Shores rich with scallops and langoustines, fresh mountain rivers brimming with wild salmon and fertile hillsides famed for rich game and beef: Scotland boasts an unrivalled natural larder. This bountiful land produces some of the best, and most sought-after produce in the world.
Whether tucking into the juiciest Aberdeen Angus steaks, dining on fresh oysters from Loch Fyne, or polishing off some crumbly shortbread with a dram of local whisky, Scotland food and drink is guaranteed to get your tastebuds tingling.
“Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!” – Address to a Haggis by Robert Burns
We’ve put together the ultimate Scotland food and drink guide to help you discover some of the country’s top culinary highlights. Discover some of the tastiest traditional dishes, where to find the freshest ingredients, and the best restaurants in Scotland. And if we’ve already whetted your appetite for this foodie heaven, just click the button below to browse our collection of cosy holiday cottages in Scotland, and make sure to pack a pair of trousers with an elasticated waistband!
Skip to:
1. Try a traditional Scottish dish
Haggis, neeps and tatties
Dating back to the 15th century, Scotland’s iconic national dish known as haggis consists of sausage meat made from the innards of a sheep mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, stock, dried herbs and other seasonings, all packed into a skin bag traditionally made of a sheep’s stomach, and boiled. It’s often served with neeps and tatties (mashed turnips or swede and potatoes) and a creamy whisky sauce. While this may not sound appetizing, the combination of ingredients is so flavoursome and you’re sure to find it on any good Scottish pub menu. Scotland’s beloved poet Robert Burns even wrote a poem about it!
Cullen skink
A local speciality from the town of Cullen in Moray, Cullen Skink is a thick and creamy Scottish soup made of smoked Finnan haddock, potatoes and onions. This hearty soup can be made with milk, water or cream depending on the variation. It’s the perfect dish to warm you from the inside after a brisk walk through the glens and should be mopped up with a hunk of bread so you can get every last drop.
Scotch pie
Small but delicious, Scotch pies are a favourite snack food amongst the Scots. This double-crusted meat pie is usually filled with spiced minced mutton and can be enjoyed hot or cold with potatoes, baked beans, or gravy. This tasty delicacy is widely available at bakeries throughout Scotland and every year, the Scotch Pie Club holds the World Scotch Pie Championship, a hotly contested competition which sees butchers and bakers from across the country competing for the renowned Scotch pie trophy.
Cock-a-leekie soup
Known as Scotland’s national soup, cock-a-leekie soup is made with leeks and peppery chicken stock thickened with rice or barley and is sometimes garnished with prunes. This traditional dish was concocted in Scotland in the 16th century and you’ll find many regional variations across the country. With its mild flavour and excellent aroma, this is another comforting meal to enjoy on a chilly day.
Tablet
Those with a sweet tooth are sure to love this hard sugary confection. Made with sugar, condensed milk and butter that has been cooked together until crystalised, a Scottish tablet is a fudge-like candy and a wee piece of Scottish heaven. It is often flavoured with vanilla, and sometimes has nuts or whisky in it. It can be found in shops all over Scotland.
Shortbread
Shortbread has been a traditional Scottish food for centuries, made from flour, sugar and butter. This crumbly melt-in-the-mouth biscuit pairs perfectly with a hot cup of tea and comes in all shapes, sizes, and varieties. It’s believed that Mary Queen of Scots was a big fan of this sweet, buttery goodness and helped spread the popularity of it. Traditionally, the Scots present shortbread when they ‘first foot’ at Hogmanay or as a gift at Christmas.
Cranachan
Often revered as the king of Scottish desserts, Cranachan is usually served at special celebrations. Indulgent ingredients include fresh raspberries, whipped cream, honey, Scottish oats and whisky, which are delectably layered in a tall glass. Locals will tell you that Scottish raspberries are the best in the world when in season in June, which is, unsurprisingly, the best time to be eating cranachan.
2. Savour some fresh seafood
From the freshest of crab rolls simply served with a squeeze of lemon and some homemade mayonnaise from a beachside seafood shack, to artisan hand-dived scallops served in Michelin-starred restaurants, Scotland has a global reputation for the quality of its seafood.
Scottish salmon is a common dish on most restaurant menus, freshly caught from the crystal-clear waters of the country’s rivers and sea lochs. It is celebrated worldwide for its unrivalled taste and texture. Lobster is another favourite, boiled or grilled and slathered in melted butter. Then there are the plump Scottish oysters, harvested from the waters along the west coast, best enjoyed with a chilled glass of dry white wine.
