6 Best Restaurants in Fife and Angus, Scotland

Next door to the Scottish Fisheries Museum, this popular fish-and-chips shop has a functional space to eat, but most people order takeout. Try local specialties including Pittenweem prawns in batter or the catch of the day, which could be mackerel (line caught by the owners), hake, or local crab.

This hut on the pier, a hidden gem, sells beautifully cooked lobsters at surprisingly low prices, as well as other items like lobster rolls and dressed crab. They'll crack the lobster for you to allow for easy eating on a nearby bench; there is no seating, but the lobster is wonderful. Hours are seasonal (Easter to late September only) and weather dependent.

This eatery overlooking the harbor run by Dundonian chef Craig Millar put St. Monans on Scotland's culinary map. The fixed-price menu has vegetarian and meat options, but with salty fruits of the North Sea on the Fife quayside—such as crab, cod, hake, and mackerel—it's all about Craig's expertise with seafood.

The line of customers outside might be a bit off-putting, but just focus on the sweet smell of fish-and-chips from St. Andrews's best chipper. There's a busy light-filled dining room and modish seating area, or you can carry out and eat on the university grounds (though be wary of the dive-bombing gulls). The menu also offers tiger prawns, seared scallops, burgers, and a fish of the day, but you can't go wrong with the battered haddock supper with chips. Reserve in advance if you want to dine in. Their basement sister restaurant in Dundee shares the same excellent menu.

The striking glass-walled venue perched above the West Sands consistently delivers the freshest and most refined seafood dishes in St. Andrews. Scottish-Italian owner Stefano keeps the emphasis on prime Scots seafood while adding il bel paese flourishes and menu staples like risotto, agnolotti (stuffed pasta pockets), and cicchetti (Venetian-style tapas). The open-plan layout and kitchen make for a buzzy atmosphere, but insist on a sea-view table for serene views. It's a fine place for a blowout meal but best be selective if on a budget: the prime location, top-quality produce and service come at a pretty penny.