St Andrews Restaurants: 10 Incredible Places To Eat In St Andrews
Are you planning a trip to St Andrews and looking for the best places to eat? My guide to the best St Andrews restaurants includes my favourite eateries, serving everything from seafood to modern Scottish cuisine.
Written by: Lesley Stewart | Updated 2026
The food scene in St Andrews is unrivalled, and it pulls me back time and time again. I’ve visited the town dozens of times over the years, and with each trip, I fall in love with it a little more.
And much of that comes down to the food.
Beyond its sandy beaches and historic streets, St Andrews has quietly built an exceptional dining scene. From casual cafés and easy brunch spots to standout seafood restaurants and special-occasion dining, there’s something here for every kind of trip.
But because it’s such a popular destination, knowing where to eat can feel overwhelming.
That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve spent years exploring St Andrews on weekend breaks and coastal walks, eating my way through brunches, lunches, and dinners across the town. These days, I’ve built up a shortlist of firm favourites - places I return to again and again for reliable quality, local ingredients, and genuinely memorable meals.
This guide covers the best restaurants in St Andrews, along with a few tips to help you choose the right spot for your trip.
If you’re planning a longer stay, you might also find my guides to Fife helpful. And if you’re planning a full Scotland trip, my travel planning services are designed to help you create a thoughtful, well-paced itinerary tailored to your travel style.
Quick Guide: Best St Andrews Restaurants
Fife’s wider food scene plays a big role here, with exceptional local produce - particularly seafood, cheeses, meats, and fresh vegetables - shaping many of the menus across town.
Planning a foodie weekend in St Andrews? Here are my top picks:
Seafood: Ondine, The Seafood Ristorante and Haar.
Bistro: The Bothy and Mitchells.
Coffee: Spoiled Life and Palompo's Espresso Bar.
Lunch: Five Acres (seasonal), CombiniCo (sushi) and Northpoint (brunch).
Casual: Dune (lobster rolls), Saints Sizzle (no-frills burgers), Cheesy Toast Shack (toasties), Fisher & Donaldson (bakery), and The Criterion (gastropub).
Incredible St Andrews Restaurants
These are my favourite St Andrews restaurants, serving up delicious dishes and creative menus. I’ve eaten in pretty much all of them, though a few remain on my foodie bucket list! Let’s go:
1. Haar
Best for: relaxed seafood dining
Location: 1 Golf Pl, St Andrews KY16 9JA
Seafood-focussed Haar is easily one of St Andrew’s best places to eat.
Chef-Owner Dean Banks brings years of experience to Haar - the Michelin-recommended chef has worked in more than 40 countries around the world.
At Haar, the ethos is very much seasonal ingredients and the absolute best produce from across the UK. Whilst the speciality at this St Andrews restaurant is seafood, there are plenty of other options on the tasting menu; note there’s no a la carte at Haar, but in return you’ll get to sample a beautifully balanced range of dishes.
This is a fine-dining experience, so expect to pay a little more for your meal here. Personally, I recommend the three-course lunch set menu for an affordable £49 per person.
2. The Bothy
Best for: beautiful interiors & hearty meals
Location: 3 Church Square, St Andrews, KY16 9NN
Situated in the heart of town, this St Andrews restaurant is one of the prettiest places to eat.
They serve a contemporary Scottish menu of seasonal dishes like pork belly, ribeye steak, and seafood crumble. There’s a brilliant selection of light bites, too, and a delicious selection of sandwiches if you want a smaller lunch (the Bothy Club sandwich with crispy fries is delicious).
Inside, The Bothy is beautifully decorated, a cosy bolthole in the midst of the busy town. Whilst on sunny days, nab a table in the courtyard and watch the world go by in the busy square.
Genuinely one of my absolute favourite St Andrews restaurants, you’re guaranteed exceptional food and a cosy atmosphere, alongside really lovely staff.
3. Ondine
Best for: refined seafood dining, special occasions
Location: 76 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9BB
Located inside the beautifully restored Seaton House, Ondine brings one of Scotland’s most respected seafood names to the heart of the town.
This is a more polished, elevated dining experience — ideal for a slower evening meal rather than a casual bite. The focus is firmly on high-quality Scottish seafood, treated with simplicity and care, letting the ingredients do the talking.
Expect beautifully prepared dishes that change with the seasons, from locally landed fish to shellfish served with confident, unfussy flavour combinations. It’s the kind of menu that feels both rooted in place and quietly special.
The setting within Seaton House enhances the atmosphere, offering a calm, refined backdrop that suits everything from date nights to celebratory dinners. And the view over West Sands beach and the sea beyond is special.
4. Five Acres
Best for: seasonal menu for lunch
Location: 68 Market St, St Andrews, KY16 9NU
This cosy St Andrews café describes itself as a “seed to plant canteen”, and it actually feels like a perfect fit.
Tucked into a small spot on the high street, it’s one of our favourite places for lunch in St Andrews. The menu changes seasonally, with salads, sandwiches, soups, and stews - all made using organic produce from the café’s own kitchen garden.
On our visit, we had roasted asparagus on sourdough and a tenderstem broccoli salad with chickpeas. Both were incredibly fresh, simple, and full of flavour.
