Scotland's 'best local restaurants' crowned by Good Food Guide as wine bar tops list
Scotland's "best local restaurants" for 2025 have been named. A wine bar and restaurant in a small town was crowned the best in the country.
On Tuesday, July 15, The Good Food Guide shared its list of the top local eateries across the UK. The list celebrates the nation's best independently-run restaurants and is decided upon by a team of judges.
Topping the list as the best local restaurant in Scotland is Redwood Wines in the Perthshire town of Dunkeld. The wine shop and restaurant offers seasonal small plates, with everything made in-house by hand.
Redwood Wines has a weekly changing menu influenced by classic wine bar dishes. Among the food on offer is aged Aberdeen Angus roast beef sandwich, handkerchief pasta, and a charcuterie and cheese board.
Owners Roseanna and Morgwn Preston-Jones commented: "We are truly honoured to be recognised by The Good Food Guide.
"We pour our heart and soul into every aspect of Redwood and sharing that passion for food and wine fills us with great joy. We love Dunkeld, our loyal customers and visitors alike."
Elsewhere, five Edinburgh restaurants are featured in The Good Food Guide's list of the top local restaurants in Scotland.
Barry Fish in Leith, Fin and Grape on Colinton Road, Leftfield on Barclay Terrace, Pomelo on Sciennes Road, and The Palmerston on Palmerston Place are all included on the roundup.
Barry Fish is a recently opened independent fish restaurant that serves up everything from small plates to larger mains. Options include whole lemon sole, barbecued monkfish brochettes, and shrimp and sea trout sausage rolls.
Like Barry Fish, Fin and Grape specialises in fish and sharing plates. Customers can enjoy salt cod mousse, pickled mussels, Calabrian anchovies, and more.
Leftfield is a neighbourhood bistro with a particular focus on seafood. Dishes on the restaurant's sample menu include sea trout, Gigha oysters, and hand dived scallop.
Pomelo is a Chinese-focused Asian fusion restaurant that offers brunch, lunch, and dinner. Its menus change regularly, but among the dishes on offer are fried chicken sandwich, scallop carpaccio, and roasted duck.
Finally, The Palmerston is a traditional restaurant and bakery with a varied daily-changing menu. Customers can order dishes such as baked Berkshire pork shoulder, slow roast Shetland lamb, and fish stew.
Additionally, The Free Company in the village of Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh is named on the roundup. The Free Company is a farm-to-restaurant venue, with a seasonal à la carte menu based on what is available on the farm.
Elsewhere, Gloriosa in Glasgow is also featured on The Good Food Guide's list. Gloriosa serves up Mediterranean-style food, as well as a wide selection of wines.
The only other city restaurant included on the roundup is Mara in Aberdeen. It is a wine bar and bottle shop with Italian-influenced small plates.
Other local restaurants to be named as the best in Scotland include The Dory Bistro in Pittenweem and The Gordon Arms in Selkirk. Rounding out the The Good Food Guide's list are The Whitehouse in Lochaline and Tide and Thyme in Tighnabruaich.
See below for the full list of the best local restaurants in Scotland. More information can be found on The Good Food Guide website.
Scotland's best local restaurants 2025
Redwood Wines, Dunkeld (Scotland winner)
Barry Fish, Edinburgh
Fin & Grape, Edinburgh
Gloriosa, Glasgow
Leftfield, Edinburgh
Mara, Aberdeen
Pomelo, Edinburgh
The Dory Bistro, Pittenweem
The Free Company, Balerno
The Gordon Arms, Selkirk
The Palmerston, Edinburgh
The Whitehouse, Lochaline
Tide & Thyme, Tighnabruaich
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