Shellfish plucked off the Isle of Skye’s dramatic coasts, melt-in-your-mouth Aberdeen Angus beef, wild game born in the depths of the Highlands…when it comes to food, Scotland certainly makes the most of its rich lands, seas, and skies – and its restaurants serve up years of tradition with pride, flair, and bursts of flavour. Don’t yet know your Cullen Skink from your Rumbledethumps? Whether you’re after a simple fish supper or a full-blown Michelin-starred journey, get your chops around some of the best Scottish cuisine at these buzzed-about dining destinations.
Is Edinburgh Good for Foodies?
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is a culinary hotspot that caters to all tastes, proving it’s indeed a fantastic city for foodies. The city boasts a thriving and diverse food scene, ranging from multi-Michelin-starred institutions offering exquisite fine dining to hidden gems serving up the best of local, seasonal Scottish produce.
Fine Dining in Scotland: The Kitchin
French culinary expertise meets homely Scottish produce at The Kitchin, a Michelin-starred restaurant that brings a refined Nature-to-Plate philosophy to Edinburgh’s food scene. Every seafood option is worth writing home about, from hand-dived Orkney scallops to fresh Newhaven lobster tail. Those who feel adventurous could opt for a seasonally themed surprise tasting menu, on which dishes are perfectly matched with wines and champagne. The vegetarian options here are refreshingly imaginative, too!
Location: 78 Commercial St, Edinburgh EH6 6LX
Best Romantic Restaurant in Edinburgh: The Witchery by the Castle
For a quirky, romantic and out-of-the-ordinary dining experience, make a beeline for The Witchery – a unique spot on the capital’s Royal Mile, right by the imposing Edinburgh Castle. At this exceptionally dark and atmospheric restaurant, Gothic-style interiors (think red leather seats, old oak panelling, heavy curtains, and candelit tables) go hand-in-hand with a succulent menu of Isle of Skye scallops, lobster bisque, Scotch beef, and much more. With its painted ceiling, dried floral decorations, and French windows leading out to a secluded terrace, the Witchery’s entrancing Secret Garden is also well worth exploring, particularly with your loved one.
Location: Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NF
Best Foodie Destination: The Scottish Highlands or Islands?
The rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and the remote beauty of its islands offer a unique culinary adventure, where the food is as dramatic and authentic as the scenery. From loch-side dining to remote island smokehouses, these destinations celebrate the freshest local seafood, game, and farm produce, promising an unforgettable taste of Scotland’s wild larder.
Inver, Strachur
With its minimalist interiors and equally minimalist menu, this small yet character-packed restaurant adds a contemporary Scandinavian twist to the shores of Loch Fyne in west Scotland. An ideal option for foodies seeking an elegant yet unfussy meal, it presents beautifully plated dishes stripped down to reveal the wholesome flavours of its local, farmed ingredients. You’ll also find a small shop on site, where you can pick up sourdough bread, cultured butter, and preserves for the road.
Location: Stracthlachlan, Strachur PA27 8BU
Kinloch Lodge Restaurant, Isle of Skye
If you’re looking for restaurants with rooms to kick your feet up in after a hearty meal, nestled in the Isle of Skye’s hilly and surreal landscape is Kinloch Lodge – a restaurant with sublime vistas by day and a hotel with seriously sophisticated credentials by night. Led by head chef Marcello Tully, Kinloch Lodge Restaurant brings an award-winning dining experience to the Isle’s southeastern shores. Enjoy canapés in the drawing room, watch the chefs work their magic from behind a glass wall, and tuck into a delicious five-course fusion of local ingredients. The restaurant hosts a tasting experience, too, and matches its menus with a carefully tailored wine list.
