This post is a wee bit of a step away from my usual Recipes and Edible Adventures. It's about something that has become increasingly apparent and important in recent weeks and months. Aberdeen has long been secure in a bubble of wealth, but with the falling oil price that bubble has burst. The effect is being felt across the board and has been very visible with heartbreaking recent closures of a number of food related businesses in the city.
Below is my attempt thus far at a list of Independent Cafe's and Restaurants currently operating in Aberdeen City. There will undoubtedly be places that I've missed out - please, please do tell me about them and share the love. There may also be differences of opinion over what constitutes a local independent eatery. If you feel I've included something that shouldn't be here for some reason then feel free to give me a heads up about that too. I should also point out that inclusion on this list doesn't mean an endorsement from me, although I've included some of my photos from establishments where I have eaten at. I'm now very tempted to try and work my way through the whole list!
Of course it's not just local cafe's and restaurants that need our support, bars, retailers and local business in general is very much feeling the pinch at the moment. Chains and nationals do of course contribute to the local economy but I'd urge you to try and step away from the city's many generic coffee shops and shopping center chain restaurants and discover and support some of the hidden gems of the Aberdeen dining scene.
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| Almondine |
Cafe Culture
Foodstory, 13-15 Thistle St
The Cat in the Window Cafe, 14 Netherkirkgate
Sweet Mumma's Kitchen, Arch 11, Palmerston Rd
Long Dog Cafe, 66 Claremont St
Kilau, 57-59 High St
Cup, 9 Little Belmont St and 16 Thistle St
Haar Rock Coffee, 81 Charleston Rd N
Books & Beans, 22 Belmont St
Cafe Cognito, 39 St Swithin St
Corner Tree Cafe, 3 Whitehall Rd
Teasel & Tweed, 85 Rosemount Viaduct
Parx Cafe, 19 Rubislaw Terrace
The Hub Cafe, 12 St Swithin Street
Contour Cafe, 47 The Green
The Kitchen Works, 7 Summer St
Terroir, 371 N Deeside Rd
Cari & Co Victorian Tearoom, 55 N Deeside Rd
Coppa Coffee, 40 St. Swithin Street
Hammerton Store, 336 Great Western Rd
Tea Zone, 1-3 Justice St
Prego, 33-35 Fountainhall Rd
The Coffee House, 1 Gaelic Ln
Richmond Street Deli, 65 Richmond St
Go Green Community Cafe, Ruthrieston Community Centre
Tempo, Bon Accord Centre
Belmont Filmhouse Cafe, 49 Belmont Street
Cakes, Coffee and Mhor, 123 Holburn St
The Cult of Coffee, 28 Esslemont Ave
Spin, 10 Littlejohn Street
Cognito Deli, 245 Union Grove
Thyme Out, 569/571 Great Western Road
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| The Long Dog Cafe |
Ice Cream & Sweet Treats
Casa Di Gelato, 194-196 King St
Shakes 'n' Cakes, 149 Spital
Crolla's, 60 Rosemount Pl
Aye Scream, 667 George St
Almondine, 39-43 Thistle St
Cocoa Ooze, 24-28 Belmont St
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| Mad Penguin |
Dining Out
Moonfish Cafe, 9 Correction Wynd
Howies, 50 Chapel St
Musa, 33 Exchange St
Cafe 52, 52 The Green
Bistro Verde, Unit 1-2 The Green
The Braided Fig, 39 Summer St
Silver Darling, 43 Pocra Quay
Fusion, 10 N Silver St
210 Bistro, 210 Market St
Tippling House, 4 Belmont St
Rye & Soda, The Academy, Belmont St
99 Bar & Kitchen, 1 Back Wynd
Soul, 333 Union St
No. 1 Bar & Grill, 1 Queen's Terrace
The City Bar & Diner, 37-39 Netherkirkgate
No. 10 Bar & Restaurant, 10 Queens Terrace
The Albyn, 11 Albyn Pl
Granite Park, 8 Golden Square
The Atholl, 54 King's Gate
The Mariner, 349 Great Western Rd
Dutch Mill, 7 Queen's Rd
Ferryhill House, 169 Bon-Accord S
Dizzy's, 70 Carden Pl
Scotch Bonnet Bistro, Unit 2 Jesmond Dr, Bridge of Don
