11 Scottish restaurants loved by celebrities - including La Lanterna and The Balmoral

Dine where stars have enjoyed a bite to eat by visiting these Scottish restaurants.

Published 31st May 2023
Updated 8 th Aug 2023

Hollywood stars and other celebrities have been spotted dining in these Scottish restaurants.

Many famous people have visited Scotland over the years, and many of the country's top restaurants have hosted them.

We’ve rounded up the 11 Scottish restaurants where you might spot some famous faces, from Hollywood actors to singers.

Ristorante Pieno, Glasgow

Ristorante Pieno
Picture: Ristorante Pieno

This award-winning family-run restaurant on Hope Street welcomed actor James McAvoy.

The 42-year-old actor dined at the restaurant for some lunch just hours before he was due to take to the stage in Cyrano de Bergerac.

Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Picture: Brasserie Prince at The Balmoral

The Balmoral is one of the most luxurious places to stay in the capital, and has welcomed an array of stars over the years.

Famous faces include Paul McCartney, Sophia Loren, Bruce Springsteen and Vanessa Hudgens.

Princess Switch star Vanessa Hudgens celebrated her birthday in the lavish hotel with cake, champagne and pizza in mid-December 2020.

The Silver Darling, Aberdeen

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Picture: The Silver Darling

Dame Judi Dench and Hugh Bonneville popped into this Aberdeen restaurant, to the amazement of staff.

The stars were visiting Aberdeen as they were in the area for the Braemar Gathering and Highland Games.

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More recently the team welcomed actor Richard E Grant, who was in the city for his sold out Music Hall show.

Haar, St Andrews

Haar St Andrews
Haar Restaurant restaurant st andrews

Succession fans can dine where Logan Roy had dinner, as actor Brian Cox visited this restaurant when the HBO programme was being filmed in Dundee.

After filming, some of the cast — including Brian Cox, James Cromwell, and Nicholas Braun — headed to Haar in St Andrews for dinner.

La Lanterna, Glasgow

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Picture: La Lanterna

A whole host of stars have dined in this Italian restaurant, which has two outlets in the west end and city centre of Glasgow.

Established in 1970 at the foot of Hope Street, La Lanterna is Glasgow’s oldest family-run Italian restaurant.

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The city centre restaurant welcomed Michael Keaton, who was pictured at the eatery when in the city filming Batgirl.

The west end restaurant has been visited by TV and radio host Ross King and pop superstar Lewis Capaldi.

The Guildford Arms, Edinburgh

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Picture: Guildford Arms

As well as spending time in The Balmoral, Vanessa Hudgens also visited The Guildford Arms in Edinburgh while filming The Princess Switch: Switched Again.

The actress and singer was spotted on Christmas Eve drinking Tennent's. She also went to Thistle Street Bar before heading to The Guildford Arms on West Register Street, which dates back to 1896.

Crabshakk Botanics, Glasgow

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Crabshakk botanics Glasgow

Outlander star Sam Heughan has been spotted in this west end restaurant, which opened last year.

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Heughan, who was seen with a glass of fizz in the highly rated seafood restaurant, has also spoken to The Scotsman about his favourite Glasgow restaurants, and how he also loves The Kitchin in Edinburgh.

Fife Arms, Braemar

Dame Judi Dench and Texas lead singer, Sharleen Spiteri, was pictured singing at a priceless piano located in the hotel's lobby.

Dame Judi was apparently playing the piano and singing parts of Abba’s hit Waterloo while Ms Spiteri belted out the song.

The stars were staying, and dining, in the beautifully quirky hotel for Hogmanay.

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Summerhall courtyard. Picture: Summerhall

Game of Thrones star, Emilia Clarke, was seen at Summerhall in Edinburgh during the Fringe a few years ago.

The actress was spotted at Summerhall, where she was catching a show and having a drink.

Gloriosa, Glasgow

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Gloriosa

In 2022, popstar Dua Lipa went for dinner at Gloriosa in Glasgow's west end. The star visited when she was in the city for her sold out show at the OVO Hydro.

Posting on social media last April, she wrote: "This cod and butter beans is what dreams are made of".

Eusebi Deli, Glasgow

Scottish restaurants celebrities

Eusebi Deli is another restaurant loved by celebs and has received plenty of praise over the years.

It serves authentic Italian cuisine and has been part of the fabric of Glasgow for over 40 years.

Four decades ago, the Eusebi family opened their first deli in Shettleston with a goal to import specialist produce and artisan products from Italy to supply Glasgow’s Italian population with their deeply missed favourites from home.

Ten years ago the family opened their west end restaurant, and it's been a hotspot for celebrities.

TV stars Fred Sirieix and Denise Van Outen were spotted recently dining in the Glasgow west end favourite.

Epicures by Cail Bruich

Scottish restaurants celebrities
Picture: Epicures

This contemporary neighbourhood spot serving signature breakfast and brunch dishes has attracted Hollywood stars.

Mad Men actor Jon Hamm was spotted enjoying some Sunday brunch at this eatery in January 2022.

The Hollywood star was filming for Amazon’s Good Omens in Glasgow and popped along to the restaurant on Hyndland Road with his co-star and pal Michael Sheen.

Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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