The best seafood in Scotland: where to eat by the sea

East Coast Seafood

The Lobster Hut, Crail

A garden shed on the edge of Crail’s picturesque harbour serving fresh crab and lobster to those in the know. Choose a picnic bench, bring your own wine and salads (and all the extras you need from Ardross Farm Shop), grab yourself a crab roll or a plate of lobster and set yourself up for the perfect lunch in the sunshine.

The Lobster Hut is seafood at its most simple and affordable, a roll stuffed full of crab is around £6. The view from your bench across one of Scotland’s prettiest harbours is priceless.

Best for: crab rolls, half lobster, on a budget Season: late spring to early autumn, weather dependent Where: Crail harbour, Fife

Find The Lobster Hut on Tripadvisor.

East Pier Smokehouse, St Monans

In the heart of the East Neuk of Fife is the village of St Monans and the East Pier Smokehouse. A restaurant and takeaway with serious style, you book your slot online, choose and pre-book your lunch or supper, then turn up and collect your seafood.

Try dressed crab or crab cakes with wild garlic mayo, whole lobsters and langoustines, hot smoked salmon or seabass, sardines with rhubarb, Mexican cod wraps or yellow fish curry. Find a seat on the harbour wall and dig in.

Best for: dressed crab, hot smoked salmon, takeaway Season: open year round, check days Where: St Monans harbour, Fife

Visit the East Pier Smokehouse and find more places to eat in Fife.

Craig Millar @ 16 West End, St Monans

AnEast Neuk seafood institution on the harbour at St Monans. Chef Craig Millar holds 2 AA Rosettes and a place in the Good Food Guide for his contemporary Scottish cooking.

Best for: modern Scottish seafood with a view Where: 16 West End, St Monans, Fife

Visit Craig Millar @ 16 West End.

Anstruther Fish Bar, Anstruther

Probably the most famous fish and chips in Scotland. Anstruther Fish Bar has been on the harbour at Anstruther since 1981, has won UK Fish and Chip Shop of the Year more than once, and the queue down the street is part of the experience. Take your fish supper out to the harbour wall, watch the boats coming and going, and try not to drop chips for the seagulls (they will steal them anyway). Eat in if it’s wet.

The haddock is the order, properly cooked and properly battered. Worth the queue.

Best for: the best fish and chips in Scotland, harbour wall eating Season: open year round Where: 42 Shore Street, Anstruther, Fife

Visit Anstruther Fish Bar.

Ondine, St Andrews

Roy Brett’s Edinburgh seafood institution moved to Seaton House in St Andrews in 2024 and has views over the West Sands and the Old Course. Half a dozen oysters to start, proper cooking that lets the produce do the talking. Michelin Guide listed.

Best for: oysters, special occasion, golf weekends Where: Seaton House, St Andrews

Visit Ondine at Seaton House.

The Seafood Restaurant, St Andrews

A glass walled award winning restaurant perched on the edge of the West Sands at St Andrews, with views straight out over the bay to the Old Course and the open North Sea. Modern Scottish cooking with a serious focus on shellfish, the langoustines, scallops and turbot are consistently superb.

Best for: special occasion dining with a view Season: open year round, book ahead in summer Where: West Sands, St Andrews

Visit The Seafood Restaurant.

The Lobster Shack, North Berwick

Freshly grilled lobster, champagne and a harbour wall seat? That is my kind of heaven and you can find it at the Lobster Shack at North Berwick. This little shack pumps out consistently excellent seafood from spring to early autumn.

If lobster isn’t your thing, try the mussels, chowder or breaded fish and chips. On a sunny day, with the boats bobbing in the harbour, it doesn’t get much more perfect.

Best for: grilled lobster with champagne, sunset views Season: late March to September, weather dependent Where: North Berwick harbour, East Lothian

Visit The Lobster Shack.

The Fishmarket, Newhaven (Edinburgh)

A no frills seafood institution at Newhaven harbour, run by Welch Fishmongers. Locally landed fish and shellfish, brilliant fish and chips, and a takeaway hatch for eating on the harbour wall. The view across the Firth of Forth to Fife on a clear day is excellent.

Best for: fish and chips, takeaway, harbour eating Season: open year round Where: Newhaven Harbour, Edinburgh

Visit The Fishmarket.

Dulse, Edinburgh

A Michelin Guide listed seafood restaurant in Edinburgh’s West End with simple dishes and a few East Asian touches, mirin butter, Arbroath Smokie spring rolls. Ground floor wine bar, restaurant upstairs.

Best for: central Edinburgh seafood, casual dining Where: West End, Edinburgh

Visit Dulse.

