What Are The Best Places to Experience Traditional Scottish Food?

VisitScotlandAbigail

Scotland’s stunning landscapes and clear coastal waters make for a unique and abundant natural larder. From the renowned haggis, to lesser known specialities like Cullen skink, Scotland is a foodie’s paradise.



Because of this, I’m interested to see the different ways other people have been able to experience traditional Scottish food on their travels here. I’ve already found a few restaurants in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are brilliant for authentic Scottish dishes!

1. Wee LOCHAN, Glasgow

Based in Glasgow’s West End, this small restaurant has an array of Scottish specialities to choose from. Whether you’re in the mood for some seasonal Scottish lamb or a bit of Stornoway black pudding, the Wee LOCHAN is the perfect place to try some authentic Glaswegian food. They even do an all-day Sunday roast!

2. Hendersons, Edinburgh

Despite many traditional Scottish dishes containing meat of some sort, there’s no need to miss out, even if you’re vegetarian. Hendersons in Edinburgh’s New Town has a menu filled with traditional food but without the meat. So, if you fancy having a try of some vegan haggis during your trip, make sure to pay them a visit. There’s always time for a drink and some music in the evening too!

3. Cafe Royal, Edinburgh

The Café Royal puts great emphasise on providing diners with an authentic Scottish food experience, seen especially in their vast selection of Scottish dishes on offer. From Arbroath Smokies, to Haggis Bon Bons, and even traditional Cullen skink, it’s almost impossible not to find something that’ll give you a true taste of Scotland. A full Scottish supper is also available for those who want the full experience during their time in Scotland.

Where are some of the best places you’ve experienced traditional Scottish food? If you’ve ever been on some interesting food tours or been to any great restaurants in Scotland, let me know! I’m keen to discover more!

Horizons

Hey @VisitScotlandAbigail, I wrote about my 9 favourite Scottish food items that I have had the pleasure to taste across Scotland here (also listed below): https://beyondourhorizons.com/2017/06/19/9-speciality-scottish-foods/ In terms of eating out, few places in the country can beat the fresh (and affordable) seafood sold at the green shack at Oban port, as traditional as it gets.

• Hammond Charcuterie products – Edinburgh Farmers market
• MacLeod & MacLeod Black pudding – Stornoway
• Smoked cheese – Highland charcuterie Sutherland
• Loch Harport Oysters – Carbost, Isle of Skye
• Orkney lamb – E Flett butchers, Stromness Orkney
• Laphroaig marmalade – Islay
• Smoked & fresh fish – Andy Race Fish Merchants, Mallaig
• Haggis – Isle of Arran butchers, Blackwaterfoot, Arran
• Tunnocks (dark chocolate) teacakes – Glasgow

I have a few Edinburgh restaurant recommendations in another thread that might be worth checking out: https://community.visitscotland.com/discussion/comment/7715#Comment_7715

LochNessPhotography

@Horizons the seafood shack at Oban is amazing, reminds me that I'll need to make a return visit soon! Likewise there's one up in Ullapool that's just as good. 

I was pleasantly surprised by The Doric on Market St in Edinburgh last week when I was down for a few days. They've got an excellent selection of craft beers available and the food was of a really high standard. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm working at that end of the city. 

In terms of Black Pudding, Charley Barley is always going to top my list. I find Macleod and Macleod's to be far too oily. Sadly I always struggle to find it on the mainland although I could make the effort to order it online I suppose! 

If anyone is off on a roadtrip out West then The Applecross Inn should be on your list of places to go and visit. They also own the Loch Ness Inn in Drumnadrochit and the food is of the same high standard. 

LochNessPhotography

@Horizons the seafood shack at Oban is amazing, reminds me that I'll need to make a return visit soon! Likewise there's one up in Ullapool that's just as good. 

I was pleasantly surprised by The Doric on Market St in Edinburgh last week when I was down for a few days. They've got an excellent selection of craft beers available and the food was of a really high standard. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm working at that end of the city. 

In terms of Black Pudding, Charley Barley is always going to top my list. I find Macleod and Macleod's to be far too oily. Sadly I always struggle to find it on the mainland although I could make the effort to order it online I suppose! 

If anyone is off on a roadtrip out West then The Applecross Inn should be on your list of places to go and visit. They also own the Loch Ness Inn in Drumnadrochit and the food is of the same high standard.