Best restaurants in Perthshire

Aerial view of Loch Tummel, also known as Queen's View, Scotland in autumn time.

Looking for Perthshire restaurants? Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in the region, from Perth to Dunkeld and beyond…

For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks and the UK's best artisan bakeries. Now discover the best restaurants in Nottingham, best restaurants in Newcastle, best restaurants in Belfast and best restaurants in Leeds.

Best places to eat and drink in Perthshire

Aran Bakery

Drawing regular queues to its snug 200-year-old home, this bakery in Dunkeld by former Great British Bake Off semi-finalist Flora Shedden is a local phenomenon. Laminated layers of croissants shine, buttery sausage rolls (pork, apple and sage is a go-to) and focaccia sandwiches sell out at speed, and the brownies and sweet and savoury danishes can’t be missed. A roster of seasonal bakes keeps regulars guessing but Flora’s cardamom buns remain the favourite. Grab a windowsill perch and watch the world go by, or order a takeaway to enjoy by the river. aran-bakery.com

A woman working behind the counter at a bakery — Image credit: Kimberley Grant

Gleneagles

This stately escape for food lovers has six distinct dining rooms across its grand estate. At The Strathearn’s Gatsby-inspired dining room the sharing beef wellington is the headline act on the set menu, followed by tableside theatre in the famous flambéed crêpes suzette. Take a night cap at art deco The American Bar but don’t go overboard as an indulgent morning awaits. Gleneagles’ extravagant breakfast room features pancake stations, juice and caprese salad bars, and Scottish staples including haggis and smoked salmon. gleneagles.com

North Port

In Perth’s cultural heart North Port champions Scottish produce with modern flair. Menus are short, seasonal and grounded in relationships with small growers, foragers and producers. Arbroath smokies pair neatly with Fife-grown beetroot, while Ayrshire potatoes arrive dressed in delicate herbs and a Black Isle rib-eye lands coated with chef-owner Andrew Moss’s mouth-watering house garlic butter. If it’s available the homemade haggis is a must-order. thenorthport.co.uk

Redwood Wines

There may be more than 5,000 miles between Dunkeld and Napa Valley but this small restaurant and wine bar brings a flavour of California to Scotland. Morgwn Preston-Jones and his wife Roseanna make the most of family ties to wineries, pouring exclusive bottlings to accompany lunch or dinner. To eat, expect handmade pastas, peak-season vegetables and Scotland’s best Aberdeen Angus roast beef sandwich. Despite having few tables the communal wooden dining bench in the centre fills up with locals and travellers. It’s the kind of place where a quick glass becomes dinner. redwoodwines.co.uk

Two plates of food and two glasses of wine presented on a table at a wine bar, with rows of wine bottles in the background

Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier

Grandtully’s award-winning chocolate shop and café is a pilgrimage that any sweet-toothed traveller should embrace. Watch the chocolatiers at work and book an audio-guided tasting, including signature velvet chocolate truffles, then get cosy in the lounge with a thick, luxurious and glossy hot chocolate made for slow sipping. Shelves are lined with pralines, seasonal boxes and gifts to take home. highlandchocolatier.com

Monachyle Mhor

Set on a working farm, this lochside hotel in Balquhidder is surrounded by wilderness. There’s a huge emphasis on foraging, preserving and growing produce, with daily changing dishes served in the informal dining room for lunch or dinner. Of the outdoor activities on offer a favourite is the wine safari. Starting with breakfast and a glass of bubbles at sister venue Mhor 84, guests experience a hillside food demonstration with drinks, lochside wine tasting, plus a fire-lit feast paired with outstanding bottlings. It’s the perfect day out. Pay the bakery Mhor Bread in Callander a visit, too. monachylemhor.net

The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart

A contemporary village retreat, The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart lets local seasonal ingredients shine. When the sun breaks, the terrace is the spot for small plates and cocktails, and inside the dining room keeps things relaxed yet elevated. Nearby sister venue Ballintaggart Farm runs cookery classes and spirited feast nights through the seasons celebrating Easter, Bonfire Night, Christmas and Hogmanay, always drawing a loyal, hungry crowd. Before you leave browse the on-site shop shelves for homemade goods including the excellent granola. ballintaggart.com/grandtully-hotel

The Grandtully Hotel's relaxed bar with teal colour accents — Image credit: Claire Waddell

Restaurant Andrew Fairlie

Tucked within Gleneagles, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie offers an intimate dining experience where service is precise and intentional. Retaining two Michelin star recognition since 2006, the kitchen leans on classical French techniques and seasonal fare, featuring produce harvested from the secret kitchen garden. Highlights include herb-crusted lamb loin, hand-dived scallops and homegrown cep mushrooms, plus Andrew’s signature smoked lobster. Those ordering the seven-course tasting menu are treated to exclusive dishes including roe deer and caviar. andrewfairlie.co.uk

The Taybank

Set on the banks of the River Tay, this independent hotel, bar and restaurant showcases seasonal produce from the walled garden in dishes including the Tokyo turnip salad, Perthshire venison haunch and Gigha halibut. Scottish trad sessions with artists such as fiddler Liam Manion take place regularly on Thursdays in the cosy bar but, for an extra special experience, book a long table event by the riverside. Tables are brimming with flowers and candles, and it’s a convivial experience to meet locals. There’s also a sauna with breathtaking views, so you can dine and relax in style. thetaybank.co.uk

Killiecrankie House

At Killiecrankie House on the outskirts of Pitlochry, dinner unfolds in a multi-course journey that nods to Japanese kaiseki while showcasing Scotland’s larder. Expect playful plates of beef tartare with caviar, mackerel with yuzu and beetroot with gochujang, plus signature dripping fried porridge, a nod to Scots tradition. The drinks list features sakes and Chinese wines alongside Scottish spirits. The chef’s table is undoubtedly the best seat, and the bedrooms upstairs make it easy to turn an excellent fine-dining meal into a short escape. killiecrankiehouse.com

BBQ picanha Vietnamese spiced beed sausage Jerusalem artichoke and black truffle — Image credit: Alexander Baxter

Foodie neighbourhood

Crieft

This charming Highland Perthshire town may have once been a fashionable Victorian getaway spot but Crieff’s quietly bubbling food scene has reinvented it as a must-visit haven. Home to the country’s most in-demand restaurant, executive chef Mark Donald and his team have manoeuvred The Glenturret Lalique to two Michelin star recognition. Attached to Scotland’s oldest working distillery, the restaurant is a high-end gastronomic experience which blends tradition with art.

Artisan bakeries are having their moment. Ems and Co pastry shop has a daily changing menu of 12 different cakes, twisted buns and eclairs, while Damsel Bakery around the corner is committed to bringing the best sourdough to the area. Expect croissants, iced finger rolls, savoury buns and more.

A 10-minute drive from Crieff, you’ll find the whimsical Gorse Café, a woodland café nestled in nature at Comrie Croft, home to jaw-dropping sandwiches (open April-October).

For a sensational Sunday lunch five minutes’ drive from Crief, historic spot Coorie Inn is the perfect relaxing getaway with a side of local fare. Try the North Sea crab and Perthshire pork belly or, if you want a Sunday lunch centrepiece, pre-book the corn-fed whole roast chicken. A standard king room is from £195, book direct for the best rates.