Every autumn, Michelin releases its UK index the Michelin Guide. It’s a fairly stressful time for restaurants and chefs - it can be a joyous or tearful occasion, receiving a star or loosing one.

The Michelin Guide was started by the Michelin brothers, Edouard and Andre in 1900 after they started their tyre company in 1889. They wanted to encourage people to travel further afield, thus buying more tyres!

So how does the rating system work?

They have 5 criteria :

• quality of the ingredients used

• mastery of flavour and cooking techniques

• the personality of the chef in their cuisine

• value for money

• consistency between visits

One star: Very good cooking in its category. 

Two stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour. 

Three stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

Bib Gourmand: Recognises "small, charming restaurants" serving good food an affordable prices – in the UK, this means three courses for under £28.

Michelin Plate: A nod to places that have been recognised but are yet to earn one of the other awards;

You may think that the Michelin Guide is all about fine dining but you couldn’t be more wrong. Yes they’ve awarded restaurants with white table cloths and polished crystal glasses but they have also awarded stars to the like of the Hong Kong dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan’s hole-in-the-wall maiden outlet in Mongkok; the street side ramen noodle bar Tsuta in Tokyo and a street food stall in Singapore offering a plate of soya sauce chicken from HKD12!

Scottish restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide

Here is the list of Michelin awarded restaurants in Scotland (alphabetical order) with my symbols for one star, two stars, bib gourmand and michelin plates.

* one star **two star $ bib gourmand IOI michelin plate

ABERDEEN CITY

• IX IOI - https://www.chester-hotel.com/

• Moonfish Cafe IOI - http://www.moonfishcafe.co.uk/

• Silver Darling IOI - https://www.thesilverdarling.co.uk/

ABERDEENSHIRE

• Clunnie Dining Room, The Fife Arms, Braemar IOI - http://thefifearms.com/

• Cock and Bull, Balmedie IOI - http://www.thecockandbull.co.uk/

• Kildrummy Inn, Kildrummy IOI - http://www.kildrummyinn.co.uk/

• Rothsay Rooms, Ballater IOI - https://rothesay-rooms.co.uk/

• Tolbooth, Stonehaven IOI - http://www.tolbooth-restaurant.co.uk/

ANGUS

• Gordons, Inverkeilor IOI - http://www.gordonsrestaurant.co.uk/

ARGYLL AND BUTE

• 18, Machrie Hotel, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay IOI - https://www.campbellgrayhotels.com/machrie-islay-scotland/

• Airds, Airds Hotel, Port Appin IOI - https://www.airds-hotel.com/. Read my review here

• Baab, Perle Hotel, Oban IOI - https://www.perleoban.com/

• Boathouse, Isle of Gigha IOI - http://www.boathouseongigha.com/

• Etive, Oban IOI - http://www.etiverestaurant.co.uk/

• Highland Cottage, Tobermory IOI - http://www.highlandcottage.co.uk/

• Inver, Strathlaclan IOI - http://inverrestaurant.co.uk/

• Isle of Eriska, Eriska Hotel, Near Oban * - https://eriska-hotel.co.uk/

• Kilberry Inn, Kilberry $ - https://www.kilberryinn.com/

• Ninth Wave, Bruach Mhor, Fionnphort IOI - http://www.ninthwaverestaurant.co.uk/

• Pennygate Lodge, Craignure IOI - https://pennygatelodge.scot/

• Sugar Boat, Helensburgh IOI - https://sugarboat.co.uk/

AYRSHIRE

• Braidwoods, Dalry * - https://www.braidwoods.co.uk/

BORDERS

• Hoebridge, Gattonside IOI - http://www.thehoebridge.com/

• Osso, Peebles IOI - https://www.ossorestaurant.com/

• Provender, Melrose $ - https://provendermelrose.com/

• Seasons, Gattonside IOI - https://seasonsborders.co.uk/

DUMFIES AND GALLOWAY

• Auldgirth Inn, Auldgirth IOI - http://auldgirthinn.co.uk/

• Blackaddie House, Sanquhar IOI - https://www.blackaddiehotel.co.uk/

• Cavens, Kirkbean IOI - https://www.cavens.com/

• Del Amitri, Powfoot Hotel, Powfoot, Annan IOI - http://www.thepowfoothotel.com/

