New restaurants, hotel openings, whisky releases, awards and festival line-ups: Scotland’s food and travel scene never stands still, and this is where I round it all up. Every week I pull together the news that matters if you’re planning a trip, from where’s just opened and who’s picked up a Michelin listing or AA Rosette to which festivals have announced their programmes and when tickets go on sale.
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Ricks returns to Frederick Street on 31 October – the New Town’s original boutique bar with rooms is back after nearly a decade
Ricks first opened on Edinburgh’s Frederick Street in 2000 as a cocktail bar and boutique hotel. In 2017 it became Rabble, and now Montpeliers Group is bringing the original name back. Rabble closed on 19 October, and Ricks reopens on Halloween, Saturday 31 October, with its 10 bedrooms refurbished at the same time.
The building pairs a Georgian tenement with a former warehouse, linked by a glazed courtyard, and the bedrooms sit in the old warehouse and stables. The menu focuses on seasonal, local produce, with dishes like steak from John Gilmore butchers and crispy fried burrata with arrabbiata sauce, and the bar is back with a Grasshopper and a Ricks Modern Martini.
Día de los Muertos across Scotland – mezcal suppers, fiestas and a progressive dinner on Arran
If you’d like something different from Halloween this year, bars and restaurants across Scotland are marking the Day of the Dead. In Leith, The Finch hosts a mezcal tasting and three-course dinner on Friday 23 October, and you get a barro negro mezcal copita to take home. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Vaults in Edinburgh pairs Scotch with mezcal over a Scottish-Mexican supper on Thursday 29 October.
On Friday 30 October, Topolabamba in Glasgow and Edinburgh has face painting, a DJ and a £24.95 Dead Good Deal of three dishes from a special menu. On Saturday 31 October, El Santo in Glasgow runs a family afternoon from 2pm to 5pm before an evening fiesta. On Arran, the Day of the Dead Lamlash Sunday Social on 1 November is a progressive dinner of Mexican-inspired courses across Lamlash Bay Hotel, The Glenisle Hotel and The Drift Inn, finishing with an afterparty at The Pierhead Tavern.
See all the events at DRAM Scotland
Isle of Mull Cheese launches a Hebridean Cream Liqueur – made with “whey-ski” and cream from its own herd, on sale 27 October
Isle of Mull Cheese has made a cream liqueur on its family farm at Sgriob-ruadh, and it’s the first product from Lily Reade, granddaughter of founder Chris Reade. It’s made from an aged spirit the farm distils from the whey left over from cheesemaking, which they call “whey-ski”, blended with cream from their own cows and aged with oak. Expect caramel, toasted nuts, vanilla and cocoa. Try it over ice or in a festive coffee.
Only 600 bottles have been made, in 50cl ceramic bottles at 17% ABV for £29.99. They go on sale on Tuesday 27 October online and at the farm’s Glass Barn shop, first come, first served. The first 100 come in a homemade gift bag made on the farm by Chris Reade.
Join the waiting list at Isle of Mull Cheese
Scottish Restaurant Awards 2026 – Dùthchas wins Fine Dining and Pho is named Best of Glasgow
The Scottish Restaurant Awards were handed out at the DoubleTree by Hilton Strathclyde on Monday 12 October, with 30 category winners from across the country.
Dùthchas in Edinburgh was named Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, Pho won Best of Glasgow and Makars Mash Bar won Best of Edinburgh.
Outside the cities, The Clachan Inn on Loch Lomond won Scottish/British Restaurant of the Year, and Douneside House in Aboyne won Hotel Restaurant of the Year. The Old Inn at Appin took Inn Restaurant of the Year and the Fish Shop in Ballater took Seafood Restaurant of the Year.
Other winners included Fyne Raja in Tighnabruaich for Indian Restaurant of the Year, The Crab & Lobster Fish Shack in South Queensferry for fish and chips, SpaccaNapoli in Glasgow for pizza, and Hendersons in Edinburgh for Vegetarian Friendly Restaurant of the Year.
