Page 181 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  179

sampling a few “drams” with
the locals is an essential under-
taking on any tour of the coun-
try. Lately, the old-fashioned,
boozer has had considerable
competition from cosmopolitan
bars and posh gastro pubs.
Found in towns and cities, bars
can be noisy and tend to attract
a younger clientele with lively
happy hours and interest ing
cocktails. Gastro pubs place an
emphasis on food, serving high-
A fish and chip shop on the Portobello promenade in Edinburgh quality traditional pub meals
that may be prepared with
provide special play areas for herring and mackerel can all be organic or sustainably sourced
kids. In city centre bars, don’t be found in shops and restaurants, ingredients. They will also have
surprised or offended to see while farms on the west coast a number of craft beers to
signs stating the pub is for rear much of Scotland’s Atlantic choose from.
over-18s only. salmon and rainbow trout.
Lobsters, crabs and prawns
are also common in Scottish Recommended
Vegetarian Food waters. Recently more emphasis Restaurants
Britain is ahead of many of its has been placed on the The restaurants, cafés, brasseries
European counterparts in cultivation and conservation and pubs listed in this guide
providing vegetarian alternatives of sustainable natural shellfish have been chosen because they
to meat dishes, and Scotland is stocks, including mussels, offer quality and reasonable
no exception. Edinburgh and oysters and scallops. value for money. They range
Glasgow have the widest choice, from inexpensive and cheerful
but restaurants in smaller towns Fast Food cafés to fine-dining temples and
and villages are also increasingly Michelin-starred restaurants. A
likely to offer meat-free dishes. Scotland is rightly famed for its Scottish restaurant will serve
Vegetarians wishing to find a “fish suppers” and there are traditional dishes such as haggis,
wider choice than is offered by many seaside fish bars selling whereas somewhere offering
Scottish and English food should wonderfully fresh fish and chips. more flavours and contem-
try Indian, Chinese, Middle Away from the coast, the fish p orary twists on the old is
Eastern or other ethnic restaur- may not be as amazingly fresh, considered modern Scottish.
ants with a tradition of but there are plenty of good Establishments highlighted as
vegetarian cuisine. places to choose from. Most DK Choice have been chosen
also offer other options includ- for their excep tional features,
ing fried chicken. which may include gourmet
Seafood
Visitors to Scotland will also dishes or a spectacular location.
With more than 16,000 km find the usual fast food chains, as All DK Choice eateries offer a
(10,000 miles) of coastline, fish well as sandwich bars and “greasy memorable dining experience.
and shellfish play an important spoon” cafés, which mainly
part in the Scottish diet and serve fried food, including large
economy. North Sea cod, traditional breakfasts.
haddock (often smoked as
kippers or Arbroath Smokies),
Pubs and Bars
Scottish licensing laws are
different from the rest of Britain,
mostly in the closing times of
pubs and bars. In Scotland,
particularly in urban centres,
many pubs stay open until
midnight or even 1 or 2am.
During the Edinburgh Festival
in August (see pp84–5), bars
often do not close until 3am,
and some are open 24 hours.
The large selection of beer
Secret Garden dining room in the Witchery and whisky available in a typical The elegant Douglas Bistro at the Douglas
by the Castle (see p182), Edinburgh Scottish pub is impressive and Hotel (see p186), on the Isle of Arran

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