Leftfield, Edinburgh

A neighbourhood seafood leaning bistro in Bruntsfield, recommended by the Michelin Guide. Shetland mussels, Cumbrae oysters, occasional gochujang flourishes. Pre order the seafood platter for a special occasion.

Best for: neighbourhood dinners, seafood platter Where: Bruntsfield, Edinburgh

Visit Leftfield.

Fish Shop, Ballater

A bit further inland than most of Scotland’s seafood spots, but Fish Shop in Ballater on Royal Deeside is worth the drive. Top quality Scottish fish and shellfish, daily specials blackboard, brilliant service. Michelin Guide listed.

Best for: seafood inland, Aberdeenshire trips Where: Network Square, Ballater

Visit Fish Shop Ballater.

West Coast and Argyll

Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Cairndow

Loch Fyne Oysters is the original. Founded in the 1970s on the banks of Loch Fyne, the company began farming oysters and selling them direct to passing drivers from a lay by, and it grew into a Scottish institution. The Oyster Bar at Clachan Farm is still where the magic happens, a converted cattle byre at the head of Loch Fyne, looking out over the water to the mountains beyond.

The oysters are home grown, the smoked salmon is from their on site smokery, and the seafood platter is huge. An hour from Glasgow, two hours from Edinburgh, and the perfect stop on the way to Argyll, Mull or Iona.

Best for: oysters, smoked salmon, seafood platter Season: open year round, currently closed Tuesday and Wednesday Where: Clachan Farm, Cairndow, Argyll

Visit Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Samphire, Inveraray

Chef Andrew Maclugas runs one of the best seafood kitchens in Argyll from the Georgian town of Inveraray. Simple dishes, locally landed, sustainable. Grilled queen scallops and steamed West Coast mussels are the signatures.

Best for: sustainable seafood in Argyll Where: Main Street, Inveraray

Visit Samphire Inveraray.

Skipness Seafood Cabin, Tarbert

Hidden away on the Kintyre Peninsula, the Skipness Seafood Cabin is a wooden hut in the grounds of Skipness Castle serving locally landed seafood with a view straight across the Sound of Bute to Arran. The langoustines, queenies and crab sandwiches are excellent, and the queen scallops and chips are local favourites. A drive out of the way but worth it.

Best for: queen scallops, fresh crab sandwiches Season: Easter to October Where: Skipness, Tarbert, Argyll

Visit Skipness Seafood Cabin.

The Boathouse, Isle of Gigha

A restaurant on a sandy beach at Ardminish Bay on the small island of Gigha. Recognised by the Michelin Guide for over five years. Local clams, halibut and oysters, all from Gigha waters.

Best for: island day trip, beach dining Where: Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha

Visit The Boathouse Gigha.

Ee-Usk, Oban

Multi award winning seafood restaurant on Oban’s North Pier with floor to ceiling windows looking over the bay to Mull. Family run, all locally landed, the seafood platter is the showpiece.

Best for: seafood platter with a view Where: North Pier, Oban

Visit Ee-Usk.

Waterfront Fishouse, Oban

Top floor of a converted seamen’s mission on Oban’s South Pier, looking down on the boats landing the catch. Loch Creran oysters, Mull scallops, and a seafood taster platter that’s been on the menu for decades.

Best for: Mull scallops, view of the boats Where: South Pier, Oban

Visit Waterfront Fishouse.

The Green Shack, Oban

The most casual option in Oban, an al fresco shack on the CalMac pier serving giant seafood platters and crab sandwiches. Cash only, takeaway only, eat on the harbour wall watching the ferries go.

Best for: crab sandwiches, ferry side eating Where: CalMac Pier, Oban

Find The Green Shack on Facebook.

The Holly Tree Hotel, Kentallen

Just outside Glencoe on the shores of Loch Linnhe, a converted Victorian railway station with a glass walled restaurant looking straight out over the loch. Locally landed seafood, Plockton prawns, the lochside view at sunset.

Best for: sunset on Loch Linnhe Where: Kentallen, near Glencoe

Visit The Holly Tree Hotel.

The Highlands and the NC500

River House, Inverness

The headline seafood restaurant in Inverness, run by Cornish chef Allan ‘Alfie’ Little. Cape Wrath oysters, langoustines, hand dived scallops. The oyster happy hour is a local favourite.

Best for: Inverness seafood, oyster happy hour Where: Greig Street, Inverness

Visit River House Inverness.

