Edinburgh and Glasgow have earned top billing on the global stage, but right now, foodies should be flocking to Aberdeen. More than just a passing-through point to the rolling hills and iconic distilleries of the Highlands, Scotland ’s third-largest metropolitan area boasts multimillion-dollar upgrades to charming 19th-century gardens, the fabulous Aberdeen Art Gallery , and that most covetable type of food scene: homegrown and authentically buzzy but still low-key. Here, a selection of the best the city has to offer.
Moonfish Cafe At this small dining room on a narrow cobblestone street in City Centre, the decor is minimal and the shelves are packed with dozens of gins, many British-made. Chef-owner Brian Mcleish changes the menu every six weeks in accordance with the phases of the seasons; his modernist dishes, which have earned the restaurant Michelin recommendations for the past six years, take cues from traditional Scottish cooking—think a clever interpretation of a fish pie in the form of baked scallops, roasted-cauliflower puree, basil pesto, and house-cured sausage under a puff-pastry top. Tarragon Before opening his restaurant in 2022, Aberdeen native Graham Mitchell cooked for a luxury cruise line and made a habit of hitting the local eateries wherever the ships docked.
His stops in Mexico, the Philippines, India, and beyond inspire the menu at this easygoing, window-walled space where dishes include molecular-gastronomy influences from the likes of chef Thomas .