INSIDER
Beachside dining, exotic gelato, the freshest of local seafood, and healthy, wholesome café fare: Scotland’s Granite City is a find for foodie travellers looking for a tasty summer city break
The best places to eat and drink in Aberdeen
THE CONSERVATORY RESTAURANT
Offering impeccable service, the family-run, five-star Marcliffe Hotel and Spa, set in eight acres of grounds, is home to the enticing Conservatory Restaurant. As well as serving local game and Aberdeen Angus beef, the Marcliffe has a distinctive seafood menu. Scottish lobster landed in Aberdeen; jumbo Russian red king crab from Murmansk, Russia; extra-large West Coast langoustines fresh from nearby Peterhead; and there are huge wild Atlantic tiger prawns. Seafood dishes start at £15; marcliffe.com SO
FOOD STORY
Vegetarian at lunch, vegan in the evening, and serving vegan and gluten-free cakes all day, Food Story offers healthy eating with flavour and flair. Its new coffee bar, juice bar and food shop make a tasty alternative stop in the city centre. Lunch menu from £2.50; foodstorycafe.co.uk CD CE KF
MAD PENGUIN
Imaginative and creative, with ample vegan and soy-free options, Mad Penguin is a vibrant ice cream and lolly-stick emporium that pops with colour. Flavours include locally distilled Esker Gin, and smoked salmon and avocado, as well as classics. Lollies from £2.50; facebook.com/madpenguingelato CD CE KF
IX RESTAURANT
Executive chef Kevin Dalgleish is putting the Chester Hotel on the map with its two AA Rosettes-winning restaurant. Making the most of the local larder, mains include roast North Sea monkfish and Mossies Farm pork. The contemporary setting, with theatre kitchen, adds to the experience. The children’s menu includes such grown-up offerings as My First Steak. Mains from £18; chester-hotel.com SO KF
THE SANDDOLLAR CAFE & BISTRO
This bistro café offers great breakfasts and brunches, just metres from Aberdeen Bay. Their overnight oats and porridge dishes are packed with slow-release carbs, the yogurt breakfasts are accompanied by fruit compotes, muesli, seeds and nuts, and the full Scottish breakfast is a traditional, no-nonsense offering. A children’s menu ensures little ones are fed before they hit the beach. Yogurts, porridge and oats for £6.90; sanddollarcafe.com CD KF
ROSS BAKERY
The pies at Ross Bakery on Chapel Street are close to legendary. The macaroni pie and the mince and mealie pie particularly turn the heads of visitors. The former is a popular carb-fest, the latter usually begs the question ‘What’s mealie?’ Mealie is just like skirlie, and if that doesn’t help you, just think oats. Pies from £1.70; rossbakery.co.uk CE
MOONFISH
Located on the cobbled medieval streets of Aberdeen’s Merchant Quarter, Moonfish dishes up a focused menu of quality dishes. Suitable for fine-dining or a casual get-together, its menu leads with hake, halibut, lamb and asparagus. Also notable is its gin menu, including tipples such as The Botanist from the Isle of Islay, Saffron from France, and Junipero from San Fransisco. Two courses for £30; moonfishcafe.co.uk CD SO
MAGGIE’S GRILL
This chilled eatery on Holburn Street serves up unpretentious soul food, BBQ and cajun. Savour spicy staples like southern fried chicken, gumbo of the day, BBQ pulled brisket, and howlin’ wolf chilli, in a laidback café atmosphere. The kids’ menu includes popcorn chicken and BBQ pulled pork. Mains from £9.95; maggiesgrill.co.uk CD KF
SILVER DARLING
Named after the precious herring catch, this is the place to be on a summer evening, as ships sail into harbour and dolphins frolic in the sea. French chef Didier Dejean has been at the helm since 1986, serving dishes that include brown crab and prawns and roast-cumin-crusted monkfish. Mains from £14.95; thesilverdarling.co.uk SO
ALMONDINE
With a seasonal macaron menu, a French patisserie selection and an afternoon tea with a waiting list, Almondine always feels like a treat. Favourites include the pink peppercorn, pistachio and vanilla macarons. Macarons start at £1.15; almondine.co.uk SO