The best restaurants in Scotland

2 star Michelin restaurants in Scotland 

• Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel – in the heart of the wonderful Gleneagles Hotel is Scotland’s only two star michelin restaurant, run by acclaimed chef Andrew Fairlie. Serving up the best in Scottish and French cooking in a dramatic dining room hidden in the hotel. You don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to dine here, but why not book in for the full experience at one of the best restaurants in Scotland? Book Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles Hotel.

• The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, Perthshire – At the Glenturret distillery in Crief, Perthshire is Lalique. Glenturret is thought to be Scotlan’d oldest working distillery and the dining room here has been decorated with stunning Lalique glass including the incredible chandeliers. Try the tasting menu from Head Chef Mark Donald at Lalique.

1 star Michelin restaurants in Scotland 

• Inver, Loch Fyne, Argyll – Hidden in Argyll is Inver, one of Scotland’s best restaurants sitting on Loch Fyne. Stay in one of Inver’s shepherds huts or bothies with super king-size beds overlooking the loch. All the bothies get a table in the restaurant which serves up tasting menus with local and seasonal produce – and is the only restaurant in Scotland with a green Michelin star. Read more about our stay at Inver restaurant and bothies.
• The Peat Inn, Fife – a luxuriously cool and stylish restaurant inside a traditional inn. Dine a la carte on East Neuk wood pigeon with smooth liver parfait, spiced mallard is served with lentils and figs, and moreish blackberry and chocolate ganache before retiring to the lounge for a cocktail in front of the real fire. Make a night of it by booking into one of The Peat Inn’s 8 suites.
• Loch Bay Restaurant, Stein, Isle of Skye –  A remote hamlet on the far north coast of Skye might be an unusual place to find a Michelin-starred French-inspired seafood in Scotland restaurant, but chef Michael Bay is worth going (quite a few) extra miles for. Visit Loch Bay, one of the best restaurants in Scotland.
• Cail Bruich, Glasgow – meaning ‘eat well’ in Gaelic, Cail Bruich is run by Chef Lorna McNee who is the only female chef in Scotland with a michelin star. Focusing on sustainable Scottish food prepared in a French style, with many of their products coming from their own kitchen garden. Book Cail Bruich.
• UNALOME by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow – with inspiration from Europe to Japan, this restaurant located in buzzy Finniston is the home of multi-award winning chef Graeme Cheevers is one of the best restaurants in Glasgow. Book Unalome by Graeme Cheevers.
• Timberyard, Edinburgh – Run by Head Chef, Jimmy Murray, Timberyard is an Edinburgh institution which now has a Michelin star! In the heart of the old town, this restaurant is in an old timberyard – think rustic and industrial – and serves up a modern contemporary menu. Book Timberyard.
• Heron, Edinburgh – a modern farm to table restaurant overlooking the river in the trendy district of Leith, Heron offers up a variety of dining options from bar snacks to full tasting menus. A great new addition to this foodie spot in Edinburgh. Book Heron.
• Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh – holding a michelin star for over 20 years, Martin Wishart could be called the daddy of Scotland’s Michelin Starred scene and has long been one of the best restaurants in Scotland. The restaurant sits on the Water of Leith and serves up Modern European cuisine with French style. Book Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh.
• The Kitchin, Edinburgh – all of Tom Kitchin’s restaurants and pubs are renowned for high quality cooking (I also love the Scran & Scallie, below) and his Michelin starred restaurant in Edinburgh is top of the list. A great spot for a date night in Leith. Book The Kitchin.
• Condita, Edinburgh – with just 6 large wooden tables, Condita offers no choice tasting menu, which lasts around three hours – one for those who love a surprise – and yes it is well worth not knowing! Book Condita.

Best restaurants in Fife 

There might be two Michelin starred restaurants in Fife – The Cellar and The Peat Inn – but that is not all, Fife is a foodie gem. Here are my favourite restaurants in Fife:

