Scotland’s reputation as a culinary destination continues to strengthen, with new data from VisitScotland showing increased visitor demand for luxury dining experiences.
Online searches for “Michelin star Scotland” have risen by 58% over the past three years, reflecting growing interest in the country’s upscale restaurant offerings. Scotland currently hosts 13 Michelin-starred establishments, including two Edinburgh venues – Lyla and Avery – which received their first stars earlier this year.
Food and drink experiences consistently rank among the top two activities for visitors to Scotland, alongside walking and hiking. The latest Domestic Sentiment Tracker, commissioned jointly by VisitScotland, Visit Wales and VisitEngland, found that 36% of UK visitors planning Scottish trips this summer prioritised local dining experiences, with families, retirees and older independent travellers showing particular interest.
The Scotland Visitor Survey 2023 revealed that 46% of visitors participated in at least one food and drink activity beyond standard dining during their stay. Among long-haul visitors, 19% now cite food and drink as a primary reason for choosing Scotland as their destination.
Scotland’s Michelin-starred restaurants include Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder (two stars), Glenturret Lalique in Crieff (two stars), and single-starred establishments including Cail Bruich in Glasgow, Heron in Leith, Lyla in Edinburgh, and The Peat Inn in St Andrews.
Jacqui Souter, VisitScotland Acting Head of Insight, said, “Scotland’s landscape, extensive coastline and history have shaped our incredible larder, growing our reputation as a culinary destination. Trying our local food and drink is frequently one of the top activities people want to do while in Scotland and we are seeing a particular interest in luxury dining and our traditional breakfast items emerging. It is encouraging to see as it is important to engage with local food and drink producers and businesses. Doing so strengthens our traditional skills and food heritage, lessens food miles, and helps boost the economies of the communities in which these kinds of businesses are based.”
John Laurie, Managing Director at Glenturret Lalique, said, “We have seen first-hand the growing desire from visitors to immerse themselves in truly authentic, luxury dining experiences. Today’s guests seek more than just exceptional food – they want to connect with the landscape, the heritage, and the people behind the produce, all while discovering something uniquely Scottish. At The Glenturret, we are proud to work with Glasgow-born Executive Chef Mark Donald and his exceptional team to position us as a world-class fine dining destination.”
Stuart Ralston, Chef-owner at Lyla, added, “Scotland has a wealth of great produce, from both the sea and land, and our dining scene has been benefiting from this for years. Now more than ever, there is an increased number of fine dining restaurants that are building on this and highlighting the abundance of Scottish produce, making Scotland an exciting place to dine.
“Historically, trade increases during the summer months with holidays and the Fringe Festival, but it is important to maintain momentum throughout the year. The current culinary spotlight means that we are seeing more visitors throughout the year, which is important to keep business going. Luxury dining supports hospitality and food production sectors as a whole – it’s about bringing more visitors to Scotland who will then spend money and invest in our economy.”
Picture: Glenturret Lalique