What’s new in Scotland: latest hotels, restaurants, events & experiences

Looking for what’s new in Scotland?

Whether you’re planning a holiday, a weekend break or you’re simply curious about new things to do in Scotland this year, you’ll find the most up-to-date travel news right here.

We update this page frequently so you can discover new places to stay, eat and explore in Scotland as soon as they launch.

Please get in touch with any news you’d like included in the update!

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What’s new in Scotland right now?

Keep up to date with the very latest in culture, tourism and travel news from Scotland:

Food and Restaurant news:

• Eat Out Edinburgh 2026 — city’s March restaurant festival returns (1–31 March 2026) – the annual dining festival is back, with deals and curated set menus across nearly 60 citycentre restaurants, cafes and bars. Bookings and offers are live now online.
• Hendersons opens first Glasgow branch – the award‑winning Edinburgh vegetarian institution has launched its first Glasgow restaurant, serving seasonal plant‑centric dishes with drinks throughout the day. Book a table.
• Edinburgh’s Orr Group opens Uncle Tiger – the restaurant group behind The Captain Darling in Stockbridge, Lucky Yu on Broughton Street and Bodega on Leith Walk are opening Uncle Tiger in Bristo Place, with a rotating menu of Asian dishes.
• Two new michelin stars for Scotland – the latest Michelin Guide has launches and 2026 includes two new michelin stars for Scotland – Killiecrankie House, a restaurant with rooms near Pitlochry with Scottish and Japanese influences, and 1887 at The Torridon, which has also recieved a green michelin star for its hyper local food from the hotels’s garden and surrounding lochs and glens.
• Michelin announces 5 new ‘Bib Gourmand’ restaurants in Scotland for 2026 – awarded for great cooking and good value. In Scotland, the restaurants are Mara, Aberdeen, Angeethi by Sagar Massey, Cardonald, Sebb’s, Glasgow, and The Clarence, Glasgow.
• Good Food Guide “Restaurant Month” (13 Jan-14 February across Scotland) – first ever Restaurant Month with offers at 13 restaurants in Scotland from Adfern to michelin starred Timeberyard. Find out more.
• The Kinneuchar Inn in Fife has been selected as one of the Top 50 gastropubs in the UK, the only Scottish venue in this year’s list.
• The Scottish Cheese Academy – World Cheese Awards judge Tanny Gill has launched The Scottish Cheese Academy, offering certified cheese education and tasting experiences aimed at hospitality pros and food lovers alike.

Whisky, distillery and drink news:

• Ubhal Cider Gathering (Custom Lane, Leith, Edinburgh, Sat 28 March 2026) – brand‑new cider festival curated by musician Grant Hutchison (Frightened Rabbit) and Aeble owner brings 15 UK cider producers together for two tasting sessions; tickets are available now.
• Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2026 – programme preview & tickets preview live (programme preview live now, general sale 24 Feb) – the iconic Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has released its full 2026 programme preview, offering a first look at hundreds of tastings, distillery tours, masterclasses and events across 50+ distilleries; festival tickets are now in preview mode ahead of general sale on 24 Feb. Find out more.
• Luss Distillery is officially now open at Loch Lomond – a multi-million pound distillery and visitor-experience centre has opened in a refurbished historic building, alongside a smokehouse and cafe. Luss Distillery will be offering tastings and gin & whisky tours. Find out more about the new distilleries to visit in 2026.
• Blackwoods Brand Home – a new gin & vodka experience from Blackwoods will open to the publlic on the 12 February 2026. Adjacent to Ardgowan Whisky Distillery on the Cylde Coast, Blackwoods will be offering tours, cocktail masterclasses and gin‑making events. Find out more.

Hotel news:

• The MICHELIN Guide spotlights Dowans Hotel – a small Speyside stay in Aberlour noted for its significant whisky focus. Read all about MICHELIN’s new hotel picks.
• Hootananny, Inverness – the popular live music bar in Inverness city centre now has 7 very stylish rooms upstairs, perfect for crawling home after a wild night. Book now.