• Knockinaam Lodge, Portpatrick IOI - https://www.knockinaamlodge.com/

• Lime Tree, Hartfell Guest House, Moffat IOI - https://www.hartfellhouse.co.uk/

DUNDEE CITY

• Castlehill IOI - https://www.castlehillrestaurant.co.uk/

• Collinsons IOI - http://www.collinsonsrestaurant.com/

• Tayberry IOI - https://tayberryrestaurant.co.uk/

EDINBURGH CITY

• Aizle IOI - https://www.aizle.co.uk/

• Baba IOI - https://baba.restaurant/ Read my review here

• Borough IOI - https://boroughrestaurant.com/

• Castle Terrace IOI - https://castleterracerestaurant.com/

• Condita * - https://www.condita.co.uk/

• Dine IOI - https://dineedinburgh.co.uk/ Read my review here

• Edinburgh Food Studio IOI - http://www.edinburghfoodstudio.com/ (dined here; communal dining and food is seasonal and ethically sourced)

• Fhior IOI - https://fhior.com/

• Gardeners Cottage IOI - https://www.thegardenerscottage.co/ (dined here; its quirky and communal)

• Little Chartroom IOI - https://www.thelittlechartroom.com/

• Merienda $ - https://eat-merienda.com/ (dined here; small plate dining)

• Martin Wishart * - http://www.martin-wishart.co.uk/

• Mono IOI - https://monorestaurant.co.uk/ (dined here and loved it)

• Number One at the Balmoral * - https://www.roccofortehotels.com

• Ondine IOI - https://www.ondinerestaurant.co.uk

• Pompadour IOI - https://www.thepompadour.com/

• Purslane IOI - http://www.purslanerestaurant.co.uk/ (dined here and loved it)

• Rabbit Hole IOI - https://therabbitholerestaurant.com/

• Scran and Scallie $ - https://scranandscallie.com/

• Southside Scran IOI - https://southsidescran.com/

• Taisteal IOI - https://www.taisteal.co.uk/ (dined here; it has an Asian influence)

• The Honours IOI - https://www.thehonours.co.uk/

• The Kitchin * - https://thekitchin.com/

• Lookout IOI - https://www.thelookoutedinburgh.co/

• Timberyard IOI - https://www.timberyard.co/ (dined here and its seasonal all the way)

• 21212 IOI - https://www.21212restaurant.co.uk/

EAST LOTHIAN

• Bonnie Badger, Gullane $ - https://bonniebadger.com/

• Chez Roux, Greywalls Hotel, Gullane IOI - https://greywalls.co.uk/ (dined here and its traditional and beautiful)

• Creel, Dunbar IOI - https://www.facebook.com/The-Creel-Restaurant-124718410922714/

