Mouthwatering month on menu
Celebrate Scottish Food & Drink September by sampling four of the country’s best restaurant experiences, writes Jon Perkins.
The Pierhouse Hotel & Seafood Restaurant, Port Appin, Argyll
Make a splash with a seafood odyssey with Oban’s very own “Oyster Lady”, Judith Vajk or her “Oyster Laddie” son, Angus, offer unique guided oyster tours on the picturesque shores of Loch Creran.
At the nearby Pierhouse Hotel & Seafood Restaurant, Judith’s oysters are a permanent fixture on the menu.
Head chef Michael Leathley prides himself on sourcing the region’s best producers, including the Caledonian Oyster Company.
The Pierhouse is tucked away on the shores of Loch Linnhe and has three AA silver stars, two AA rosettes, and features in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2026.
Port Appin, Argyll, 01631 730302
The Three Chimneys at Talisker, Carbost, Isle of Skye
Two of Skye’s world-class food and drink icons, The Three Chimneys and the island’s oldest distillery, have joined forces to create The Three Chimneys at Talisker.
Inspiration for the menus is taken from Talisker’s unique location on the Minginish peninsula and its sea air.
Led by The Three Chimneys head chef, Paul Green, dishes here complement Talisker’s maritime character with its notes of smoke, spice, peat, salt and pepper.
The restaurant has already earned its place in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland, as well as leading the rise of the gastro-distillery.
Carbost, Isle of Skye, IV47 8SR (01478 920017,
MARA at Links House, Royal Dornoch, Sutherland
Located just an hour north of Inverness, Links House is the UK’s most northerly five-star luxury hotel with a Michelin Key and was recently crowned one of Scotland’s top-50 boutique hotels.
It is home to celebrated fine dining restaurant MARA, which has two AA rosettes and takes its name from the Scottish Gaelic word for “the sea”.
Head chef Theo Creton’s menu showcases the finest seasonal ingredients and Highland traditions.
September menu highlights include the locally-caught Portmahomack lobster, as well as venison sourced from local supplier Seafield Game.
Golf Road, Dornoch, Sutherland, IV25 3lW, 01862 810279, linkshousedornoch.com/dine/mara
Top Michelin-acclaimed chef Barry Bryson opened Barry Fish in 2025. It quickly became one of Edinburgh’s most popular dining venues, earning a place in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2026.
Diners here can enjoy views into the open-plan working kitchen, as well as out over the Water of Leith in comfort.
Firm favourites on the menu include shelled half lobster with smoked fish agnolotti, brown butter sauce and pickled fennel; and Barry Fish pastrami with aioli, capers and dried grapes, with suppliers including Welch Fishmonger and Shaws Fine Meats in the Scottish Borders.
62 Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, 0131 625 0000
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