A few weeks ago, we spent a couple of hours in Aberdeen having a wander and a bit of a trip down memory lane, as one of us went to university there. We walked around the university, up Union Street and through the newly revamped Union Street Gardens, which is now a fantastic space.

Our original plan was to head to Aberdeen Beach for a walk, but the weather and hunger had other ideas. After a quick Google, The Silver Darling came up as a top choice — and really, where better to eat seafood than right on the harbour?

The Silver Darling (the name given to herring) is situated slightly outside Aberdeen city centre, around a 15-minute drive away, in Footdee or “Fittie” as the locals call it. Fittie is a historic fishing village sitting on what is now Aberdeen Harbour, just a stone’s throw from the beach.

The restaurant itself is located in the former Customs House on the harbour quayside, with the dining room upstairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows give you a panoramic view across Aberdeen Beach, the harbour and Fittie — easily one of the biggest highlights of eating here.

A Harbour-Side Setting

One of the biggest draws of The Silver Darling is its location. The restaurant sits right above the harbour, and those huge windows mean you get uninterrupted views across the water while you eat.

There’s something incredibly relaxing about sitting with a good meal and watching the boats come and go. Even before the food arrived, I knew this was going to be a great lunch.

The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance — smart enough to feel like somewhere special, but still relaxed and welcoming.

Starters: A Strong Start

As usual, we went for a mix of starters to share.

First up were the Pil Pil prawns with tomato and olive bread. I’ve got a soft spot for a good prawn dish, and this didn’t disappoint. The prawns were perfectly cooked and full of flavour, and the rich, garlicky sauce was made for mopping up with the bread. In fact, I could have happily eaten another portion just for that sauce alone.

We also had Cape Wrath oysters, served natural with a red wine vinegar mignonette. Simple, fresh, and all about the quality of the oyster — more of a little bite than a full starter, but a very good one.

The final starter was smoked tuna tartare with toasted sesame, cured egg yolk, macerated red onions and crispy tortilla. Beautifully presented, with a lovely mix of textures — the crispy tortilla in particular gave it a really nice bite.

Main Courses: Seafood Done Right

When it came to mains, there was never really much doubt that I would go for fish.

I chose the pan-seared halibut with a fennel seed and Parmesan crust, served with green peas, mashed potato and a creamy lemon dressing.

The halibut was absolutely spot on — beautifully cooked, flaky and delicate. The Parmesan crust added a lovely savoury depth without overpowering the fish, and the creamy lemon dressing lifted everything with just the right amount of freshness.

The mash was smooth and comforting, the peas added a pop of sweetness, and altogether it was one of those plates where everything just worked.

Across the table, the seafood linguine also went down very well. Packed with scallops, prawns, langoustines and mussels, and tossed in garlic and lemon butter, it was finished with herbs, parmesan and croutons. It didn’t last long, which is always a good sign.

A Sweet Finish

By this point we were comfortably full, but dessert was too good to pass up.

We shared the lemon parfait with honey cake, lemon curd, burnt honey ice cream and a honey tuile.

It turned out to be the perfect choice. The lemon parfait was light and refreshing, the honey cake added a little richness, and the burnt honey ice cream was the standout — deep, caramelised and beautifully balanced against the sharp lemon curd.

Sharing was definitely the right call, although I wouldn’t have complained if I’d had it all to myself.

Final Thoughts

The Silver Darling delivered exactly what we needed — excellent seafood, friendly service and some of the best dining views in Aberdeen.

Every dish was beautifully executed, with a real focus on letting quality ingredients shine. Combined with the harbour-side setting, it made for a lunch that felt special without being overly formal.

Would I return? Absolutely.

If you’re visiting Aberdeen and enjoy seafood, The Silver Darling is well worth adding to your list. Between the food, the views and the overall experience, it’s easy to see why it remains one of the city’s most popular dining destinations.