• La Potiniere, Gulland IOI - http://lapotiniere.co.uk/

FALKIRK

• Champany Inn, Linlithgow IOI - http://www.champany.com/

FIFE

• Adamson, St Andrews IOI - https://theadamson.com/

• Craig Millar at 16 West End, Saint Monans IOI - https://www.16westend.com/

• Grange Inn, St Andrews IOI - https://thegrangeinn.com/

• Haar, St Andrews IOI - https://www.haarrestaurant.com/

• Newport, Newport-on-Tay IOI - https://www.thenewportrestaurant.co.uk/

• Seafood Ristorante, St Andrews IOI - https://www.theseafoodrestaurant.com/

• The Cellar, Anstruther * - https://www.thecellaranstruther.co.uk/

• The Peat Inn, Near St Andrews * - https://www.thepeatinn.co.uk/

• Wee Restaurant, North Queensferry IOI - https://www.theweerestaurant.co.uk/

GLASGOW CITY

• Alchemilla IOI - http://www.thisisalchemilla.com/

• Brian Maule at Chardon d’Or IOI - https://www.brianmaule.com/

• Bilson Eleven IOI - https://bilsoneleven.co.uk/

• Cafezique IOI - https://www.facebook.com/Cafezique/

• Cail Bruich IOI - https://www.cailbruich.co.uk/

• Gamba IOI - https://www.gamba.co.uk/

• Hanoi Bike Shop IOI - https://hanoibikeshop.co.uk/

• Julias Kopitian IOI - no website

• Monadh Kitchen $ - https://www.monadhkitchen.co.uk/

• Ox and Finch $ - https://www.oxandfinch.com/

• Six by Nico IOI - https://www.sixbynico.co.uk/ (dined here and its great that the menu is every changing)

• Stravaign IOI - https://www.stravaigin.co.uk/

• The Gannet IOI - https://www.thegannetgla.com/

• Ubiquitous Chip IOI - http://www.ubiquitouschip.co.uk/

HIGHLANDS

• Applecross Inn, Applecross IOI - http://www.applecrossinn.co.uk/

• Applecross Walled Garden, Applecross IOI - http://www.applecrossgarden.co.uk/

• Chez Roux, Rocpool Hotel, Inverness IOI - https://rocpool.com/

• Coruisk House, Elgol IOI - https://coruiskhouse.com/

• Cross at Kingussie, Kingussie IOI - https://thecross.co.uk/

• Edinbane Inn, isle of Skye IOI - http://www.edinbaneinn.co.uk/

• Edinbane Lodge, Isle of Skye IOI - https://www.edinbanelodge.com/

• Inverlochy Castle, Torlundy, Fort William IOI - https://inverlochycastlehotel.com/

• Kale Yard Cafe, Boath House, Nairn IOI - https://www.boath-house.com/

• Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku IOI - https://www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk/

• Lime Tree An Ealdhain, Fort William IOI - https://www.limetreefortwilliam.co.uk/

• Loch Bay, Stein, Isle of Skye * - https://www.lochbay-restaurant.co.uk/

• Lochleven Seafood Cafe, Lochleven, Onich IOI - http://www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk/

• Rocpool, Inverness IOI - https://www.rocpoolrestaurant.com/

• Russells at Smiddy House, Spean Bridge IOI - https://www.smiddyhouse.com/

• Scorrybreac, Portree IOI - https://www.scorrybreac.com/

• Sutor Creek, Cromarty IOI - https://www.sutorcreek.co.uk/

• Three Chimneys, Isle of Skye IOI - https://www.threechimneys.co.uk/

• Whitehorse, Lochaline IOI - https://www.thewhitehouserestaurant.co.uk/

MIDLOTHIAN

• Sun Inn, Dalkeith IOI - https://thesuninnedinburgh.co.uk/

PERTH AND KINROSS

• Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles ** - https://www.andrewfairlie.co.uk/

• Ballintaggart Farm and Grandtully Hotel, Grandtully IOI - https://www.ballintaggart.com/

• Deans IOI - https://www.letseatperth.co.uk/

• Fonab Brasserie, Pitlochery IOI - https://www.fonabcastlehotel.com/

• Roost, Kintillo IOI - http://www.theroostrestaurant.co.uk/

• Sandemans, Pitlochry IOI - https://www.fonabcastlehotel.com/

STIRLING

• Chez Roux, Cromlix Hotel, Dunblane IOI - https://cromlix.com/

There is so much great food being made around Scotland, using the best of Scottish produce, and prepared by very passionate Chefs; and with this handy list, I am sure you will be able to find a Michelin recommended restaurant near you.

For the full Michelin Guide visit their website https://guide.michelin.com/gb/en

Check out my top fine dining restaurants around the world https://www.tartanspoon.co.uk/fine-dining