of meat, cheese, bread, cereal, juices - help yourself! Wonderful home baking (especially muffins and lemon drizzle). Nigel is helpful and goes out of his way to ensure you are happy with your environment. Good TV channels for the evening after you have done the sights and the beds are comfortable with soft duvets. Well positioned for public transport but ensure you check timetables as transport can be infrequent. We’d happily return and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

Nigel is very helpful. The property is clean. The continental breakfast is plentiful. Really great experience.

Great room, continental breakfast was minimum, but okay. I would stay here again, for the nice room.

Small room but perfectly comfortable with excellent facilities. Self service breakfast works well with excellent choice.

Stayed 2 nights, warm welcome from the owner, good clean room, mattress was too soft for me, but comfortable. Continental breakfast good, Walking distance to town and harbour, i would defiantly stay here again. Thank you. Steve Brookes

Warm and friendly accommodation Self serve breakfast Lovely home made banana bread and muffins Good location

Stayed before and look forward to staying again. Very helpful folk. Peace and quiet. Not intrusive. Excellent situation.

Helpful and accommodating with arrival times! My shower didn’t work during the stay but otherwise enjoyed the visit

Excellent

The Varis is an absolutely extraordinary little find. I stayed in room 1, which is on the top floor and has a perfect view of the harbour from the top of the hill. The room itself was great as well, featuring a ludicrously comfortable bed and having all the expected comforts. Nigel was a great host throughout, and provides a generous supply of breakfast food and yoghurts for guests to enjoy at their convenience for no extra charge. Overall I couldn't ask for more!

The room was excellent! Modern furnishings and even a fridge.Spacious bathroom for 2 people and enough room tomove around in. VERY understanding and accomidating host. Many thanks!

No issues, nice room with good facilities. Great breakfast choices, self service. Good location with parking.

Excellent friendly and welcoming

Excellent no-frills B&B in Lerwick. A unique breakfast experience in that the room is open at all times, cereals, porridge, bread, yoghurt, fresh fruit, cheese and meat slices, home made muffins and cake are available along with tea, coffee, fruit juice etc. There is a microwave which can be used for quick meals ("provided they're not smelly"). The owners are around but not obtrusive, and once checked in you are left to your own devices and can come and go as you please. Be aware that it is an old building and most rooms involve climbing stairs, so make sure to mention if you need a ground floor room when booking.

Great location great house!

Warm, clean, friendly and safe! We had a great stay

Lovely manager, great location. Really nice breakfast area with good choices. Property could use some updates!

Very clean, friending and helpful staff, even carried my case upstairs for me ....could help yourself,at ant time, to coffee and delicious home made cake. Very central to the town....all in all an excellent stay. Thank you.

This was a great place to stay. My sole complaint is only being offered instant coffee. There must be a way to do real coffee -- pods, tea/coffee bags?

Easy check in and check out. Pretty average room and breakfast.

Handy to town, nice help your self breakfast wach morning, quiet and parking available

Great place to stay. Nigel was very kind and responsive to our needs. Parking on site and nearby was sufficient and easily accessible. Great location, wonderful view from room. Would definitely recommend!

Very friendly, fantastic breakfast options, walkable from town, excellent room appointments incl mini fridge, & en suite, lovely lounge/dining room.

Very basic property some damp in the room. Nice breakfast and afternoon cake provide in the dinning area. Didn't meet the owners. Self checkin was easy and efficient.

Spacious room, good view, good and varied breakfast options.

Very happy. Kitchen/dining being available all day was a big highlight

Great location, easy to find. Breakfast had limited options and everything was pre-packaged. Only hot water from shower head was very uncomfortable. Host spent 3 minutes with us checking in and did not see them again.