See all the winners at the Edinburgh Evening News
Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards 2026 – Crofter’s Kitchen, The Lovat and Shetland’s Noss boat trips among the winners
The Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards marked their 20th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness on Friday 9 October. Crofter’s Kitchen won Best Eating Experience, The Lovat Hotel & Restaurant in Fort Augustus was named Best Hotel, and MacGregors Bars won Best Bar or Pub. Shetland did especially well: Seabirds-and-Seals, the original Noss boat, was named Best Visitor Attraction, and Shetland Seabird Tours’ Noss boat won Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience.
Boloquoy Victorian Farm & Watermill won Best Accommodation or Unique Stay, Orkney Retreats took Best Self-Catering or Exclusive Use, and The Torridon won the Climate Action Award. RZSS Highland Wildlife Park won the Inclusion Award and Hebrides Cruises the Innovation Award. The national Scottish Thistle Awards final is at the EICC in Edinburgh on 20 November.
See all the winners at the Inverness Courier
Scottish Gin and Rum Awards 2026 – Isle of Tiree named Distillery of the Year and Fidra wins double gold
The Isle of Tiree Distillery was crowned Scottish Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Gin and Rum Awards in Glasgow, and Eden Mill in St Andrews was named Gin Tourism Destination of the Year. Fidra took two of the top gin prizes, London Dry Gin of the Year and Distilled Gin of the Year for its Artist Edition, and South Loch won both Citrus and Pink Gin of the Year. For rum lovers, NB Distillery’s Barrel Aged won Scottish Distilled Rum of the Year.
See all the winners at DRAM Scotland
The Lyon Public House opens on George Street – pies until 3am, duelling pianos and a former auction house reborn
Encore Bars has opened The Lyon Public House on Edinburgh’s George Street after a six-month redevelopment of the former Westside Rodeo site, in a building that worked as an auction house for more than 100 years. The heart of the venue is Hammer Hall, where pianists take requests over dinner before the duelling pianos take over later in the evening, while The Sale Room hosts live bands.
The menu of pub classics includes a lobster roll and ham, egg and chips, and the in-house bakery turns out pies daily, sold from a late-night pie window until 3am. Look out for steak pie, macaroni cheese pie and Lorne sausage rolls, plus 18 draught beers including the Scottish-brewed Lyon House Lager.
The Ivy Asia Glasgow is now open – its Scottish debut is inside a spectacular Victorian banking hall
The Ivy Asia opened its first Scottish restaurant on Tuesday 20 October. It shares the former City of Glasgow Bank building at 30–40 St Vincent Place with The Ivy Glasgow Brasserie, which has moved round the corner from Buchanan Street. The old banking hall was designed by John Burnet Sr and inspired by Renaissance Florence, with a soaring glass dome, Ionic columns and ornate leaded glazing. The Ivy Asia side has glowing jade agate floors and cherry blossom trees, and signature dishes include golden aromatic duck, black cod miso and char siu pork belly.
IRO Sushi opens on Sauchiehall Street – the London sushi chain’s first Scottish restaurant
IRO Sushi has opened its first Scottish restaurant at 249–257 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, in the former Oodles Wok unit, and says it’s the first step towards up to 20 restaurants across Scotland. Founded in London in 2014 by trained sushi chef Chhong Sherpa, the brand now runs more than 35 restaurants across the UK. Alongside the full sushi range, expect katsu curry, gyoza and sides, made with sustainable Norwegian seafood and sauces and toppings sourced from Japan, in a space styled like a traditional Japanese izakaya.
The Spirit of Glasgow – four top chefs and a whisky storytelling dinner for charity on 29 October
Four of Scotland’s leading chefs are teaming up with whisky experience company Scottish Rogue for The Spirit of Glasgow, a food and whisky dinner at Elements in Bearsden on Thursday 29 October at 7pm, raising money for Hospitality Health. Ajay Kumar of Swadish is cooking Creedy Carver duck, Gary Townsend of Elements Scottish langoustine, Michelin-starred Graeme Cheevers of Unalome Highland red deer, and Conner Magee of Glaschu an apple-led dessert.
Scottish Rogue will guide guests through drams from Glengoyne, Craigellachie, Ardgowan, The Glasgow Distillery and Bunnahabhain, telling the story of Glasgow’s relationship with whisky. Tickets are £200 per person, including the menu, whisky experience and selected wines.
