Two Bedroom Cottage in Lumsden - Contractors

From the genuine, professional service to the array of quality seafood, there is a lot to love about this smart restaurant decorated with a wicker shoal hanging from the ceiling and photos of fishermen on the walls. Fabulous produce, much of it Scottish, powers dishes that accentuate the flavours of their core ingredient with a few well-judged, finely made accompaniments – such as Shetland halibut accompanied by slow roasted tomatoes and salsa verde. As always with the best seafood restaurants, keep an eye on the specials board for more fresh delights.

Whilst only a short stroll away from Aberdeen’s ‘Granite Mile’ main street, there is a real neighbourhood feel to this brightly painted restaurant and bottle shop. The concise wine list is 100% Italian, while the cooking stretches a little beyond the country’s borders for a menu of attractively priced sharing plates. Whether it’s focaccia with white bean hummus, meaty mackerel with fennel or the playfully named ‘Mara-ncini’, the dishes deliver hearty flavours and well-judged combinations in abundance. A friendly, knowledgeable team add to the appeal.

Forming part of The Macallan Estate, this is a beautiful restaurant from top to bottom. It sits on the first floor of the futuristic distillery, with floor-to-ceiling windows affording Speyside views that are just as stunning as the open kitchen, the whisky wall and the wine cellar. There’s immaculate presentation in the cooking too, on a menu overseen by the Roca brothers from the famed El Celler de Can Roca in Girona. Their signature ‘Lactic’ dessert makes an appearance, as do several nods to Scotland. Go for the whisky pairing, as it seems appropriate here.

Queen Victoria made this area fashionable when she started visiting Balmoral Castle in the 1840s, and this restaurant inside The Fife Arms hotel certainly has its own brand of eclectic chic. Murano chandeliers hang from the ceiling and a huge stag oversees proceedings, while the staff are dressed in tartan that matches the cubist painted walls. Come in winter and you'll be welcomed by the glowing embers of the fire. Prime Scottish ingredients from lobster to venison are presented in classical dishes that often incorporate the smoky aromas of a wood fire.

Kevin Dalgleish is a well-known chef in Aberdeen and his restaurant occupies the spacious basement of a granite townhouse, in a quiet residential neighbourhood yet just minutes from the city centre. Kick off with a drink in the bar or by the wood burning stove. The kitchen use prime Scottish ingredients blended with French techniques to create good-looking dishes that deliver on flavour.

Tucked away in a city centre side street is this restaurant run by a friendly team with a genuine desire to please. Given the name, it's unsurprising to find a French bistro style to the décor, including simple wooden tables and wood panelling on the walls. The menu has a similarly Gallic influence, with time-honoured classics like pommes anna and crème brûlée to be found on the à la carte – yet there is a modernity and creativity in the cooking too, alongside technical skill from the kitchen team.

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