The Seafood Shack, Ullapool

The most famous food stop in the Highlands and the reason a lot of people stop in Ullapool. A bright yellow trailer on West Argyle Street run by Kirsty and Fenella, where they cook whatever has come off the boats that morning. Order langoustines if they have them, the haddock wrap if not. The crab claws, lobster mac and cheese and tempura monkfish all turn up regularly. Take your food down to the harbour wall and watch the ferries leave for the Western Isles.

Best for: langoustines, haddock wrap, lobster mac and cheese Season: April to October, daytime only Where: West Argyle Street, Ullapool

Visit The Seafood Shack and read my complete Ullapool guide.

Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku

Down in the tiny hamlet beneath the Kylesku Bridge sits the Kylesku Hotel, which serves up incredible seafood. The mussels are grown in the bay, the lobsters, crabs and spiny lobsters are creel caught in the sea around the hotel, and fishing boats land right outside the front door. You can’t get more local than that. Order the langoustines, served hot with garlic butter.

Best for: langoustines hot with garlic butter, fresh mussels Season: open most of the year, check ahead in winter Where: Kylesku, Sutherland (NC500 route)

Visit The Kylesku Hotel.

Crofter’s Kitchen, Scourie

Right by the beach at Scourie on the NC500, Crofter’s Kitchen was crowned Scotland’s Best Street Food 2025 at the Scotsman Scran Awards. What started as a beachside food truck in 2024 has grown into one of the headline seafood stops on the North West coast.

The kitchen is chef led with everything sourced within 30 miles, the langoustines are pulled from the pristine waters off Scourie, and the Cape Wrath oysters come from Durness up the road. Order the North West Wonder sharing platter (half lobster, langoustines, crab claws and mussels for £44) or the grilled Scourie lobster. Dog friendly, free parking for cars and campervans, kids menu, and a sea view from the outdoor seating.

Best for: NC500 stopover, langoustines, sharing platter Season: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 7pm Where: Croft 17, Scouriemore, Lairg IV27 4TG

Visit Crofter’s Kitchen.

Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen, Shieldaig

Pub downstairs, dining room upstairs, both with views across to Shieldaig Island where the white tailed sea eagles nest. Seafood chowder, fresh squat lobsters, local fish. A different vibe from Nanny’s down the road.

Best for: dinner with sea eagle views Where: Shieldaig, Wester Ross

Visit Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen.

Kishorn Seafood Bar, Kishorn

A roadside seafood shack on the way to Applecross at the foot of the Bealach na Bà. Locally landed shellfish, often straight off the creel boats moored just below. The crab claws, langoustines, fish and chips, and the Loch Kishorn oyster platter are all excellent. Worth stopping for on the way over the pass.

Best for: stopover seafood en route to Applecross Season: seasonal, check ahead Where: Kishorn, Wester Ross

Visit the Kishorn Seafood Bar.

The Plockton Inn, Plockton

Plockton sits on the north side of Loch Carron with palm trees and white painted houses. The Plockton Inn does the village’s “Plockton prawns” (langoustines) properly, plus daily fish off the boats from Mallaig and Plockton itself.

Best for: Plockton prawns, west coast village Where: Innes Street, Plockton

Visit The Plockton Inn.

The Potting Shed, Applecross

Hidden away in the walled garden at Applecross is a little gem of a cafe where local sourcing is a way of life. All the salads and vegetables are grown in the garden and seafood comes off the boats at Applecross. Lobsters are often on the menu, along with crab, squat lobsters and a bouillabaisse style stew. The drive over the Bealach na Bà is part of the experience.

Best for: lobster, garden grown salads, west coast adventure Season: spring to autumn, check opening hours Where: Applecross Walled Garden, Wester Ross

Visit The Walled Garden Cafe and read my Applecross guide.

The Oystercatcher, Portmahomack

A former pub turned seafood focused restaurant on the Tarbat peninsula north of Inverness. Genuinely off the beaten track, make a trip of it for the Tarbat Discovery Centre and Tarbat Ness Lighthouse.

Best for: off the beaten track, peninsula day out Where: Portmahomack, Easter Ross

Visit The Oystercatcher Portmahomack.

The Islands

The Oyster Shed, Isle of Skye

The Oyster Shed really is a shed, but one which serves oysters, langoustines and mussels with an incredible view. The oysters are grown on their own oyster farm on the shores of Loch Harport. Learn to shuck your own oysters, then pick up a seafood platter, grab a bench and eat looking out over Carbost. Finish up by wandering down the hill to the Talisker Distillery for a dram.

Best for: oysters, learning to shuck, Talisker pairings Season: seasonal, check opening hours Where: Carbost, Isle of Skye

Visit The Oyster Shed and read my guide to Skye.