Mains of Scotstown, Jesmond Square
The Howff, 365 Union St
Pan Asia, 64 Bridge Street
Cafe Harmony 21-23 Bon Accord Terrace
Scotch Bonnet Bistro, Unit 2 Jesmond Dr, Bridge of Don
Mains of Scotstown, Jesmond Square
The Howff, 365 Union St
Pan Asia, 64 Bridge Street
Cafe Harmony 21-23 Bon Accord Terrace
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| No. 10 Bar & Restaurant |
Sandwiches and so on
Melt, 58 Holburn St
Bagels & Stuff, 42 Thistle St
The Breadmaker, 50-52 Rosemount Viaduct
Grub Fresh Food, 148 Spital & Exploration Drive & 59 Schoolhill
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| Melt |
Italian & Pizza
Carmines, 32 Union Terrace
Rustico, 62 Union Row
Caio Napoli, 10 Bon-Accord Cres
La Lombarda, 2-8 King St
Poldinos, 7 Little Belmont St
Virginias Cafe, 231 Rosemount Place
Mi Amore, 80-82 Huntly St
Borsalino Restaurant, 337 North Deeside Rd
Nick's Pizza, 15 Back Wynd
Mamma Pizza, 11-13 Belmont St
Aperitivo, 15 Bon-Accord St
Pasta Plus, 119 Rosemount Pl
DaVinci Ristorante Italiano, 1 Alford Lane
DaVinci Ristorante Italiano, 1 Alford Lane
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| Crolla's |
Indian
The Jewel in the Crown, 145 Crown St
8848, 347 Union St
Shri Bheemas, 15-17 Belmont St
Cafe Bombay, 144A N Deeside Rd
The Nawaabs, 33 Summer S
Arthi's, Caledon Lounge, Garthdee Rd
Monsoona, 20 Bridge St
Ambal's, 4 Bridge St
Nazma Tandoori, 62 Bridge Street
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| Muchacho |
Mexican
Muchacho, 9-11 Rose St
Fresh Mex, 145 Holburn St
Chinese & Thai
Zen Oriental, 16-17 Bon Accord Crescent
Yangtze River, 8 Bridge St
Manchurian, 136 Causewayend
Sabai, 470 Union St
Thai Seasons Cafe, Hazeldene Road (Old Dobbies Garden Centre)
Madam Mew's, Unit 11, Aberdeen Market, Market St
Siam Cottage, 13 Castle St
Saigon, 29a Crown Terrace
Turkish
World Food
Maggie's Grill, 242 Holburn St
Chinese & Thai
Zen Oriental, 16-17 Bon Accord Crescent
Yangtze River, 8 Bridge St
Manchurian, 136 Causewayend
Sabai, 470 Union St
Thai Seasons Cafe, Hazeldene Road (Old Dobbies Garden Centre)
Madam Mew's, Unit 11, Aberdeen Market, Market St
Siam Cottage, 13 Castle St
Saigon, 29a Crown Terrace
Turkish
Rendezvous at Nargile, 106-108 Forest Ave
Nargile, 77-79 Skene St
World Food
Maggie's Grill, 242 Holburn St
Christos Greek Taverna, 14-20 John St
Little Malaya, 25 Inverurie Rd
Gurkha Chef, 5 Palmerston Rd
Goulash, 17 Adelphi
Josephine's,18 Holburn St
Japanese/Sushi
Yatai Izaki, 53 Langstane Pl
Yorokobi by CJ, 51 Huntly St
The Sushi Box, Unit F6, Aberdeen Market
French
Japanese/Sushi
Yatai Izaki, 53 Langstane Pl
Yorokobi by CJ, 51 Huntly St
The Sushi Box, Unit F6, Aberdeen Market
French
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| Yatai Izaki |
Meat & Burgers
Jack's Steakhouse & Grill, 25 Crown Terrace
Angus & Ale, 55 Schoolhill
Boozy Cow, 67 Langstane Pl
Filthy Gorgeous, Netherkirkgate
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| The Kitchen Works |
At the Beach
Inversnecky Cafe, 7-8 Esplanade
Cafe Coast, Beach Blvd
at the Pier, Esplanade, Sea Beach
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| The Cat in the Window |
We must support local independent eateries in Aberdeen - and elsewhere. It really is a case of use them or lose them. Collectively we have the power to make a difference with where we choose to eat out. #EatLocal
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| Rye & Soda |
Great post. Everywhere I could think of was on there I think. Except maybe Thai Seasons Cafe (https://www.facebook.com/thaiseasonscafe.aberdeen/) do you have them? I haven't been (because they have slightly erratic opening hours and whenever I'm up there they seem to be shut) but it's run by a friend of a friend and is apparently really ace.
