We know how hard it can be to find great places to eat where they welcome and cater for babies and toddlers as well as producing great food, so we’ve taken the hard work out of it for you and come up a selection of the best!
Traditional Scottish
For the best in traditional Scottish food make sure you don’t miss out on a wee bit o’ haggis. If you’re visiting Culzean Castle (see our ‘Days Out) then try Souter Johnnie’s Inn just down the road in Kirkoswald. As well as the Robbie’s Burn’s heritage they have an excellent Cullen Skink and a fine selection of Scottish fare, all served in tartan splendour with roaring log fires. My little ones scoffed up their haggis, and neeps and tatties is the perfect food for a weening tot. Plenty of highchairs and baby changing.
Fresh from the Sea
If you’re in Scotland you have to have fresh seafood. Probably the best meal of my life was fresh langoustine straight from the sea in the highland village of Plockton, but wherever you go, if you’re near the coast you’ll get good seafood. Famous in Scotland are The Cellar in Anstruther (Fife), the Waterfront in Oban (www.waterfrontoban.co.uk) and Campbells in Portpatrick (www.campbellsrestaurant.co.uk) which has its own boat bringing in fresh crab and lobster.
Family Friendly Trattorias
Scotland is packed with fantastic trattorias; lots of Italians settled here in the last century and all over the country you’ll find traditional Italian restaurants serving great home cooked food in an atmosphere that really welcomes children. If you’re in the capital you could try Luca’s (16 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, www.s-luca.co.uk) for a wonderful family meal and great ice cream. In Glasgow head to the West End and Di Maggios (Ruthven Lane off Byres Road, Glasgow www.dimaggios.co.uk). Anywhere else, look for an Italian flag and you’re in with a great chance of a family friendly welcome, good pasta and excellent ice cream!
Fatty but Fabulous
Fish and Chips (fried Mars Bar an optional extra) is a great treat on holiday and Scotland has a fine history of perfecting fried food. Some of the fish in local chippies tastes so fresh it could have been swimming an hour ago. If you’re in Ayrshire head for Troon and the nationally famous ‘Wee Hurrie’ on the harbour; you’ll find queues of locals by the boats. Part of MacCallum’s Oyster and Fish Restaurant (Harbour Road, Troon, KA10 6DH, go online for directions or you’ll never find it), the fish is as fresh as it could be and fried whilst you wait. My best ever fish and chips was in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull (Balamory to anyone who watches C-Beebies!), fresh from the van on the Fishermans Pier by the clock. My kids ate their fish and chips whilst desperately hoping for a glimpse of Archie the Inventor!
