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For details on recommended restaurants, check out the
VisitScotland guide to eating and drinking in Scotland at EatScotland.
Scottish restaurants, including those in hotels, usually open from
12:00 noon to 2:30pm for lunch and from
6:00pm to midnight for dinner, although these times do vary greatly.
Country establishments however, often tend to close that bit earlier so it
is important to pre-check. Last orders are often taken up to 45 minutes
before closing.
Many restaurants, bistros, cafes and pubs remain open throughout the day for morning coffee, afternoon tea and beverages. One is also likely to come across the widely held Scottish institution of high tea, particularly in the smaller establishments in rural areas. This is a meal served between 4:30pm and 6:00pm approximately and consists of a simple main course accompanied by bread, cakes and tea or coffee.
The standard opening times for licensed premises are from 11:00am to 2:30pm and 5:00pm to 11:00pm Monday through Saturday, 12:30pm to 2:30pm and 6:30pm to 11:00pm on Sunday. Many pubs however, open all afternoon, while somehave a late license, particularly at weekends.