Find out more about The Spirit of Glasgow
Beer Is For Everyone returns to Glasgow on 24 October – 11 indie breweries, £12 tickets and dogs welcome
The Glasladies Beer Society brings its Beer Is For Everyone festival back to the Queen Margaret Union in Glasgow’s West End on Saturday 24 October, from 1pm to 9pm. Eleven breweries from across Scotland and the UK are pouring, including Dookit, Moonwake, Up Front and Belfast’s Bullhouse Brew Co. on its festival debut, with wines and cocktails from Lunar and cider from Social Juice. There are also two South Asian-inspired beer and food pairing sessions with drinks writer Laura Hadland.
Tickets are £12 in advance or £14 on the door, including a festival glass, and the event is fully accessible and family- and dog-friendly, with proceeds supporting Finding Your Feet and Alzheimer Scotland.
Book tickets for Beer Is For Everyone
Scottish Beer Awards 2026 – Peterhead’s Brew Toon named Brewery of the Year
Brew Toon from Peterhead took the top prize of Scottish Brewery of the Year at this year’s Scottish Beer Awards in Glasgow, along with golds for its Wired to the Toon strong beer, Tanfield Export ale, Everlasting Tropical sour and Weekend Spooker lager. Edinburgh’s Stewart Brewing was named Best Beer Destination and also won Excellence in Branding, and its New Relic took Best IPA. Other golds went to Williams Bros’ March of the Penguins stout and Ginger, Cross Borders’ India Pale Ale, and Tennent’s 1885 Export Lager.
See all the winners at DRAM Scotland
Peebles Jazz Weekend returns 23–25 October at the Eastgate
Peebles Jazz Weekend is back at the Eastgate Theatre from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, and every ticketed show is Pay What You Decide.
Friday opens with violinist and singer Seonaid Aitken’s tribute to Stéphane Grappelli and Ella Fitzgerald. On Saturday, catch the Scottish National Youth Jazz Orchestra and guitar legend Martin Taylor MBE. Sunday suits families: interactive kids’ show Cabinet of Wonders, a free outdoor set from the Tenement Jazz Band, and rising folk-jazz singer Niamh Corkey to close.
Dalhousie Castle reopens after a £6m transformation – with a secret whisky library behind a bookshelf
Dalhousie Castle, the 13th-century castle hotel just eight miles from Edinburgh, has reopened following a £6 million refurbishment that began in October 2024, with 35 redesigned bedrooms and a revamped collection of bars and restaurants. The star of the show is Chapters, a single-cask whisky library hidden behind a secret bookshelf.
Down in the candlelit basement, the two-AA-Rosette Dungeon Restaurant has launched an eight-course tasting menu in which each course reflects a different century of the castle’s history. Upstairs, The Ramsay Restaurant in the former ballroom serves grilled meats, seafood and seasonal Scottish produce, and The Alexander Bar is named after Sir Alexander de Ramsay, the 14th-century knight who held the castle through a six-month siege by Henry IV of England.
Wild Goose opens the 60 Mile Bar in Aberdeen – every drink comes from within 60 miles of the city centre
Wild Goose at Union Terrace Gardens has opened its new 60 Mile Bar downstairs, celebrating North East producers with spirits and beer sourced from within 60 miles of AB10. The back bar features Glen Garioch, Fettercairn, Arbikie, House of Elrick, Little Brown Dog and Brew Toon, among other local distilleries and breweries. Even the fit-out is local, with woodwork by Sangster & Co and booths by Luxous. It’s a great place to sample the North East in one sitting.
The Mictlan Trail is on in Edinburgh until 30 November – nine bars, nine tequila and mezcal cocktails for the Day of the Dead
Edinburgh’s first Mictlan Trail is now underway and runs until 30 November, with bars across the city creating exclusive tequila and mezcal cocktails inspired by Mexican underworld mythology in the lead-up to Día de los Muertos. Each venue represents one of the nine levels of Mictlan, the underworld of Nahua mythology. Taking part so far are Lady Libertine, The False Widow, The Mother Superior, Dragonfly, The Voodoo Rooms and The Powder Room, with more to be announced. Pick up a Mictlan Passport at any participating bar and collect a stamp for each cocktail. Complete all nine and you’re entered into a draw for a trip to Munich.