• The Wee Restaurant, North Queensferry – this tiny restaurant serves up a small but perfectly formed menu, alongside a great wine list and cocktails. Family owned and run, this is a lovely friendly welcoming restaurant – one of my favourite restaurants in Scotland. Book the Wee Restaurant. 
• The Newport, Newport – The Newport Restaurant, owned by Masterchef The Professionals winner Jamie Scott and wife Kelly offers up a menu which pays its respects to the incredible produce grown, caught and made in Fife. Dine at The Newport Restaurant
• The Kinneuchar Inn – a true farm to fork restaurant, The Kinneuchar Inn is located in an 18th century inn in the village of Kilconqher (pronounced kin-uh-ker) which serves up meals straight from the Balcaskie Estate. Look out for seasonal dishes and sharing steaks. Book the Kinneuchar Inn.
• The Dreel Tavern – Anstruther – a cosy village pub in the heart of bustling Anstruther, the Dreel serves up consistently good meals with a roaring fire. In summer there is a beer garden on the river. Book the Dreel Tavern.
• The Ship Inn Elie – a fantastic small restaurant overlooking the magnificent beach at Elie. In summer try and grab one of the seats in the beer garden to watch the cricket being played out on the sand. Book the Ship Inn. 
• The Crusoe Hotel – the sister restaurant of The Ship Inn, the Crusoe Hotel is located in Lower Largo, one of the East Neuk’s hidden gems. Book the Crusoe Hotel.

Isle of Skye restaurants

The Isle of Skye is full of foodie delights from Michelin stars at Loch Bay Restaurant to lobsters and oysters in a shed. Here is where to eat on the Isle of Skye

• Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye – The Skye classic, Kinlodge Lodge is the daddy of all the Skye restaurants and serves up classic cooking in a stylish hotel on the Sleat Peninsula. Book Kinloch Lodge. 
• The Three Chimneys – check into a suite in the House Over By on the Isle of Skye and dine at one of the world’s ultimate destination restaurants the Three Chimneys – book in for the whole shebang – it’s worth it. 
• Edinbane Lodge – dating back to 1543, Edinbane Lodge is thought to be the oldest inn on Skye. The Inn has four rosettes and has recently been voted the best restaurant in Scotland! Book Edinbane Lodge. 
• Scorrybreac – with just 8 tables, Scorrybeac looks out over Portree and serves up local meat and seafood. Worth booking well in advance for your trip to Skye. 
• The Oyster Shed – a shed, but one which serves oysters, lobsters, langoustines and mussels with an incredible view. The oysters are grown on their own oyster farm on the shores of Loch Harport, so learn to shuck your own oysters and then pick up a seafood platter, grab a bench and eat looking out over Carbost. Visit the Oyster Shed 

Read more: the complete guide to the Isle of Skye

Best restaurants on the NC500 / northern Scotland

• The Kylesku Hotel – Driving the North Coast 500 around the far north of Scotland is on most people’s honeymoon bucket lists, and Kylesku and its dramatic bridge is a popular stop. Down in the tiny hamlet beneath the bridge sits the Kylesku Hotel which serves up incredible seafood. Book into the hotel for a romantic foodie feast. Visit the Kylesku Hotel.
• Gille Brighde, Diabaig – It is worth taking a detour off the NC500 to the tiny village of Diabaig, where the Gille Brighde restaurant sits on the shore of Loch Torridon; if the amazing views along the way aren’t enough, the food is pretty excellent too.
• Applecross Inn – On the Applecross Peninsula, The Applecross Inn attracts people across the world for its incredible seafood – try the Applecross prawns which are really huge langoustines!
• The Seafood Shack, Ullapool – The quality of the freshly cooked langoustines, crab claws, fish finger wraps and seafood platters which come out of Seafood Shack, a wee catering van in Ullapool needs to be eaten to be believed – you will want to try everything. Visit the Seafood Shack, Ullapool

Best restaurants on the Moray Firth, Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire

• Bothy Bistro & Bootleggers, Burghead/Hopeman – With a bistro menu that offers up a selection of fancy pieces (Scots for sandwiches) fish n chips, hog roasts and decadent crab and chilli mac & cheese, this is a Moray Firth restaurant worth making a detour for. We went for a lunch of small plates – dirty fries (parsley, paprika, chilli & cheese) a wild mushroom bruschetta, amazing pasta nachos with an arrabbiata dip (this was a brilliant dish – so unique) and carrot and onion bhajis – but I wanted to try everything on the menu. The Bothy Burghead also do evening meals.
• Kale Yard at Boath House – in the walled Garden of Boath House Hotel is the Kale Yard, a garden cafe serving gorgeous food including wood fired pizza and sharing platters.
• The Fife Arms, Braemar –  The Fife Arms is a spectacular hotel and whether you dine in The Clunie Dining Room or in the Flying Stag bar this is a destination in its own right. Book the Fife Arms.
• Kildrummy Inn – this traditional inn has an award winning restaurant and is located within lovely rural Aberdeenshire countryside. Book the Kildrummy Inn.

Where are your favourite restaurants in Scotland?

Love from, Scotland x