9 of the best seafood shacks in Scotland

At The Lobster Shack, fresh seafood is brought directly from the harbour to your plate. Enjoy your meal in the covered and heated outdoor dining area or take your food away and head to the beach, with views stretching out to the iconic Bass Rock.

Make the most of your trip:

Stroll through the streets of elegant North Berwick and browse the many independent shops.  Visit the Scottish Seabird Centre to learn more about local marine life or skim across the water on an exhilarating boat trip to Bass Rock, home to one of the largest Northern gannet colonies in the world. Back on dry land, climb to the summit of North Berwick Law for sweeping views across the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, you may even spot Tantallon Castle, perched high on the cliffs to the east, inviting further exploration.

Visit The Lobster Shack

Explore North Berwick

Sample the flavours of the Moray Coast at this street food seafood trailer. Skink Co specialises in warm bowls of Cullen skink and seafood specials such as monkfish sliders and salt & chilli calamari. Pick up your next catch in either Cullen or Portsoy served with spectacular sea views and enjoy the taste of northeastern Scotland.

Make the most of your trip:

Walk along the golden sands of Cullen Beach, try your hand at watersports before warming up afterwards at Sauna at the Kings, a wood-fired sauna right at the coast. In Portsoy, explore the Old and New Harbours and stop by the seasonally run Salmon Bothy to learn more about the town’s maritime history.

Visit Skink Co

Discover Cullen

Explore Portsoy

No two days are the same at The Seafood Shack, with the menu changing with whatever catch of the day has been brought in. Every dish uses delicious fresh ingredients with every bite bursting with flavour. Enjoy local langoustines, Cullen Skink or a firm favourite: the tempura fried haddock wrap. Gluten-free and dairy-free diets are also catered for, and with the new covered seating area, the Scottish weather does not have to put a dampener on your meal!

Make the most of your trip:

Explore this quaint little fishing village with its grid layout and white-washed houses. Watch the fishing boats come into the harbour, walk up Ullapool Hill for sweeping views over Loch Broom towards the Summer Isles or drive further north to explore the communities of Assynt and Sutherland.

Try the Seafood Shack

Visit the fishing village of Ullapool

When you’re craving seafood, ShrimpWreck in Portobello is the place to be. From award-winning fish finger sandwiches, shrimp buns or lobster rolls, this seafood shack on the promenade offers delicious lunches and the opportunity to go for a long beach stroll afterwards.

Make the most of your trip:

A bit of seaside charm close to the capital, Portobello offers activities and food & drink that will make you want to stay for longer. Stoll along the promenade, browse stalls for interesting souvenirs or build sandcastles on the beach. If you’re looking for indoor activities, why not take a dive in the Portobello Swim Centre, housed in a stunning Victorian building, before rounding off your day with a relaxing visit to the Turkish baths.

Find delicious seafood at ShrimpWreck

Explore Portobello

You’ll find Scottish seafood with an Italian twist at this spot on Inveraray Pier. Enjoy a plate of Loch Fyne langoustines or bite into a Sunday Roast lobster. The seasonal menu celebrates local ingredients together with stunning views across the water.

Make the most of your trip:

Stroll through the wide streets of this 18th century town and admire its Georgian architecture. Stop by Inveraray Jail where to relive history behind bars and even take part in a courtroom trial! Make sure to spend time exploring Inveraray Castle and its gardens, with ornate rooms, landscaped gardens and centuries of history, there is plenty to discover.

Stop by the Inveraray Seafood Shack

Experience the grandeur of Inveraray

The Oban Seafood Hut is a great place to sample local seafood, with lobster, scallops and crab all featuring on the menu. Your food is cooked fresh to order, so take a seat at the alfresco dining area overlooking Oban Bay and watch the boats bobbing on the water.

Make the most of your trip:

Walk up the path from Oban’s town centre to climb McCaig’s Tower, an unfinished monument based on the Colosseum in Rome, for sweeping views across the bay and the Isle of Kerrera. Afterwards, breathe in the fresh sea air as you stroll the promenade and stop by the Oban Chocolate Company for a sweet treat.

Tingle your tastebuds at the Oban Seafood Hut

Visit Oban, seafood capital of Scotland

Perched on the pier at Fionnphort, this is seafood at its freshest. Settle into the outdoor decking area with a plate of mussels, scallops or langoustines, all caught in the waters around Mull and Iona, and gaze out across the crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Make the most of your trip:

Hop on the 10-minute ferry to the historic island of Iona, where centuries of history, spirituality and natural beauty await. Explore the iconic abbey, visit the resting place of ancient clan chieftains, and follow the path to St Columba's Bay, where the saint is said to have first set foot on the island. For a round unlike any other, tee off at the island's 9-hole golf course, where grazing cattle and sheep help maintain the fairways, and take in sweeping views across the Atlantic and the neighbouring isles.

Try out The Creel - Seafood Bar

Explore the Isle of Iona

Just behind Talisker Distillery, the Oyster Shed Farm Shopserves seafood with a stunning view. Here you will find fresh oysters, harvested from the crystal-clear waters of nearby Loch Harport. Why not tuck into the succulent lobster, scallops, mussels, smoked mackerel and much more? The communal picnic table with a view of the Cuillin will make your lunch one to remember. You can also pick up some fresh seafood to cook at home or in your self-catering accommodation. Parking is limited, so consider walking up from Carbost village.

Make the most of your trip:

After a visit to Talisker Distillery, continue your Skye adventure by exploring some of the island’s natural locations, galleries or attractions. Head to Neist Point for a windswept walk and coastal scenery, experience 800 years of clan history at Dunvegan Castle, or visit Skye’s sheepskin tannery on Waternish for some local souvenirs.

Visit the Oyster Shed Farm Shop

Explore the Isle of Skye

In the colourful harbour of Tobermory, Fisherman’s Pier Seafood cooks every fish, scallop and local seafood delicacy to perfection. It is no wonder that it has won several awards over the years. Enjoy a delicious chippy as you watch the sun set over the bustling harbour.  

Make the most of your trip:

Tour the historic Tobermory Distillery and discover your favourite dram before exploring the rest of the Isle of Mull. Take to the water on a boat tour, keeping watch for white-tailed sea eagles soaring overhead, minke whales and dolphins swimming alongside the boat and otters catching their next meal on the shore. Or sail to Fingal’s Cave on Staffa to admire the perfectly shaped hexagonal basalt columns carved by nature over millions of years.

Tuck into delicacies at the Fisherman's Pier Fish & Chip Van

Visit the Isle of Mull

This list was created by VisitScotland to showcase a range of experiences. It isn’t ranked in any specific order.