10 Traditional Scottish foods with a twist

Scotland's vegan scene is bustling – especially in the cities! In Edinburgh, Hendersons is an award-winning eatery serving up a range of delicious vegan food, and you’ll even find a brand-new vegan chippy: The Happy Fish. In the west of Scotland, Glasgow is home to Mono and Stereo for comfort food – while Suissi Vegan Kitchen provides Asian flair. Aberdeen's Foodstory is a local favourite in the north-east. And you might have heard that the chieftain o’ the pudding race has gone vegan too – yes, vegan haggis is now widely available!

Scotland isn’t short of creativity in the ice cream department. Flavours like Irn Bru, Scottish tablet, and whisky, honey & oatmeal are just waiting to be devoured. Local fruits like tayberry get their own sweet spin too. For something extra special, head to Jannettas Gelateria in St Andrews, famous for its Irn Bru sorbet. Nardini's in Largs offers a classic experience with all kinds of flavours. Mary’s Milk Bar in Edinburgh serves up surprising combinations using local ingredients – with queues right outside the door and a cracking view of Edinburgh Castle!

Scotland's gluten-free beer selection is excellent. Bellfield Brewery in Edinburgh is renowned for its gluten-free and vegan-friendly beers, including award-winning session ales. Other options include Fierce Beer in Aberdeen, known for its Fierce Cerveza, a Mexican-inspired lager, and Black Isle Brewing Co, which produces the Goldfinch, a session IPA with a distinctive floral finish. Loch Leven Brewery offers a fully gluten-free range, the Great Scots, which is also vegan-friendly. Williams Bros Brewing Co is famous for its Fraoch Heather Ale, a unique gluten-free beer steeped in Scottish history.

Scottish tablet is loved across the world – but did you know there are some weird and wonderful variations on this traditional sweet? For starters, The Kilted Fudge Company in Aviemore do whisky tablet, Irish cream tablet, and salted caramel flavour tablet. Browse any good Scottish sweet shop (such as The Wee Scottish Shop on the Isle of Bute, or Gordon & Durward in Crieff) and you’ll find unusual flavours of tablet – everything from lemon, treacle and watermelon to Buckfast tonic wine!

The Cullen Skink World Championships is an annual celebration of Scotland’s favourite smoked haddock soup. Held in the town of Cullen, this mouthwatering event showcases both traditional recipes and original takes on the classic dish. Recent competitions have featured surprising variations, such as 2024’s winning "with-a-twist" entry, which included haggis & black pudding bonbons and deep-fried capers. For a chance to see – or even enter – this event, plan a visit to Cullen in early March, which is easily accessible by car or public transport from Aberdeen or Inverness.

Scotland has inspired many cocktails around the world – particularly in the United States. The Rob Roy, sometimes called the Scottish Manhattan, emerged during prohibition and was named after the famous Scottish outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. Later, in the 1960s, The Rusty Nail, a blend of Scotch and Drambuie, was popular amongst the Rat Pack, who no doubt appreciated its smooth, velvety texture. Elsewhere there’s The Whisky Mac, dreamt up by Colonel Hector "Fighting Mac" MacDonald, while he battled illness in India. He combined medicinal ginger wine with a dram of whisky to create this enduring cocktail. Scotland has a host of great cocktail bars where you can try one of these.

A humble bowl of porridge is great but what about sticky toffee chocolate brûlée porridge!? You can find creative twists on this classic breakfast dish across Scotland’s café and restaurant scene. And it might surprise you to find out that the World Porridge Making Championships take place each year in the Scottish Highland village of Carrbridge – an event running since 1994! Just a cursory look at previous winners reveals unique recipes like coconut & pandan porridge, porridge arancini, and even pina colada porridge…

Arbroath smokies are absolutely delicious, so it’s no wonder they have their own trail. The Arbroath Smokie Trail in Angus takes you through Arbroath, starting at the Signal Tower Museum and ending in the picturesque village of Auchmithie. Along the way, you'll explore Arbroath Harbour, the Fit O' The Toon, and the beautiful Arbroath Cliffs. The trail reveals the rich maritime heritage of the area and you’ll get plenty of chances to try a smokie. Arbroath smokies – haddock smoked over hardwood – have been a local specialty for centuries. These days they have Protected Geographical Indication status, like Champagne and Parmesan cheese!

Street food isn’t typically associated with Scotland but that has really changed in recent years. In the capital, Edinburgh Street Food (ESF) and The Pitt Market are buzzing with creative eats. For a distinctly Scottish spin on street food, a visit to one Scotland's seafood shacks is a must. The Lobster Shack in North Berwick serves up the catch of the day in eco-friendly style, while Oban Seafood Hut is a top spot for scallops and lobster on the west coast. On the Isle of Skye, The Oyster Shed lets you shuck your own oysters, and Skipness Seafood Cabin in Argyll offers sustainable langoustines.

Haggis is our national dish, and it’s surprisingly versatile. Deep-fried haggis bon bons are a popular starter across the country these days – well worth a try. Mharsanta in Glasgow's Merchant City offers a haggis lasagne! And you’ll find sushi restaurants like Yo Sushi! fusing Japanese and Scottish flavours with dishes like teriyaki haggis. Of course there’s haggis pizza, haggis pie, haggis burgers, haggis toasties, the list goes on… You can even experiment making your own haggis at The Haggis Experience, which would make a great day out for foodies.