ELEVEN Scottish restaurants have been awarded a Michelin star in the prestigious guide’s 2024 list.
The winners were announced at an awards dinner on February 5, with two Scottish eateries earning two Michelin stars.
There are a further nine restaurants in Scotland with one Michelin star in the 2024 list for a total of 11.
In 2023, 12 Scottish restaurants made the list. The Cellar in Anstruther would have retained a star in 2024 but has instead been removed from the guide as it has permanently closed and is currently up for sale.
READ MORE: Michelin Star Scottish restaurant to be sold after 'amazing' 10 years
Gwendal Poullennec, the international director of the Michelin Guides, said: “Among all of the newly awarded stars, both the quality and variety of the dining experiences are wonderful to see.
"There are enormously talented chefs turning their hands to anything from wood-fired sharing plates to finely tuned sushi.
"To have so much positive news to share with the industry, at a time when restaurants are facing so many challenges, gives me great pride and is proof of the continued vitality within British and Irish dining.”
The full list of Michelin star restaurants in Scotland for 2024:
Heron, Leith, One Star
Just off the Water of Leith, Heron is run by the youngest chef to ever win a Michelin star in Scotland, Sam Yorke.
Originally from Manchester, Yorke’s restaurant is described by the guide as offering “skilful cooking founded on fine Scottish produce”.
It goes on: “The tasting menu will allow you to make the most of the chefs’ talents, and all fits together like a well-crafted jigsaw. Ask for a table by the window if you want to watch the world go by around the Port of Leith, or opt for a seat at the spacious counter.”
Cail Bruich, Glasgow, One Star
A stalwart on the Michelin star list, Cail Bruich in Glasgow was praised by the Michelin Guide for focusing on “just a few ingredients combined in perfect harmony”.
The guide stated: “Cail Bruich means ‘to eat well’ and this smart restaurant certainly lives up to its name.
“Experienced head chef Lorna McNee has the utmost respect for the quality of her ingredients and a great understanding of how to handle them. She brings a level of creativity to her refined, confident cooking that demonstrates passion and precision.”
Condita, Edinburgh, One Star
Edinburgh’s Condita and chef Conor Toomey were recognised with a Michelin star, with the guide recognising the “surprise menu, with a hand-drawn bookmark picturing some of the ingredients the only hint at what is to come”.
The guide goes on: “An interesting and individual streak runs through the cooking, with flavour combinations carefully thought through to enhance one another. The skill of the kitchen is most evident in dishes that extract wonderful flavours from seemingly basic ingredients, like kohlrabi with goat's curd.”
Unalome by Graeme Cheevers, Glasgow, One Star
Graeme Cheevers, who runs Unalome in Glasgow’s Finnieston area, was given a Michelin star for working with “the finest of Scottish produce, be it Orkney scallops or North Sea cod, in dishes that display his classical leanings”.
The guide adds: “There is a precision and sophistication to the cooking, and it’s well worth going for the full tasting menu and the thoughtfully considered wine pairings.”
Timberyard, Edinburgh, One Star
Edinburgh’s Timberyard was awarded a Michelin star in 2023 and repeated the feat in 2024, with the guide crediting head chef James Murray and the owner-managers Andrew and Lisa Radford.
It said: “The rustic warehouse aesthetic is the perfect backdrop to an ethos that centres around the local, the seasonal, and letting ingredients speak for themselves. It takes a lot of skill and no little ability to take just a few prime ingredients and produce dishes that are so well defined and satisfying – and the Radford family now have a chef who can do just that.”
The Kitchin, Leith, One Star
Tom Kitchin’s The Kitchin, in Leith, was recognised with a Michelin star in 2024. The guide said the restaurant has been “at the forefront of the Edinburgh dining scene for years”.
It goes on: “It’s no wonder it’s such a success, given the quality found in the balanced, flavoursome dishes that champion seasonal Scottish produce – come in grouse season and you won’t be disappointed.
“An array of menus includes a well-priced lunch option and the Prestige surprise menu, which offers the most complete experience.”
Restaurant Martin Wishart, Leith, One Star
Another Michelin star for Leith as Restaurant Martin Wishart scooped the accolade. The guide noted the long-established chef’s work.
It said: “Over the years, [Wishart] has continually tweaked and reassessed the food and décor, and the bright, modern style of the dining room is a great match for the current cooking.
“The various menus showcase Scottish produce like grouse and langoustines in dishes that deliver the flavours they promise, with nothing unnecessary on the plate.”
Loch Bay Restaurant, Stein, One Star
Perched on an idyllic spot in the Isle of Skye, the crofter’s cottage-turned-restaurant run by head chef Michael Smith won a Michelin star in the 2024 guide.
It said: “It’s a pleasingly simple place with a wood-burning stove, Harris Tweed covered chairs and a snug, intimate feel.
“Stein started life as a fishing village and the cold, pure waters provide plenty of seafood, some of which is landed on the jetty opposite the restaurant. Skilfully prepared, intensely flavoured Scottish dishes have French undertones, with minimal seasoning bringing out the natural flavours.”
The Peat Inn, Fife, One Star
The Peat Inn, which is based in the Fife hamlet of the same name, was awarded a Michelin star, with the guide noting its close connections to local suppliers.
The guide praised Geoffrey and Katherine Smeddle, who have run the restaurant since 2006, saying: “Geoffrey is an experienced and knowledgeable chef who has built up a close web of suppliers which, in conjunction with the seasons, virtually writes the menu.
“Expect to find ingredients like East Neuk crab, Black Isle lamb and Easter Grangemuir Farm strawberries. All of these are put to great use in vibrant, flavoursome dishes.”
Glenturret Lalique, Perthshire, Two Star
Based out a distillery in Crieff, Glenturret Lalique became the second restaurant in Scotland to have two Michelin stars in the 2024 guide.
The guide praised the “intimate” restaurant for mixing the “luxury with the familiar”.
It went on: “Chef Mark Donald adeptly balances local and global influences in sophisticated, precisely crafted dishes with superb depth of flavour.
“Set inside The Glenturret Distillery, the restaurant boasts some truly unique aged malts, and they even offer a whisky tasting selection as well as a top-class wine list.”
Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Two Star
This restaurant’s namesake, chef Andrew Fairlie, passed away in 2019, but the Michelin Guide has awarded his place two stars in 2024, noting that his “philosophy and spirit” live on.
The guide said: “Hidden away in the depths of the world-famous Gleneagles resort, this intimate restaurant has an appealing classical elegance, courtesy of dark wood walls, clever lighting and colourful food-themed art.”
It added: “Techniques are rooted in the classics and superb quality produce guides the menu, with 95% of the vegetables coming from their walled Victorian garden. Service is formal but comes with plenty of personality.”
UPDATE:
In April, another restaurant was added to the list: Montrose in Edinburgh.
The guide said: "The team behind Michelin-Starred Timberyard, also in Edinburgh, are responsible for this recent opening where big, bold flavours reign supreme and quality produce is key.
"It’s split into a ground floor bar – where the knowledgeable team serve an interesting wine selection accompanied by small plates like oysters and charcuterie – and the upstairs restaurant, where a set four-course menu pushes seasonality to the fore.
"If you’re on a sightseeing tour of the city, then The Palace of Holyroodhouse is nearby."
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