10 Best Restaurants in Argyll and the Isles, Scotland

This restaurant's location has certainly contributed to its success—it's perched on the pier at the end of Tobermory. The owners pride themselves on the freshness of their fish; they have their own boat and bring in their own seafood each day. The fish is served simply, grilled with a slice of lemon, to let the natural flavors speak for themselves.

This clean-lined restaurant's name means "fish" in Gaelic, and it has earned quite a reputation for serving excellent dishes made with the freshest fish and shellfish delivered directly from Oban's harbor. The signature creations use appealingly simple sauces; try oven-baked wild halibut with creamed leeks or the full-scale seafood platter. On clear days, there are nice views of the islands through the large glass windows. Children under 12 are not admitted for dinner.

An adjunct of the Bowmore distillery, the Harbour Inn has a bar frequented by locals and a more upscale restaurant with a menu that emphasizes oysters, langoustines, mussels, and other local seafood. The elegant dining room looks out onto the water.

The first of a chain of seafood restaurants that now stretches across the United Kingdom (though the rest are now owned by the Greene King brewery chain), this restaurant continues to please with its emphasis on ultrafresh, locally sourced seafood, simply prepared. Oysters, are, of course, a keynote, but the menu also features mussels, lobster, prawns, salmon, and much more from the sea, accompanied by perfect crunchy green vegetables such as peas, beans, and asparagus. There's a fishy tapas array, too.

The round towers of the old pier mark the entrance to this restaurant, appealingly situated on the water's edge. The restaurant serves the freshest seafood; try its signature platter of lobster, scallops, mussels, and langoustines. The restaurant and bar (which also serves light meals) are lively and often filled with walkers and water-sports enthusiasts. The Pierhouse also has small but clean and comfortable rooms.

This lively bar and restaurant serves fixed-price lunch and dinner menus featuring popular if unadventurous seafood favorites such as monkfish, halibut, and scallops, and adds spice to the mix with an array of Asian-influenced dishes. Like many places in the west of Scotland, hours are restricted, so it is well worth booking ahead.

This bright and pleasant restaurant offers a combination of Scottish and Turkish flavors (an expression of the owners' backgrounds) as well as fine views out to sea. Look for meze as well as pides (Turkish pizza)—try the haggis-and-cheese or crayfish-and-olive combinations.

Fish shares the menu here with local lamb, pork, and game. Although it's just a few miles from Oban (whence it sources its seafood), the setting is rural, surrounded by crofts that are still working farms. Inside, modern furnishings are offset by white walls.

Serving arguably the best-value seafood in Oban, the late John Ogden's quayside fish shack is a local legend. Look for a green-painted shed on the pier, then join the line of cognoscenti waiting for simply sautéed scallops, grilled langoustine, and lobster, oysters, and mussels. Freshness is everything here. With just a few rough-hewn outdoor tables, you may have to eat standing up, but it's worth it.