My favourite meal in Scotland is undoubtedly breakfast. Although I’ve had some fine lunches and dinners in my ancestral homeland, what always stands out for me is the quality (and often quantity) of Scottish breakfasts.
Perhaps because of the cold climate, the best breakfasts in Scotland are inevitably hearty affairs of smoked fish, porridge and various sausages, as well as excellent (often local) eggs, bacon and preserves. Not forgetting delicious bread such as the baps (Scottish morning rolls) in the video below. Here are places worth staying at for their breakfasts alone next time you travel north of the River Tweed.
Kippers The Sherbrooke Castle Hotel, Glasgow
My favourite of all Scottish breakfast dishes is the ubiquitous kipper. I’ve eaten them all over the country for many years so trust me when I say that the golden, flaky, buttery, smoky fillets served in this beautiful 19th century baronial villa are my new kipper benchmark. A plate of kippers at Sherbrooke Castle is quite simply one of the best breakfasts in Scotland.
Black Haggis 23 Mayfield Gardens, Edinburgh
I’m no fan of offal, but the combined black pudding and haggis served in the beautiful Victorian dining room of this famous Edinburgh guesthouse is such a hit with my haggis-loving husband that it rates a mention. I’m just as enamoured by the natural yoghurt with whisky-flambéed fruit and toasted oats.
Smoked Salmon Forss House Hotel, Thurso
You eat a lot of smoked salmon in Scotland, but the Caithness Smokehouse version served in the sunny dining room of this Georgian Manor is special. It’s brined, dried overnight, then cold-smoked over oak and applewood, before being shaved into surprisingly long horizontal slices served simply with hot wholemeal toast. Not only is it one of the best breakfasts in Scotland, it’d make a fine lunch or dinner too.
Poached Haddock & Egg Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue
The thick, white, flaky flesh of haddock is a Scottish breakfast staple. I generally prefer oilier fish for smoking, but smoked haddock from the tiny fishing village of Kinlochbervie, poached with golden-yolked local eggs at this hospitable rural hotel on Scotland’s windswept north coast, changed my mind.
Porridge The Albannach, Lochinver
We can’t talk about the best breakfasts in Scotland without porridge. And the best porridge I’ve ever tasted was at this luxurious west coast B&B. A mixture of coarse and fine oatmeal with cream and brown sugar served on locally-made pottery, it is a serious contender for Scotland’s best breakfast. Original owners, Lesley Crosfield and Colin Craig, have since retired – stay tuned for a re-review soon.
Updated 03 Apr 2025
