UK's best fish and chip shop with stunning beach views and seals as dining pals
The UK's best fish and chip shop may be somewhat of a schlep but with seals as your dining pals and fish caught directly from the sea in the haunt's very own boat - there's nothing else like it.
Cafe Fish on the isle of Mull takes a boat journey and a walk to get to, sitting at the far end of the rainbow coloured Tobermory - the iconic locale of CBeebies' Balamory.
Once you've sailed over to Mull itself, which you can do with one short 45-minute hop on the ferry from Oban, Ardnamurchan or Morvern, and walked to the end of the promenade you will find a white cube-shaped building. The tiny restaurant has an upstairs and plenty of indoor seating for the colder months or you can sit and soak up the stunning views of the sea stretching into the horizon.
Cafe Fish often sources its own shellfish with its boat 'The Highlander' which will be delivered straight to your table - after a quick dip in a deep fat frier. If you go in the off peak months - you may find an empty restaurant - save for a few seals heads bobbing about in the water.
The no-drills cafe is perched atop the old CalMac ferry office on the North Pier - and its menu is a simple blackboard of its self-proclaimed 'fantastically fresh' seafood.
Owners and cousins Jane Gill and chef Liz McGougan have two specialities one is crispy whole sea bream with citrus salsa and another is a classic fish stew in spiced Tuscan broth with bread and gremolata.
There are also locally grown oysters, fish pies or a grand platter of grilled seafood doused with garlic butter. Although for some the lack of chips will be a let down they are also known for their sourdough pizzas including a lobster thermidor version. They also have Glengorm steaks and a range of desserts such as a rich chocolate pot or warm Belgian waffles.
If you fancy something a littler stronger than a Lilt with your fish - Aperol spritz, whisky and fish-friendly white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Sancerre and Verdejos are on offer.
The Hebridean town is known for its warm approach to tourists and friendly locals - one review from a punter cannot sing enough of the joint's praises.
I had booked Cafe Fish for dinner for the three of us on the day we arrived in Tobermory. The stunning warm weather set the tone, but the location offers a frisson, being at the end of the jetty and so close to the sea and the buzz as we entered was just what we wanted. They gave us a lovely window table. All I can say is that the menu was the most creative and interesting fish menu I have encountered. For all of us it was a truly memorable meal in a fab location.
It is recommended that you book if you're going for dinner although they sometimes take walk-ins for lunch. Note that opening times are seasonal – and remember it's cash only.
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Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
'Exceptionally beautiful' city named the world's most walkable
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The report praised its offering of 'history and timeless architecture with each step,' noting that the entirety of Central Florence can be explored in as little as two hours — with a number of hidden gems that are only accessible on foot. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Visitors are just as enamoured with it as well. On Tripadvisor, JorjaWr07 said: 'I've been here three times and I fall in love with Florence all over again every time. It's such an experience just going around the small quaint shops lining the streets.' Jacques D claimed it very much lives up to its reputation as the 'birthplace of the Renaissance,' while AvaVanGoth wrote: 'I have never seen such beauty in my life, speechless! The food is amazing people are very friendly and helpful.' Another reviewer, Ron09, added: 'Florence never fails to amaze, visually stunning. 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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Daredevil who jumped to Earth from space is killed in paraglider crash 'into hotel pool' MORE: I visited Prague's 'narrowest street' to see if it lives up to the TikTok hype MORE: I adored Jersey — it's a crying shame that tourists aren't visiting
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4 days ago
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I'm a YOLO dieter & lost 1st in 3 months… but 5 tips could have stopped me putting half of it back on in a WEEK on hols
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It is my third, but not final, piece as I enjoy some foodie foreplay to warm up for lunch. 5 Mel Fallowfield lost a stone before a trip to Italy – only to put half of it back on boozing and bingeing Credit: David Cummings 5 Mel, 52, reveals she must have eaten and drunk her way through a 5,725 calories a day on the trip Credit: David Cummings 5 The writer enjoying a beer by the pool in Lake Garda, northern Italy Credit: Supplied Next is a plate of spaghetti carbonara, liberally sprinkled with Parmesan, followed by the creamiest tiramisu imaginable. It is all washed down with half a bottle of white wine that I share with my husband Brian, 53, who works in marketing. We were in Lake Garda in northern Italy on a rare holiday without our teenage boys, and as we strolled back to our apartment, we stopped for an ice cream, too. Then came a siesta . . . and soon it was supper time. 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It feels as if nothing counts while on holiday, and I'm certainly not going to count calories as I tuck into a delicious bowl of pasta in the sunshine. It helps that cocktails are cheaper too When you're warm and happy, it's hard to care about anything more taxing than whether you fancy beer or an Aperol spritz. It's a completely different mindset to when you're constantly juggling the needs of work and parenting two teenage boys. At home I'm in a routine. I have to be organised, and in a way it's easier to be on a diet as I don't waste headspace and time deciding what to eat. It's going to be chicken or fish and vegetables. Abroad, you drift blissfully from your breakfast — in my case, freshly baked croissants from a favoured cafe that you can smell as you walk down the street — to exploring local eateries to see which does the best pizza or pasta. FIVE WAYS TO STAY IN SHAPE ON VACATION TO stay trim on holiday, sustainable weight-loss expert Harriet Morris ( has these tips for you: You will be surrounded by cues to overeat, so aim for weight maintenance, not loss. Nobody goes on holiday every month, so cut yourself some slack. Before you go for dinner, look at the restaurant menu online or as you stroll past, and plan your meal ahead. Allow yourself the food you want, but eat it slowly. This will help you digest your meal better, which keeps you fuller for longer. Instead of denying yourself dessert, ask for a separate side plate when it arrives. Put a third of it on the plate and give it back to the waiter before you eat. That really is having your cake and eating it. Everyone's metabolism is faster at lunchtime, so eat bigger, more indulgent meals then instead of in the evening. Relax as much as possible. Stress raises blood sugar levels which – unless you do vigorous exercise – sends a message to your body to store fat. So make your holiday a time to unwind, not rush. Everyone seems so happy, and warm-from-the-oven bread arrives just as you sit down at your table to peruse the menu. That menu is devoid of the nutritional information that holds me back from ordering calorific treats when I'm out in London. And it helps that the cocktails are cheaper, too, so just one more isn't going to break the bank. Everything that encourages restraint at home has gone. And of course, I'm not in a rush, so the brisk walk to the Tube that helps shed the pounds isn't happening. I still swim, but with no time restraints, I float happily on my back. But getting home was a rude awakening. Those 7lbs I put on are now thankfully on the way out, and I don't regret a second of gaining them. I loved my holiday and you only live once. After all, there's no point spending money going away if you just do the same as you do at home. 5 She has now lost those 7lbs but reveals she doesn't regret gaining them and enjoying her holiday Credit: David Cummings
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ferguson Marine: Firm 'mitigating risks' affecting Glen Rosa delivery
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