10 Great Restaurants in Aberdeen

Moonfish Café is located on Aberdeen’s historic Correction Wynd, named for the long-since demolished House of Correction, which offered employment and lodging to needy “vagrants and delinquents”. Fortunately, today, there are far more pleasant reasons to be here, the restaurant being one of them.

This place has caught the eye of the Michelin Guide, the only place in Aberdeen to do so. They praise both presentation and flavour. Order dishes such as grilled halibut with sprouting broccoli and sauce vierge or potato and feta borek with fennel salad and celeriac purée – you will soon understand why.

The Silver Darling specialises in fish and seafood. The restaurant’s name comes from the local nickname for herring, which was once so abundant in Scottish waters that 10,000 boats fished for them here. It’s housed in the old customs house on the quayside of Aberdeen’s harbour, with floor-to-ceiling windows that are perfect for watching what’s going on outside.

Order a platter if you’re keen to taste a little of everything: it typically contains gravadlax, oysters, mussels, langoustines, shrimps, Loch Fyne salmon and, of course, rollmops. The types of fish on the main menu change regularly; you might find halibut, sea bream and haddock.

Miller & Carter is an upscale steakhouse. Don’t let the fact that it’s a national chain dissuade you from booking: from the extensive cocktail list to the meat itself, this is a place that it’s worth coming to if you’re in need of a special treat.

Choose your cut. Fillet, ribeye, sirloin and rump are offered as 30- or 50-day aged. Alternatively, share chateaubriand or côte de boeuf. Steaks are served with a choice of sauces and the signature Miller & Carter wedge of iceberg lettuce.

Tango Turtle brings the vibrancy and soul of the Caribbean to this corner of Aberdeen. The lilting sounds of reggae combine with brightly coloured décor and a laidback welcome to transport you across the Atlantic to warmer climes as soon as you step over the threshold.

This is the place to come for spicy jerk chicken that’s full of flavour or callaloo, a Caribbean classic where the protein is elevated by a delicious combination of leafy greens, squash, okra and coconut milk. Vegetarians should try the plantain and halloumi burger with jerk mayo, fries and coleslaw.

The Jewel in the Crown is highly regarded in Aberdeen for its Indian cuisine. This family-run restaurant, helmed by the inimitable Farooq, is the place to come if you’re looking for flavoursome dishes using authentic spice blends and good-quality produce.

Browse the menu as you dip crispy poppadoms into bowls of chutney and pickle. Order a mild Murg Korma, with diced chicken enveloped in a lightly spiced cream sauce, or ramp up the heat with a lamb-based Madras gosht or king prawn naga.

The Tipping House is primarily a cellar bar. A wooden ceiling creates atmosphere while tartan-clad bar stools are a reminder, should you need one, of where you are. From time to time, the place hosts whisky, gin, rum and wine tastings, along with sessions led by knowledgeable cocktail mixologists.

On the menu are a range of globally-inspired small plates including Mexican-style albondigas, sea trout gravadlax and burrata with carrot and dukkah. For something more substantial, try the braised Scotch beef shin, Ras el Hanout ratatouille or the aubergine cochinita pibil.

Café Bohème specialises in Gallic fine dining. The décor is traditional, with stylish bistro chairs, plenty of wood panelling and dark red walls. It’s intimate enough for a candlelit romantic dinner yet just as successful as a venue for a night out with friends.

Start with a classic French onion soup, a Roquefort crème brûlée, duck rillette or terrine of leeks. For your main course, you might order the beef fillet accompanied by Café de Paris butter grilled asparagus and Reblochon tartiflette or go meat-free to try the caramelised shallot millefeuille with goat's cheese mousse.

McGinty’s Meal an’ Ale offers warm and inviting pub dining. A barrel-lined foyer with a flagstone floor opens out into a cavernous space whose wood panelling and floors creates a deceptively cosy vibe. There’s a wide choice of beer and sports events are screened regularly.

The menu is crammed with comfort food classics. Kick off with a quintessentially Scottish serving of haggis, followed by Moo Mami Stovies – spiced brisket served with Walker’s oatcakes and pickled beetroot. Alternatively, try one of McGinty’s burgers or subs with a generous heap of fries.

Manchurian has a spacious dining room, where red walls create a perfect backdrop for traditional Chinese artwork. White linen and wood floors help the place achieve a contemporary vibe.

The menu contains all your Chinese and Thai favourites. Kick off with aromatic duck, spare ribs or pancake rolls. Roast duck, beef, chicken and pork are served in myriad ways. There’s also a good selection of Thai curries, satays and Hong Kong-style sweet and sour dishes.

Bonobo Café is a casual eatery that's proud to be 100% vegan. It functions as a workers’ cooperative and in addition to serving food, it acts as a community hub with events such as parent and baby meetings and regular yoga classes.

The menu is packed with innovative plant-based dishes including brunch items such as scramble and smoked carrot stack. Meanwhile, for lunch, try hot dishes like their Heart of Gold hot pot or Bonobo Mac. You can feed a sweet tooth with delicious smoothies or an Aberdream cream tea.