Coullie Stays

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.

This long-standing, passionately run restaurant never stands still, always investing and evolving over time. It’s still very much a family concern, with Garry Watson alone in the kitchen and his mother Maria handling the service with aplomb. There’s a modern feel to both the décor and the cooking, with the latter proving colourful and technically accomplished. Dishes really shine in their use of the Scottish larder, like local lamb with seasonal girolles. An interesting wine list and five bedrooms complete the picture.

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.

There is a luxurious feel to this smartly renovated pub, where the cooking mixes the modern with the traditional. Among the well-executed dishes on the menu are some contemporary choices alongside recognisable classics like rib-eye steak, fish & chips and chicken liver parfait. Come at lunchtime to enjoy their classically served haggis, neaps and tatties, which is a real treat. Four bedrooms, cosy sitting rooms and an immaculate terrace complete the very pretty picture.