Find out more about the Mictlan Trail
Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026 – a Scotch prime rib, Hebridean smoked salmon and an Orkney gin among the winners
The 25th Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards crowned 21 winners at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza, with Edinburgh’s Edgefield Craft Butchers taking overall Product of the Year for its dry-aged prime rib from native Scotch cattle. Benbecula’s Salar Smokehouse won two categories for its flaky smoked salmon, and Orkney Gin Company’s Aatta Gin was named best white spirit.
Other winners included Brownings the Bakers’ Kilmarnock Pie and a ricotta, pistachio and sour cherry gelato from Giacopazzi’s. For eating out, Howies Restaurants was named Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year) and Rae’s took Food Tourism Business of the Year.
See all the winners at The Scotsman
Seton’s opens at Meldrum House – a new signature restaurant celebrating Aberdeenshire’s larder
Meldrum House has launched Seton’s, a new signature restaurant at the historic Aberdeenshire hotel, following the refurbishment of its manor house bedrooms and drawing room. The menus are built around the seasons, producers and culinary heritage of Aberdeenshire, and the name honours the Seton family, part of the estate’s 800-year history.
The kitchen is led by newly appointed head chef Ross Bott, whose career includes Monachyle Mhor in Perthshire, working alongside Monogram Collective’s group executive head chef Tom Scade.
The Valinch opens on Hope Street – the Bon Accord team’s new basement whisky bar
The team behind Glasgow’s much-loved Bon Accord have opened The Valinch, a new malt whisky bar, shop and alehouse in the basement at 183a Hope Street, once home to the Swing jazz bar. The name comes from the long copper pipette distillery workers use to draw whisky straight from the cask. Expect a big range of Scotch malts with a focus on independent bottlings and distillery exclusives, alongside cask-conditioned real ale.
Ottolenghi is now open on George Street – Yotam Ottolenghi’s first Scottish restaurant has arrived
Ottolenghi Edinburgh opened at 92 George Street in early October as the group’s 13th restaurant and its first in Scotland. The kitchen is led by Skye-born executive chef Neil John Campbell, and the menu blends Ottolenghi’s Middle Eastern style with Scottish produce: think east coast langoustines with fermented chilli butter, and Laurieston Farm oyster mushrooms with oak-aged Scottish shoyu from Banchory.
Breakfast brings shakshuka alongside well-fired morning rolls with scrambled harissa tofu, and a full Scottish with urfa beans and tattie scones. Some dishes are exclusive to Edinburgh, including a lamb and aubergine rice pie served in a big clay pot for sharing. It’s open from 8am every day, with a break between 3pm and 5pm Monday to Thursday, and until 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Inverlonan announces a new landscape hotel near Oban – the off-grid bothy team is opening nine rooms and a restaurant on its organic farm
Inverlonan, on the shores of Loch Nell four miles east of Oban, is best known for its three off-grid bothies on 1,000 acres of working farmland. Now it’s restoring the historic Ballygowan Farm to create a nine-bedroom landscape hotel and restaurant, opening in November 2026.
The farm has just been certified organic, and its market garden, 150 fruit trees and eight beehives will supply the kitchen. Rooms start from £360 a night including breakfast, and the whole place can be booked for exclusive use, sleeping up to 30.
Book your room at the Landscape Hotel now
Inver gains a fourth AA Rosette – Loch Fyne’s destination restaurant is now among the UK’s very best
The AA Hospitality Awards were announced at Grosvenor House in London on Monday 21 September, alongside a batch of new Rosettes for Scottish restaurants as the AA celebrated 70 years of its rating scheme. The biggest Scottish story is Inver on the shores of Loch Fyne near Strachur, which rose to four Rosettes. Run by chef Pam Brunton and Rob Latimer, it was one of only six UK restaurants given four Rosettes this autumn.