Alternatives: If you’re after a more substantial brunch or traditional café lunch, head to Northpoint Cafe for bagels, breakfasts, and pancake stacks. Or the excellent CombiniCo for bowls and takeaway platters of sushi, bini bowls, and dumplings.
5. The Criterion
Best for: hearty pub food, relaxed atmosphere, good drinks
Location: 99 South St, St Andrews KY16 9QW
The Criterion is one of St Andrews’ most dependable spots for relaxed, no-fuss dining. Set just off the town centre, it has the feel of a classic pub done properly - warm, welcoming, and always reliably busy in the best way.
Inside, expect a traditional pub setting with plenty of character and a menu built around generous, comforting dishes. Think burgers, pies, fish and chips, and crowd-pleasing classics that are ideal after a day exploring.
It’s not trying to be overly polished or refined, and that’s exactly the appeal. This is where you come for easy evenings, a pint of something crafty, and food that’s satisfying.
We ended our night here with an informal whisky tasting at the bar, and thanks to the friendly bar staff and brilliantly chosen drams, it was genuinely one of our favourite evenings in the town.
This St Andrews eatery is s popular with both visitors and locals, so you may want to book ahead at peak times, especially for evening meals or weekend dinners.
6. The Seafood Ristorante
Best for: refined seafood and coastal views
Location: Bruce Embankment, St Andrews, KY16 9AB
The premier seafood restaurant in St Andrews, this iconic eatery is a must for special occasions.
When it comes to the menu, the clues in the name - seafood is the speciality here, so expect lots of locally caught offerings from the sea. Dishes like Anstruther lobster raviolo, hand-dived Orkney scallops, and Islay oysters.
Situated a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town, the restaurant is all glass and big windows, with gorgeous coastal views.
The Seafood Ristorante is a fine dining restaurant, so expect to pay more to eat here. But it is the perfect choice if you want to turn dinner into an experience.
7. Spoiled Life
Best for: perfectly made flat whites, pour-overs, and sweet treats
Location: 15 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG
Spoiled Life is a beautifully considered café that leans into expertly made coffee to an ever-changing selection of cakes and sweet treats that feel a little more creative than your standard café counter.
This is the place for coffee lovers who care about the details. Flat whites are consistently well-balanced, pour-overs are carefully prepared, and the rotating coffee selection often highlights interesting roasters and seasonal profiles.
Alongside the coffee, the baked goods are a real highlight. Expect inventive cakes, indulgent slices, and pastries that go beyond the usual offering - we chose a Basque cheesecake, and it was moreish.
Alternative: Spoiled Life is excellent, but also incredibly popular and therefore busy. If you’re after speciality coffee in a slightly more traditional setting (and somewhere a bit quieter), head to Palompo's Espresso Bar instead.
8. Forgans
Best for: lively dining, varied menu
Location: 110 Market St, St Andrews KY16 9PB
Forgans is a lively eatery in the heart of town and one of the most popular restaurants in St Andrews.
The extensive menu is a mix of classic dishes like pan-seared duck and ox-cheek stew, plus incredibly delicious sides like truffle fries. At lunch time, choose from hearty ciabatta and club sandwiches. I ate a burger with Arran cheese and bacon jam, and honestly, it was one of the best dinners I had in town.
Inside is warm and welcoming, with a buzzy atmosphere and super-friendly staff. Highly recommend.
Alternatives: if you’re looking for bistro dining, Rogue and The Adamson are good options.
9. Mitchells
Best for: relaxed brunch and lunch
Location: 111-112 Market St, St Andrews KY16 9PB
Mitchell’s is another St Andrews restaurant I love and one of the best places to eat in town. The menu uses local seasonal produce, and they offer an all-day menu that transitions from brunch to lunch to dinner (we think the daytime menu is best).
Inside, Mitchells is a beautiful space that blends a relaxed restaurant with a charming deli. I ate here after walking this part of the Fife Coastal Path and found the staff incredibly welcoming to this solo traveller. I highly recommend the Parmesan & truffle fries and chicken Caesar salad.
Plus, Mitchell’s is perfectly located in the centre of town and only a few minutes’ walk from the castle and university buildings.
10. The Cheesy Toast Shack
Last but by no means least, the Cheesy Toast Shack is a St Andrews institution.
As you’d expect, toasties are the speciality here, and they’re genuinely excellent.
Located in a takeaway shack at East Sands Beach, the toasties are fully loaded, generously filled, and dangerously moreish. We’re particularly fond of the goat’s cheese with sticky chutney, though the mac & cheese option is just as good.
In summer, you’ll also find an ice cream stand, along with hot drinks and breakfast rolls in the morning.
Be warned: the queue can be long and slow, especially at weekends. And there are frequently gangs of roving seagulls that are all too happy to steal your toastie. That said, the food is worth the wait - and if you arrive before peak lunchtime, you’ll usually avoid the worst of the crowds (and pesky birds).
Alternatives: For other casual eating options in St Andrews, try The Tailend, an excellent chip shop with both takeaway and seating; Saints Sizzle, a no-frills burger spot tucked away near the aquarium; or the royally approved Fisher & Donaldson bakery for savoury bites and proper cakes.
Read next:
The 10 Best Hotels In St Andrews (coming soon)
