The best eating and drinking places in Dundee can be found in the west end of the city near the university, while the suburbs and satellite towns of Broughty Ferry and Monifieth have places worth the trip. The very centre is not so good, though…Read More

The best eating and drinking places in Dundee can be found in the west end of the city near the university, while the suburbs and satellite towns of Broughty Ferry and Monifieth have places worth the trip. The very centre is not so good, though even there the culinary desert that was Dundee has shown signs of improvement.

For an Italian head for Piccolo and The Italian (though service can be erratic, the food is fabulous in both of these places). French dishes slow-cooked to specific requirements - more than a la carte, really - can be sampled at the delightful Bon Appetit brasserie. The proprietors, although not French, lived in France for a long time and it shows in the food, and the style.

The restaurant at the Dundee Rep is a popular choice for pre-theatre dinner and a relaxed lunch, while the nearby the rather swish (and expensive) Playwright offers excellent quality, modern cooking in stylish interior.

The Jute bar in the DCA is not recommended, as both the food and the service leave something to be desired (though coffee should be OK, and the DCA is fabulous otherwise).

There is plenty of chain and fast food options in the centre of Dundee and throughout the city, with KFC on the High Street and a few not-too-bad choices in the modern Overgate shopping mall. This is where you'll find Spud-u-like, a chain that serves rather good jacket potatoes in McDonald's like setting but much nicer, especially if you choose cold or simple fillings as well as Millie's Cookies and some ok sandwich shops.

Ethnic options in Dundee cover everything from fine Thai dining at Rama Thai in the newly revitalised small dockland area to the ever-popular, casual and lively Middle-Eastern kebab house Agacan, with walls adorned with vivid pictures painted by the proprietor and other Dundee artists. The Broughty Ferry hotel has, surprisingly, a full Indian menu (a la carte is better value than set meals).

The jazz-themed Beiderbeckes Bistro is a worthy budget option slightly out of the centre.

Broughty Ferry suburb has some splendid pubs, the best being the Ship Inn and Fishermen's Tavern. Also in Broughty Ferry, Visocchi's is a local institution and a weekend trip to this pleasant suburb wouldn't be complete without a large ice-cream from that long-standing cafe and ice-cream parlour.

Further out (but worth the journey), the Blue Marlin is the best fish restaurant in the area and well worth the trip to in Monifieth.Close

Dundee has a choice of accommodation which is better in quality than quantity, but visitors at all budgets should be able to find something that suits their needs. Outlying districts, particularly Broughty Ferry, offer a good choice of hotels and B&Bs especially suitable for…Read More

Dundee has a choice of accommodation which is better in quality than quantity, but visitors at all budgets should be able to find something that suits their needs. Outlying districts, particularly Broughty Ferry, offer a good choice of hotels and B&Bs especially suitable for a holiday visitor.

Among the better class of hotels, the very square and modern Apex City Quay is located in a prime spot in the newly developed docklands by the Dundee quayside and the Tay Bridge. It has sleek, sharp-styled rooms, great views over the river, excellent spa facilities and a choice of well-rated dining options including a fine dining Alchemy restaurant. The Dundee Hilton is another well rated four-star riverside option with many facilities on site and good views.

The chains have a strong representation in Dundee, with the Best Western having the best offerings. Both the Best Western Woodlands in the eastern part of the city and Best Western Invercarse on the western approach are quite well rated. In the heart of the city is the very central Best Western Queens, old and abundant with period touches. Queens is probably the best options (if not the most modern or luxurious) for those looking for a hotel located in the heart of the city, good for the Dundee's Cultural Quarter too. Dundee's Holiday Inn Express is nothing special, but functional and well maintained, handy for the city centre.

The lower-priced budget options include the Backpackers, located in the recently refurbished five buildings with period touches (of which the oldest dates to 16th century) near the City Square, as well as more bland but practical Travelodges of which Dundee has a few, while the Discovery Quay Premier Inn is probably overall the best budget option in the centre of Dundee, as long as you don't mind the somehow bland chain character, a very well rated option handy for the university, in a great riverside location.

Broughty Ferry abounds in B&Bs and hotels, and Marlee and Abertay are among the best there, with the Fisherman's Tavern being a popular pub, affordable but cosy B&B and a good place for a traditional pub meal. The Broughty Ferry Hotel is a small, quality hotel with a gym, swimming pool and an Indian restaurant on site. Those looking for heaps of character and old-fashioned hospitality combined with personal service should head straight for Taychreggan, in West Ferry (between Dundee and Broughty Ferry) in what was a villa of one of the Dundee's industrial barons. Their food draws consistent praise too, and the bar has a collection of over three hundred fifty malt whiskies.Close

Lying on the banks of the River Tay, this is Scotland’s fourth biggest city, with just over 100,000 people. Although officially Scotland’s Sunniest City this doesn’t mean you can expect a completely rain free holiday but June through to September are by far the…Read More

Lying on the banks of the River Tay, this is Scotland’s fourth biggest city, with just over 100,000 people. Although officially Scotland’s Sunniest City this doesn’t mean you can expect a completely rain free holiday but June through to September are by far the best months to be here.

Once an industrial heartland, with Jute Jam and Journalism forming the cornerstones supported by a major port and railway link, only Journalism remains and is very strong with the local publishing house of DC Thompson being the home to many of the traditional weekly comics and producing massive amounts of magazines and newspapers. The industrial Jute mills have all been converted to housing (and expensive ones at that) whilst the last remaining Jam factory was converted to making sweets and now has a museum and guided tours.

Dundee’s main strengths are that it’s a lot cheaper than the capital, Edinburgh, it has a good range of tourist sights all within walking distance of the City Centre and for those with transport is an excellent base for venturing into the surrounding countryside and mountains.