An Isle of Mull restaurant, Ar Bòrd, has been named Scotland's best local restaurant and ranked third overall in the UK in the Good Food Guide's 100 Best Local Restaurants 2026 list.
Ar Bòrd: A Community-Focused Dining Experience
Ar Bòrd, which translates to 'our table' in Gaelic, is a family-run restaurant in the village of Dervaig. It started as an evening supper club and now operates from the owners' house, with close seating to foster a sense of community. The restaurant offers a set menu based on local and seasonal produce, with meat from neighbouring farms, vegetables from local suppliers, and foraged wild herbs. Menu options include creel-caught shellfish from Croig, wild venison smoked in-house, and sustainable wild fish from the North Sea landed at Peterhead and Scrabster. Ar Bòrd is a bring-your-own-bottle establishment, with recommendations for nearby shops.
Good Food Guide Awards Recognize Independent Restaurants
Now in its 16th year, the Good Food Guide's Best Local Restaurant Awards celebrate community-focused establishments that offer exceptional food, value for money, and warm hospitality. Chloe Hamilton, Head of Reviews & Listings at the Good Food Guide, praised the resilience of the independent restaurant scene: 'In the face of adversity, creativity has flourished in unusual and unlikely places. It has been hugely rewarding to see how these tiny operations are offering outstanding quality in a way that so clearly strikes a chord with the local crowd. Arrive with an open mind and a good appetite and you'll be brilliantly rewarded.'
Scotland's Strong Showing in the Top 100
Scotland had 14 restaurants in the top 100 list, spanning the Highlands and Islands, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, Tayside, the Borders, Fife, Argyll and Bute, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Other notable Scottish entries include Eastfield in Dundee (13th), Redwood Wines in Dunkeld (15th), Fish Shop in Ballater (21st), Gloriosa in Glasgow (24th), Ardfern in Edinburgh (33rd), The Palmerston in Edinburgh (36th), Nick's at Port of Menteith in Stirling (47th), The Gordon Arms in Selkirk (62nd), Barry Fish in Edinburgh (68th), Eusebi Deli in Glasgow (71st), Leftfield in Edinburgh (72nd), The Dory Bistro in Pittenweem (97th), and Tide & Thyme in Tighnabruaich (98th).
Partnership with Square
For the second consecutive year, the awards were held in partnership with business technology platform Square. Lizzie Barclay, Head of International Marketing at Square, said: 'The Good Food Guide is the ultimate companion for food lovers, so we're delighted to partner with them for another year to shine a light on the country's most exceptional local restaurants. The incredible businesses on this list have all the ingredients that make independent hospitality so special – the passion, the personal touch, and the community. Square supports hospitality businesses like these across the UK with the tools that help restaurateurs to operate efficiently, freeing them up to focus on doing what they love.'
While Lancashire restaurant La Locanda took the overall UK title, Ar Bòrd stood out as Scotland's highest-ranked entry, cementing its place as one of Britain's best local restaurants.
