A picturesque historical village just 20 minutes walk from the University of Stirling campus, Bridge of Allan is a foodie’s dream. It boasts a surprisingly large range of excellent options for a relatively small town and can cater for most occasions, including dietary needs.
As well as a range of fabulous options for eating out, there’s also a butcher’s, a cheese shop (a whole shop dedicated to cheese!), and an eco-grocery store with a wide array of plastic-free food refills and tons of vegan options (vegan horseradish, anyone?).
Best for coffee and lunch: Ciao, Henderson Street
Hours: 8am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday
Run by a local and lovely Scottish-Italian family, Ciao serves the best coffee in the town. They also sell sandwiches, salads, other lunch options, and fabulous gelato.
Also, perfect if you’re feeling lazy, Ciao sells incredible “ready meals” – single portions of delicious homemade pasta and sauce and freshly made pizzas. They offer a hot drink loyalty card – collect six stamps and get your next hot drink for free.
Best for a date: Friend of Mine, Henderson Street
Hours: 9am – Late, Monday to Sunday
Friend of Mine is a relaxed bar and bistro with an extremely modern approach to food. Menu items are fresh and exciting and always live up to expectations.
Their range of gluten free and vegan options is really excellent, and nobody will feel like they are getting the short end of the stick when you eat at Friend of Mine. If you want a table on a weekend, make sure to book online to avoid disappointment.
Best takeaway: The Allanwater Cafe, Henderson Street
Hours: 11am to 8pm, Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesday)
The Allanwater Cafe is undoubtedly the best chippy in Stirlingshire. The chips are soft and delicious, battered options never too greasy, and they do a gluten free day every Wednesday with gluten free batter, vinegar, curry sauce and everything else.
Best for when your parents are visiting (and paying): La Cucina, Henderson Street
Hours: Monday 12pm – 2.30pm for lunch, 5pm – 10pm for dinner, Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 10pm
La Cucina is a lovely Italian restaurant which sources traditional Italian ingredients, ensuring every dish is authentic and delicious. They offer great seasonal specials and a takeaway menu. Note that they don’t have gluten free markers on the menu so ensure you check with a waiter before ordering.
Feature Image Credit: Discover Bridge of Allan
Student journalist & freelance writer
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