We were staying at the Douglas Hotel (so you can read my other review for the accommodation side of…read morethings) and ate in the bistro on the Friday night. The bistro is modern and the menu sounded delicious - I had a lot of trouble choosing what to have! I had the scallops to start with ham hough which was lovely - it had a nice cream sauce and the scallops were perfectly cooked. It was lacking seasoning though so slightly on the bland side. This was actually something I noticed in nearly everything I ate at The Douglas so perhaps worth noting! For main I had the crab crusted sea bass (I think!) which again, was lovely but I couldn't quite taste the crab. It was a generous portion and came with mashed potato and grilled fennel. Graeme got ice cream for dessert - I tried a tiny bit and totally loved the chocolate ice cream which was rich and decadent. As I mentioned in the review of the hotel, service was a little haphazard and disorganised. The staff are quite young though, so I think that might be why. We ordered a bottle of wine which was forgotten about, and when we mentioned it they told us they didn't sell that kind of wine even though it was on the wine list. It was just a misunderstanding but meant we didn't get the wine til we were having our mains. There's a different menu available if you eat in the bar area which is also quite nice - I tried the pulled chicken burger on the Monday for lunch and really liked it. I would say overall the prices in Arran are a bit more expensive than what you'd pay in Glasgow but I still really liked it here and would eat in the bistro and bar again when we return.

We held our rehearsal dinner here at The Douglas Hotel the night before our wedding and I don't…read morethink we could've picked a more perfect spot for this special occasion. The Douglas Hotel is beautiful and the Bar and Bistro area is no exception. Being from the US, I was able to work with the staff via email to get everything set up ahead of time. We had a few bumps at the beginning of the planning but they went and above and beyond to make sure they could accommodate us and when we arrived everything was even better than I imagined. Once our party of 18 arrived we were led into the beautiful dining area where our champagne was ready and waiting to kick things off. For the menu, my husband and I were given several menus that the chef had already created and from that we were able to create our very own custom menu. I tried each dish that night and they were all delicious and our family was very impressed. The servers were great-very attentive and so friendly. The location is very convenient, right across from the ferry terminal in Brodick, you can't miss the beautiful building! We had some great views from our tables and it looked like the outdoor patio and the bar were popular places to be. Our family had a great night and everyone agreed that The Douglas Hotel is a lovely place to celebrate a special occasion.

A cute little breakfast and lunch place in Inverary. Not many choices for breakfast in this tiny…read moretown so we were glad to find Brambles (with an S on the end). My husband got the eggs Benedict and he was pleased it had black pudding in the middle, very Scottish food of course. He did not care for the hollandaise sauce as it had a sweetness to it. I wasn't super hungry as I was saving room for our lunch at 1pm. I got two poached eggs and toast. The poached eggs were a bit runny for my liking. Overall though this is a great cafe and I like the layout. The service was very friendly. They were setting up a bunch of reserved tables for what looked like a fancy lunch. Lot of people were working there at the time and I assume prepping for a big party.

This was an excellent find while on a Rabbie's tour in the West Highlands. It sits near Inverrary…read moreCastle on Loch Fyne. The staff greeted us warmly and invited us in to their warm and cozy establishment. This is small town Scotland at its best. I was surprised at the worldliness of the Salt and Pepper Asian-style fries on the Daily Specials board. They were amazing as was my "Hybrid Toastie" - essentially a Scottish patty melt. Not that it was mundane in any sense. It was delicious! I washed these down with a Diet Irn Bru - the guilt-free version of Scotland's most popular soda. Once again - another great meal with friendly service. Nowhere close to Edinburgh, yet still with that flair of sophistication mixed with small-town civility.

A five-star view, with caveats…read more First off the Drift Inn is without a doubt the best place to eat and drink in Lamlash. We've tried the competition and frankly the Drift has the best beer and Scotch selection, food, and atmosphere. Inside it's a restaurant, outside it's a country pub with lots of well-spaced outdoor seating. It has the basics food-wise down pat. Huge fish and chips and excellent mussels - in the latter case just the right size between tasty and chewy. A great wine and beer selection and excellent service. The one down side was an overly-promised starter. Spending 15 quid on a few tiny bits of food artfully arranged stuck in the craw somewhat. But what the hell, they're nice people and the rest of it was superb.