The Seafood Trail
With such a rich bounty of seafood, Scotland has created a Seafood Trail allowing ‘seafoodies’ to explore some of the most spectacular coastal scenery the west coast has to offer while sampling seafood and shellfish from a wide variety of waterfront establishments - often delivered straight from the sea by local fishermen.
Arbroath Smokies
An Arbroath Smokie is a fresh haddock, smoked over a hardwood fire. This speciality of the town of Arbroath in Angus is a treat for lovers of fish - the flakes melt in your mouth and are packed full of flavour. The subtle smokiness is achieved using traditional methods dating back to the 1800s. First, they’re salted overnight to preserve them, then they are hung over a hot and smoky fire in a barrel for around 1 hour. Why not try one for yourself, with some warm bread or sprinkled over a salad?
Fish supper
There is nothing like going to a Scottish chippy for a fish supper. You’ll find many famous fish and chip shops in Scotland, where people travel for miles to devour their favourite portion of fish fried in golden, crispy batter with thick-cut fluffy chips - they are a point of national pride. However, depending on where in Scotland you decide to sample a fish supper, you may find yourself caught between the great debate of ‘salt and sauce’ vs ‘salt and vinegar’. Salt and sauce refers to having your fish and chips doused in salt and ‘chippy sauce’, a brown, vinegary sauce - if you’re visiting Edinburgh, this is the way to go. In the west coast, however, salt and vinegar is the more acceptable way to season your fish supper!
3. Tuck into a hearty Scottish breakfast
Nothing fuels you up for the day like a full Scottish breakfast. But what sets it apart from a full English? In addition to the usual eggs, bacon, baked beans and buttered toast, it can also include distinctive Scottish ingredients like black pudding, Lorne sausage and a tattie scone (potato scone). Haggis is also sometimes thrown into the mix, as is white pudding which is just like black pudding but made with fat rather than blood. And don’t be fooled by the word ‘breakfast’, this substantial dish is served all day long in most places to eat in Scotland.
Fancy something a bit lighter? Start your day off with a comforting bowl of Scottish porridge. This classic Scottish breakfast is a simple and wholesome dish made from fresh porridge oats, cooked slowly on the hob with milk or water and a pinch of salt. You can top it with whatever you like – often people use sugar, honey or fruit – but for a traditional Scottish treat, try mixing in some double cream or a splash of whisky. Highly nutritious, porridge will give you the energy to climb Arthur’s Seat again and again!
4. Sample local Scottish produce
Scotland’s natural larder provides delicious food and drink all year round. Its coast and countryside are where the country’s high-quality produce is reared, gathered and grown. Grouse, wild hare, pheasant, and venison all thrive here, as do lobster, oysters and salmon. Some Scottish produce is considered so unique that it’s been designated Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Union. Examples include Stornoway Black Pudding, Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese, Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar and Scottish Wild Salmon.
Farmers’ markets
One of the best ways to get your hands on some local produce is by visiting a Scottish farmers’ market. Usually held once or twice a month, you can find these markets across the country, each of which showcase a variety of home-grown produce, ingredients and goods you can try and buy. Discover freshly cured cheeses, homemade jams and chutneys, locally crafted beers, and meats.
Top farmers’ markets in Scotland:
Food and drink festivals
Another way to experience Scottish food and drink is by attending one of the many festivals and events that pop up throughout the year. Here are a few highlights:
5. Cook your produce in one of our famous cottages
Recently, one of our gorgeous holiday cottages in Scotland has been used as the setting for BBC Scotland’s The Great Food Guys. Nick Nairn and Dougie Vipond have been hosting this popular cookery programme from the sleek kitchen of The Stables At Fasque Castle.
Why not have a go at re-creating some of their scrumptious recipes in this very kitchen for yourself? Not only does this luxury cottage enjoy 400 acres of the Fasque Castle Estate in Aberdeenshire, but it also features a cosy wood burner, a games room and hot tub hire.
The Stables At Fasque Castle
6. Dine at a Scottish restaurant
With such a great list of ingredients to use, it's no wonder there are so many places to eat in Scotland. From atmospheric gastropubs to Michelin-starred restaurants, we’ve chosen a few of the best to indulge in some of the finest culinary delights:
The Kitchin, copyright Instagram @thekitchin
The Kitchin, Edinburgh
Price: £££££
This Michelin-starred restaurant in Scotland features extraordinary dishes inspired by the philosophy 'From Nature to Plate'. The Kitchin on Edinburgh’s stylish Leith Waterfront presents modern British seasonal cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques and an appreciation of the best quality Scottish ingredients. Choose from the perfectly balanced à la carte or opt for one of the vegetarian or prestige tasting menus. Highland game, terrine of Highland venison, hand-dived Orkney scallops, and roasted fillet of North Sea turbot are a few of the specialities.
