Scottish restaurants in Scotland
-
A
Bothy
A bothy is not normally the most comfortable of abodes, but this West End player pays little heed to this tradition, boasting a combo of modern design and comfy retro furnishings. It also blows apart the myth that Scottish food is stodgy and uninteresting. The Bothy dishes out traditional, uniquely Scottish, home-style fare with a modern twist. It's filling, but leave room for dessert. An £11 lunch will get you away cheaper.
reviewed
-
B
Kitchin
Fresh, seasonal, locally sourced Scottish produce is the philosophy that has won a Michelin star for this elegant but unpretentious restaurant. The menu moves with the seasons, of course, so expect fresh salads in summer and game in winter, and shellfish dishes such as seared scallops with endive tarte tatin when there’s an ‘r’ in the month.
reviewed
-
C
Blue
Set above the foyer of the Traverse Theatre, this is a cool white minimalist space with polished oak and Danish designer furniture. The food is simple but skilfully cooked and presented. Choices include Crombie’s sausages with mash and onion gravy, and ribeye steak with bearnaise and chunky chips. Two courses costs £16 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
reviewed
-
D
Rhubarb
Set in the splendid 17th-century Prestonfield House, Rhubarb is a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. The over-the-top decor of rich reds set off with black and gold and the sensuous surfaces – damask, brocade, marble, gilded leather – that make you want to touch everything are matched by the intense flavours and rich textures of the food. Take your postprandial coffee and brandy upstairs to the sumptuous fireside sofas in the Tapestry and Leather rooms. A two-course lunch menu is available for £17. There is no public transport here.
reviewed
-
E
Stravaigin
Stravaigin is a serious foodie's delight, with a menu constantly pushing the boundaries of originality and offering creative culinary excellence. The cool contemporary dining space in the basement has booth seating, and helpful, laid-back waiting-staff to assist in deciphering the audacious menu. Entry-level has a buzzing two-level bar that's open 11am to midnight daily; you can also eat here. There are always plenty of menu deals and special culinary nights.
reviewed
-
F
North Bridge Brasserie
This stylish brasserie inhabits the former lobby of the Scotsman newspaper building (now the Scotsman Hotel), a huge airy hall with four massive marble columns. Book a table up on the balcony, where you can admire the gilded capitals or gaze down on the street through the arched windows. The menu takes its inspiration from hearty Scots fare, ranging from hot buttered crab on sourdough toast to roast rump of lamb with haggis and mashed potato.
reviewed
-
G
Oran Mor Brasserie & Conservatory
This temple to Scottish dining and drinking is a superb venue in an old church. Giving new meaning to the word 'conversion', the brasserie pumps out high-quality meals in a dark, Mackintosh-inspired space. There are also cheaper bistro-style meals, such as Cullen skink (soup made with smoked haddock, potato, onion and milk) or vegetarian haggis served with Arran mustard sauce, and more relaxed dining in the conservatory, adjoining the main bar.
reviewed
-
H
Mckirdy’s Steakhouse
The McKirdy brothers – owners of a local butcher’s business established in 1895 – have cut out the middleman and now run one of Edinburgh’s best steakhouses. The friendly staff here serve up starters – such as haggis with Drambuie sauce – and juicy, perfectly cooked steaks from rump to T-bone, accompanied by mustard mash or crispy fries. There’s a kids’ menu, and you can get a two-course early dinner (until 6.30pm) for £13.
reviewed
-
I
Amber
You've got to love a place where the waiter greets you with the words, 'My name is Craig, and I'll be your whisky adviser for this evening'. Located in the Scotch Whisky Experience, this whisky-themed restaurant manages to avoid the tourist clichés and creates genuinely interesting and flavoursome dishes such as fillet of pork with black pudding and whisky and apple compote, or vegetarian haggis with a whisky cream sauce.
reviewed
-
J
Stravaigin II
Top service makes all feel welcome at this relaxed eatery just off Byres Rd. The menu changes regularly but always features a few surprises from around the globe. Slow cooking features prominently in preparation of both meat and vegetables, so expect those flavours to burst out at you. But it's also got a legendary reputation for its burgers, fish 'n' chips, and haggis, so there's something here for any appetite.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Oloroso
Oloroso is one of Edinburgh's most stylish restaurants, perched on a glass-encased New Town rooftop with views across a Mary Poppins' chimney-scape to the Firth of Forth and Fife hills. Swathed in sophisticated cream linen and charcoal upholstery enlivened with splashes of deep yellow, the dining room serves top-notch Scottish produce with Asian and Mediterranean touches. Two-course lunch £18.50.