I loved this pub and the food was probably the best we had on Arran. I actually didn't know about…read morethis place until the day before we left to go to Arran when I had 4 different people recommend it to me - I knew we had to go from that fact alone! It's in the lovely town of Lamlash and really easy to find. We parked along the road and then walked down as we were there quite early and it didn't open til midday. There's a beautiful view over the water to Holy Isle and you can get a ferry over if you're so inclined - we decided to just appreciate it from afar. The pub itself is kind of nautical/rugby themed and really cosy inside - there's a fireplace and lots of seating as well as some couches and a kids area. I ordered a bowl of Cullen Skink (Scottish haddock soup) as well as the Angler's Platter for one (Creeler's hot and cold smoked salmon, seafood and soft cheese mousse, fishcake and homemade bread). The soup was just delicious - I don't eat Cullen Skink enough and when I have one as good as this, I wonder why - thick, jam packed with fish and really tasty. I loved the platter too - the fish cake was the highlight for sure, but everything on it was so tasty and I loved how local it all was. Staff were friendly and welcoming, and we enjoyed grazing here for a while. They have a great booze selection but as I was driving I didn't have any - next time we visit I would definitely see about getting the bus or a taxi here from Brodick so we could get stuck into the gin! Note: they have gluten free bread, breadcumb and batters are available upon request.

7pm reservation, we were seated immediately. The menu is clever and there really seems to be…read moresomething for everyone. My frittata was light but full of fresh piping hot vegetables. The wine list is replete with moderately priced wines; honestly we would have been willing to pay more for a couple of even better alternatives, but I would not classify that as a complaint. Service was friendly and attentive and this restaurant is so eclectic and fun.

This was a higher rated local pub we tried and about a 12 minute walk from our Hilton. It was…read moreearly at 5:00pm and not busy. 3 of the 4 of us ordered the fish and chips (17.95 GBP) just to try another joint. The wife ordered their "Fisherman" which is pan seared Scottish coley or pollock (for 27 GBP). The battered fish with the chips was more delicately done here and delicious. As an aside I tried several times to find a place here in Glasgow or in Edinburgh that did a "special" fish and chips, that is breaded with crumbs and not battered, but apparently no one does that healthier old school preparation anymore (and I need to inform my old work colleague who hailed from Glasgow and gave me this inside tip that it's not practiced anymore). I also had a Chieftain IPA. The side of peas were dryish and not flavorful and small portioned and not done as well and tasty as I have had in London or Perth, just saying. We also had their sticky toffee pudding with ice cream for dessert and that was good. The fries were mediocre. Server was friendly and attentive. 4 stars overall and a nice local flavor Glasgow outing.

Truly stunning and exceptional place…read more Family and I (American tourists) stopped in on advice from a friend since we had a few hours to kill before our ferry. It was a Sunday afternoon in late December, and we couldn't have asked for a better place to rest and eat and enjoy Arran than here. The live music was fantastic (Anchorline and Friends), playing bits of what I assume was Scottish folk music, along with a bit of American folk as well. The atmosphere was lively and fun, service was excellent despite the hustle and bustle. Finally, the food and drink was exceptional as well! I had the burger with haggis (loved it) and my family all had different burgers/sandwiches with chips and salad, all got rave reviews. Topped off with great dessert (Hot Chocolate with a bit of Arran Gold for me, amazing). Can't express enough how great this place is, on a small island off the West coast of Scottland. I've travelled quite a bit, and it was truly one of my favorite experiences in the world, both this bar and the isle itself. Hopefully we'll find our way back soon!

This is one of a few pubs in Brodick and was a nice spot for a drink before we walked along to…read moreAuchrannie for dinner. Now I'm not into fiddle music and obviously that's the kind is music they play, but it wasn't annoying at all. We had a beer and wine - a large rosè for me and a pint of Arran blonde for Graeme. Came to £10 for the round which I thought was a little pricey but then, I guess Arran is. It's casual inside and their menu is pretty simple but the people next to us were saying they were really impressed with what they ate. If you can, get a seat in the bay window as then you'll have a beautiful view over Brodick Bay.

