Edinburgh and Glasgow have carved out a top spot for themselves on the world stage, but right now foodies should be flocking to Aberdeen. More than just a gateway to the rolling hills and famous distilleries of the Highlands, Scotland’s third-largest metropolitan area boasts multimillion-pound modernisations of enchanting 19th-century gardens, the fabulous Aberdeen Art Gallery and the most desirable kind of food scene: homely and authentically lively, yet understated. Here’s a selection of the best the city has to offer.

Moonfish Cafe

In this small dining room on a narrow cobbled street in the city centre, the decor is minimalist and the shelves are crammed with dozens of gins, many of them British-made. Chef and owner Brian Mcleish changes the menu every six weeks to suit the seasons. His modern dishes, which have earned the restaurant Michelin recommendations for the past six years, take their cues from traditional Scottish cuisine – think a sophisticated take on a fish pie in the form of baked scallops, roasted cauliflower mash, basil pesto and house-smoked sausage under a puff pastry blanket.

tarragon

Before opening his restaurant in 2022, Aberdeen native Graham Mitchell cooked for a luxury cruise line and made a habit of visiting local restaurants wherever the ships docked. His stops in Mexico, the Philippines, India and beyond inspire the menu in this relaxed, glass-enclosed space, where dishes feature molecular gastronomy influences such as those from the French Laundry’s chef Thomas Keller, who consulted on the cruise line menus. Yet despite his global successes, Mitchell is fanatically loyal to local ingredients, a dynamic that results in dishes such as monkfish carpaccio with pineapple, mango and chilli, or prawn tikka with curried puffed rice and passion fruit and apple.

Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish

A leisurely meal at this sophisticated yet relaxed eatery is a study in contrasts: tiny amethyst blossoms spring from an ivory mound of horseradish cream; fried onion threads crown a sweet, meaty roasted scallop; peeled grape chunks add a sweet tang to a tangy curry dressing. During his previous stints working in private castles and luxury hotels, Dalgleish has compiled a list of local fishmongers, smokehouses, distilleries and dairy farms stretching back generations, all of which provide the supplies for the incredible “Scottish larder” he uses in his kitchen.

Mara

Before Mara opened in December 2023, the city’s Italian dining options were limited to pizzerias and a few red sauce shops. But this light-filled neighborhood spot, which also serves as a wine shop with a focus on Italian bottles, has taken things to a new level with its menu of shareable dishes like venison tartare and pizzettas made with dough from neighboring Bandit Bakery, a local institution. The tattoos on chef-owner Ross Cochrane’s arm—an inky menagerie of Scottish wildlife from highland deer to lobster—show his commitment to sourcing food from the region’s farms and fisheries.

Effortless

In Britain, ‘faff’ means unnecessary fuss; to understand the message behind this restaurant’s name, you need to know that chef, owner and sommelier Craig Thom loves wine – he just doesn’t make a fuss about it. That relaxed attitude defines this casually glamorous bar and art gallery in a Georgian townhouse overlooking the park, where a stripped-back menu of fish, beef and vegetarian dishes leaves plenty of opportunity to focus on the all-organic wine list, with up to 80 choices available by the glass. To end the evening, head downstairs to Bonne Nuit, the Parisian fin-de-siècle-style absinthe and cocktail bar in the basement.