Cafe 52

Pitched between Aberdeen's main drag & the railway station, The Green was once a buzzy space populated by open-air markets. There have been no stalls here for many years, but Café 52 has been building a reputation & helping put this little enclave back on the map since 1995. The exterior is unassuming (beer & coffee signage, hanging baskets), but inside the atmosphere is informal – even slightly bohemian. It's also where you'll find some of the most satisfying food in the north-east of Scotland. For dinner, you might be served black pudding & golden apple tart ahead of braised lamb shank with beetroot & barley casserole or pan-fried salmon with goats’ cheese & walnut sauce. Good, reasonably priced lunches too (meatballs, smoked haddock fishcakes et al). Book ahead – this is a popular spot.