The Steayban is a lovely local family run restaurant with an excellent quality & a high standard of…read morefood you might not expect in a small rural location. Stephen the manager is a fantastic chef great menu options from traditional to multicultural dishes-all that never disappoint. The staff are lovely, down to earth and friendly. I'll definitely be back it's been too long!!:)

Spectacular. The best seafood I've ever had. SO fresh, and so well cooked! Drew is a seafood…read morepurist, believing in showcasing the incredible flavour of the fish instead of drowning it in sauces, and we couldn't have had a better experience. His incredible connections around the area culminate in a platter worthy of kings, with some incredible smoked options, dips, home-baked bread, and more. While neither my partner nor I have any dietaries & the meal is (obviously) primarily seafood-oriented, we were pleased to find out that you can request a meal suitable for even vegans! Would highly suggest having a conversation with him about what you like & want to explore, he's very friendly and extremely helpful. Keep in mind it's BYOB, however complimentary coffee & dessert is offered. He has great local suggestions for stores to buy wine from, though, which I would also recommend! Also ask Drew about taxi options home - he put us in touch with an excellent driver and even organised it for us. All in all, I couldn't recommend this experience more. Absolutely incredible, will absolutely come again the next time we're in Scotland!

From the owner: Seafood extravaganza using local and ethically sourced produce.read more

Small pub, massive whisky selection -- and I mean massive. We're talking over 1,000 whiskies on the…read moreshelves, plus a solid lineup of beers on tap. It's cozy, crowded, and buzzing with life -- often standing room only and packed shoulder-to-shoulder with locals and travelers alike. If you're a whisky fan (or even just whisky-curious), do yourself a favor and try one of their Scotland whisky flights. It's like taking a mini tour of the country's whisky regions without ever leaving your barstool -- and without worrying about driving. The bartenders really know their stuff and are happy to guide you toward something you'll love. A quick heads-up: no football colors allowed, which keeps the atmosphere friendly and relaxed no matter who you support. And speaking of friendly -- the locals here are as welcoming as they come. This is exactly the kind of place where Scotland's famous pub culture shines. Prices are surprisingly reasonable too, so you can sample a few drams without feeling guilty. Whether you're a seasoned whisky nerd or just looking to experience the local vibe, this is the spot. Pull up a stool (if you can find one) and enjoy a proper Scottish night out

Even if you are not a whiskey fan, this place is worth visiting if you're in town. Just to see…read moretheir ginormous, or hmm, whiskey-normous, selection of bottles lining the wall, and the bartenders going up and down the ladders to fetch them. This may prompt you to feel like ordering a drink. You are in good hands and they can totally recommend something that you may like. Their selection is so huge they don't have a menu, you just have to ask for your label or take their recommendations. Naturally, most of the selection is Scottish whiskey, but if you somehow prefer otherwise, (say you are a local tired of Scotch... or just want to reaffirm nothing beats a Scotch?) they do offer whiskey from other countries, as well as beer and ciders, as well as gin, rum and the like. They do offer pies and other bar food, but we went after dinner and just couldn't stomach more food, tempting as they may sound.

Great recommendation from the front desk at the Doubletree Hotel, which was around the corner. We…read morehad just arrived in Glasgow from a long travel day, the restaurant was crowded, but they found a spot for us. First of all, the service was awesome. Everyone was super nice, friendly and efficient. Ordered the lamb dinner, and beef short ribs. Both dishes were cooked to perfection. Got a Romanian red wine--never had Romanian wine before, but it was good. Great atmosphere, cute restaurant--loved the whisky display! We also went to their sister restaurant around the corner, Kelp. Amazing seafood! Same situation: it was crowded, we didn't have reservations, but they made room for us. Kelp was definitely a highlight of the food in Scotland. Beyond excellent! If you are in Glasgow, I would highly recommend both places.

Holy scott! Just simply amazing food. Stellar service. It's a high end dining experience but still…read moresemi casual (no need to dress up). There's options around 15£ but typical plates are 20-35£. We were so hungry we forgot to take dinner pics; we had the Slow Braised Short Rib (uh-freakin-mazing!!) the Chicken Breast (juicy & cuts with a fork) and the Venison Stew (tasted like Filet). Drinks were delightful. Service was stellar (and they were FULLY booked on a Thursday at 8pm; but we shared the 2 tiny hi-top tables near the bar and had an amazing dinner). Dessert was worth going for all on it's own!