Stay nearby at: The Cooperage | Sleeps 2 + 1 dog
Price: £££
Loved by many as one of the top pubs in Scotland, the Applecross Inn enjoys a beautiful spot on the Applecross Peninsula in the Highlands. It’s a perfect pit stop for those travelling on the scenic North Coast 500, especially seafood lovers. Whilst soaking up spectacular views across the Inner Sound of Raasay, to the isles of Raasay and Skye, diners can enjoy a friendly atmosphere, great beer and award-winning seafood like whole Applecross Bay prawns, local king scallops and delectable fish pies.
Stay nearby at: Faoilinn, Applecross | Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Loch Bay Restaurant, copyright Instagram @lochbayskye
Loch Bay Restaurant, Stein, Isle of Skye
Price: £££££
Another of Scotland’s Michelin-starred restaurants, the Loch Bay Restaurant on the Isle of Skye has a legendary reputation for the freshest fish and seafood. Discover some of the Highland’s best ingredients amongst gourmet dishes that have been skilfully prepared, with classic French overtones. The ‘Fruits de Mer’ set menu features the likes of twice-dived Sconser scallops with fennel and citrus, and roast half bay lobster with apple, ginger and squattie sauce.
Stay nearby at: Taobh An Uillt, Uig | Sleeps 9 + 2 dogs
The Clachaig Inn, copyright Instagram @clachaig_inn
The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Argyll
Price: ££
Nestled in the heart of Glencoe, this award-winning inn is an idyllic place to warm up and refuel after a day in the mountains. The Clachaig Inn prides itself on a menu filled with traditional Sottish fare, such as haggis, neeps and tatties, venison casserole, wild boar burger, and fillet of west coast salmon. Wash it down with a refreshing beer, the inn specialises in Cask Conditioned Ales from across the Scottish Highlands, or try one of the 260 varieties of malt whisky.
Stay nearby at: Lochside House, Ballachulish | Sleeps 6
The Peat Inn, copyright Instagram @thepeatinn
The Peat Inn, St Andrews, Fife
Price: ££££
An exceptional dining experience awaits at The Peat Inn where an ever-changing menu takes full advantage of premium local Scottish produce from artisan suppliers. This superb Michelin-starred restaurant in St Andrews features tweed curtains, low beams and a cosy log fire. Dig into loin of wild roe deer, roast truffled breast of chicken or wild halibut with steamed mussels and lose yourself in desserts such as hot strawberry and lime soufflé.
Stay nearby at: St Andrews Townhouse, St Andrews | Sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
7. Sip a dram of Scottish tipple
No holiday in Scotland is complete without a wee dram of something delicious to wet your whistle. The most famous drink in Scotland is, of course, whisky – there are over 130 active whisky distilleries in Scotland spread across five whisky regions, with many offering informative tours and tastings. Following Speyside’s Malt Whisky Trail is a great way of discovering more about the ancient art of distilling, taking in seven world-famous working distilleries including the Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Glen Moray Distilleries.
Then there is Scottish beer. The country has a long history of brewing and is home to a growing number of craft breweries. Pub staples include BrewDog, Tennent’s Lager, Innis & Gunn and Caledonia Best. And if that’s not enough, Scotland is responsible for more than half of gin production in the UK, with over 50 producers making around 100 different gins in Scotland, from Edinburgh Gin to the Isle of Islay’s The Botanist.
Or, if you’re looking for something a little softer, you could always grab a bottle of ‘Scotland’s other national drink’, IRN BRU. This bright orange fizzy soft drink is of an acquired taste, but locals say it’s a brilliant hangover cure!
Stay in Scotland with us
If your mouth is now watering with the thought of all this wonderful Scottish food and drink, why not have a browse of our holiday cottages in Scotland? From cosy cottages for couples to fun-filled farmhouses for families, you’re sure to find the perfect setting for your foodie holiday in Scotland. Just click the button below to browse our full collection.
Scotland cottages
Further inspiration
If you’ve enjoyed our Scotland food guide, why not browse some of our other informative guides for more inspiration for your next break?