Flavour in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris gained three Rosettes for chef Chris Loye and Nicola’s eight-course tasting menu built on island produce and local waters. In Glasgow, Swadish by Ajay Kumar in the Merchant City was named AA Restaurant of the Year for Scotland, known for pairing Indian techniques and flavours with seasonal Scottish produce. First Rosettes went to The Bothy on Ruthven Lane, Lennox on Byres Road and Atlantic Bar and Brasserie in Glasgow, plus The Lime Tree Hotel in Fort William.
Cradle at Cromlix joins the Michelin Guide – Andy Murray’s 16-seat dining room makes its mark within months of opening
Cromlix’s new 16-seat restaurant, Cradle, at Sir Andy and Kim Murray’s five-star hotel near Dunblane, was among Michelin’s 22 new additions for September. Michelin called it a culinary crown jewel, just months after it opened. It’s overseen by executive head chef James Mearing and designed as the hotel’s most ambitious dining experience. Cradle and the new Garden Room lean heavily on Scottish produce, with ingredients grown in Cromlix’s own kitchen garden.
Whirlybird joins the Michelin Guide – Victoria Street’s all-day modern tavern wins over the inspectors in just four months
Whirlybird opened on Victoria Street in May, and it has already been added to the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland. The inspectors loved its setting on a colourful cobbled street in a building more than 250 years old, spread over two levels and reached by a winding staircase. They praised the authentic bistro-style menu for honest dishes that skip over-elaboration in favour of high-quality ingredients treated with care.
Whirlybird is run by Ash Bairstow, with a kitchen led by former Hawksmoor chef Lucia Gregusova, and the name comes from the Scots nickname for a spinning sycamore seed. Expect dishes like smoked mackerel with marinated potatoes and sherry vinaigrette, whole grilled fish with brown butter and capers, and burnt cheesecake with poached rhubarb, from morning coffee through to evening cocktails at the bar.
Book at whirlybirdedinburgh.co.uk
Five Scottish hotels win Michelin Keys – Cromlix and Gleneagles Townhouse step up to Two Keys, The Old Course Hotel wins its first
Michelin’s 2026 hotel selection, announced in September, brought good news for Scotland. The Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh and Cromlix in Dunblane both moved up from One Key to Two. Lyla restaurant with rooms, The Old Course Hotel and Spa in St Andrews and The Torridon now hold One Key each, while The Grandtully Hotel and Inver retained theirs.
Michelin describes a Two Key hotel as an exceptional stay, somewhere unique in every way with a memorable experience guaranteed. This is the second global selection of Michelin Keys, with nearly 470 hotels newly recognised worldwide.
See every Michelin Key hotel in the UK & Ireland
Understory opens under The Rutland – Edinburgh’s West End gets a “five-star dive bar”
Understory opened in September, bringing a “five-star dive bar” concept to the capital, led by former Bramble manager Sam Baxendale and The Rutland Hotel’s head of bars, James Grant. The name comes from the hidden layer beneath a forest canopy, a nod to its home in the vaults of the historic Rutland building.
The first cocktail menu, Batch 01: Halcyon Days, turns the colours and flavours of penny sweets and childhood summers into approachable modern drinks. Small plates include beef tartare and caviar with crisps, barbecue corn ribs, and chicken tenders served with Champagne. You’ll find it at 1a Rutland Street, open seven days from 4pm to 1am Sunday to Thursday and until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Shaker opens on Shandwick Place – a new late-night spot for the West End
Encore Bars has opened The Shaker, a new late-night venue at 9 Shandwick Place in Edinburgh’s West End. It opened the same week as Understory, so that end of town now has two new places for a late drink.
Grab your cocktails at The Shaker
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is underway – myths, folklore and wild tales until 31 October
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is underway for its 37th year and runs until 31 October. Scottish storytellers share the stage with guests from Türkiye, Italy, Ireland, Canada and England, exploring storytelling and the natural world through this year’s theme, Bird and Beast.
It’s also a first festival for new director Daniel Abercrombie. Over 100 “Go Local” events are popping up in pubs, community halls, libraries and parks from Shetland to Dumfries, and a £24 Festival Supporter Pass is available.
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 my complete guide to what’s on.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated every week. New openings, events and projects are added as they are confirmed, and anything that has finished is taken down, making it a reliable source for what’s new in Scotland.
Kate – Love from Scotland x
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