Location: Sleat, Isle of Skye IV43 8QY
The Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye
For fresh seafood with a view, The Three Chimneys is a gem of a restaurant on the Isle of Skye, offering a romantic setting by the sea – an ideal escape for foodies as much as for nature-lovers. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant puts a refreshing spin on local fare, with hand‑dived shellfish and foraged shoreline herbs, all featuring high on the menu. The Three Chimneys’ tasting menu is a particularly authentic way to explore the area’s best flavours. You’ll also find homely five-star accommodation here, each with sea views and direct access to the shore, should all that indulging make you need a lie down.
Location: Colbost, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, IV55 8ZT
Isle of Mull Cheese, Mull
Set on idyllic Mull, the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides, the warm and welcoming Isle of Mull Cheese dairy farm is a thing of dreams. In its fairytale-like Garden Barn café – a show-stopping, glass-walled space filled with greenery and a mix-and-match of rustic décor – you can enjoy homemade pizzas, soups, ploughman’s lunches and, most of all, a selection of mouthwatering fine cheeses straight from the farm. Grab some picked cucumbers as well as Hebridean blue and traditional Isle of Mull cheeses from the produce shop before venturing to the farm to meet the resident cows and learn about artisan cheese-making processes.
Location: Sgriob-ruadh Farm, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6QD
The Best Michelin Star Restaurant in Scotland: Andrew Fairlie
Scotland’s longest-standing two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the acclaimed Andrew Fairlie restaurant, offers refined cuisine within the walls of five-star golf-lovers’ heaven, Gleneagles Hotel. It crafts a culinary journey through menus inspired by its surroundings and seasonal produce. Opt for à la carte fare, including roast veal sweetbreads, hand-dived scallops, and Highland lamb loin, each perfectly roasted, slow-cooked and dressed with all manner of sauces and wine jus. Those after a surprise should treat themselves to the tantalising dégustation menu.
Location: Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder PH3 1NF
Veggie and Vegan-Friendly: Folk Café
Set right by the train station, this corner café serves up a feast to both the eyes and stomach with its colourful, veggie and vegan-friendly selection of salads, pastries and sandwiches. You’ll find all sorts of extravagantly-seasoned, sizeably-portioned, feel-good options, whether you’re in the mood for a smoky bacon bap, the tart or tortilla of the day, or an explosion of feta, roast tomato, spicy olives, and tzatziki in a baked focaccia. Breakfast and lunch are both available here at a very modest price, alongside staple coffees, teas, and sweet treats.
Location: 118 Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4EH
Unique Eateries: Ubiquitous Chip
An arty brasserie in Glasgow’s bohemian West End, the Ubiquitous Chip has more than its character-packed interiors to boast about. Here, leafy surrounds and fairy lights provide quite the magical setting for a rich and elegant dinner proudly based on Scottish produce. You’ve also a wide selection of desserts and cheese platters to choose from.
Location: 12 Ashton Ln, Glasgow G12 8SJ
Locally-Sourced Restaurant: Foodstory Café
Simple and hearty food is served up in an inviting setting at Aberdeen’s Foodstory Café, which prides itself on bringing homemade, environmentally friendly delights to the table. Open for breakfast through to dinner, you’ll find a vibrant mish-mash of vegan, organic, and gluten-free options ranging from superfood porridge to salad bowls – decorated with lashings of chutney, dashes of pesto, and dollops of locally sourced jam. Coffee obsessives and tea-lovers will find plenty of thirst-quenching options, too, with an extensive menu including chai latte, cranberry and apple tea, and chilli rooibos.
Location: 13-15 Thistle St, Aberdeen AB10 1XZ
Scotland’s Best Fish & Chips: Cromars
You couldn’t go wrong with a stop at Cromars, voted the Best Fish & Chip Shop in Scotland in 2016. At this sustainable St Andrews hotspot, unassumingly set in a thick stone corner building, you’ll find locally sourced haddock and cod all wrapped in a perfectly crisp batter and sprinkled with lemon juice. Make room for the sides, though, as they certainly know how to make mouths water. You’ll find more than one accolade to this chippy’s name, too: Cromars has earned itself a 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and an NFFF Fish & Chip Quality Award.
Location: 1 Union St, St Andrews KY16 9PQ
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