Best Restaurant in Scotland

Timberyard continues to set the benchmark for modern Scottish hospitality. Not only has it won Cocktail List of the Year in 2026 it has also been named the best restaurant north of the border. Opened by Andrew and Lisa Radford in 2012 and now led by the next generation of the family - Ben, Jo and Abi Radford - the restaurant has built an international reputation for ingredient-led cooking, sustainability and a deeply personal approach to dining. Set within a striking former warehouse close to Edinburgh Castle, Timberyard remains one of Scotland's most influential and distinctive restaurants.

Originally built in 1895, the building has served many lives over the years, from a theatre props store to a department store warehouse and, fittingly, a timber yard. Today, guests enter through the restaurant's distinctive fire-red barn door into a warm, pared-back dining room where exposed stone walls, timber beams, weathered brick and cast iron details reflect the character of the building's industrial past.

Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian dining culture, the restaurant works closely with local growers, farmers, fishermen and foragers, celebrating Scotland's natural larder through menus that follow the seasons with precision, restraint and creativity. Much of what is served is made in-house, with ingredients sourced from the kitchen garden and preserved through fermentation, pickling and curing.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the operation. A zero-waste philosophy informs every aspect of the business, with a root-to-shoot and nose-to-tail approach extending from the kitchen to the drinks programme. Under head chef Bart Stratfold, whose previous experience includes Coombeshead Farm and Adam Byatt's Bistro Union, dishes are designed to let exceptional ingredients speak for themselves. Seasonal plates might include asparagus with lemon thyme, hazelnut and lardo in spring, or mallard with celeriac, alexanders and sauce vin jaune during the colder months, while desserts draw on foraged ingredients and carefully preserved fruit.

The family's influence on Edinburgh's hospitality scene has expanded in recent years with the opening of wine bar Montrose and, more recently, Haze, a wine and coffee concept in Leith, further cementing the Radfords' reputation as Scotland's leading hospitality family.