An important part of planning any trip is finding great places to eat while you’re away, and there are plenty of options to excite your taste buds on the West Coast of Scotland. These are just some of the restaurants you might want to book yourself into on your golfing holiday in Scotland.

Lochgreen House Hotel

If you choose to stay at the Lochgreen House Hotel as part of your West Coast excursion from St Andrews, then you’re in very safe hands with the Hotel’s own award-winning eateries. Recently refurbished Bisque brings a touch of Parisian chic to the Ayrshire coast, offering an informal dining experience with a touch of luxury.

Head Chef Iain Conway has developed a menu of contemporary dishes that make local ingredients such as West Coast cod and Loch Fyne salmon the stars of the show. Enjoy your meal in Bisque whilst overlooking the well-tended gardens of Lochgreen House, awarm and romantic atmosphere for lunch or dinner.

The Brodrick is a more casual dining option within Lochgreen House. In the summer, The Brodrick goes al fresco, so you can enjoy a light lunch or traditional afternoon tea in the gardens. Whilst you’re at Lochgreen House, also be sure to visit the Drawing Room where you can sample malt whiskies from all six of Scotland’s whisky-producing regions.

Piersland House

Not far from Troon Beach, you’ll find the stunning Piersland House. Former home of the Walker family of Johnnie Walker whisky fame, the team behind this country house have worked hard to make this a go-to destination for visitors to Ayrshire.

The kitchen at Piersland House serves up classic dishes, done well, from steak to spiced lamb casserole. The menu on offer is seasonal, and if you’re visiting in the colder months, you can request a table by the crackling open fire for that authentic country house dining experience. The Walker Bar at Piersland House ensures you’re not short of beverages to accompany your meal either.

MacFarlane Ayr

Relative newcomer MacFarlane Ayr is already adding awards to its name, enjoying accolades such as ‘Best Restaurant 2018’ at the Ayrshire Business Retail Awards. The menu at MacFarlane Ayr takes pleasure in providing some fun, contemporary twists on familiar dishes. They serve up a Scottish spin on Italian cooking with their lasagne, layering minced pork loin with locally-sourced Ayrshire haggis. Although they continue the Scottish theme with a Scottish venison burger, their menu also

draws from around the world, including dishes such as Moroccan lamb curry and Louisiana-style Cajun chicken. A great restaurant to visit if you’re in Ayr.

Cail Bruich

If you find yourself a little bit further in-land, in the city of Glasgow, then Cail Bruich is a popular choice with both locals and visitors to Scotland’s second city. Head Chef Chris Charalambous changes Cail Bruich’s menus with the seasons, drawing from the Scottish countryside and their own kitchen garden for fresh ingredients that make a real difference to their dishes.

As well as their lunch and dinner menus, Cail Bruich can also put on a two and a half hour tasting menu for you. Current dishes on the tasting menu include such delights as Loch Fyne oysters, Borders lamb, and cider mousse. It doesn’t stop at the food either as Cail Bruich goes all out with their drinks menu too. The plates on the seasonal and tasting menus can come paired with drinks if you so choose, or you can sample some of the ‘House Creations’, where each ingredient has been ‘foraged, fermented, simmered, squeezed and infused’. Current creations include mezcal, grapefruit, habanero and pineapple, and absinthe, peach, fennel, apple and dill.

Leiper’s Attic

Named for William Leiper, a distinctive architect who contributed much to Glasgow, Leiper’s Attic specialises in dishes made with wild fish, game and dry aged beef. They aim to put the Scottish larder on show for all to enjoy, ageing all their beef, from either Perthshire or Renfrewshire, in house for 28 days before serving.

If you’re in Glasgow to see a show, drop in to Leiper’s Attic to enjoy their pre-theatre menu with dishes such as gin-cured salmon and pigeon with black pudding. And if you’ve never experienced a traditional British Sunday Roast, then Leiper’s Attic could be your chance, offering a roast of the day accompanied by Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings every Sunday.

Braidwoods Restaurant

Head out of Glasgow and over to North Ayrshire, and you’ll find the Michelin starred Braidwoods Restaurant. Run by husband and wife chef extraordinaires, Keith and Nicola Braidwood, this fine dining restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star for twenty consecutive years.

Braidwoods is the place to go for haute cuisine on the West Coast of Scotland as the cooking here pays testament to the core values of this cooking style – fresh, quality ingredients, exquisite attention to detail, and everything homemade, from pasta sauces to chocolates.

Although the menu does change regularly, you might find dishes such as roast loin of rabbit stuffed with mushroom, wrapped in parma ham, and grilled fillet of west coast turbot featured – whatever is included, you know it will have been locally sourced. From September to April, a sumptuous three course Sunday lunch menu is available at Braidwoods, which you can finish off with tea or coffee and homemade chocolates. If Braidwoods is on your list, be sure to book ahead as they can be fully booked on Fridays and Saturdays up to two months in advance.