The Willow Tea Rooms

Reconstructed Mackintosh tearooms with a specialist leaf tea menu, sweet and savoury Scottish treats, cheerful service and views over Buchanan Street.

The 2017 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

One floor up, with great views onto bustling Buchanan Street, the Willow Tea Rooms are a contemporary reconstruction of Mackintosh’s Ingram Street tea rooms. The restaurant is on two levels with the white and silver tones of the Ladies’ tea room contrasting vividly with the peacock blue of the upstairs Chinese tea room. The food on offer is a mix of traditional Scottish dishes – Cullen skink, haggis, neeps and tatties, and steak mince with mash – and afternoon tea on a silver cake stand with jam and cream scones, sandwiches, cakes and signature meringues. The tea menu offers a range of Chinese and Indian blends – a must try is a pot of lapsang souchong to accompany the St Andrews smoked fish platter which includes delicious smoked salmon, infused with the same tea. There is a vegetarian and vegan menu, too, and oatcakes come instead of bread as a standard option for gluten-free diners.

• High point: Generous afternoon tea
• Low point: No disabled access and a steep climb with no lift
• Notable dish: Cullen skink