Best 8 Places to Eat in St Andrews for Students

St Andrews is a beautiful Scottish town on the coast of Fife famous for its stunning coastline, university and incredible food scene!

If you are living as a student in St Andrews then there are some incredibly pretty ruins to explore, from St Andrews Cathedral to St Andrews Castle and Blackfriars Chapel.

You can explore everywhere on foot when studying in St Andrews, which is perfect when you want to check out the abundance of tasty eateries the town has to offer.

Luckily for you and your taste buds, St Andrews has a vast array of yummy restaurants for you to visit, whether it’s a quick bite or a tasty sit down meal, this town has it all.

We’ve made a list of the 8 best places for you to visit whilst studying here, all rated as delicious with great value, because we know how expensive being a student can be!

1. The Criterion

This small family run traditional Scottish pub was established in 1974 with a delicious range of locally sourced food and drink, specialising in cask ale and whisky.

Located on the picturesque South Street, The Criterion has an outdoor seating area perfect for watching the world go by in this idyllic town.

They are open from 10am every day with free wi-fi, barista coffee and live sports to keep visitors nice and entertained.

If you’re a big fan of pie, you’re in luck! This pub is known for their yummy “Cri’ Pie”, a huge all in one pie packed with your chosen filling, new potatoes and peas, topped off with freshly made puff pastry.

We’d highly recommend the classic steak & ale filling or the butternut squash, goats cheese and spinach if you’d prefer a tasty veggie option!

If you’d prefer something a little more unique, why not try the “Bangkok Bad Boy Oriental Burger”, a vegetarian burger crammed with lemongrass, lime leaf, mixed veg, coriander and chilli, coated in black onion sesame & cumin seed with a sweet chilli sauce.

The Criterion pub also offer a tantalising selection of light bites if you just fancy a quick meal before a lecture.

The toasted ciabatta comes with a side salad, dressing, corn chips and coleslaw with a variety of fillings available including bacon, brie and cranberry or even haggis, cheese and caramelised onions!

2. Tailend Restaurant

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If you like seafood, Tailend Restaurant on the bustling Market Street is a great place to visit in St Andrews.

It also provides a takeaway service as well as a restaurant, perfect if you fancy staying inside in your cosy accommodation!

The restaurant is owned by G&A Spink, fish merchants of Arbroath who supply all the daily fresh fish including their famous hot smoked salmon and Arbroath smokies, a must try.

For small plates, we’d urge you to try the battered tiger prawns and sweet chilli or the seared scallops with celeriac and black pudding crumb, although the plates are small, they’re huge in flavour.

Main plates include delicious dishes like the grilled salmon fillet with homemade pesto or the chargrilled garlic and chilli prawns if you fancy a kick.

The choices of sides really complement the fresh fish, with options including chips, herby potatoes, mushy peas and many more.

3. The Cheesy Toast Shack

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Is there any better combination than cheese and toast? Absolutely not! That’s why we’d highly recommend you visit The Cheesy Toast Shack right by the beach.

Offering the best grilled cheese sandwiches in town along with freshly brewed coffees, you can grab yourself a quick bite whilst on the move for great value.

We’d particularly recommend the mac n’ cheese toastie for ridiculously cheesy goodness destined to fill your belly.

4. BlackHorn

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Fancy a burger? Established in 2013, BlackHorn on Church Street has some awesome burgers on offer produced with the finest, freshest ingredients they can get their hands on.

Their original burger mix is made using 100% beef from local farmers delivered daily, making these burgers particularly yummy!

If you like spice, we’d recommend you try the “BlackHorn Hot Chick”, featuring a chicken fillet, harissa, Batavia lettuce, plum tomato and harissa mayonnaise!

They also have some amazing wraps such as the “Classy Chick” with cranberry jelly, brie, avocado, turkey and lettuce.

There’s a great vibe at this eatery, offering fantastic value and super friendly service, trust us when we say, you won’t regret visiting here.

5. Café In The Park

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This hidden gem is very popular with locals, offering a great little menu with homemade soups every day.

The café is located in the St Andrews Museum in Kinburn Park, perfect if you fancy a bite to eat after soaking up some history about the town!

With a great selection of light bites and particularly delicious cakes and pastries, the Café in the Park offers a pleasant atmosphere with good service.

The menu changes regularly depending on the availability of the best ingredients, which highlights their dedication to tasty grub!

6. The Braes

Another super hidden gem is The Braes, nestled away in St Andrews Holiday Park offering hearty breakfasts, gourmet burgers and pub classics.

The vibe here is very relaxed, with a mix of comfy armchairs, booth seating, tables for larger groups as well as a cosy snug.

If you’re lucky enough to get some sun, why not relax with a drink on the sun terrace and enjoy some of the best views of the town you’re studying in?

Enjoy regular live entertainment at the weekend, as well as a big screen for sports fans and free wi-fi too.

We’d recommend the Chef’s homemade steak pie from the main menu, featuring tender chunks of Scottish beef, topped with a puff pastry lid, vegetables, and your choice of chips, mash or new potatoes.

If you feel like something sweet, why not try the sundae of the day, or the amazing homemade shortbread tower layered with whipped cream and berries!

7. Whey Pat Tavern

This friendly local pub is a great place for a pint and some yummy food, located on Bridge Street.

The staff are really friendly here and the portions are absolutely huge which is always a bonus!

If you want a real Scottish bar with a buzzing atmosphere, the Whey Pat Tavern is perfect for you.

All day Sunday to Thursday, they offer a 2 pub classics for £10.99 including meals like baked lasagne and hunters chicken. The chickpea and sweet potato curry is a delicious vegetarian option too!

Perhaps one of the most popular dishes here though are the nachos, you can even add haggis for 99p for a nice Scottish twist.

8. Maisha Restaurant  

Indian and Seafood is a combination you need to try if you haven’t already, Maisha Restaurant on College Street is the perfect place to try it! 

This cosy diner serves authentic Bengali cuisine with an emphasis on fish and seafood dishes, guaranteed to please your taste buds.

The best thing about Maisha are the student deals though, including a ‘student special takeaway’ and a ‘student special curry night’ with plenty of bargains and delicious tasting food.

Maisha Restaurant use as much fresh local produce as they can, with a team of highly skilled chefs producing a mouth watering range of dishes.

For starters, we’d highly recommend the selection of combo starters, consisting of pakora, vegetarian mixed starters or a mixed selection of starters.

Their scrumptious fish kebabs are a must try too, including the deep-fried salmon fish kebab and a tuna fish kebab marinated and mixed with diced potato, coated in egg yolk and breadcrumbs and then deep fried.

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