In the past year, Aberdeen's streets have gained a new sparkle beyond their famed granite shine. Once Europe's energy powerhouse, the Silver City has moved beyond pipelines and platforms to emerge as a surprising culinary hotspot, driven by the post-Covid revival in oil prices.
The main thoroughfare of Union Street, previously slipping into obscurity, now connects an eclectic array of newly blossomed global dining spots – from flavour-packed vegan Venezuelan arepas at La Tiendita del Sabor – cooked up by five members of the same family – to Second Home Studio + Café around the corner, where visitors can pick up a paintbrush or take part in weekly blanket-knitting workshops over homemade bakes. Just below – in the once-forgotten purgatory of Union Terrace Gardens, now resurrected into a lush green park by a multi-million-pound facelift – home-grown wine bar SugarBird has opened its second outpost, while Michelin has recently awarded the Bib Gourmand to two restaurants in the city.
