Scotland Travel Guide

Scotland — Food and Dining

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Cuisine

Things to know: Licensing hours vary; basic hours are 1100-2300, but many pubs have extended hours, particularly in cities. A complete smoking ban in bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs and offices came into force in 2006. Designated hotel bedrooms are exempt.

Regional specialties:
• Porridge (a traditional Scottish breakfast made from locally grown oats and either milk or water).
• Haggis (chopped oatmeal and offal cooked in the stomach of a sheep), neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).
• Cullen skink (fish soup).
• Smoked salmon.
• Partan bree (crab with rice and cream).

Regional drinks:
• Whisky.
• Beer.
• Irn Bru (carbonated soft drink said to be made from girders).

Legal Drinking Age: 18.

Nightlife

Major cities, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, enjoy vibrant nightlife, with many bars, restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, theater, opera and music concerts. Some of the main venues for theater include the Festival Theater, Playhouse, Assembly Rooms and Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, the Citizen’s Theater and the Theater Royal in Glasgow. The SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center) building in Glasgow is a popular concert arena for live bands. For more information on musical and theatrical events, contact VisitScotland (www.visitscotland.com).