The 7 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Scotland
Scotland, in recent years, has developed a reputation when it comes to fine dining, which is reflected in its Michelin-starred restaurants. The country is home to world-class produce and talented culinary masters who have honed their craft of creating delectable dishes that almost appear too good to eat!
The accolade of a Michelin star is not an easy one to gain, but you’ll find a number of Michelin star restaurants in Scotland, centred in its large, foodie cities and even its rural islands. So, if it’s fine dining you’re looking for when you next visit Scotland, you’re guaranteed a memorable experience at any of the country’s Michelin-starred eateries. But which, you ask, are the best?
We’ve recommended the 7 best Michelin star restaurants in Scotland so that you can experience the best fine dining that the country has on offer during a gastronomic journey of discovery.
Cail Bruich – Glasgow
In 2021, the Glasgow-based restaurant Cail Bruich was awarded a Michelin star, which made it the first restaurant in the city in nearly two decades to have been given the prestigious award.
The restaurant’s head chef from 2020, Lorna McNee, is the first solo female chef to be awarded a Michelin star in Glasgow and helped the restaurant gain the accolade in just over five months.
Serving seasonal, high-quality British produce in a contemporary dining atmosphere, the name of the restaurant literally translates to ‘to eat well’, portraying its values and philosophy. Its head chef’s tasting menu alters based on the Scottish seasons, changing in line with the available local and sustainable ingredients. They even have their own kitchen garden where they source many ingredients that are incorporated into the menu.
Located in Glasgow’s buzzing West End, the restaurant is open on Wednesday from 7-12 pm, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12-4:30 pm and 7 pm-12 am.
The Kitchin – Edinburgh
Brought to you by the incredible mind of Tom Kitchin, the country’s youngest winner of a Michelin Star, The Kitchin is one of the Michelin star restaurants in Scotland that you should definitely add to your list.
Tom hones French techniques using the finest Scottish ingredients to create memorable dishes for his guests. The philosophy behind the restaurant is to create dishes that reflect their passion for the freshest and finest seasonal Scottish produce – from nature to plate.
You’ll find the Kitchin in a converted whisky warehouse in the centre of Edinburgh on the Leith waterfront offering a modern and contemporary dining experience, making it all the more experiential and distinctive.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays but is open Tuesday to Saturday for a lunch sitting from 12-2:30 p, and an evening sitting from 6-10 pm. Its prime location in the centre of the capital makes it an accessible and convenient stop-off point if you’re looking for some of the finest Michelin star restaurants in Scotland.
The Peat Inn – Fife
The Peat Inn could be considered the father of Scotland’s Michelin star scene. Having gained the country’s first Michelin star in the 1980s, it has been a thriving and popular restaurant in Scotland ever since.
The restaurant has remained listed since gaining its Michelin accreditation some 40 years ago, and was taken over in 2006 by husband and wife team Geoffrey and Katherine Smeddle. Geoffrey is the head chef, and makes the most of the fantastic produce on offer in their beautiful region, sourcing only the finest ingredients for their guests.
The Peat Inn perfectly encapsulates charming living and dining in a small country home, creating a down-to-earth and intimate atmosphere. A few steps out of the restaurant, you’ll find The Residence – luxury accommodation across eight suites for guests to reside in as they explore the surrounding region of Fife and the local St Andrews.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays but is open the rest of the week, with a lunch sitting from 12:30-2 pm, and an evening sitting from 6:30-9 pm.
The Cellar – Anstruther
A firm favourite when it comes to fine dining, The Cellar could be argued to be one of the most phenomenally located Michelin star restaurants in Scotland, or even the UK.
The restaurant was previously a cooperage and smokehouse and sits overlooking the North Sea in the lovely seaside town of Anstruther. Dining here is a homely and warming experience, with exposed wooden beams and a wood-burning fire creating an inviting atmosphere for its guests.
The restaurant has one Michelin star and offers a tasting menu, the most intriguing aspect of which is that the dishes are garnished and inventively created with ingredients foraged from the local coastline and countryside, making for a thoughtful and carefully crafted culinary experience. The restaurant is open from 6-9 pm on Wednesdays and 12-9 pm Thursdays to Sundays.
Loch Bay – Isle of Skye
The lochan at the house is stocked with trout and guests are very welcome to try Loch Bay is a popular Michelin star restaurant in Scotland, but you won’t find it located on the mainland. Situated in Stein on the Isle of Skye, the eatery serves traditional Scottish Highland cuisine. You’ll also find seafood that can’t get much more local from the Isle itself, as well as more varied menus, all with a French twist added by the restaurant’s Chef Michael Smith.
The restaurant holds one Michelin star and offers an intimate and cosy interior hosting up to 18 guests at any one time. The most iconic menu is the ‘Skye Fruits de Mer’. Honouring the phenomenal Skye seafood on offer, it showcases locally caught fish and shellfish from the waters and loch around the isle.
The 18th-century fishing village of Stein, designed by Thomas Telford, is a picturesque settlement with quaint white-painted houses, adding to the homely feel of a visit to experience some of the best fine dining in Scotland. The restaurant is open from 6:30-10:30 pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
Restaurant Martin Wishart – Edinburgh
Located in the historic port of Leith in the heart of Edinburgh city, the one Michelin star Restaurant Martin Wishart offers modern European cuisine that incorporates the highest-quality Scottish sourced ingredients with classical French techniques.
Edinburgh-born Martin Wishart is the master behind the restaurant. He has gradually gained the reputation of one of the most respected chefs in the UK and has trained under some of the world’s most renowned chefs, including the likes of Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux Jr.
His passion for high-quality ingredients that are locally sourced comes from his love for his home, which he shares with all of his guests when carefully crafting his innovative dishes amalgamated from the best of Scotland’s produce and French culinary craftsmanship.
The restaurant is perfectly situated on the idyllic shore of Leith waters and is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 12-1:30 pm for a daytime sitting and 7-9 pm for an evening sitting, with this being 6:30-9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Restaurant Andrew Fairlie – Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder
Located at the Gleneagles Hotel in the charming town of Auchterarder, you’ll find Restaurant Andrew Fairlie. Taking the title as the only Michelin star restaurant in Scotland with two stars, the eatery offers discreet, evening-only private dining hosted in the 5-star Gleneagles hotel.
Set within the beautiful scenery of the Perthshire countryside, the world-renowned Gleneagles offers 850 acres in one of Scotland’s most phenomenal locations and can be easily accessed either by car or train within an hour from Glasgow and 1-2 hours from Edinburgh.
Guests should expect thought and creativity when it comes to the uniquely crafted dishes on the menu, and the recent refurbishments of the restaurant’s interior contribute to its comfortable and sumptuous ‘salon’ atmosphere.
On the menu, you’ll find an array of fresh seafood dishes, as well as high-quality meat options including veal and lamb and classic vegetarian dishes. The restaurant is open from 6:30-10 pm 6 days a week from Mondays to Saturdays.
Summary
When it comes to fine dining in Scotland, you’re spoilt for choice. With eateries boasting a passion for local and quality produce and honing years of experience fine-tuning culinary techniques and expertise, these Michelin star restaurants in Scotland are on the top of our list as some of the best restaurants that the country has to offer.
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