Restaurants in Aberdeen

The views at Silver Darling Restaurant are almost as good as the food. Overlooking the windswept North Sea at the end of the Esplanade near Footdee, the setting is quite wonderful, as is the food with the seafood dishes the star. The scallops and lemon sole come highly recommended, and with attentive service, a stylish interior and those views, it’s rightly one of the best high-end restaurants in Aberdeen.

A little closer to the centre of town is the Adelphi Kitchen, another popular seafood restaurant. The portions are huge, with much of the seafood caught that day and then barbecued over smoking hot charcoal. They also have hot and cold smoking rooms, where fish are left to hang for 40 days, creating an intense, succulent flavour.

Rounding out the fish-friendly restaurants is the Moonfish Café. A short walk from our City Centre hotel and near the Bon Accord shopping centre, the café has been knocking out classy seafood lunch and dinner dishes since 2004. Plus, with views over the 12th-century Kirk of St. Nicholas and an extensive gin menu, there’s a lot of reasons to recommend it besides its excellent food.

Montmartre is one of the leading French restaurants in the city, providing an authentic French flavour using locally sourced produce. Located at the far end of Union Street, the Parisian theme runs through the restaurant, from the name to the stylish decor inspired by the winding Montmartre streets. The food is just as French, with classic dishes including mussels, fondue and a cheese board so delightfully smelly, you can get a whiff several tables away.

Aberdeen might be thousands of miles from the balmy Mediterranean, but that hasn’t stopped the region being a big influence on the Granite City’s food scene. Mi Amore is rightly considered one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, thanks to its stylish interior, friendly staff and range of classic dishes including their popular cannelloni and freshly cooked calamari.

A short distance from there on John Street is Christo’s Greek Taverna, one of the most highly rated restaurants in the city on TripAdvisor. A family-run operation since 1991, make sure to check out their stew-like stifado and the amazing swordfish dishes.

If Turkish is more your thing, Nargile is the only Turkish restaurant in the city and therefore its most popular – but its quality would shine regardless of the lack of competition, having been a mainstay on the restaurant scene in Aberdeen since 1983. It’s the perfect pre-show dinner spot, as it’s just around the corner from His Majesty’s Theatre.

For one of the best Indian dining experiences in the city, head to 8848 Restaurant. Using a mix of recipes from Nepal and India, the award-winning Union Street restaurant mixes classical dishes with a contemporary twist, while the decor – all wooden floors, exposed brickwork and impressive lighting – adds to the experience.