reviewed
-
L
A Room in Leith
This restaurant (and its companion bar, Teuchters Landing) inhabits a warren of nooks and crannies in a red-brick building (once a waiting room for ferries across the Firth of Forth), with a bright conservatory and outdoor tables on a floating terrace in the dock. The Scottish-flavoured menu includes haggis with mustard-and-thyme cream sauce, and roast venison with red onion tart and port gravy.
reviewed
-
M
Buttery
This well-respected, elegant restaurant is just west of the M8. Although it’s surrounded by grim, grey, tower-block flats (get a taxi here or drive), it’s a top, Victorian-era restaurant offering fine dining among crisp tablecloths and oak panelling, with a classy clientele to match. The menu is a combination of seasonal Scottish and British organic produce.
reviewed
-
N
Point Restaurant
The Point Restaurant’s lunch and dinner menus offer exceptional value – delicious Scottish/international cuisine served by attentive, smartly clad staff in an elegant room with dark-wood furniture, proper linen napkins and art deco chandeliers. With a three-course dinner at £22 and house wine at £15 a bottle, reservations are strongly recommended.
reviewed
-
O
Sweet Melindas
With ingredients sourced from the fishmonger next door and the vegetable market around the corner, and everything from the bread to the chocolate truffles handmade in the kitchen, Sweet Melindas offers a true taste of Scottish home cooking. The ambience is chilled and the menu concentrates on seafood, with at least one vegetarian starter and main.
reviewed
-
P
Tower
Chic and sleek, with a great view of the castle, Tower is set atop the Museum of Scotland building. A star-studded guest list of celebrities have enjoyed its menu of quality Scottish food, simply prepared – try half a dozen oysters followed by a fillet of Borders beef. A two-course pre-theatre menu (£15) is available from 5pm to 6.30pm.
reviewed
-
Q
Ubiquitous Chip
The original champion of Scottish produce, The Ubiquitous Chip has won lots of awards for its unparalleled Scottish cuisine, and for its lengthy wine list. Named to poke fun at Scotland's perceived lack of finer cuisine, it offers a French touch but resolutely Scottish ingredients, carefully selected and following sustainable principles. Above, Upstairs at the Chip provides cheaper, bistro-style food with a similarly advanced set of principles. There are also bar meals at the atmospheric upstairs pub, while the cute 'Wee Pub' down the side alley offers plenty of drinking pleasure.
reviewed
-
R
Number One
This is the stylish and sophisticated chatelaine of Edinburgh’s city-centre restaurants, all gold-and-velvet elegance with a Michelin star sparkling on her crown. The food is top-notch modern Scottish (choose from a three-course dinner for £59, or a six-course tasting menu for £65) and the service is just on the right side of fawning.
reviewed
-
Cafe Circa Doune
Worth the 6 mile drive/cycle from Callander (towards Doune) along the A84, this place, at the Scottish Antiques and Arts Centre, is gaining a reputation for fine Scottish dining using local produce and a touch of creativity. Try the roast loin or Rannoch Moor pork. Refined dining, it would suit couples or small groups.
reviewed
-
S
Festival Restaurant
Admire views from floor-to-ceiling windows and watercolour paintings of Highland scenes in this elegant restaurant at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Dishes such as the grilled corn-fed chicken breast on a potato cake with baby beetroot and snowpeas, followed by Scottish cheeses and oatcakes, go down a treat.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
T
Arisaig
Relocated into the Merchant Sq building, a historical location converted into an echoing food court, Arisaig offers a good chance to try well-prepared Scottish cuisine at a fair price, with friendly service to boot. Candlelight and crisp linen makes for atmosphere, with both terrace and indoor seating.
reviewed
-
U
Café Lava
Everyone wants to live next door to a café like this. The understated menu here delivers delicious home cooking. Try the Stornaway black pudding and eggs Benedict. The coffee is some of the best around town, and the carrot cake the best in Scotland: we know, we tried it from Dumfries to Shetland.
reviewed
-
V
Forth Floor Restaurant & Brasserie
The in-store restaurant at Harvey Nichols has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking St Andrew Sq, making it a great place to enjoy sunset views. The food has as much designer chic as the surroundings, while the less formal brasserie offers simpler dishes, and also serves Sunday brunch (11am to 5pm).
reviewed
-
W
Bothy
The Bothy is a comfy leather couch and wooden wine rack affair with a certain intimacy – it attracts couples and older diners. For lunch, sandwiches like baked mozzarella and grilled aubergine with olive and natural yogurt feature. Tuck into braised beef olives with white pudding for dinner.
reviewed
-
X
Stac Polly
Named after a mountain in northwestern Scotland, Stac Polly's kitchen adds sophisticated twists to fresh Highland produce. Dishes such as haggis in filo parcels with sweet plum and red wine sauce, and rump of lamb with chervil cake and puy lentils keep the punters coming back for more.
reviewed
