7 Restaurants Worth the Drive from Glasgow

Glasgow is packed full of award-winning restaurants, from cool eateries to fine dining, and everything in between. But if you’re clamouring for a day out from the big smoke, there are dozens of acclaimed restaurants that will tick the boxes for worthy day trips and brilliant food. From a ritzy Michelin-starred hotel to a laid-back city hideout, here are seven restaurants worthy of a day trip from Glasgow.

If you are planning a trip to Glasgow, Here Are 7 Best Restaurants worth driving to from Glasgow, How do these rankings work?

1. Brea Scottish Restaurant – Stirling

5 Baker St, Stirling FK8 1BJ

Brea has won an astonishing number of awards, including ‘Winner of the Year’ at the Food Awards 2022. For eleven years running, it’s also ranked in the top 10% of restaurants in the world by Tripadvisor. Plus, it’s just under 40 minutes from Glasgow’s city centre. Located in the beating heart of Stirling, Brea specialises in Scottish cuisine that showcases the best the country has to offer. Think roast venison loin, rolled haddock stuffed with smoked salmon and 35-day aged ribeye steaks. There’s also a dedicated vegan menu and children’s menu for those travelling with little ones in tow.

Distance from Glasgow: 38 minutes (26.5 miles)

2. Glenskirlie Castle – Bonnybridge

Kilsyth Rd, Banknock, Bonnybridge FK4 1UF

Sail northeast from the city along the M80 for just short of a half-hour for the chance to dine in a luxurious 21st-century castle. Glenskirlie Castle is conveniently tucked just behind the motorway, but the sounds of traffic are a distant hum. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular spot for weddings, but the restaurant is packed out seven days a week too. Guests can enjoy lunch, afternoon tea and dinner from a team of award-winning chefs at reasonable prices. You can also hire out the Banqueting Room or Stained Glass Room for private dining. Walk off the calories in the manicured gardens or hop in the car for to historic Stirling – it’s only ten minutes away.

Distance from Glasgow: 27 minutes (17.6 miles)

3. The Birds and Bees – Stirling

Easter Cornton Rd, Stirling FK9 5PB

The Birds and Bees is an award-winning wine bar bistro set on an authentic farm on the outskirts of Stirling. It’s one of the city’s most popular eateries. Interiors ooze charm and character, lovingly decorated with eclectic fabrics, artworks and open fireplaces. Outside, there’s a sweeping terrace offering postcard-perfect views of rural Stirling. But it’s the food that will win over your heart (and belly). The menu is uses locally-sourced seasonal ingredients, with daily seafood market specials and a dedicated children’s menu.

Distance from Glasgow: 42 minutes (29.6 miles)

4. Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles Hotel

Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder PH3 1NF

This iconic resort hotel is dripping in luxury and makes the perfect grown-up escape from the city. The restaurant, which is tucked away behind a private entrance, is Scotland’s only two Michelin-starred restaurant. It’s also less than an hour’s drive from Glasgow. Vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and salads are all sourced from the restaurant’s own Victorian ‘Secret Garden’, while meat and fish are sourced locally. Guests can dine a la carte or opt for the tasting menu, which includes Andre Fairlie’s signature home-smoked Scottish lobster with warm lime and herb butter. Vegetarians are well catered for too, with both a dedicated veggie a la carte menu and a tasting menu.

Distance from Glasgow: 50 minutes (45 miles)

5. The Cellar – Fife

24 E Green, Anstruther KY10 3AA

The Cellar is a small restaurant with a big reputation. There’s just one tasting menu on offer, which makes things nice and easy for indecisive eaters, with dishes inspired by seasonal Scottish produce and locally foraged ingredients from the coast and countryside. The Michelin-starred restaurant is housed in a former smokehouse and cooperage, tucked away through an arch on a side street in Anstruther. Unlike most cellars, it’s a cosy space with exposed beams, stone walls and wood-burning stoves – perfect for an autumnal or winter day out. Local lad Billy Boyter, who has worked at a handful of Edinburgh’s most iconic restaurants, founded the eatery in 2014 and it’s since become an icon.

Distance from Glasgow: 1 hour 10 minutes (65.7 miles)

6. The Palmerston – Edinburgh

1 Palmerston Pl, Edinburgh EH12 5AF

Opened in the summer of 2021, The Palmerston is a relatively new addition to Edinburgh’s food scene, but it’s quickly made a name for itself among holidaying gastronomes. Owners chef Lloyd Morse and James Snowdon previously worked at London’s Spring and The Hardwood Arms, so that’s hardly surprising. They’re passionate about the origins of their ingredients here, so menus change daily. Seasonal crowdpleasers include the slow roast hogget, baked Tamworth shoulder and tagliatelle with violet artichokes. There’s a reasonable set lunch offering two courses for £16 or three courses for £19 too. It’s an easy drive along the M8 from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and you can easily reach the capital in under an hour.

Distance from Glasgow: 56 minutes (45 miles)

7. Inver Restaurant and Rooms – Inver

Cairndow PA27 8BU

This remote restaurant might be a bit of a schlep from Glasgow, but we guarantee it’s worth the effort. Set on the banks of Loch Fyne in a former crofters cottage and boat store, the restaurant boasts dramatic views across the water and out over the highlands. It was one of just 21 restaurants to appear in the Michelin Green Guide in 2021, thanks to its commitment to using the finest local, wild and forage ingredients. Unusually, there are more vegetable-based dishes than meat or fish dishes too. And, when meat is used, there isn’t any waste. A local brewery makes beer to the restaurant’s own recipe too. Despite being lauded as one of the finest restaurants in the region, prices aren’t eyewatering. There’s a £39 set menu that begins with nibbles at the bar or a £79 tasting menu. If you’re feeling sleepy after all that food, there are four cosy bothies that can be rented for the night.

Distance from Glasgow: 1 hour 36 minutes (70.5 miles)