ReplyDeleteI've never been but have heard of them, at the old Dobbies Garden Centre I think. I really want this list to be a living resource with new discoveries and openings added. Just hope I don't have to delete any due to closures.
DeleteThe following are local independent sandwich shops, both on Thistle St and very good (esp the former): West End Chocolates & The Eatery
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, As far as I know they are both take away only? Happy to be corrected if this is not the case.
DeleteGreat idea - also on the list should be Keywest in Westhill - a little unknown gem - great service and great pub food.
ReplyDeleteThanks, unfortunately Westhill is in the Shire rather than City and for this post that's where I've drawn the line.
DeleteThanks - very useful post. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThe lovely Richmond Street Deli is missing from the list.
There's also a really nice sweetie and ice cream shop called Humbug on Rosemount Place.
I'll add Richmond St Deli to the list. From the look of things Humbug is take away only so not one for this list unless you can tell me otherwise?
DeleteWent to the Richmond Street deli for the first time this week. What a lovely place - it is now top of my list of favourites. Love it!
DeleteThis is such a great idea and thank you for sharing! Equi's on Rosehill Drive is another one for the ice cream and sweet treats section.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion. I checked and they are take away only.
DeleteFantastic post. As a recently retired couple, we are making more effort to go out for coffee, lunch etc and so we have been making a point of trying out a lot of the smaller independent places. One of our favourites is Crolla's on Rosemount Place - great coffee for only £2. But I've just discovered there are quite a few of them in Scotland. So I presume it is part of a franchise?
ReplyDeleteBTW one of our favourites for lunch is Corner Tree Cafe on Whitehall Road - fab soup andsandwiches!
Thanks for leaving a comment and I hope that this list has provided you with some new places to explore. Crolla's in Aberdeen is a locally owned franchise of the other two Scottish parlours in Glasgow and Wishaw.
DeleteAny thoughts about adding a wee bit about what they serve e.g. I'm really keen to find Vegan places to eat in Aberdeen (or places that can adapt their food to make it vegan...) ACE list...!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to but it would be rather a mammoth task! I have been updating to add links to Facebook pages for all so hopefully that will help.
DeleteGreat to see the list. Casual dining is so fraught with 'satisfaction risk' in Aberdeen so with the recession perhaps we'll see quality eateries, like other cities, vying for custom. I can never understand why there is no dedicated vegetarian restaurant in Aberdeen. A decent veggie restaurant builds its own faithful clientelle. We live in hope! Perhaps the List needs to reflect fair critique of prices, service and menus.
ReplyDeleteI take on board your point about a fair critique of prices, service and menus however that would be a huge task to take on and I've no desire to be either a critic or turn this post into an alternative Tripadvisor!
DeleteFair point indeed Claire. You provide a good service to highlight various eateries as they emerge - and hopefully do well and prosper.
DeleteI'm sure i didnae see Rosies' Cafe on yer list. It's a wonderful, friendly wee cafe that also does takeaway. The big breakfast is fantastic (i speak from multiple experiences!) and the rest o' their menu is full of fine foods made fresh on the premises.
ReplyDeleteIt's also a big supporter of mental health work and charities.
Rosies' is on the corner o' Rosemount Place and Esslemont Avenue
Great post, more places to make my way through. I'd add manchurian to chinese/thai, the best dishes at great prices. Takeaway and sit in.
ReplyDeleteYou had me doubting myself there but as I thought they're already on the list #shouldhavegonetospecsavers
DeleteWow, what a great resource and a load of work, so thankyou for your effort. We love Cognito Deli which is just down from their cafe. You are dead right about the use it or lose it; we have lost our local coffee shop in Culter and the Mannofield one has also closed unfortunately. Keep up the great work! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Washington cafe at the beach? Hardly fair to mention the rest and not that one.
ReplyDeleteYou must include the restaurant at the Chester Hotel!
ReplyDeleteTell me your five favourite city centre restaurants? Coming through soon with my sister and need inspiration x
ReplyDeleteOooh tricky one!
DeleteYatai, Almondine, Foodstory, 8848, The Kitchen Works.
Would be different if you asked me again next week.
Enjoy your time in the Granite City
Bev Bistro on Holburn St is a hidden gem
ReplyDelete- all home cooked food :)
Carriages @ The Brentwood Hotel is very good
ReplyDelete