Exhibitions and cultural news:

• National Museum of Scotland ‘Giants’ exhibition now open – running from 31 Jan 2026 – 14 Sep 2026, this new exhibition features colossal prehistoric animals with immersive/interactive elements at the Museum of Scotland. Find out more and book tickets.
• Retro Reels at Riverside Museum, Glasgow opened on the 10 Jan 2026 – a free exhibition celebrating iconic 1980s films and props has opened, aimed at families and pop-culture fans.

Sport news:

• First Scotland World Cup Fanzones Announced – Scotland’s first official World Cup fan zones are confirmed at SWG3 in Glasgow and The Pitt in Edinburgh with food & drink vendors, and DJs during early‑morning UK kickoff times for Scotland’s 2026 World Cup fixtures.
• Edinburgh to Host 2027 Tour de France Start on 7 July 2027 – Edinburgh has been confirmed as the Grand Départ host for the 2027 Tour de France, with associated celebrations and spectator zones expected. Find out more and see the route as it travels across Scotland.

New hotels and accommodation openings in Scotland

Scotland continues to see a wave of new hotel and accommodation openings, from luxury city hotels to remote Highland retreats and design-led boutique stays.

This section highlights recently opened and upcoming hotels in Scotland, including new places to stay in Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands and island destinations.

> read more: my favourite places to stay in Scotland

Whether you’re looking for a new luxury hotel, a boutique guesthouse, or a unique place to stay in Scotland, these are the latest additions worth knowing about.

We update this list regularly to reflect the most current new hotel openings in Scotland, making it easier to plan a stay around the country’s newest and most exciting accommodation options.

Here are the newest Scotland hotels:

• Arthouse, Glasgow – a stylish new Glasgow stay offering up art-centric design will open in Glasgow in April 2026 with an outpost of restaurant Celentanos on the ground floor. Book now.
• Hootananny, Inverness – the popular live music bar in Inverness city centre now has 7 stylish rooms. Book now.
• 16-20 Edinburgh, Edinburgh – a sister property to Bracken Hide on Skye, 16-20 Edinburgh will open in late May as chic new chic stay opening offering modern, stylish rooms and a central location ideal for exploring Edinburgh. Find out more.
• The Birnam, Dunkeld – a new hotel offering a refined Highland retreat near Dunkeld, a sister property to one of my favourite hotels in Scotland, The Taybank. Find out more about The Birnam which will open in Summer 2026.
• A new hotel and spa destination on the Ayrshire coast has confirmed its opening date. The Waterside Hotel is unveiling Si! Spa, a new sea‑view spa facility as part of a £3 million renovation that on the 17th Febtuary 20206, with 17 additional sea‑view rooms.
• Hope Lodge Wilderness Hotel – a conservation‑driven wilderness lodge with cabins and luxury stays will open in 2026 near Tongue. as part of Scotland’s expanding high‑end eco travel scene. Find out more.
• Na Bothain at Raasay Distillery – The distillery’s luxury accommodation (Borodale House) is joined by five new “Bothain” cabins on a hillside overlooking the Isle of Skye’s Cuillin range. Na Bothian makes Raasay the only distillery in Scotland where you can stay overnight in the same building as a working distillery! Bookings now live for Nov 2025. Book Na Bothain.
• The Waterside Hotel, West Kilbride, Ayrshire – The Waterside Hotel has unveiled a new 17‑bedroom sea‑view extension as part of a £3 million investment. The gorgeous upgraded rooms feature New England‑style suites, super‑king beds, premium bathrooms and sea‑views to the Firth of Clyde and Isle of Arran; a luxury spa is also in development for early 2026. Book here.
• Ardbeg House, Islay – on Islay, Ardbeg House opens this November on the site of the former Islay Hotel in Port Ellen. Each room in this design-led 12-room boutique property takes its cue from the island’s iconic distilleries, there is also a whisky lounge and restaurant. Book Ardbeg House.
• Seaton House, St Andrews – Scotland’s newest luxury hotel, Seaton House, has officially opened its doors, bringing traditional Scottish charm and modern luxury to the heart of St Andrews. With 42-bedrooms and the hotel’s restaurant is operated by Scottish favourite Ondine. Book Seaton House, St Andrews.
• The Law, North Berwick, East Lothian – after six years of closure and a meticulous £850,000 renovation, The Law reopens this autumn as a relaxed coastal inn in North Berwick. Visit The Law.
• Wildland cottages – The company WildLand has unveiled three new cottages on the shores of Loch Ness on Aldourie Estate in the Scottish Highlands. Wildland is restoring 200,000 acres across 13 estates, including opeing up properties for stays. Find out more about Wildland Cottages.
• The Resident, Edinburgh – The hotel group The Resident has opened its newest property, The Resident Edinburgh, in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End, offering 164 rooms with views across the city. Book The Resident, Edinburgh.