Loch Bay, Stein, Isle of Skye

A remote hamlet on the far north coast of Skye is an unusual place to find a Michelin starred French inspired seafood restaurant, but chef Michael Smith is worth going several extra miles for. Loch Bay serves tasting menus and à la carte lunches in a tiny whitewashed cottage with Harris tweed chairs. Cool, laid back service, perfectly judged.

Try the hake and prawn topped with a sweet langoustine and squat lobster sauce. And don’t miss the triple cooked chips. Yes, fish and chips at a Michelin starred restaurant.

Best for: Michelin starred seafood, special occasion lunch Season: open year round, book months ahead Where: Stein, Waternish, Isle of Skye

Visit Loch Bay.

The Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye

A whitewashed crofter’s cottage on the shores of Loch Dunvegan, The Three Chimneys has been one of Scotland’s most famous restaurants for over 40 years. Now under executive chef Paul Green, the kitchen continues to focus on local Skye produce, oysters from the Oyster Shed at Carbost, mussels from Loch Eishort, scallops from Sconser, lobster, crab and langoustines collected straight from Dunvegan pier.

Try sweet Dunvegan crab, scorched langoustines with sweetbreads, or simply roasted scallops with a dashi broth. Six rooms in the House Over By next door if you want to stay for dinner and walk to bed.

Best for: destination dining, Skye produce, with rooms Season: dinner served late January to November, lunch Easter to October Where: Colbost, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

Visit The Three Chimneys and read my full review.

The Boathouse, Isle of Ulva

A tiny restaurant on the island of Ulva off Mull, reached by an on demand ferry (you uncover a red panel to call it). Fresh shellfish landed from the family fishing boat. As remote as Scottish seafood gets.

Best for: the adventure, fresh shellfish Where: Isle of Ulva (ferry from Mull)

Visit The Boathouse Ulva.

Coll Hotel, Isle of Coll

The Coll Hotel sits at the head of Loch Eatharna on the small island of Coll, far out in the Atlantic. Excellent reputation for fresh local seafood, what they cook depends on what comes off the boat that morning.

Best for: remote island stay, freshest catch Where: Arinagour, Isle of Coll

Visit The Coll Hotel.

Uig Sands, Isle of Lewis

A glass walled restaurant looking out over Uig Bay on the wild west coast of Lewis. World class views and a focus on local fish and shellfish. Vegetarian and vegan options too.

Best for: Outer Hebrides seafood, beach views Where: Uig, Isle of Lewis

Visit Uig Sands Restaurant.

The Foveran, Orkney

Award winning restaurant with rooms three miles outside Kirkwall, with views over Scapa Flow. Four time winner of Orkney Food & Drink’s Best Evening Meal award. Orkney lobster thermidor, hand dived scallops, local crab.

Best for: Orkney special occasion Where: St Ola, Kirkwall, Orkney

Visit The Foveran.

Loki Seafood Shack, Skaill, Orkney

A seasonal seafood shack in the gardens of Skaill House, just next to Skara Brae. Crab tacos, scallop rolls, lobster brioche, daily changing depending on the catch. Perfect lunch after Skara Brae.

Best for: lunch after Skara Brae Season: April to October Where: Skaill, Orkney

Find Loki Seafood Shack on Facebook.

Edinburgh and Glasgow

The Mussel Inn, Edinburgh and Glasgow

The Mussel Inn has been serving up Scottish shellfish in Glasgow and Edinburgh since 1996, and it’s still the easiest place in either city to eat properly fresh seafood without the destination restaurant price tag. Their specialty is mussels, grown by the owners in Loch Etive and Loch Linnhe, but they also do scallops, oysters, langoustines and a famously good seafood platter.

Best for: mussels, affordable seafood, central locations Season: open year round Where: Rose Street (Edinburgh), Hope Street (Glasgow)

Visit The Mussel Inn.

Crabshakk, Finnieston, Glasgow

The original Glasgow seafood spot, a tiny, perpetually busy bar in Finnieston serving fresh seafood off paper plates with proper cocktails. Now expanded with Crabshakk Botanics and Crabshakk Gantry. The original is still the best.

Best for: Glasgow seafood, lively atmosphere Where: Argyle Street, Finnieston, Glasgow

Visit Crabshakk.

Gamba, Glasgow

Glasgow’s serious seafood restaurant, basement level off West George Street, white tablecloths, classic French influenced Scottish cooking. The fish soup with crouton and rouille is the legendary dish.

Best for: Glasgow special occasion Where: West George Street, Glasgow

Visit Gamba.