Food & drink in Scotland: Frequently Asked Questions

We give you the facts about Scottish food and drink so you can enjoy the best of our expertly crafted local produce.

FAQs on Scottish Food

WHAT KIND OF FOOD WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?

A huge range - as well as all our excellent traditional dishes (which we'll talk about a little later) and 10 Michelin star restaurants, Scotland is a very cosmopolitan country and you'll find restaurants specialising in food from many different cultures.

Eating local is very important in Scotland and you'll find lots of restaurants that proudly serve dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. What could be better than trying a mouth-watering new dish in the place where the ingredients were farmed?

WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DISH?

Haggis! AKA the 'Great chieftain o the puddin'-race' - as Robert Burns once called it. In Scotland, haggis is a real celebration dish and nothing quite beats tucking into a hearty portion alongside your nearest and dearest.

WHAT OTHER TRADITIONAL DISHES WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?

Keep an eye out for:

Scottish smoked salmon
Haggis
Black pudding
Stovies
Bridies
Scotch pies
Aberdeenshire butteries
Fish and chips
Scotch broth
Lorne sausage
Cock-a-leekie soup
Cranachan
Clootie dumpling
Dundee cake
Shortbread
Peppermint creams
Tablet

Remember, each region boasts its own traditional delicacies so be sure to ask the locals what they would recommend too!

IS THERE ANY FOOD THAT I CAN ONLY GET IN SCOTLAND?

There are a number of Scottish foods that have been granted European protected status, a designation which identifies high-quality products that are unique to a particular region. Scottish delicacies with protected status include:

Scotch beef
Scottish wild salmon
Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese
Arbroath Smokies
Scottish Farmed Salmon
Scotch Lamb
Shetland Lamb
Orkney Beef
Orkney Lamb
Stornoway Black Pudding
Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar

You can buy these fantastic products throughout the world, but what could be better than trying them in the place where they are produced?

WHERE CAN I BUY LOCAL PRODUCE?

Local farmers' markets and farm shops are terrific places to find quality local produce and to meet the people behind the products. Some supermarkets offer local choices too.

IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN SEE FOOD BEING MADE?

There are a number of cheese makers, ice cream makers and smokehouses you can visit. Some farmers markets also offer cooking demonstrations, so you can see the produce being turned into a tasty meal and pick up recipe tips.

Find more top Scottish food experiences

Muestras de whisky en la destilería de Clydeside

© Digital Tourism Scotland / Matt Davis

FAQs on Scottish Drink

Ginebra Whitetail en la destilería Whitetail Gin, Isla de Mull

© Wild about Argyll / Kieran J Duncan

WHAT KIND OF DRINK WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?

Locally made alcoholic drinks include whisky (of course!), gin, beer, wine and cider, as well as soft drinks including IRN BRU and Scottish fruit juices.

WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DRINK?

Whisky! (Although IRN BRU likes to think of itself as Scotland's 'other national drink' too).

HOW MANY WHISKY DISTILLERIES ACTUALLY ARE THERE?

There are over 100 working whisky distilleries in Scotland.

I FANCY TRYING SOME LOCAL BEERS, WHERE CAN I DO THAT?

You'll find them in pubs, bars and restaurants throughout the country - just ask when you're there! You could also sample some at the source by visiting a brewery first hand.