New restaurants, cafés and bars in Scotland

Scotland’s food and drink scene is constantly evolving, with new restaurants, cafés and bars opening across the country throughout the year.

Here you’ll find the latest restaurant openings in Scotland, from new fine-dining venues in Edinburgh to casual cafés, bakeries and cocktail bars in Glasgow and beyond.

> Read more: where to eat in Scotland

This section also highlights chef-led openings, sustainable food concepts and exciting new additions to local dining scenes.

If you’re looking for new places to eat and drink in Scotland, this regularly updated guide helps you stay up to date with what’s just opened — and what’s coming soon.

• Elephant House café reopens in Edinburgh: The Elephant House, famously linked to the origins of Harry Potter, has reopened after four years following a major fire, now with tributes to Edinburgh’s literary scene and writers.
• Lochside café with castle views: The team behind Argyll’s award-winning Pierhouse Hotel is opening a new café overlooking Castle Stalker and Loch Linnhe in early 2026.
• Brown’s of Leith – a new collaborative food / drink / arts space is opening on the 27th November in a refurbished former steelworks at the Shore, Leith. Opening are Haze, Shuck Bar, Civerino’s, and Woven. Find out more.
• Flavour Isle of Harris – an intimate fine-dining restaurant and chocolate shop in Tarbert, Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Showcasing hyper-local island produce through creative, seasonal cooking led by chef Chris Loye. Find out more – and book.
• Pinkfoot Trailer Cafe – loch‑side café opening – a new Airstream‑trailer café has opened on the banks of Loch Leven (edge of Kinross House estate). The café emphasises local produce, foragers’ involvement and is perfect for and walkers/cyclists. Find out more Pinkfoot.

New distilleries to visit in Scotland 2026

Scotland’s whisky scene continues to evolve with exciting new distilleries opening their doors in 2025–2026.

This guide highlights new distilleries to visit in Scotland in 2026, including recently opened sites with tours and tasting rooms, artisanal producers starting whisky production, and projects with visitor experiences expected soon.

You can find the very latest news on new Scottish distilleries below.

• Isle of Barra Distillery Visitor Centre Set for October 2026 Opening: A £12 million visitor centre is being built at the new Isle of Barra Distillery with tours.

• Glenkinchie Distillery has been named Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour 2025 – the Lowland distillery has earned top honours for its visitor‑experience in the World Travel Awards 2025. Visit Glenkinchie Distillery.
• New distillery! Castletown Mill in Caithness to open as Stannergill Distillery – Dunnet Bay Distillers (Rock Rose Gin) have completed the restoration of Castletown Mill into a distillery which will produce a new Highland single malt. Find out more about Stannergill Distillery and how you can visit as part of your trip around the NC500.

Upcoming events and festivals across Scotland

Scotland hosts a wide range of events and festivals throughout the year, from major cultural celebrations to smaller local and seasonal events.

> Discover all of the events in Scotland in November 2025 in my complete guide to whats on.

New Scottish books to read