The best restaurants in Scotland

It’s about time we wrote this! We love The Station Hotel! We live locally and we’ve eaten here so many times over the last 10 years - sometimes as a couple, sometimes with family, sometimes with friends, and we had my partner’s surprise 70th birthday party here earlier this year. The front of house staff, led often by Lynne, are always very attentive, chatty and helpful. Gordon, head chef, and his team, ensures that dinner is always expertly cooked and portions are a great size. Bar staff also make our regular visits pleasurable and fun. Also, Murray, Lesley and Ross always offer us a warm welcome if they’re around . Downsides? None! Thanks to everybody for making each visit enjoyable.

We are now regulars at the Seafield Arms as it is so good. It was my birthday and where else would we go for a special meal. This time, we tried the surf and turf block. We were not disappointed as the seafood and steak were cooked to perfection. As well as the fresh local vegatable selection. The hotel manager had to get up at 4am to get the lobster. That is dedication to perfection. Our friend had a sirloin steak, cooked to her satisfaction. Our daughter had the mac and cheese and was more than happy. The girls finished the meal with sticky toffee pudding and creme brulee. Yum Yum. The service was professional and very friendly. We have a concern, what will we have to eat the next time as it is all so good.

It was a quiet afternoon when we arrived at The Heathers Seafood Restaurant, a hidden gem along the coast that had been recommended by locals. As soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by a young man whose warm smile made us feel immediately at ease. “Good afternoon,” he said. “We’re so glad you could join us.” He led us to a table by the windows, where the view took our breath away. The majestic cliffs of the North Sea stood tall against the sky, while the waves crashed against them in a rhythmic dance. The peacefulness of the nearby golf course only added to the tranquility of the setting, creating the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing meal. As we took in the view, our server explained that everything on the menu was locally sourced. “You’ll love it,” he said, “everything’s caught fresh from the sea.” We decided on the seafood platter, and soon after, our meal arrived, beautifully presented. The platter was a feast for the senses—glossy halibut, tender monkfish, succulent prawns, golden scampi, and caramelized scallops. Alongside the seafood, a fresh salad arrived, bursting with crisp lettuce, cucumber, and slivers of red onion, lightly dressed to complement the vegetables. Hot, golden chips completed the meal, offering a satisfying crunch to balance the tender seafood. We dove into the halibut first, its delicate flakiness practically melting on the tongue. The monkfish was buttery and rich, while the prawns and scampi were perfectly sweet and tender. But the scallops… they were the stars. Caramelized on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside, each bite was a little piece of heaven. The salad provided a refreshing contrast, and the chips added a comforting touch that tied everything together. As we savored the last bites of our meal, the chef came over to check on us, his face lit with quiet pride. “Everything here is caught locally,” he said with a smile, clearly passionate about the food he was serving. “We work closely with the sea to bring you the freshest catch.” The meal, the view, and the service all came together in perfect harmony, creating an experience that felt more like a journey than a simple meal. The Heathers wasn’t just about food—it was about a connection to the land and sea, a place where passion and quality shone through in every dish. As we left, the cool evening air greeted us, and the sound of the waves crashing in the distance stayed with me. The Heathers had shown us what true hospitality is all about—thoughtful, genuine, and full of heart. It was a hidden gem, and one we would undoubtedly return to, drawn not only by the exceptional food but by the warmth of the entire experience.

Excellent buffet choice, well worth a visit

Met up with friends from Hove and we were all impressed with the standard of friendliness and obliging service we were given . Food was excellent and the scones homemade. Very dog friendly. At the shop bit were an excellent array cheeses and local produce. All in all a very pleasurable experience and I'm glad I chose this place to entertain my guests.

Very enjoyable Italian food served by friendly staff. Good to see the owner chatting with customers and making them welcome.

This place is a good bit out of the way in the Royal Deeside area, but it’s well worth seeking out for a tasty breakfast or lunch. We stopped off on a Sunday lunchtime. As usual, it was busy. But thankfully, having been here several times, we knew to book. Saw some disappointed looking people who hadn’t. The food here is consistently great. The firm favourite for us, is there soup and panini combo. A true bargain for just under a tenner. What’s so great about it, is that the soups of the day frequently change. On this day, I had the carrot and coconut, my wife had the tomato and basil. Both were fabulous. Bursting with flavour, as we have come to expect. My panini with tomato, pesto, and mozzarella, was delicious. My wife’s roasted vegetable and hummus one, just as tasty. The service here is excellent. The ideal balance of friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. It’s a fairly compact place, with space on the ground and balcony levels, as well as decent sized outdoors area, for summer days, and people with dogs. This is a firm favourite for people in the know. But be sure to book in advance.

Nice family / home cooked style restaurant in a BYOB / front room environment. Staff welcoming and attentive, food decent - as long as your expectations are measured (good food, cooked competently) - didn’t disappoint. Nice ambience, lovely views if table at window, and relatively well priced. Good menu.

authentic Italian restaurant with lots of charm & traditional vibes. The early bird 2 course menu is excellent value for money at £13.50 pp with all the classic dishes on. We opted for the regular menu, i had the calamari fritters & sea bass with mushroom ravioli ( was lobster on menu but they had run out). The fish was cooked to perfection & the ravioli was amazing in the red pepper sauce. My partner had panzenolle ( probably spelt that wrong but it was pieces of pizza dough with a garlic mayo dip ) & steak diane. He said the steak was one of the best he had, very tender. The restaurant was full, which apparently it is mostly, good atmosphere & lots of attentive staff. very good👍

Direct view of Necropolis! Great location, but you have to find a good parking space yourself. It takes about 10 minutes to walk directly to the center. The rooms were nice and tastefully decorated. Beds very comfortable. Breakfast is served in the room (yoghurt, fruit, granola, cheese, butter, fresh bread from the on-site restaurant). However, three half slices of bread for two adults was a bit small. Highly recommended accommodation for a great few nights in Glasgow!

Lovely deli & cafe to eat in or take away. The Stornaway Black pudding, tattie scone & poached egg in a roll was lovely. The carrot cake homemade and delicious. The staff are so friendly. The old oven is a real feature. Spotlessly clean. It was lovely to be able to buy cheeses from all over Scotland here. Defo recommend and return.

Have used Sandstone cafe many times over the years and as usual this time it was a very pleasant experience. Great food, drink and service with a smile. Keep up the good work and see you soon.

Otro alimento de primera. Cuatro de nosotros allí y una mezcla de carne y hamburguesas de pollo, así como algunas patatas fritas sucias. Todo magnífico. Martes era Wi g noche así que añadí algunas alas también (k - pop). Sun - Thu es 241 en hamburguesas / perros, así que puntuado allí también 10 / 10 - relleno izquierdo. Servicio amable como siempre.

This is a great chip shop, centrally located, and they do sit-in, takeaway and delivery. I've been several times and the staff are friendly and the food is delicious. I recommend the pizza crunch.

Came here for late lunch with my son and it was great the food , staff and ambience & music too! I had baked potato with salad, coleslaw ( which was homemade, I think, as it tasted really creamy) baked potato was soft and had chicken and bacon mayo with it. Loved it! My son had usual beef burger with fries and think salad .